New Delhi, Sept 24: Spurred by Dutch telecom giant KPN picking up 45 per cent stake in it, internet service provider Wipro Net has embarked on a Rs 50-crore expansion drive over the next two years and plans to enter the retail segment in several cities by the year-end.Interestingly, the company hopes to break even by the end of next fiscal and has targeted a turnover of Rs 200 crore within this period.
"We are expecting our turnover to be in the vicinity of Rs 17 crore this fiscal, but the next year will be one of critical mass," said Wipro Net chief executive Anand Talwai.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday to launch corporate class internet services comprising mail, internet access, Web hosting and virtual private networks, Talwai said the company will also enter the retail internet segment within the next three months.
Wipro Net is present in eight cities but has chalked out an aggressive plan to expand its network to 20 cities within the next one year.
The company also plans to introduce several value-added services targeting the corporate market. These will include secure mail, plug and play VPNs, managed firewall services, managed VPNs, managed Web hosting services, application services like ERP-on-the-Net and virtual education networks.
In addition to internet services, Wipro Net will also offer end-to-end internet-based business solutions including content creation and Web applications to corporate customers.
The company claims that it will be the first internet services company to offer documented service levels. The company claims to have over 100 corporate clients and intends to double the number within a year.
"We are introducing internet services specifically tailored to meet the corporate requirements of security, reliability, cost, effectiveness and ease of use. Our host of value-added offerings will differentiate us from our competition," claimed Talwai.
The company has been offering intranet and extranet services in the country for the last three years and claims to have market leadership for these services. It has also integrated its nationwide IP network with the I-Net network of the Department of Electronics, thus extending the reach, according to Talwai.
Interestingly, another group company Wipro Infotech has teamed up with Sun Microsystems to provide technology and consultancy services to next generation internet services providers.
Wipro Infotech has already set up the infrastructure and facilities for several premier ISPs in India by taking the customers' requirements from concept to deployment.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.