New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS): Teleocm service provider Uninor Thursday said it has achieved break-even in five of its six operating circles and will now focus on rural markets for the next phase of business expansion.

“Uninor is also embarking on a major business expansion. Our ambition is to scale up and grow both deeper and wider in each of our six circles - increasingly into rural markets where affordability is key,” chief executive officer Yogesh Malik said here.

In this phase, the company will expand its network and retail presence with a focus on the rural markets. The company has introduced innovations in its sales and distribution to take its services into rural markets, he said.

In Uttar Pradesh East, the company has launched a concept of micro-distributors - one-person business serving as distributor, retail executive and activation officer combined, Malik added.

Uninor has 32.7 million customers in India.

Malik said Uninor has achieved its financial break-even in the two circles of Uttar Pradesh West and Bihar, including Jharkhand. With this, five of its six circles have achieved break-even, Malik said.

“We are on schedule to achieve break-even in the Maharashtra (including Goa) telecom circle by end of this year as targeted,” he said.