BT Group increases investment in China

Leading telecom operator BT Group will invest at least $70 million in China in the coming years as part of its efforts to more than double revenue in the country by 2009.

(You need to place BT to understand this. BT was once British Telecom and is the privatized UK state telecommunications operator. It is the dominant fixed line telecommunications and broadband Internet provider in the United Kingdom. BT operates in more than 170 countries and almost a third of its revenue now comes from its Global Services division. Sadly, as Wikipedia reports, changing your name does not mean you change your spots. 'Despite this the company has an appalling track record in customer services. Customers hoping to carry out seemingly straightforward procedures like line reconnections can sometimes expect to wait on hold for up to three hours.' Our illustration represents some of its cutting edge technology in London. The phone does not work but the card advertisements stuck around the inside are interesting.)

BT at home may be something of a shambles but its best efforts are overseas.Now it has opened a technology and service center in Dalian and a research and development facility in Shanghai.

Bill Lam, vice-president of BT Global Services' Northeast Asia operation, said, 'We are very committed to pursuing long-term development in China.'

BT has recruited about 60 employees for its Dalian center to provide software development, service delivery and support for clients in China, Japan and South Korea. Its R&D center in Shanghai, the fourth globally, will be used for research and will also provide services to clients in China.