The Sivasankaran-promoted Dishnet DSL, a Chennai-based Category A Internet service provider (ISP) plans to come out with voice over Internet Protocol service very soon and is also looking at offering value-added services to its customers, according to an executive of the company.

"We are planning the VoIP soon and will also supply the phone sets through which customers will be able to use the facility," B Rajan of Dishnet DSL said.

Pointing out that the company will not restrict itself to the core services, Rajan said value-added services will be an added incentive. The services which the company is looking at offering include video streaming, video conferencing, gaming and e-commerce. 

"We are also closely looking at e-learning which is a buzz word these days," Rajan added.

Dwelling on the company's expansion plans, especially in North India, Rajan said that a hub would come up soon in Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi. "But we are open to partnerships for co-location," he said, hinting that in those places where the company does not have a hub or a gateway it is open to forging alliances.

Dishnet DSL, incorporated in 1998, currently has operations in 37 cities in India with eight licenced international gateways and over 125 Dishnet DSL hubs. 

Pointing out the advantages that a Dishnet customer has compared to the one who has a Net connection through cable, Rjana said that while DishnetDSL connections are always on, dedicated and secured lines, a c\susbcriber of Net-over-cable may not get the consistency due to cable deficiencies and will not have a complete secure line. 

Some of DishnetDSL's clients include Coznizant technology Solutions, HCL technologies, Arthur Andersen, Raj TV and Vijay TV.