Hughes to scale up presence in India

Global broadband satellite networks and services provider, Hughes said on Friday it will invest an undisclosed amount in India in the next three years to scale up its presence in the country.

"We are evaluating our plans for the next three years. To scale up our presence in India, we will invest significantly here," Hughes CEO Pradman Kaul told reporters on the sidelines of CII-CEOs Forum.

However, he declined to divulge details of investment. The company since its inception in India has invested over $300 million.

Hughes would also set up 50,000-1,00,000 Internet kiosks in the country in the next three years, Kaul said.

It already has 800-1000 such kiosks and one kiosk cost about Rs 100,000, he added.

The satellite can help enable a speedy coverage in the country and achieve nine million connections by the end of 2007 as envisioned by the Ministry of IT and Communications in the Vision 2020, Kaul said.

"Satellites offer a level playing field for people, companies in India by providing greater access to educational opportunities, development of skill sets and utilising technology for productivity," he said.