Company officials claim that this would be the most cost effective Internet package over cable currently available in India. "Zee offers Net-over-cable in Bangalore and a domestic firm provides similar services in Trivandrum. But their rate for ISP services is higher than Swiftxs.com," Amtek director (finance) S Singhi told eFE.

Initially, Excel will focus on the home segment wherein leading corporates are in the process of taking a substantial marketshare with their dial-up and other Internet services. "Excel is also planning to offer free Internet services in the country," he added.

In a phased manner, Excel will offer the net access through dial-up/leased, ISDN/web TV, mobile phone and wireless Internet. IndiaWonder.com will be the homepage for the company. Since the company is developing many portals and vortals, there are no move for acquisitions.

It plans to invest about Rs 40 crore in setting up the ISP infrastructure and rollout of services. Excel has already received equipment from Cisco and networking will be done by the Wipro group. As part of the ISP foray, the New Delhi-based company will offer Application Service Provider (ASP) services, video-conferencing and telemedicine. "Our main revenue stream for the ISP business will be from ASPs. We will offer customised applications to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on pay-as-per-use basis. Excel has achieved a net profit of Rs 6 crore on a revenue of Rs 17 crore during the fiscal ended June 30, 2000," Singhi said here on Thursday.

Excel Infotech is also foraying into the medical transcription business by setting up a division in New Delhi. The company will increase the terminals to 60 from the present 35. It has already bagged a major order worth Rs 20 crore from a US company for the medical transcription business.

Excel has also decided to enter into alliances with the foreign companies including an IT consulting firm. It is in the process of signing memorandum of understanding with two more US-based companies for Net telephony, Singhi added.

Recently, Excel, which is also planning a Rs 10-12 crore IPO within the next couple of months, signed an agreement with Broadcast Engineering Consultants India to develop software relating to television and broadcasting media. The company's total outlay for these projects will be about Rs 140 crore that will come from debt/equity and venture capital funding.