BT spices up India Internet market

BT Broadcast Services has reinforced its competitive positioning in India’s fast growing Internet market following a space segment and teleport facilities deal with Delhi-based Estel Communications.

Estel Communications, a provider of telecommunication infrastructures, has purchased space segment on a wholesale basis. The deal will enable Estel to provide Internet backbone service to ISPs and content providers keen to feature in an online market set to grow from 1.4 million to 30 million subscribers by 2008.

The deal follows a recent contract with Indian ISP, Mantra Online, for access to Broadcast Services’ Internet backbone via PanAmSat.

"We aim to provide our customers with cost effective and reliable services," Harry Formosa, head of IP satellite services, said about the Eutelsat Sesat based solution. "By not being dependent on any single satellite supplier, we are able to achieve this goal."

Access is achieved through Estel’s U.S. router via their Level 3 STM 1 service into BT’s London Teleport and then onward to India via Eutelsat Sesat capacity. As a result of the design, Estel is ensured complete physical control over its network from the United States to its Indian gateways in Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Estel plans to ramp up its services in the first six months to a minimum of one and a half transponders on Eutelsat Sesat capacity.

"In association with BT Broadcast Services, Estel is set to emerge as an alternative provider of international data communication carrier services in India, effectively ending state owned VSNL’s monopoly in this business," said Raj Hajela, managing director at Estel Communications.

Broadcast Services is also active in the DTH arena and is currently in discussion with numerous customers operating in the Indian market.