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India Telecom 2007–Digital Divide to Digital Opportunities was organized at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from December 12-15, 2007. A landmark event for the telecom industry, it was organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), with the active support of three major telecom bodies-the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association (TEMA), and the Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI).

The curtain raiser was marked by the signing of public-private partnership MoUs on telecom centers of excellence among IIM Ahmedabad, Idea Cellular, DoT, IIT Kharagpur, and Vodafone Essar. Inaugurating the conference at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the telecom sector has shown remarkable enterprise and dynamism in the last one decade. Drawing attention to the large rural-urban divide in connectivity, he said the rural population has little or no telecom access, though telecom connectivity has the potential to play a transformational role in rural areas.

He suggested creating an ecosystem for the rapid growth of telecom products manufacturing. The prime minister stressed that the policy regime for spectrum availability should be fair, liberal, and transparent.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurating India Telecom 2007 at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi

Rural Thrust
Presence of many known industry stalwarts certainly added to the event. Addressing it, FICCI president Habil Khorakiwala said that the Indian telecom industry was on a high growth trajectory with over 209.8 mn mobile subscribers and 7-8 mn additions every month. Commenting on the challenges of meeting the target of 500 mn telephone connections and 80 mn rural connections by 2010, he said that rollouts in rural areas would be the critical factor in achieving this target. Easy availability, low cost, easily maintainable PC/Internet access devices, and creation and customization of relevant content are the essential requirements for faster uptake and penetration into rural markets.

On the concern about the lack of a 'pollution-free environment', he said that special efforts have been made to encourage the use of alternate sources of energy to power communication network in rural areas. India Telecom 2007 provided a focused, business oriented medium for the telecom industry and an opportunity for interaction by the leading telecom companies and potential buyers.

Wooing Foreign Investment
Commenting on the foreign investment in the sector, Habil Khorakiwala said that reduced long distance license fees and easier rollout obligations have encouraged foreign investors, and India expects an investment potential of about $20-25 bn over the next five years. Union minister for communications and IT Thiru A Raja that India has got commitments of investments worth about $20 bn in the IT and telecom sector by 2010. India has also taken steps to create an environment for innovation through establishment of seven telecom centers of excellence.

Showcasing Tech Prowess
The conference brought together a group of national and international visionaries, operators, equipment manufacturers, cutting-edge technology companies and investors for interaction with policy makers. Service providers, network infrastructure manufacturers, content providers, handset manufacturers, and accessory manufacturers.

Approximately 145 exhibitors participated in this international event.

The exhibitors had put on display latest technologies available the world over in the telecom industry which proved to be very useful for Indian telecom operators and manufacturers.

The India Telecom 2007 conference was conducted with an objective to discuss new growth drivers that are transforming the telecom sector in India and around the world, and evaluate challenges and opportunities around new technologies, and growth frontiers.

The event also provided opportunities for transfer of technology and setting up of R&D bases in collaboration with international firms in the country.

Arpita Prem
arpitap@cybermedia.co.in