Tata Teleservices Ltd. (TTSL) is all set to merge its tower infrastructure business with tower company Quippo Telecom in a bid to deliver more efficient telecom infrastructure services. The merger would make the new entity as the second largest firm in terms of number of towers across India with 18,000 towers.

Quippo Telecom will hold 49 per cent in the new entity with full management control while Tata Teleservices would hold remaining shares in Wireless-TT Info-Services Ltd
(WTTIL). Quippo Telecom Infrastructure (QTIL) is owned by SREI Group and it would pay Rs 2,400 crore cash for 30 per cent stake in WTTIL.

TATA has also decided to roll out GSM services across the nation by the end of this financial year. The Managing Director of Tata Teleservices Ltd, Anil Sardana said, "We will start our GSM services soon. We have got spectrum for 13 circles and would soon get radio waves for the remaining telecom circles, barring one or two." The company is already offering mobile services in CDMA technology with customer base of 3.2-crore.

Mr. Sardana said, "The deal is of strategic importance and value enhancing for all stakeholders. The combined entity will reap the benefits of significant synergies through combining of portfolios - both at operational and financial levels."