Bharti outlines Rs 700 cr expansion plan

NEW DELHI: Bharti Televentures Ltd (BTVL) is planning to spend around Rs 700 crore in expanding its broadband and telephone services to 14 more towns by March 2007.

The company has outlined a total investment outlay of Rs 1,500 crore by the end of FY 2005-06, thereby taking Bharti's cumulative investment on broadband and telephone services to more than Rs 3,500.

The company would invest Rs 800 crore in existing cities to drill deeper and widen its network and is targeting a subscriber base of 2.5 million fixed line customers by March 2007.

Announcing that Airtel has crossed the one million fixed line customer mark, BTVL joint MD Rajan Bharti Mittal said that Airtel currently provides its broadband and telephone services in 66 cities spread in 14 circles.

Bharti also outlined its strategy for the segment, which includes the proposition to offer a complete range of last mile access solutions and customized broadband solutions at low entry costs for its residential and business users.

The company also announced the launch of Airtel Live — a multi access entertainment portal for its fixed line customers with a variety of content like music, sports, etc.