Era of Convergence: A reality

NEW DELHI: "Convergence is a reality and technology has put convergence into

focus. This has brought not only numerous benefits to the customers but also

provided more challenges to the industry,” said Nirpendra Mishra, chairman,

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, while releasing the paper on "Key

Regulatory Issues in an Era of Convergence" prepared by Telecommunications

Management Group, INC, an international telecom consultancy firm at a seminar

organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).






“India's development in the field of telecom has been a success story so far and
can be referred as an unparalleled phenomenon in the world where ninety per cent

of a total of six lakh villages have been connected through telephony. India has

recently joined the 100 million club of mobile users which has been made

possible due to proper implementation of the regulatory systems, increased

competition and the involvement of the private sector in a big way," Mishra

added.






Further elaborating on the development in the telecom sector Mishra pointed out
that while the sector continues to evolve there are still some areas like

spectrum allocation, rural telephony and telecom equipment manufacturing which

needs attention from policy makers for sustained and widespread growth in this

sector.






The paper highlighted the impact of convergence, the resulting economic benefits
and the role the regulators and policy makers need to play to facilitate the

same. It also gave an overview of key issues in spectrum management, including

international coordination, factors affecting spectrum allocation and techniques

for awarding spectrum licenses.






It also provided insights into how the use of spectrum for commercial and
government purpose is being coordinated in various countries throughout the

world and how countries are taking advantage of technological change and

adapting their national policies to achieve universal service/access goals in

rural communities.






Paul Jacobs, chief executive officer, Qualcomm Incorporated, talking about the
way forward for the Indian telecom industry, said, "India with 100 million

mobile users and more that double the number of engineers compared to the USA

would be the focus of the world in near future."






Stressing the importance of data services using 3G technology in the modern
world Jacobs added, "All over the world the users of mobile devices with 3G

technology were outstripping the number of 2G technology users. 3G mobiles would

soon become the most advanced replacement for computers with increased memory,

better desktop and faster e- mailing devices due to convergence.”






Laying great stress on using convergence to serve the society Jacobs added, 3G
mobile would soon service people in areas of healthcare, education, public

safety, e-governance, rural development and achieving inclusive growth.






He also mentioned that Qualcomm would award $500,000 for the development of the
most innovative proposal for a BREW community application in the areas of

healthcare, education, public safety, governance and environment.






Earlier in the day, the seminar commenced with a welcome address by Vikram
Tiwathia, chief information officer, CII. Tiwathia in his opening address

stated: "If India has to meet the twin objective of being a developed country by

2020 and a knowledge super power, we must leverage the use of ICT technologies

which are strategic to the growth of all sectors and development needs to be

technology driven, sustained and inclusive. This can be achieved by initiating

interactions between businesses and addressing India's development goals and

regulatory policies."






The session also featured presentations by the Telecommunications Management
Group on 'Convergence Case Studies' and 'Universal Services in a Converging

World'. The session concluded with a panel discussion on the use of ICT

technologies for sustained development, which was panelled by experts from the

Department of Information Technology, Indian Institute of Management- Ahmedabad,

Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd and India Development Foundation.






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