News Tonight

Considering the rising demand for data centre services, state-owned telecommunication company, MTNL, has decided to launch five data centres in the existing year (2011).

On April 29, MTNL made announcement about the launching of its first two data centres at Worli and Belapur.

Moreover, the PSU proposes to set up one each in the national capital, Chennai and Hyderabad in the existing year.

Mr. Kuldip Singh, MTNL's Chairman and Managing Director, stated, "The data centres would provide an impetus to the MTNL's data focused strategy and will be a new business stream for the company. We will open three more such facilities in Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi."

The company said that its Mumbai-based data centre, which is being set up in technical alliance with IIT-Bombay''s Gigabit Networking Laboratory, will be operational by the coming month.

Mr. Singh did not disclose any facts on the total project cost or identities of its clients.

But, Mr. Kuldip stated that the operator has pocketed the passport service for the forthcoming Chennai centre and is making discussions with an international content service supplier for its Worli plant.

As per reports, these data centres will not only fulfill the increasing demands of global companies but also SMEs.

On its broadband access, Mr. Singh added that it has a capacitance of 16-lakh subscribers.

At present, it possesses 9-lakh clients in Delhi and Mumbai. In 2011, it is eyeing to append around 2.5-lakh subscribers in both the cities.

On April 29, the stock of the company closed the day at Rs 48.30, up 1.4% on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 72.75 and a low of Rs 38 on BSE.

Current EPS is -52.46.