Global tech cos bullish on India business potential

Global technology companies are bullish on business prospects in India but want regulators to accelerate the process of approving their proposals for upgrading communication networks across the country, participants at an IT event here say.

Also read: Yahoo's Mayer shines spotlight on video

India would face telecommunication system stress, jamming of connections and strains on systems if it slows down any further upgrading of the entire network, said exhibitors at the CommunicAsia2013 IT exhibition being held from June 18-21.

India must make a switch to internet-based and high speed fibre cable systems from the current analogue, fixed phone lines and cable-based communication systems, said the exhibitors with proposals submitted to the regulators for the past two years.

The plans include the launch of India-dedicated satellite, very high speed digital subscriber line system and high-tech hardware such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP) equipment among others.

The companies are waiting from approvals of the plans and proposals from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Department of Science and Technology and others.

"We have been waiting for approvals from these regulators for the past two years," said Pranav Roach, president of the Hughes Network Systems India, which plans to launch an India-dedicated communications satellite.

"We are entering Asia for the first time and plan to launch a satellite later this year, especially aiming to serve the Indian market," added Eyal Copitt, senior vice president of sales in Africa, Asia & Marketing at Spacecom.

"We are seeking landing rights from ISRO," he told PTI.  Landing rights allow network operators to use the satellite.

The Israel-based Spacecom was waiting for ISRO approval to launch its Amos-4 satellite. It is already among the communication satellite operators covering most of the developed markets.

Each satellite would cost USD 500 million, a massive investment, according to communication satellite companies.  

Hughes plans to launch its India-dedicated communication satellite from within the country, saving millions of dollars on investments and leasing of network links from satellite operators by international companies, said Roach.

Supporting the space investors were service providers and hardware manufacturers.

North Carolina-based Commscope Inc plans to ramp up production at its facility in Goa which manufactures high-end communication products for both India and global markets, said Navin Vohra, vice president of the wireless product sales in Asia and India.

Vohra said he expected strong demand for communication products as India upgrades its communication networks.  Technologists called on the government to make a quick decision on introduction of advance technologies or the Indian consumer would be frustrated by jammed networks and stressed systems.