BPL has big plans for TN

Cellular service provider BPL Mobile is planning to roll out 100 new cell sites in Tamil Nadu in 100 days, a senior company official said on Wednesday, to spruce up its coverage and double its subscriber base.

The new sites, to be set up at an investment of Rs 75 crore (Rs 750 million), would enhance the coverage and capacity on highways and in peripheral areas where large communities live.

By March 2005, Tamil Nadu would have about 300 cell sites, K A Muhammad Salim, chief operating officer (South) of the company, said.

Despite increasing competition, the company has registered 100 per cent growth in subscriber base, from 1.90 lakh in November, 2003, to 3.82 lakh in November, 2004.

The capacity expansion would help double the subscriber base within six months, he claimed.