Tata Indicom to invest Rs ten crore in Gujarat

Ahmedabad, Sep 22: Telecom service provider Tata Teleservices, which recently entered the Limca Book of records for a retail opening feat, today said it will invest Rs ten crore to enhance its retail presence in Gujarat.

This will be part of the budget of Rs 80 to 100 crores, which the company has earmarked for its expansion plans across the country, said Mr Suneel Bandhu, Circle Operating Officer, Gujarat. The company entered the record book for being the first telecom operator to inaugurate 103 True Value Shoppe across the country in a single day.

''We hope to add 800 more outlets to our existing kitty of 2700 by March next year, of which at least 270 will be in Gujarat,'' he told reporters here.

The expansion is aimed at increasing penetration across the country and ensuring easy accessibility to the company's products and services.

''We shall be identifying areas which have large number of footfalls and set up our Shoppe there. Even the company will itself invest in it if franchisees are not able to invest in space in the big malls etc,'' he said.

Mr Bandhu said at present the company has over seven lakh customers in Gujarat and enjoys a market share of 15 to 20 per cent.

''We are the last entrants to the pre-paid market, which comprises a major chunk, but we are growing everyday,'' he claimed.

UNI