BT is continuing a push into Asia Pacific with the opening of a fifth technology showcase center in the region.
The firm took the wraps off its latest site in New Delhi, India, yesterday, pledging to create 60 new jobs and to help connect Indian firms with multinationals seeking to do business in the country. The new center follows the opening of similar sites in Hong Kong, Beijing, Sydney and Singapore over the past ten months, and brings the total number of sites to seven including New York and London.
Technology and services showcased at the New Delhi center includes video conferencing, network optimization, unified communications and voice over IP.
However, the assertion of Kevin Taylor, regional president of BT’s Global Services division, that “India is a critical component to BT’s success,” is somewhat undermined by the firm’s 2010 promise to the UK-based Communications Workers Union to cut Indian call center jobs. The telco made the promise as part of a deal to avert its first major strike in nearly 20 years.
The telco has also been cutting back on the number of outsourced IT contracts awarded to tier-one Indian players. The most prominent example of the cut backs was a decision to sell 5.5% of its 30% stake in outsourcing firm Tech Mahindra in November.