TTSL, Future Group launch new GSM brand, T24

Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL), the pan India dual technology operator, has entered into a partnership with Future Group to launch T24, a new telecom service based on GSM technology. The launch is expected to take place in three months.
The service will be rolled out shortly, starting with South India and the company plans to cover all telecom circles by the end of this year. Under the partnership agreement, Future Group will sell TTSL GSM connections under the T24 brand name to customers visiting its retail outlets across India.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a press conference, Anil Sardana, managing director, TTSL said, “This is a new, unique mobility brand that we have launched, which is going to be available to people who shop at any of the Future Group outlets. So when you shop you also have the opportunity to talk. We will give all details regarding the plan as we gradually launch the service. We are right now working on those details. Hopefully we should be launching in about 90 days time.”
Sardana did not divulge any details on tariffs but said that the service will provide free airtime to consumers who shop at any of the Future Group stores and that airtime will be linked to shopping in some way. He also said that Future Group stores will work as franchisees of TTSL in an equal partnership and not in an equity partnership. Future Group runs multiple retail chains across verticals. In the lifestyle segment, the group operates Pantaloons, a fashion retail chain and Central, a chain of malls. It also runs Big Bazaar, Planet Sports, eZone, Home Town, Aadhaar and a shopping portal, futurebazaar.com.
Commenting on the growth of TTSL in terms of subscribers, Sardana said, “We have added three million customers in January. Till December we had 57 million. We are still waiting for GSM spectrum in Delhi, the nineteenth circle.”
TTSL’s GSM business, Tata Docomo, has received a pan-India license and has also been allocated spectrum in 18 telecom circles. The company has rolled out GSM services in 15 of India’s 22 telecom circles and plans to launch pan-India operations by the end of this fiscal year.