Hathway, the Cable TV and broadband service provider is going through a rough phase in recent times. While every wired broadband service provider in the country is looking to increase the speed due to the upcoming Jio GigaFiber threat, Hathway states that it's looking to offer 200 Mbps broadband connection to its users in the country by 2020. Rajan Gupta, Managing Director at Hathway Cable and Datacom stated: "With Internet speeds increasing at a faster pace, we should be witnessing 100 Mbps to 200 Mbps as the base speeds within the next couple of years." At the same time, he also added that the company "would be able to offer 200 Mbps speeds to its consumers by FY21."
Furthermore, the company today said it is planning to deleverage its books by Rs 500 crore by March 2020. The company's total debt stood at Rs 1,617 crore as on March 31, and its net debt-to-equity ratio stood at 1.23.
"We have made a plan to deleverage the company by Rs 500 crore by March 2020," Rajan Gupta told reporters at PTI.
"Of the Rs 500 crore, the promoters will bring Rs 350 crore by way of equity and long-term unsecured loan. In fact, Rs 200 core is coming between July and August this year and the balance Rs 150 crore will happen over a period of time," Gupta said adding that the additional Rs 150 crore will be from cash that will be generated from operations.
Recently, the company raised funds to the tune of up to Rs 100 crore by way of preferential share allotment. It is also working on upgrading its subscribers to above 40 Mbps speed.
Gupta said about 10% of its total consumer base of eight lakh (as on March 31) subscribers is on less than 40 Mbps broadband speeds.
"We are actively pushing them for upgrading, but if they don't fit in our strategic framework (by FY19-end), then we will be left with no option but to drop them," he said.
The consumer usage had gone up to 110GB per user per month from 35GB two years ago. Global usage, however, is 250GB to 300GB per user per month, he added.
