Videocon to start mobile phone services by end-08

Mumbai: Consumer electronics major Videocon will start mobile phone services by the end of this year, roping in a global service provider as partner later.

Videocon expects to have 10 million subscribers in 3-4 years of the launch, the company said in a statement.

"The company plans to use its extensive all India dealer network of over 10,000 to reach out to the customers and expects to have 10 million subscribers (on conservative basis) in 3-4 years of launch," it said.

Videocon's subsidiary Datacom yesterday received a letter of intent (LoI) from the Department of Telecom for starting GSM-based mobile services on a pan-India basis.

Datacom has deposited the Rs1,507 crore as licence fee alongwith bank guarantee of Rs847 crore.

Dot also issued a letter of intent to Spice Communications Ltd for providing Unified Access Services (UAS) in four areas.