SEPT 26: The number of internet users is zooming, forcing various bodies to revise the estimates. The National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) today revised its estimates for Indian Internet market pegging the subscriber base at 2.5 million by March 31, 2001 against 2 million subscribers projected earlier.VSNL to invest Rs 1,500 cr in NLDMUMBAI: Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd, the country's exclusive provider of international telephony and the premier Internet service provider proposes to invest Rs 1,500 crore on its national long distance (NLD) project.Said Shailendra Kumar Gupta, the company's chairman and managing director: "It (NLD) is an exciting market and the one with tremendous growth potantial." This will be over and above the capex of Rs 4,643 crore originally envisaged for the five year period ending March 2002 and will go towards setting up gateways and earth stations.The company unveiled its future growth plan to the shareholders at its 14th annual general meeting here on Tuesday. It was also revealed that as part of the capex, the company would also be investing Rs 2,000 over the next two years. Significantly, the original capex was Rs 7,600 crore. "We dropped a few projects," said RSP Sinha, director (finance). The company has so far invested Rs 1,800 crore.
