MUMBAI: Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) has appointed Shashi Kalanthil as head retail broadband business.

Kalanthil will oversee the entire business roll out of VSNL's broadband offering with effect from 1 October, informs an official release.

Kalanthil joins VSNL after a six-year stint at Pepsico India where his last assignment was as the marketing director. Prior to Pepsico, Kalanthil has worked for Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL) in marketing research, sales and marketing division.

Kalanthil was also instrumental in setting up one of India's earliest cellular networks, RPG Cellular, as head of marketing, sales and customer services in 1995. Kalanthil is an alumnus of IIM - Bangalore and brings with him extensive experience of retail consumer market space, adds the offical release.

VSNL is in the process of rolling out its broadband services across 30 cities in India over the next two years. VSNL has identified retail broadband as a thrust area and endeavors to increase the broadband penetration in the country by introducing world-class applications and services. VSNL's intent is to offer a 'triple play' - voice, data and video-broadband offering.