Mumbai: Satyam Computer Services today inaugurated India''s first satellite ticket printing (STP) facility, when Thomas Cook issued the first remotely printed airline ticket at the customer implant of Satyam, in Secunderabad. This service has been set up by Thomas Cook, the official travel company for Satyam in Hyderabad.

Thomas Cook services Satyam''s requests for both domestic and international travel catering to the needs of the Hyderabad-based offices. The STP facility will help address the sizeable travel requirements from the company and ease the process of travel planning by completely curtailing the delivery time. With this Satyam is the first corporate in India to have this facility at their location.

Thomas Cook India is the first travel agency to have received the approval from IATA, Singapore, having satisfied all their stringent norms in relation to safety and security of the traffic documents. This heralds the launch of the STP technology in India. Globally, STP is prevalent in the US, European and Far Eastern markets, with India now joining the ranks. Thomas Cook''s CRS (central reservation system) partner, Galileo India, implemented the STP.

Says Thomas Cook India managing director and CEO Ashwini Kakkar: "In this high-tech era, providing convenience through state-of-art technology is an absolute must. Today, as the world is becoming a global village, at Thomas Cook it is our constant endeavour to provide to our customers, facilities of international calibre."

Introduction of this state-of-the-art technology will ensure real time delivery of tickets. With some ''offsite'' implant locations of Thomas Cook being located outside the main cities, away from the Thomas Cook servicing branch, use of the STP will result in enhanced efficiency by significantly reducing on servicing time, thereby truly being able to provide customers a world-class service.

With around half of the corporate travel business of Thomas Cook being generated through ''offsite'' implant locations, use of STP will immensely help in enhancing the service delivery to a geographically widespread client base in India.

Says Satyam managing director B Rama Raju: "We are happy to announce another first from Satyam Computer Services. Thomas Cook has been associated with Satyam for a while now, and this feature will result in uncomplicated and easy travel planning to both the parties."