Call Center In India - Call Center Industry in India
Monday, January 31, 2005
Call Center India -- Lease line tariff rates to drop by 70%
In a move that is bound to bring cheer to corporate world, Internet service providers, Call Center India and software companies, leased-line tariffs in the country are set to witness a significant reduction.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has completed the consultation phase and is finalizing the revised rates. While declining to specify the date, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India member D P S Seth said, "The revised rates will be announced by the end of the month."
According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India executives, the revised rates were drafted after the regulator had compared the existing lease-line prices in various countries, including China, Australia, Singapore, the US and UK. "A whole list of parameters have been considered as we are aware that there can be no across-the-board comparison with foreign operators," said a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India executive. Furthermore, he added that studying the international market had a bearing on the revised rates.
The regulator had issued a consultation paper proposing that the leased-line charges be reduced by 70 per cent: the fee for the 64 kbps be brought down from Rs. 96,000 per annum to Rs 24,000 (per annum) and that of the 2 mbps line be reduced from Rs 22 lakh to Rs 8.5 lakh.
"A revision is long overdue. It is a fact that bandwidth rates in India are higher than global prices. Bandwidth rates account for a major component of the input costs for telecom and other service providers. Our information technology services need to be revised if they are to remain competitive in the global market," said Amitab Singhal, president of the Internet Service Providers Association of India.
The state-owned service providers, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) however, fear that a drastic reduction in leased-line charges is likely to make the business of leased lines unviable, apart from eating into their revenues.
In a move that is bound to bring cheer to corporate world, Internet service providers, Call Center India and software companies, leased-line tariffs in the country are set to witness a significant reduction.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has completed the consultation phase and is finalizing the revised rates. While declining to specify the date, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India member D P S Seth said, "The revised rates will be announced by the end of the month."
According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India executives, the revised rates were drafted after the regulator had compared the existing lease-line prices in various countries, including China, Australia, Singapore, the US and UK. "A whole list of parameters have been considered as we are aware that there can be no across-the-board comparison with foreign operators," said a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India executive. Furthermore, he added that studying the international market had a bearing on the revised rates.
The regulator had issued a consultation paper proposing that the leased-line charges be reduced by 70 per cent: the fee for the 64 kbps be brought down from Rs. 96,000 per annum to Rs 24,000 (per annum) and that of the 2 mbps line be reduced from Rs 22 lakh to Rs 8.5 lakh.
"A revision is long overdue. It is a fact that bandwidth rates in India are higher than global prices. Bandwidth rates account for a major component of the input costs for telecom and other service providers. Our information technology services need to be revised if they are to remain competitive in the global market," said Amitab Singhal, president of the Internet Service Providers Association of India.
The state-owned service providers, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) however, fear that a drastic reduction in leased-line charges is likely to make the business of leased lines unviable, apart from eating into their revenues.
BSNL has already replied to the regulator's proposal, and has said the proposed changes "have been made arbitrarily... and are pre-determined without any logical basis"."We have taken these factors into consideration," was Seth's response to these concerns.
Priyanka. S
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Call Center India – Indian Call Centers encourage higher education
They say ‘Learning is a never ending process’ and Call Centers India seemed to have just got it right this time. Most of the major Indian Call Centers are now in talks with universities to offer regular postgraduate courses to employees so, as to ensure a secure future ahead.
The rules however, don’t change much in the form of, agents having to take calls for fixed hours. Furthermore, this deal will be inclusive of -- Work, Education, Transport, Hostel and Good Food.
Says Suren Singh Raisily, head & executive VP, Planetworkz, NIIT: “We are in talks with educational institutions. The best way to retain people is to make them qualified. Most of the staff in BPOs is young and so, very concerned about their career. Courses like M Tech, MCA and MBA at PG level will make them well equipped for the job market after three years.”
“I would rather send my kid to a BPO than a university. It’ll educate him as well as teach him to stand on his feet,” says one parent. On the other hand, Universities may face a shortage of students, if this happens.
One might note that such interesting educational offers have been offered from time to time however; they were more on a short-term basis. But with regular classes at Call Centers, the scenario might entirely change. Professional diplomas like MCSE, JCP (Java Certification Program) and Cisco have clicked in the past.
By offering interesting educational programme the Indian Call Centerswould not only be taking care of their employees futures, but also, fighting off attrition by absorbing candidates at higher levels into management after graduation. Moreover, with 100 per cent placement guarantee, the programme may be a big success besides, being a model for the world to follow.
They say ‘Learning is a never ending process’ and Call Centers India seemed to have just got it right this time. Most of the major Indian Call Centers are now in talks with universities to offer regular postgraduate courses to employees so, as to ensure a secure future ahead.
The rules however, don’t change much in the form of, agents having to take calls for fixed hours. Furthermore, this deal will be inclusive of -- Work, Education, Transport, Hostel and Good Food.
Says Suren Singh Raisily, head & executive VP, Planetworkz, NIIT: “We are in talks with educational institutions. The best way to retain people is to make them qualified. Most of the staff in BPOs is young and so, very concerned about their career. Courses like M Tech, MCA and MBA at PG level will make them well equipped for the job market after three years.”
“I would rather send my kid to a BPO than a university. It’ll educate him as well as teach him to stand on his feet,” says one parent. On the other hand, Universities may face a shortage of students, if this happens.
One might note that such interesting educational offers have been offered from time to time however; they were more on a short-term basis. But with regular classes at Call Centers, the scenario might entirely change. Professional diplomas like MCSE, JCP (Java Certification Program) and Cisco have clicked in the past.
By offering interesting educational programme the Indian Call Centerswould not only be taking care of their employees futures, but also, fighting off attrition by absorbing candidates at higher levels into management after graduation. Moreover, with 100 per cent placement guarantee, the programme may be a big success besides, being a model for the world to follow.
Priyanka. S
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Call Center India -- GECIS tops the stand-alone list; aims for 25% revenue increase by 2005
Call Center major GECIS today announced that the agreement among its key shareholders —General Electric, General Atlantic Partners (GAP) and Oak Hill Capital Partners that has been completed, with GAP and Oak Hill taking a majority interest in the organization. The transaction that closed today makes Gecis the country’s largest independent Call Center provider.
In accordance with the terms of the definitive agreement announced on November 8, GAP and Oak Hill each acquired a 30% stake in Gecis, with GE retaining a 40% stake.
Gecis has outlined ambitious growth plans in Europe, Asia and the Americas as it accepts contracts from multinationals beyond GE. The major plans include to target a 25% increase in revenues for the new year of 2005.
Several new external contracts signed in the fourth quarter are contributing to increased hiring in several locations, including Kolkata, where this independent Call Center provider has just opened a strategic new office.
“Today marks the dawn of a new and exciting day for Gecis. We are now in a position to unleash our full potential in pursuit of external business,” Gecis president & CEO Pramod Bhasin said.
Call Center major GECIS today announced that the agreement among its key shareholders —General Electric, General Atlantic Partners (GAP) and Oak Hill Capital Partners that has been completed, with GAP and Oak Hill taking a majority interest in the organization. The transaction that closed today makes Gecis the country’s largest independent Call Center provider.
In accordance with the terms of the definitive agreement announced on November 8, GAP and Oak Hill each acquired a 30% stake in Gecis, with GE retaining a 40% stake.
Gecis has outlined ambitious growth plans in Europe, Asia and the Americas as it accepts contracts from multinationals beyond GE. The major plans include to target a 25% increase in revenues for the new year of 2005.
Several new external contracts signed in the fourth quarter are contributing to increased hiring in several locations, including Kolkata, where this independent Call Center provider has just opened a strategic new office.
“Today marks the dawn of a new and exciting day for Gecis. We are now in a position to unleash our full potential in pursuit of external business,” Gecis president & CEO Pramod Bhasin said.
“We recently won a few landmark deals in the wake of global competition and are extremely well poised to grow in the segment. GECIS has received tremendous support across GE businesses, and we are confident that we will continue growing our services within GE substantially in the coming years,” he said.
Priyanka. S
