India Communications Minister Pramod Mahajan told a telecommunications industry gathering Wednesday five companies, including Reliance Group, Data Access India Ltd. and Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd, have been approved for international phone service licenses. Mahajan also cited two other companies, Connecting Network and Pacific Century Cyberworks Ltd..
Data Access India is an affiliate of Hong Kong-based Pacific Convergence Corp. and launched Network of the World Internet service in India.
Mahajan said the companies could start offering services April 1, when current international long-distance phone company Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (VSL) loses its monopoly.

Tata Group Ltd. (P.TTA) last week completed the purchase of a 25% strategic stake for 14.39 billion rupees ($1=INR48.62) in state-owned Videsh Sanchar.
Firms have to pay a Rs 250 million fee for the international phone service license. Bureau Report