BPLnet transfers subscribers to Now in cash-free transaction

new delhi: bplnet.com, the isp arm of the bpl group, has transferred all its existing subscribers to data access, which offers internet access under the now brandname, in a cash-free transaction. the move will help the bpl group a hassle-free exit from the isp business without the liability of servicing its existing customers. ''bplnet has handed over to data access all its subscribers in a cash-free deal,'' siddharth ray, md of data access ltd said.ray further said that data access was in talks with two more category a isps for a possible acquisition. he, however, refused to reveal the names of the isps. according to the agreement reached between the two companies, all subscribers in delhi, mumbai, chennai, bangalore, hyderabad, cochin and coimbatore will be transferred to data access. both corporate and dial-up subscribers will need to sign new contracts with now without any additional payment. bplnet.com has around 700 corporate clients and 30,000 dial-up clients. ''the industry is moving towards a consolidation as nobody has the cash left to burn,'' ray said. earlier, india's largest private isp satyam infoway's parent satyam computers said it was willing to divest stake in its isp arm. ray said that it planned to enter the international long distance telephony business once the monopoly of vsnl ends in april 2002. with the addition of the new subscribers, now will need another 20 mbps per month of bandwidth capacity. with 8 international c-band gateways in four cities, now is the second largest seller of bandwidth in the country. it, typically sells bandwidth to other isps like hathway, hcl infinet, primenet and hindujas among others.