Virgin Mobile launched youth focused mobile services in India in association with Tata Teleservices. The alliance will launch Virgin Mobile in 50 cities initially and in more than 1,000 cities by the year end.

Virgin Group Chairman Richard Branson said that the company aimed to 5 million subscribers over the first three years with special value-added services and handsets priced at Rs 2,000-5,000.

“This is Virgin Mobile''s seventh launch globally and Virgin's largest investment to date in India," he said. "The Indian market is growing like no other market in the world," added Branson.

“Tata has got the network, we have got the brand.. it makes a win-win for both the companies,” stated Branson to refute any charges of it entering the country through the MVNO route. The Chairman added that the alliance was purely on the principles of brand extension.

The Chairman further added that the company is considering entering the GSM space as well in India. "Its a pain to do GSM at the moment because the network is completely full. If more capacity comes there, we plan to venture into that area as well," Branson said.