NEW DELHI, INDIA: Global telecom service providers providing enterprise telecom services in India have formed the Association of Competitive Telecom Operators (ACTO).

ACTO is an industry body focused on policies that will enhance enterprise telecommunications in India, has been formed by several leading non-integrated long distance carriers that provide service to the enterprise market segment. The enterprise market segment includes the IT-enabled services (ITeS), business process outsourcing (BPO), and multinational company (MNC) segments that are a cornerstone of India's growing economy. ACTO's founder members include AT&T, BT, Cable & Wireless, Orange Business Services and Verizon Business.

The formation of ACTO, and its focus on the Enterprise telecommunications landscape, marks a new chapter in the ever evolving Telecom sector in India, and signifies the importance and promising growth in the Enterprise segment.

S.N. Gupta, president, ACTO, while announcing the launch, said: "ACTO will strive to advocate for open competition in the Indian market to promote sustainable investment in the long-distance telecommunications services sector. India is a key strategic location for many multinational companies, and investment in best practice across the telecommunications service sector is an increasingly critical requirement to support economic growth. We hope this will help to promote the ongoing dynamism of the Indian telecommunications market."

ACTO is an association representing non-integrated long distance telecom carriers, that will represent and advocate to the Government and Regulatory bodies on issues related to market opening, emerging technologies and pro-competitive policies and reforms in the Enterprise market segment.

The forum has been registered under the Societies Registration Act by Registrar of Societies, Government of NCT of Delhi. The office bearers of ACTO are given below.