VSNL in S Africa's Neotel

31 August 2006

SNO Telecom in which Videsh Sanchar Nigam (VSNL) has 26 per cent stake, today launched South Africa's second national telecom operator to be known as Neotel in Kyalami, north of Johannesburg.

VSNL appointed Ajay Pandey, formerly president of Tata Teleservices and CEO of Tata Internet Services, as MD.

SNO Telecom was licensed in December last year, and has a 25-year operating licence. It is controlled by SepCo which comprises the Tata Group with a 26 percent stake (Tata Africa one percent, VSNL 25 percent), while Two Telecom and CommuniTel each own 12.5 percent.

Kennedy Memani-led Nexus Connexion is the empowerment partner with 19 percent and the South African government owns 30 percent in the SNO through Transtel and Esitel.