If you have been regularly reading my posts on Internet and Broadband here, then I am sure you’d sense my bearish attitude towards Internet / Broadband growth [Hey!, don’t blame me, it was the Netas, Babus and CEOs who were unwilling to open their eyes towards broadband service] However, after MTS deployed their 1X Advanced technology network, i got into the research mode and having gone through several reports, exchange of emails, etc I am stepping into the shoes of Broadband Bull š [This has got nothing to do with CII – IMRB report, I will write about it, in the next post] India has ~ 7 mn broadband subscribers and will fall short of the 20 mn target by 2010.
The broadband scenario has changed in the past 6 months. Credit should go to Tata and Reliance Communications for disrupting the marketplace and setting fire the race for broadband market share despite several controversies [ I told you then, DoT will overlook the objections raised by Airtel ].Ā The EVDO based wireless broadband aggressively pushed by RCom, Tata and BSNL is doing really well and is expected to add more than 1 mn customers only on this platform. MTS – Sistema Shyam is expected to enter the broadband market in India by end of this year š
BSNL is rolling out DSL packages aggressively on its Copper Network / Landlines even in remote parts of India. 20 mn Target can be achieved, if they open their networks to private players. Airtel is secretive about its plans and is throwing its weight behind WiMax as well as 3G for Wireless broadband. Airtel’s Wired networks performance is acceptable though falls short of my expectations. IĀ really hope some R&D folks will get to the bottom of the problems of WiMax subscribers and make it a big medium for connecting Indians.
Finally, the DoT has announced time line for 3G / BWA Spectrum auction which is acting as a catalyst in my role change š
Now, in my estimate, I expect India to end 2010 with 12 mn broadband connections. Do or Die!!!
Note: I know I owe few posts, I will try to catch them up by the end of this weekend as lot of reading and research goes on writing each one of them. My micro ideas and thoughts mostly on Telecom can be read on Twitter.