Data Access secures Tier II carriers

Four months after it’s U.S. launch, Indian carrier Data Access has practically tied up the Tier II international market to India and has made its first in-roads into securing the coveted RBOCs.

The data and long-distance voice carrier has signed 25 interconnect agreements for voice minutes and data traffic to the Indian subcontinent and has signed its first deal with an RBOC, said Ashutosh Misra, CEO of Data Access America. Misra wouldn’t name the particular RBOC, though.

In addition, the company has deployed a switch in London, allowing it to expand its services to the UK, the United Arab Emirates and other regions in the Middle East and Europe where there is high traffic between the U.S. and India.

Data Access’ hybrid TDM/VoIP network is now carrying from 1.5 million to 2.5 million minutes a day back to India. Among its customers are Teleglobe, iBasis and SwissFone as well as the unidentified RBOC. However Misra said it’s only a matter of time before the other RBOCs sign on as customers.

“By default they have to come to us,” Misra said. “We undercut all competition by 1 cent to 1.5 cents a minute to India. I think all of the RBOCs are interested, they just tend to move more slowly than other carriers.”