Loop enters TN, Orissa

MUMBAI: Loop Telecom, a subsidiary of Ruias-managed Loop Mobile (earlier BPL Mobile ), on Monday announced the soft launch of cellular services in Tamil Nadu and Orissa circles. With this, it has become the first telco among new entrants to start operations. Other operators readying to launch services are Videocon group���s Datacom Solutions, Swan Telecom of the Dynamix Balwas group and S-Tel .

Loop will extend services to Karnataka , Andhra Pradesh and Kerala by June. ���The sequence of circles launch is in sync with the sequence of the spectrum allocation,��� the company said. Loop would have attracted a penalty from the Department of Telecom (DoT) if it had failed to commence services within 52 weeks of allocation of spectrum in a circle.

There is a further grace period of 13 weeks. With the first tranche of spectrum having come in April 2008, new operators have to start services by July. The company will offer services under the Loop Mobile brand name. ���We are currently testing our services and products in Tamil Nadu and Orissa. Subsequently, we will roll out a wider range of network coverage and services for the customers,��� Loop Telecom CEO Sanjeev Chachondia said.