Wednesday, January 19 2005 19:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Noida (UP): Bharti Televentures Ltd (BTL) on Wednesday (Jan 19, 2005) announced the second phase of expansion with the launch of its broadband and fixed services from Noida in Uttar Pradesh, under which it will offer broadband services at Rs 500 a month for 256 kbps.

"We will cover 15 cities during the next fiscal for the broadband and fixed line services. The expansion plan will be taken up in Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Kerala. We will invest Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.50 billion) in UP for fixed line and broadband services," Rajan Mittal, Joint MD, Bharti Televentures, told newspersons in Noida.

The company will soon roll out the services in Ghaziabad, Meerut, Agra and Lucknow, he said. With Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd (MTNL) offering broadband services of 256 kbps at Rs 500 a month, Bharti's broadband service at 256 kbps also starts at Rs 500 a month with 1 GB download.

"We will give all packages. 128 kbps, 256 kbps. We have always said we would be price competitive. With more competition, if necessary, we may drop the prices but we will not match pie-to-pie with them," he said, adding that any speed above 128 kbps could be called broadband.

Bharti's other broadband tariffs include a plan of Rs 249 a month (64 kbps) and Rs 349 a month (Rs 128 kbps), among others.