Indian company Wipro to break into home Internet services

New Delhi, Dec 29 (Asia Pulse) - Indian infotech major Wipro Corporation has announced its decision to enter the competitive home internet services market early next year through a joint venture with Royal Dutch Telecom (KPN).

Wipro Net, the joint venture company of Rs 22 billion (US$511.62 million) Wipro Corporation and the US$8 billion Dutch telecom operator Royal Dutch Telecom, currently provides a host of internet-based services to its corporate clients and will be entering the fiercely competitive home segment early next year, a senior company official said here today.

"We have already test-marketed consumer internet services in select cities and will formally launch our services early next year," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wipro Net Limited Anand Talwai told PTI. He, however, declined to comment upon the total investment needed to offer these services in India. The company was aiming to be among the top three Internet Service Providers (ISP)by virtue of its access to KPN's international Internet Protocol (IP) network, he said.

 The major ISPs in the country at present are Satyam Infoway and Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL). "Wipro Net has connectivity to KPN's international IP network which will enable the joint venture to offer a superior quality of services to both corporate and home customers," Talwai added. Wipro Infotech obtained the national ISP license in December 1998, and Wipro Net was spun off as the internet services arm of the parent company in April this year.