BT to hire 6,000 in Indian expansion

Published on Tuesday 14 November 2006 01:47

BT HAS unveiled plans to hire 6,000 new staff in India within the next two years as it applies for long-distance and international phone operating licences that will help it target corporate customers in the region's booming economy.

BT also said it had struck a joint-venture agreement with Jubilant Enpro, an Indian company that specialises in oil and gas, food and services and has a strong network of corporate contacts and customers.

Andy Green, chief executive of BT Global Services, said the group was aiming to achieve $250 million (131m) in annual revenues from India by 2009. It will invest at least $5m a year over the next three years.

BT has applied to the Indian Department of Telecommunications for national long distance and international long distance licences. It aims to target

Indian corporate customers operating from multiple sites directly for the first time. At the moment, BT works with corporate customers through an agreement it has with a local licensed operator. It currently employs 15,000 staff in the Asia Pacific region, most of them in India.