VSNL Launches trueroots(TM) International Calling Service to the United States South Asian Community

  
    
  
  
    
      VSNL (NYSE:VSL), a leading communications solutions provider, announced 
      today the launch of truerootsTM, an 
      International Calling Service that allows people from South Asia 
      residing in the United States to reliably, securely and economically 
      reach out and connect with their family and friends. The launch is being 
      celebrated at an exclusive New York City community event taking place 
      today at the Pierre Hotel, where more than 150 South Asian community 
      leaders, influential business executives and media, will be addressed by 
      senior executives from the Tata Group and VSNL and entertained by a 
      musical performance from international composer and artist Karsh Kale.
    
    
      Officially available in the US beginning August 21st, 
      the new truerootsTM International Calling 
      Service offers superior voice quality and easy to access connectivity 
      across the globe, without hidden fees or extra charges and without the 
      need for a physical calling card, which can often be lost or stolen and 
      subject to fraudulent use. TruerootsTM provides 
      highly competitive rates to South Asian countries including India, 
      Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka supported by a 24/7 customer service 
      organization. Calls are carried on VSNL’s 
      extensive global fiber optic network, one of the world’s 
      largest global submarine cable infrastructures, providing unsurpassed 
      quality and capacity and ensuring clear and error free connectivity.
    
    
      “As a truly international company, VSNL 
      understands the need to stay true to your roots and keep in touch with 
      the people in your life that mean the most – 
      family and friends,” said,Sandeep Mathur, 
      Head of Corporate Affairs for VSNL. “Our goal 
      was to create an international calling service that is truly unique in 
      the industry, delivering on the promises of crystal clear quality, 
      uninterrupted calling and cost effective connectivity without hidden 
      fees.”
    
    
      Mathur continued, “As a member of the Tata 
      Group, one of India's largest and most respected business conglomerates, 
      VSNL shares the culture of strict adherence to business ethics and a 
      strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and community. 
      Built upon this philosophy, VSNL’s truerootsTM 
      calling service will enable members of the South Asian community living 
      in the United States to feel confident about their international calling 
      experience and know that they can connect with their home countries and 
      pay only for the minutes they use at economical rates. We are pleased 
      that we can support the rapidly growing US South Asian community with a 
      service that lives up to the quality standards they expect and deserve, 
      and that helps make it easier for them to stay close to their close ones 
      across the world.”
    
    
      The truerootsTM service can be purchased online 
      through a user friendly web portal at www.trueroots.us or by calling 
      VSNL customer service directly, 365 days a year. It offers advanced 
      features including a prepaid recharge option, which allows a calling 
      account to be recharged. Other features include instant recognition of 
      calling line ID for PIN-less dialing from up to 5 registered phone 
      numbers, the ability to make up to three follow-on calls without having 
      to redial the access number, speed dial capabilities for up to 5 
      frequently dialed numbers, and last number redial.
    
    
      “With the goal of fostering communication and 
      helping to unite the South Asian community across the world, truerootsTM 
      is a truly innovative service,” said David 
      Good, Chief Representative, North America for the Tata Group. “The 
      Tata family of companies’ purpose is to 
      improve the quality of life of the communities we serve by offering 
      services that exemplify our five core values of integrity, 
      understanding, excellence, unity and responsibility. The truerootsTM 
      International Calling Service is representative of these values and will 
      assist in the continued development of the South Asian community.”
    
    
      As part of the service, truerootsTM account 
      holders will soon have access to exclusive voice services, special 
      offers and incentive discounts through the website. One of these 
      services, to be released this coming fall, will offer entry to a leading 
      entertainment media hub, which will allow customers to gain access to 
      premium content such as full length movies, including Bollywood, TV 
      series, sports coverage, video games, music downloads, and karaoke, with 
      much more to be added on an ongoing basis.
    
    
      As part of the US consumer launch, truerootsTM 
      is a major sponsor of the New York City India Day Parade on August 19th, 
      offering a variety of entertainment including the music of the Brooklyn 
      Qawwali Party Band, a 14-piece jazz/world music band inspired by 
      recordings of the late great Sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. TruerootsTM 
      is also being launched throughout the United Kingdom and Canadian 
      markets. The UK consumer launch was kicked off at the truerootsTM 
      London Mela on August 12th, a festival aimed at 
      celebrating South Asian culture and creativity. The service will be 
      officially rolled out in the UK at a London community cricket event at 
      the Lords Media Centre on August 21st. TruerootsTM 
      is also expected to be launched in Toronto, Canada later this year.
    
    
      For further information regarding truerootsTM 
      International Calling Service for the US, visit www.trueroots.us. 
      The website portals for the UK and Canada are www.trueroots.co.uk 
      and www.trueroots.ca respectively.
    
    
      About VSNL
    
    
      Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), a member of the US$29 billion Tata 
      Group, is a leading global communications company offering 
      next-generation voice, data and value-added services to enterprises, 
      carriers and retail consumers. Voted the Best Wholesale Service Provider 
      at the World Communications Awards, 2006, VSNL is one of the world’s 
      largest providers of wholesale international voice services and operates 
      one of the largest global submarine cable networks. VSNLs customer base 
      includes 1500 Global Carriers, 450 Mobile Operators, 10,000 Enterprises, 
      500,000 Broadband and Internet subscribers and 300 Wi-Fi public hotspots.
    
    
      Rated amongst the Top 100 Emerging Global Challengers by the Boston 
      Consulting Group, VSNL has offices in over 35 countries including the 
      United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, 
      Singapore, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and India. VSNLs global transmission 
      network of over 200,000 route kilometers and its IP core with 200 points 
      of presence, enables a range of services that include voice, private 
      leased circuits, IP VPN, Internet access, global Ethernet, hosting, 
      mobile signaling and other IP services. Our philosophy of BusinessnRich 
      drives us to empower our customers to achieve enhanced value in their 
      global businesses.
    
    
      VSNL (www.vsnl.com) 
      is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange 
      of India, and its American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are listed on the 
      New York Stock Exchange.
    
    
      Forward-looking and cautionary statements
    
    
      Certain words and statements in this release concerning VSNL and its 
      prospects, and other statements relating to VSNLs expected financial 
      position, business strategy, the future development of VSNLs operations 
      and the general economy in India, are forward-looking statements. These 
      forward looking statements include, among others, statements concerning 
      VSNLs communications and information services business, its advantages 
      and VSNLs strategy for continuing to pursue its business, the 
      anticipated development and launch of new services in its business, the 
      anticipated dates on which VSNL will begin providing certain services or 
      reach specific milestones in the development and implementation of its 
      business strategy, the growth and recovery of the communications and 
      information services, industry, expectations as to its future revenue, 
      margins, expenses and capital requirements and other statements of 
      expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated 
      developments and other matters that are not historical facts. Such 
      statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other 
      factors, including financial, regulatory and environmental, as well as 
      those relating to industry growth and trend projections, which may cause 
      actual results, performance or achievements of VSNL, or industry 
      results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such 
      forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on 
      numerous assumptions regarding VSNLs present and future business 
      strategies and the environment in which VSNL will operate in the future. 
      The important factors that could cause actual results, performance or 
      achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements 
      include, among others, failure to increase the volume of traffic on 
      VSNLs network, failure to develop new products and services that meet 
      customer demands and generate acceptable margins, failure to 
      successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and 
      information systems to support new products and services, including 
      voice transmission services, failure to stabilize or reduce the rate of 
      price compression on certain of VSNLs communications services, failure 
      to integrate strategic acquisitions such as the Tyco Global Network and 
      Teleglobe International Holdings Limited and changes in government 
      policies or regulations of India and, in particular, changes relating to 
      the administration of VSNLs industry, and, in general, the economic, 
      business and credit conditions in India. Additional factors that could 
      cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially 
      from such forward-looking statements, many of which are not in VSNLs 
      control, include, but are not limited to, those risk factors discussed 
      in VSNLs various filings with the United States Securities and Exchange 
      Commission. These filings are available at www.sec.gov