This is interesting: The state-run Power Grid Corporation of India has said that it is in talks with a consortium of Cable Operators to provide TV, Internet and entertainment services in India’s major cities, reports Forbes. Power Grid is a listed company, and from the communication to the BSE:

- Cumulative Aggregate Growth Rate (CAGR) of the telecom business in terms of revenue growth is approximately 94%.
- During FY 2007-08, Telecom Revenue increased to about Rs 90 Crore for 9 months ending December, 2007 from Rs 51 Crore for 9 months ending December, 2006.
- Orders of about Rs 300 Crore have been booked till 3rd quarter of current fiscal.
- POWERGRID is also looking forward to getting into Entertainment Business, Tower Business, Data Centre Business, Gigabit Knowledge network etc.
- Discussion under progress for a Joint Venture (JV) with one of the state and a private player to launch entertainment services.
- Discussion also under progress for entering in to an Agreement with consortium of Cable Operators to provide Television services / internet services and other related entertainment services in Metropolis.
- Upon successful venturing into these new business areas, POWERGRID’s Telecom revenue is expected to rise to Rs 500 Crores per annum in next two to three years.

Whether the public sector company is actually going to implement this plan, remains to be seen, but it does also bring to light possibilities for Reliance Power, particularly because Reliance Entertainment is a part of the same group. Some Power Grid executives had mentioned broadband plans to me around a year ago, though nothing has happened so far.

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