Bharti and Singtel float Network i2i

Bharti, an Indian telecom provider, has formed a 50:50 joint venture company, Network i2I with Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel). The company will be India's first private submarine cable company. It will build and operate a submarine optical fiber cable ring network linking Singapore, Chennai and Mumbai with a design capacity of 8.4 Tbps at a cost of $ 650 million. 

Network i2i will provide bandwidth to a wide array of consumers such as ISPs, call centers, data centers, international voice and data operations, and software companies at competitive prices. 

The first phase of the network will link Singapore and Chennai with the landing station in Chennai. Work on the 3200-km long Singapore-Chennai leg of the network has already begun and is expected to complete by the end of this year. The Cable Station in Chennai has had an investment of about Rs 100- Rs 150 crore. Commercial traffic is expected to start by the beginning of 2002. 

The second phase of the 10800-km ring network linking Singapore with Mumbai will be completed by the middle of next year. Bharti Aquanet, another 51:49 percent joint venture between Bharti and Singtel will manage and operate the cable stations in India as well as market its services here. Bharti Telesonic, another joint venture has already started laying down the terrestrial links from Chennai to Mumbai, which is expected to end by July 2001.

After completion of the i2i network, it will be linked to Singtel's cable network including C2C, which would be ready for
service by the end of 2001 year, SEA-ME_WE 3 and APCN 2. 

"India will now be able to fulfil the demand for enhanced bandwidth to and from the subcontinent, triggering a southward revision of prices. Ultimately, we will have to carry the capacity of the Singapore-Chennai-Mumbai network to other cities and towns in India," said Viresh Dayal, Corporate Director, Bharti Enterprises. 

"A submarine optical fiber cable network will spearhead new business opportunities and a never-before city-to-city bandwidth connectivity for India. With its huge population, India has the potential for more than one submarine cable networks," said Hoh Wing Chee, VP, Singtel.