Telecom Lead India: Cisco’s technology policy head Robert Pepper has shared tips for succeeding in the Indian mobile broadband market.
As per the National Telecom Policy 2012, India targets 175 million broadband users by 2017 and 600 million by 2020.
According to Robert Pepper, vice president, Global Technology Policy, Cisco, Indian telecom players and the India government should focus on the following to achieve 600 million users by the end of the current decade:
1) Increase availability of spectrum for both 3G and 4G
According to Pepper, the current spectrum is not sufficient to achieve the target. The government should be pro-active in releasing spectrum for inclusive growth of broadband.
2) Use small cells to increase presence
There will be lots of demand for indoor connectivity. Schools and enterprises will be looking for more connectivity solutions. India has already fiber backhaul and small cells can play a significant role for better broadband coverage.
3) Analyze supply and demand side of broadband
Pepper said some countries failed to analyze supply and demand side of broadband. This is the most important component to ensure success in mobile broadband space.
4) Involve private sector for broadband growth
Private participation will ensure include growth.
5) Development of apps
Mobile broadband will not take off without the availability of adequate applications such e health, e governance, e education, etc. He suggests increased thrust of app development in India.
6) Innovation and adoption
Pepper said if India follows these strategies, the country can over achieve its broadband targets before time.
Recently, Cisco predicted that there will be 212 million fixed internet users in 2016 (excluding mobile only), up from 85 million in 2011 in India. TVs will account for 6 percent of consumer Internet video
In India, video will be 40 percent of mobile data traffic by 2016, up from 15 percent by the end of 2011.
Business mobile data traffic will grow 49-fold from 2011 to2016 at a CAGR of 117 percent in India. Mobile data traffic in 2016 will be equivalent to 21x the volume of the entire Indian Internet in 2005.
Recently, Pepper shared prescription for ICT public policy. One size doesn’t fit all, but there are some basic principles. The first one is competition actually works. When you have more players and more entry it actually leads to investment, innovation, increased adoption. Second, the government policies and regulatory processes have to be open, fair, transparent and you need an independent regulator. Third, you actually have to not only tolerate, but encourage challengers and disruption. Disruptive technologies have actually led to a lot of innovation.
Baburajan K
