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Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) (TTML) which provides telecommunication services in Maharashtra, Mumbai and Goa is rapidly expanding its network . It currently provides services over 415,000 business and residential customer lines in 10 cities and some villages in rural and remote areas in Maharashtra and Goa. The cumulative subscriber numbers doubled from 232,100 to 485,000 in FY 2003–04. There was a 77 percent growth in the revenues in FY 2003–04 over FY 2002–03. In FY 2003–04, the revenues touched Rs 653 crore.

TTML launched its CDMA mobility service in July 2003 and migrated to the Unified Access Service License (UASL) in November 2003. Among the private operators, TTML leads with the second highest subscriber base for wireline services. The numbers from this circle (222,254 basic service subscribers as on March 2004) have given Tata Teleservices the much-needed impetus to compete with Bharti. In the WLL (F) space, TTML continues to take a lead over Reliance Infocomm with a subscriber base of 114,905 as on March 2004.

CDMA (mobile) is one area where the operator has not been able to present flattering numbers. As compared to Reliance Infocomm´s impressive 1,154,525 (subscriber base on March 2004 in Maharashtra—including Mumbai) TTML was at 150,850. Though the operator (TTML) had the advantage of being an early entrant, it was unable to get the desired results.

With the UASL in place, the operator is now getting aggressive with its business model and making its presence felt. With approximately Rs 3,700 crore allocated in the FY 2004–05 to augment the network, the company has embarked on an aggressive expansion plan which involves increasing network capacities, introducing new technologies, strengthening spread and depth of coverage, and adding software platforms. Out of the Rs 3,700 allocated, TTML has already invested Rs 700 crore for network rollout. It plans to expand the CDMA network and have presence in 150 towns during the year. It has also enabled roaming across Maharashtra.

TTML´s suite of broadband digital data services includes secure Internet access, managed data network services and managed leased line services. It provides network based audio and Web conference services in India and intends to provide Web-based application services in the near future. The company actively utilizes a broadband point-to-multipoint (PMP) network to enable rapid last-mile connectivity to the customers´ premises in highly congested and difficult-to-wire areas.

In tune with its aggressive expansion plans, TTML will deploy ECI Telecom´s multi-service provisioning platforms (MSPPs) within its optical transmission access and backbone network. For the first phase of the project, ECI will supply hundreds of XDM-100, XDM-500, XDM-1000, and BroadGate platforms. ECI´s SDH/DWDM optical network solutions will carry live traffic across the circles.

TTML is implementing a fibre-to-the-business (FTTB) strategy by laying fiber optic cable or PMP broadband radio right up to the premises of its customers, giving them high bandwidth scalability.

The company will also shortly offer advance intelligent network services, such as calling card services, premium rate services, and Freephone services. It will also provide a full suite of broadband services focused on the communication-intensive customers.

Strong in fixed-line services, TTML has to increase its base in the mobile space to give a tough fight to Bharti, Reliance and Hutch in the business capital of India.