Telecom Lead India: Syed Safawi, who recently stepped
down as president and CEO of Reliance Communications’ wireless business, has
joined VIOM Network as its CEO.
VIOM Network is a joint venture between Tata Teleservices
and SREI.
Besides heading the tower company, Safawi will also own
minority equity stake in the alternative energy division of the company, Times
Now reported.
Before joining Reliance Communications, Safawi spent
close to 9 years in Bharti Airtel.
He will spearhead the international tie-ups of VIOM
Networks. The tower company owns close to 40,000 towers and has a tenancy of
96,000.
In the wake of recent Supreme Court order, tower
companies are undergoing a tough phase.
Gurdeep Singh to head Reliance Communications as president
& CEO
Recently, Reliance Communications has appointed Gurdeep
Singh as president & CEO of its Wireless Business. Gurdeep replaces Syed
Safawi who stepped down recently. Gurdeep will be responsible for leading
Reliance Communications Wireless Business to achieve higher revenues and
profitability. Gurdeep Singh will also be a member of Reliance Management
Board (RMB). Gurdeep is joining the telecom operator at a time when Reliance
Communications is planning to spend Rs 1,500 crore as Capex.
With a mere 9% rise in 2011 telecom revenue, heads roll at
Indian mobile operators
In a span of around six months, more than six CEOs / CXOs
resigned from Indian telecom operators. This include Syed Safawi of Reliance
Communications, Atul Bindal of Bharti Airtel, Shamik Das of S Tel, Malickarjun
Rao, Rahul Saigal and Gurdeep Singh of Aircel, Sushil Prakash and Pankaj Sethi
of Tata Teleservices and top team at Virgin Mobile India.
According to Ovum, Indian telecom service providers’
revenue is likely to grow at 9.5 percent to $38.59 billion in 2011 from $35.24
billion in 2010. Out of this, mobile service revenue is likely to grow at 13.7
percent to $29.75 billion in 2011 from $26.16 billion in 2010.
editor@telecomlead.com
