'We want to win the services war'

Why is Bharti Group launching basic services in Haryana

first in the second phase of telecom reforms?



Haryana being a bordering state to the capital is a
prosperous one and is also one fo the fastest developing regions. Also, it is a

sophisticated market. We are planning to launch services in Haryana by mid

December for all segments (corproate, PCO/SME, and residential) and all service

areas.

Have you signed interconnect agreement with BSNL?



We are in discussions with BSNL for the interconnect

agreement and we plan to resolve it on the basis of current understanding and

launch our services in Haryana on the due date.

What is your plan for Haryana and how are you moving?



We are planning to launch services in Gurgaon and Faridabad

to start with, and move to Panipat, Karnal and Ambala by the middle of the next

year. At the time of launch, we will have 17 switches in Gurgaon, of which eight

will be DLC and nine RSU. In Faridabad, we will have 3-4 RSUs a the time of

launch.

We are laying fiber to all the major high-rise commercial

buildings. We have laid 250 km of cable (fiber and copper) in Gurgaon. In

Faridabad, we have laid around 200 km of cable.

What are the services you are planning to offer to

corporates?



We are not providing voice only but total telecom solutions,

covering the entire spectrum of voice and data. We will be offering free

Internet connection with every dial-up line and also provide free voice mail. We

are planning to provide point-to-point leased line, DSL, ISDN, VPN,

videoconferencing, centrix and IN solution to corporates.

By March 2002, we plan to provide intelligent services by

providing servics like televoting, toll-free lines, and virtual calling cards.

What is the USP of your service?



We are not getting into price war but service war. The

service will be the main differential between the service providers. We are

aiming for customer satisfaction right from the booking of the telephone

connection to bill payments, and phone repairs. There will be 24-hour call

centers to ensure interaction through customer care agents. We will provide

multiple ways of payment of bills– post, normal way, a person collecting it

from home, electronic clearing, and through an agent.

Pravin Prashant