TCIL ties up with JMS to provide Internet services

BANGALORE: Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd. (TCIL) has tied up with

US-based JMS Worldwide for providing Internet services covering the entire

country. JMS would hold 49 per cent stake and TCIL would hold 40 per cent equity

in the company that would target mainly corporate clients. TCIL Chairman and

Managing Director A. S. Bansal said, the company would use various media

including satellite network and optical fibre cable (OFC) network of Indian Oil

Corporation (IOC) and Ircon for operating Intranet and Internet services. The

company would begin with an investment of Rs 150 crore of which Rs 75 crore

would be equity, Mr Bansal said, adding the remaining 11 per cent equity would

be offered to local distributors of the service.

IOC`s fibrelink would be used as a backbone for providing Internet services

and IOC would be accomodated as an equity partner if IOC so desired. TCIL has

already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ircon for using its OFC

lines between Mumbai and Delhi while the discussion with IOC was in an advanced

stage, Mr. Bansal said. The company would work closely with IOC, which had big

plans for expanding its communication network.