Spice gets NLD/ILD license

NEW DELHI: Spice Telecom, cellular operator in Punjab and Karnataka, today announced that it has bagged the license to operate National and International Long Distance (NLD/ILD) services in India.

Spice has been given the license to carry both voice and data traffic, nationally and internationally.

Dilip Modi, chairman and managing director, Spice Telecom, said, "I am delighted to confirm that Spice Communications has been granted NLD/ILD licenses by the Department of Telecommunication, close on the hills of our successful IPO."

NLD / ILD is a high-growth, fast track industry segment with an annual growth rate of about 50 per cent. It is estimated that the current annual revenues from international voice and data business are approx $3.0 billion; while the NLD data connectivity market is valued at $1.2 billion, a Spice statement said.