History of Avaya GlobalConnect Ltd.
YEAR EVENTS 1986 - The Comp. was Incorporated on 19th August, at Mumbai. The Comp. was promoted by Tata Industries limited [TILs].
- The Company object is to manufacture electronic private automatic branch exchange [EPABXs]. The Comp. also provides certain services such as software integration, installation, commissioning & service support.
- TIL signed a technical assistance & licence agreement & a supplementary agreement with OKI Electric Industry Co. limited [OKIs] of Japan. In terms of collaboration agreement, OKI would provide to the Comp. know-how for full range of EPABXs starting from 40 lines for their model IX-10 to the IOX series which goes upto 7,000 lines.
- The agreement also provided for training of Company personnel in OKI factories & for guarantee of OKI for the qualitative & quantitative aspects of EPABXs. The collaboration agreement would be valid for a period of 5 years from the date of commencement of production. The Comp. were to pay OKI technical assistance fees, documentation fees, etc., and royalty at the rate of 4% on ex-factory sales less value of bought out items as stipulated on the agreement.
1987 - 20 shares subscribed for by signatories to the Memorandum of Association. 44,99,980 shares then issued at par out of which the following shares were reserved & allotted on a firm basis:
- [is] 26,99,980 shares to promoters, directors etc.,
- [iis] 1,50,000 shares to UTI - [iiis] 1,50,000 shares to LIC and
- [ivs] 1,50,000 shares to GIC & its subsidiaries. Out of the remaining 13,50,000 shares, 2,25,000 shares were reserved for preferential allotment to employees/workers of Comp. but only 10,200 shares taken up. The balance 11,25,000 shares along with the 2,14,800 shares not taken up by employees, offered to the public in 1988.
1990 - New service centres were opened at Guwahati, Nagpur, Pune, Jammu & Baroda.
- The Research & Development unit introduced 2 new EPABXs a 100 line EPABX & a unique `talking' 300 line EPABX. Notable among other products introduced was the Automatic Line Test system that was to significantly improve maintenance & facilities on large EPABX systems such as those used in steel plants.
1991 - The Comp. had executed a technology transfer & licence agreement with Japan Radio Co. limited [JRCs] for 30 & 120 channel digital UHF equipment.
- A joint venture agreement was executed for establishment of a new Comp. called 'Trans India Network Systems Pvt. Ltd.', in technical & financial collaboration with AT and T Network Systems International Inc. USA., for manufacture of SLC 120 network access systems & associated modules, OPTIMUX & 2Mb/S systems & MAR systems.
- Both AT and T & the Comp. proposed to take up 50% each in equity capital of joint venture.
- A new 150 line PABX was introduced. The Research & Development unit had developed several new software packages such as a new call change package & several new features on PABX. A prototype for 10 channel digital UHF equipment was ready & it was under installation.
1993 - The Comp. issued 56,25,000 No. of equity shares of Rs.10 each at a prem. of Rs.50 per share on rights basis in the prop. of 4:5
- Another 2,81,250 No. of equity shares of Rs.10 each at a prem. of Rs.50 per share were to be offered on preferential basis to the employees, including the working directors of Comp. on an equitable basis. Totally 56,78,700 shares were allotted.
- 56,78,700 shares allotted to shareholders & employees on Rights basis.
1994 - The Comp. introduced latest Digital Paradigm exchanges incorporating state of art features like ISDN compatibility.
- Also, approval was received from TEC, DOT in respect of new products like ADPCM Transcoder, 20 channel Digital UHF ratio etc.
- The Comp. entered into an agreement with AT&T Corporation for distribution of Business Communication Products and Voice Processing system to support multi media & data communication application.
- Approvals from DOT were received for various products including 2 MB line system, subscriber loop carrier, optimux, combimux etc. The Comp. proposed to launch a number of new products in co-operation with Lucent which will provide it with a cutting edge in the Telecommunication Industry.
1995 - The Comp. also signed a Distributorship Agreement with Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Sweden & distribution of their cellular phones by Comp. commenced from March 1996. New Telephones including Spectra T-732, Compact S-510 & Astra 311 & range of cordless telephones were introduced by Company.
- A letter of intent was received to manufacture digital UHF equipment upto 30 channels. The Comp. executed an agreement with the Centre for Development of Telematics [C-DOTs] for transfer of technology for manufacture of 10 channel digital UHF equipment. Initially, it was to start with the production of a 10 channel UHF transmission equipment in the 400 & 600 MHz band. The equipment was to open new avenues in Railways and Defence areas. Necessary steps for implementation of this project were being taken.
- With effect from April 1, Tata Keltron limited was merged with the Company. In pursuance to the merger scheme, the shareholders of the erstwhile Tata Keltron Ltd., were allotted 1 equity share of Rs.10 of Comp. each of TKL & 10 equity shares of Rs.10 each of Comp. for every 25 cumulative convertible preference shares of Rs.100 each of TKL.
- 4,26,692 No. of equity shares allotted to shareholders of erstwhile Tata Keltron limited pursuant to the Scheme of Amalgamation.
2000 - Tata Telecom launched an advanced range of call centre products which it has sourced from its joint venture partner Avaya Communications [formerly Lucent Technologiess] in India.
- Tata Telecom limited is considering hiving off or selling TataPhone, its loss-making telephone equipment manufacturing division, as part of restructuring plan.
- Tata Telecom, a the joint venture between the Tatas & Lucent Technologies, will henceforth be known as a Tata-Avaya.
- Tatafone, a division of Tata Telecom Ltd, is beng hived off into a separate Comp. & would be a 100 per cent subsidiary of Tata group.
2001 - Tata Telecom has entered into an arrangement with Itel Industries, under which the whole of undertaking of Tataphone division of Comp. will be demerged into ITEL.
- Tata Cellular on June 27 launched its 'voice me' service in Andhra Pradesh which would provide voice mode to e-mail.
-India first post-paid Internet service on a regular telephone line NetReady, was launched by Tata Teleservices Limited, the private basic service provider in Andhra Pradesh.
-Tata Teleservices, which has the letter of intents for providing basic telephone services in 15 other circles, will sign an agreement with the department of telecommunications later this week to start services in four states Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu & Karnataka.
- In yet another move to provide continuous connectivity, Tata Cellular Ltd [TCLs], one of cellular operators in Andhra Pradesh [APs], launched its third corridor Krishna Corridor here on September 5, connecting a stretch of 384 km.
- Tata Teleservices Ltd, the private basic telecom services operator in Andhra Pradesh, has added 12 more CDMA [code division multiple accesss] cell sites in the twin cities & plans to roll out basic services in six more towns by year-end.
- Tata Cellular Ltd on September 27th, announced the launch of its cell-phone services in six more centres in Andhra Pradesh thereby extending coverage to 82 towns across the State. Amadalavalasa, Peddapuram, Ponnur, Tuni, Piduguralla & Kothagudem were added to the Tata Cellular network.
- The department of telecommunications [DoTs] has given the green signal for merger of two cellular operators Birla-AT&T & Tata Cellular.
2002
-Issues Commercial Papers amounting to Rs. 17cr for 90 days.
-Launches Baat Bees Lakh Ki , which offers 2 lakh prices to reach 6 lakh customers within 60 days.
-Talks on merger between Hughes Network Systems & Tata Industries was put off because of differences that errupted due to valuation of business.
-Raises loans from IDBI to start telecom services in Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu.
-Tata Cellular extends its coverage to 92 towns in AP by launching its mobile phone services in 4 towns.
-Tata Teleservices & Hughes Signs a Memorandum of Understanding.
-VSNL Investment in the Comp. is made for a span of 48 months.
-VSNL overvalues TTL by taking over its 25% stake for Rs.1200 cr.
-Purchases three Sun Fire 15K a new flagship high-ended system built on technologies built by Sun Microsystems.
-Makes an open offer to acquire upto 20% stake in Hughes Tele com.
-Introduces its smart-card based, pre-paid calling cards in Vishakapatnam.
-Alcatel India occupies $12m worth multimedia switching equipment order of Tata Teleservices.
-Inducts a two person transition committee to look into the integration of Hughes.
-Appoints R K Swamy BBDO to find a common brand for its basic telecom operations.
-Launches the first flexible tariff plans for limited mobility services in the country.
-Worldcom & the company issue affects the reinsurance plans of VSNL.
-Ties up with Indiatimes Infotech to jointly promote enterprise communications technologies.
-Issues fresh Commercial Paper of Rs.200 million , subscribed by UTI Bank Ltd with maturity date as Nov 22.
-Introduces 'Fundoo Calling' a voice porta exclusive for its claims aimed at giving more value to its users.
-Launches its next generation of enterprise class Internet protocol solutions [ECLIPSs] software & hardware.
-Foreign shareholding in the Comp. increased to 27.1% from 25.8% .
-Asks relief from customs/excise duties to fulfill the VPT committments.
-Declares festival scheme - Phone-tastic offer for all new landline customers.
-Forfeits 2195 equity shares on Acc. of calls-in-arrears.
-Introduces its fixed line wireless & CDMA mobile phones systems in TamilNadu.
-FIPB rejects TTL proposal to issue redeemable preference shares & warrants.
-Completes the acquisition of Hughes Tele com India Ltd & the Board of HTIL is changed: J J Irani - Chairman Mr S Ramakrishnan - Managing Director Mr Ishaat Hussain Mr R Gopalakrishnan Mr Kishor Chaukar Mr Firdose Vandrevala
-HTIL will be renamed as Tata Teleservices [Maharashtras] Ltd.
-Gets TRAI approval for its WLL tariff plan.
-Launches its WLL based limited mobility services in Delhi under the brand name 'Tata Indicon'.
2003
-The subscribers of TTSL have crossed 4500 mark.
-Forays into the Internet Cafe business with the brand name indicom.
-Motorola receives $43 million contract from the Comp. to deploy CDMA 1x network in Mumbai, maharashtra, goa.
-Slashes STD rates from Rs. 9 per minute to Rs.4.8 per minute.
-Tata & Avaya in the joint venture agrees to provide hi-tech equipment & solutions that will help the companies to optimise business continuity, maximise security.
-Tata Indicom launches Kyocera colour handsets with 4000 colour screen & polyphonic ringtones & flashlights.
-Slashes ISD rates upto 70% in its international long distance tariffs for calls to the US, Canada & Europe.
-Signs OgilvyOne for direct marketing business.
-Tata Indicom introduces CUG [Closed User Groups] facility
2004
-Tata Indicom unveils services in Anekal
-Tata Telecom Ltd, an enterprise communication solutions provider, has lined up a series of value added services [VASs] for growing contact centre players seeking to optimise their technology investments & provide an integrated view of their applications through a common interface.
-Tata Telecom gets Rs 1.4 cr video-conferencing deal from UBI
-Tata group announced that was is selling a 25.1 stake in Tata Telecom to its joint venture partner, the New Jersey-based Avaya Inc, for approximately $18 million [around Rs 80 crores] in cash, or Rs 220 a share.
-Tata Telecom ties up with Avaya to offer SIP solutions
- Tata Indicom launches push-to-talk [PTTs] services, based on Qualcomm BREWChat technology for first time in India
2007
-Avaya Global Connect Ltd has appointed Mr. Rohit Menezes as an Additional Director of Comp. w.e.f. January 25, 2007.
