The Hindu Business Line : Tata Tele fixed wireless subscribers top 1 million

HAVING crossed the 1-million subscriber mark for its Tata Indicom fixed wireless phones (FWP), Tata Teleservices (TTSL) is now claiming the distinction of being the world's largest 3G-1x FWP provider.

Although the company's total subscriber base is far lower than that of competitor Reliance Infocomm's, TTSL is much ahead as far as FWP sales go.

TTSL offers two instruments - LG and Axesstel - and has now tied up with the latter for five lakh more instruments.

In June 2004, TTSL had added 1,32,146 FWP customers and its FWP subscriber base was 9,31,496 - approaching the 1-million mark as on June 30.

Reliance Infocomm, with a much larger footprint than TTSL's, had added only 64,191 FWP customers during the month with its corresponding base at 6,81,704.

"The FWP is a kind of hybrid creature that is becoming increasingly popular in India," said TTSL officials.

The technology behind both Reliance Infocomm and TTSL FWPs is the same that drives their wireless mobile handsets, except that the FWP functions like a regular phone but without the wire connection.

The last-mile connection - from the exchange to the home or office - is wireless and does not require any wiring to be done at the customer's premises.

Several features normally associated with the mobile are offered by what is branded as Tata Indicom Smart Wireless - this includes missed call notifications, a 99-number address book, SMS facility, caller ID and internet capability. The tariffs, however, follow fixed-line tariffs.

In places where BSNL and MTNL find it difficult to lay copper, or in places where the customer does not have the patience or the time to wait for his premises to be wired up, FWP is very popular.

In addition, it can be moved about within the home from room to room. In large cities with floating populations this is very convenient.

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