Tata Cellular plans to achieve the Total Coverage through a two-pronged approach - Project Maximise and Project Amplify - Prabhat Pani, chief operating officer of Tata Cellular, told the presspersons.

According to him, the concept of Total Coverage has a multiplier effect. This coverage will add new towns into the existing network which will not only benefit its existing subscribers but will also bring in a new segment of subscribers into the fold.

Under Project Maximise, the company has earmarked 75 towns in the state to widen its network to. The company will expand its coverage areas to 12 new towns by December and identified 34 new towns to be brought into network by March 2001, thereby covering every single district. At present, the services are existing in 29 towns, he said.

Under Project Amplify, TCL will strengthen its infrastructure to provide high quality coverage coupled with the benefits of innovative products and services. The company will establish a fibre optic backbone between Guntur and Nelloree, covering 300 kms and adding 25 cell sites (20 in Hyderabad) to the existing towns and increasing switch capacity to 1.25 lakh subscribers.

The Total Coverage will support the effective usage of economical plans such as AoL (AP on Local) and AFIC (Almost Free Incoming Calls) and increase subscribers' base as well minimise problems faced due to congestion, Mr Pani explained.

TCL will expand the distribution network in existing and new towns and will deliver more value for services such as AoL, TCD, TCD+, he said adding TCL is planning to tie up with AT&T for international roaming facility to cover more countries.