Mr. J. S. Deepak, secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, set the tone for the discussion by saying, “Mobile phone usage sky rocketed after the price went below 15 dollars. So making devices affordable won’t be an issue but some key issues like design, customizing devices for the Indian user and how to increase domestic manufacturing has to be worked out, if we are to get more and more Indians connected.”
Even a day before GST reforms were announced the secretary maintained that, “It’s hard to say how GST reforms will impact device manufacturing, but the ministries related to electronics, IT and telecom are working together to see how it can benefit manufacturing of mobile phones in India. We advocate these changes; they are necessary along with incentives.
In addition, we do have a crutch in the form of no comprehensive satellite network. We expect to see some news on improving satellite networks for India, making tariffs affordable while making quality and cost comparable to those in other countries.”
Mr. Josh Foulger, country head and managing director for Foxconn International Holdings, India, said, “It is possible to make a billion devices, 150 million Nokia units were manufactured at a single site in India, in a year. But not right away, perhaps in the next 10 years.”
With regard to making wireless, connected devices for the fast looming IoT age he said, “Who is going to make the billions of predicted connected devices for 2025? If India is getting ready to take over from China as a manufacturing hub then we should also get ready for making IoT age devices. With government support for the manufacturing road map, we can make absolute magic here.”
Mr. P. Sanjeev, vice president for sales at Huawei and Honor India (consumer business) said, “India has already achieved roughly 40 per cent of the one billion target. India is second largest user base for devices connected through mobile Wi-Fi and growing faster than China at the moment.”
Mr. Narendra Nayak, managing director for Blackberry India Pvt Ltd said, “Enterprise applications are important especially for the sales force and distributors. Awareness about security threat to mobile devices like phones should also be increased. Second half of 2015 has had more attacks than the entirety of 2014. Securing connected devices will increase employee phone access especially in the SME sector.”
Mr. Sandeep Bhargva, executive vice president corporate affairs and public policy, Vodafone India Limited suggested, “bundling phone, education and data will increase accessibility and affordability. Women in rural areas don’t have their own devices, ensuring women will use their own phone will be a necessary step to leapfrog to achieving that billion mobile user target.”
Mr. Hari Om Rai, chairman and founder of Lava International agreed with the need to educate and encourage more Indians to use the internet. “Global tests conducted not too long ago put India second from bottom in education. So it’s difficult to provide people with education based on current infrastructure. We have a chance of manufacturing in our country and grow our country. Every country is turning into a knowledge economy. It’s critical to have internet proliferation in India.
Drug peddlers used to give drugs for free at first to hook users. I believe data is like that drug. What Reliance has done in giving free data is like giving a drug. In the short term, competing operators may lose, but in the long term, all operators will benefit because demand for data will grow multifold.”
Mr. Ramesh Vaswani, director and advisor of corporate affairs for Intex Technologies too said, “If India’s goal is to get one billion internet users, it will be imperative to train users especially in villages on how to use the mobile device. This creates a golden opportunity to empower and create jobs for especially girls in mobile servicing.”
Throwing caution to the wind as India relentlessly chases its one billion online dream, Mr. Vaswani said, “On the flip side I think we must also be aware of becoming a slave to our devices or the internet. Else it will completely destroy the fabric of our society. Social support and family support networks will be weakened.”
BW Reporters
Regina is a reporter for BW Businessworld. In her previous assignments, she has worked with Independent television Network as a news anchor and reporter in Sri Lanka
