New telcos ready to roll out services

The new telecom players in the country, which had received licences in January 2008 and were subsequently allocated spectrum, are ready to roll out services in the next three to four months.

Telecom service providers like Loop Telecom, Idea Cellular, Swan Telecom, Unitech Wireless and Shyam Telelink are among the players which have placed orders for equipment and commissioning of networks is at an advanced stage, a source close to the development told Business Standard.

The companies have also informed the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) their readiness to meet the rollout obligations in their respective circles, he said.

Loop Telecom, a subsidiary of Loop Mobile (formerly BPL Mobile) will roll out services in the next four months, while Idea Cellular is ready to commission services in the Orissa and Tamil Nadu circles.

All other new players -- Swan, Unitech, Shyam Telelink and STel -- have also placed orders for equipment and are expecting deliveries by the end of next month.