Agenda for change: Strict cyber laws for phones & uninterrupted bandwidth

BANGALORE, INDIA: India's telecommunication network is the second largest in the world based on the total number of telephone users (both fixed and mobile phone). It has one of the lowest call tariffs in the world enabled by the mega telephone networks and hyper-competition among them.

According to a report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), the number of mobile internet users in India is expected to nearly double and hit 165 million by March 2015.

Even as the mobile user base expands, there is an underlying fear about security of data. In that perspective, Ajay Srivastava, CIO of Spice Mobility,  says: "The focus should be on mobility as mobile becomes a very strong business tool in the upcoming time. There is a need to put in place strict cyber laws to deal frauds occurring during mobile transactions."

He also felt the need for a robust IT infrastructure to reach to even remotest areas of the country, where there is a need of internet connectivity.

N Varadarajan, senior GM-IT, Madras Cements Ltd, says: "The growth has given rise to numerous gadgets and the end user is no more confined to laptops. There are iPads, tablets, iPhones, smartphones and similar devices that have become the order of the day. But the main question is: Are these devices able to replace a laptop for serious business computing? (Like ERP Processes, BI Applications etc). Only some beginning is made in this direction. Lot of changes are required at organizational level and IT environment to adapt to these changes." He feels an urgent need for the IT industry to standardize - at least the web browsers.

That apart, he says mobile connectivity is poor in most of the areas. "Only in cities and large towns, we have slightly better connectivity (3G or EDGE). In the rural areas of the country, the data Connectivity provided by the mobile service providers is pathetic. This is the biggest hurdle for considering serious business applications on mobiles. The telecom industry should give priority to data communication and strive to provide better and consistent internet bandwidth on mobiles," he says.

"Security is the another aspect that requires standardization and cost-effective solutions. Some providers do give MDM (Mobile Device Management) solutions for security. But the cost is quite high, in some cases it even exceeds the plan charges," he adds.