Transforming Education

This article "Transforming Education" appeared as an editorial page article in the New Indian Express. While avaiability of affordable mobile gadgets like Tablets and better data connectivity is being improved, the latest trend interms of MOOC could play a key role in developing and delivery courses( content).

The educated class will benefit from the MOOC revolution with out any government intervention. But government's attention is need in addressing the semi literate/illiterate poulation.

Pl click on the link Transforming Education or click on the image for viewing the print replica.

Should Smartphone Makers Embrace a Single or Multiple OS Strategy?

Pic source: Wired

This article I co-authored with Andrew Till on the constant challenge faced by Mobile Handset OEMs has appeared in WIRED/Insights  on 7th Dec 2012

Should the OEMs look at Apple-like approach or a multi-OS approach. The article looks at the pros and cons of both approaches. We argue that innovation will be the  single most important parameter to be considered. We also argue that the Open OS are not really “Open”. The entry barrier for new platform is very high.  

Please click on Should Smartphone Makers Embrace a Single or Multiple OS Strategy? or on the picture to read the article

 

Government should protect mobile consumers

This article authored by me has appeared in the Financial express on 20th Nov 2012. While there are quite a few theories around why the 2G auction failed, it is increasingly clear that the Government needs to be less aggressive and help in overall welfare of the consumers for sustaining the Mobile revolution and the vision stated in the NTP-2012.

 

Please click on Government should protect mobile consumers OR click/Right click on the image for print replica

Too greedy (2G)Auction?

So the auction has finally ended, fetching only 10K crore as against the target of  30K to 40K. This auction ended in 2 days as against over 30 days during the 3G auction. Almost all the telcos are bleeding and things are going to get worse. Are we staring at M&As to rescue the Telcos?

More auctions on the anvil (1) The unsold spectrum in this auction , (2) Spectrum not put-up for auction from the orginal  122 quashed licencess (3)  Refarming of 900Mhz

Perhaps time for the Goverment and the regulator to serioulsy re-look at the mechanism used for arriving at the base price for auctions.
 

Time for India to Innovate

This article  "Time for India to Innovate" authored by me appeared as a lead article in the Editorial page of the New Indian Express on 1st Oct 2012. There is an urgent need for strengthening India's eductaion system in-order to spur innovation.

Please click on the link Time for India to Innovate or click on the image for viewing the Print replica  

BSNL's active mobile users only 50%

The latest TRAI report suggests that BSNL has only about 50% active subscribers ( taken from the VLR database). MTNL is even worse - less than 40%.. While the other big boys like Airtel,Vodafone etc are close to 90%.

The national average is about 77%. This means out the 900+ Million Mobile subscibers, only 700Million subscribers are "active"

Either BSNL should look at ways of improving the active subscribers and maybe learn from the large private Telcos, else in order to improve efficiency of the Spectrum usage [Such a scarce resource] , BSNL should share the spectrum with the Private Telcos.  Shouldnt TRAI/DOT be monitoring VLR data?

Slow Motion Development

This article written by me appeared as a lead article in the Editorial page of New Indian Express on 30th Aug 2012.

The article compares China and India interms of basic infrastructure and looks at some reasons for India's Slow motion development interms of communication,Roads/Rail and Power. Please click on the link Slow Motion Development or click on the image for Print replica

Free Roaming - At what cost?

This article titled "Free roaming - At what cost?" that I have co-authored with Dr V Sridhar has appeared in the July issue  of Voice & Data.


The article discusses about the recent announcement of free roaming in the NTP 2012 - Telecom Policy 2012; discusses the economics of intra and inter-circle roaming; the effect of free roaming for voice and data subscribers; the possible increase in data usage charges due to free roaming ; and possible market developments including increase in Wi-Fi hotspots in the country.


Please click Free Roaming - At what cost? to read the web version. Alternatively, please click on the images to view  print replica.



Key Highlights:

• Domestic Roaming contributes to 6 to 8% of the Operators' revenue
• Multi SIM mobiles are reducing hte relevance of roaming
• Free roaming is prevalent in advanced economies
• EU has been struggling with high data roaming
• Lack of 3G roaming regulation could be a matter of opertaors' dispute
• Subscribers might end up paying more than current rate

Mobile phone radiation affects you: What's the govt doing?




Image Source: Rediff

 

This article authored by me on the Government’s inaction in curbing mobile radiation has appeared in Rediff Business / Columns.

Awareness among the public is abysmally low. The Government plans to enforce stringent measures from Sep 2012. It will be interesting to see how these measures are implemented. Finally, assuming healthcare is of immense importance, it boils down to Government’s resolve in addressing the issue. The article also suggests a few areas the Government should focus on, in order to minimize the harmful effect.

Please click on  the link Mobile phone radiation affects you: What's the govt doing? OR please click on the image

Free roaming?

How many times have you noticed that your operator ( Even a big one! ) without coverage in some places in your circle (state)  while another operator   has decent coverage. Ideally your operator should provide seamless coverage through the other network - This is called Intra circle roaming. But this is not implemented as it is not mandated by the regulator.

The recent NTP-2012 announcement on free inter circle roaming  ( between different states) is obviously good news for subscribers. The timeline for implementing is awaited. National roaming accounts for 6 to 7% of Operators' revenue. Why will operators let go this revenue just like that?

Will call rates go up across the board? very likely. However the regulator could come-up with a sliding rate plan and bring the charges to zero eventually.

What will happen to data roaming ? Here maybe we should take a leaf out of Europe where the EU has mandated a gradual decrease in roaming charges over a period of time. EU has also mandated ceiling charges for Wholesale ( rate agreement between two operators)  and retail rates.

Surge in mobile Non-voice usage still a distant dream

With the advent of 3G in India, it was expected that the uptake in mobile broadband would surge making the Telcos happy. But that is not quite the case. A recent TRAI report states that the non-voice revenue is only 11% of the overall revenue from the telcos. Of this 7% comes from SMS.  While Singapore leads the non-voice revenue with over 30%, US,China,Korea and Japan are not far behind.

With most operators opting for drastic reduction in 3G tarriff  , lets hope for a decent uptake. But until we improve basics education  and e-education, mass adoption will be a challenge.

Addressing IT's workforce woes

This article titled "Addressing IT's workforce woes" authored by me appeared in  Financial Express on 27th April 2012. While Nasscom claims that the demand for IT workforce is going to see a dramatic rise by 2020, where will the people come from? A recent report indicates that employability of Indian engineering graduates is alarmingly low. The article suggests the following. 1) Extend the normal duration of an engineering degree course to accommodate some real industry work experience, Also upgrade the syllabus attune with Industry needs. 2) Create better Industry-Academia interaction and support Innovation and Research, 3) Current Finishing schools are grossly inadequate. The highly visible NSDC ( National skill development council) could play a pivotal role in creating the right platform.

Please click Addressing IT's workforce woes or click on the image for viewing the print replica

BYOD ( Bring your own device)

BYOD is a cool acronym used these days. "Bring  Your Own Device" essentially refers to companies allowing employees to use their personal devices like Tablets and Smartphones for offical work instead of the laptops (higly unlikely to be the latest ones). Reports indicate that BYOD will result in increased productivity. However question remains on how organizations would manage the security aspects.

If the productivity improvements are indeed seen,  Will organizations provide latest gadgets to its employees( instead of the typical "use-it-for-three-years"), which would certainly be far more secure? OPLD ? Organization Provided Latest Device! Mobile Device OEMs will  like it.

Global Mobile Awards 2012 and the winners are....

BEST Smartphone  : Samsung  - Samsung Galaxy S2
Best Feature Phone : Nokia C3-00
DEVICE MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR: Samsung

BEST MOBILE APP for consumers: Rovio  - Angry Birds Rio
BEST MOBILE APP for Enterprise: Citrix Systems - Citrix Receiver
BEST OVERALL MOBILE APP : WhatsApp Inc - WhatsApp

BEST ENTERPRISE MOBILE SERVICE : Fiberlink - MaaS360

BEST CONSUMER MOBILE SERVICE : Google - Google Maps for Android

NEST USE OF MOBILE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS: UBL Omni, efficient cash discbursement service after 2010 Food crisis

Dialling Progress

This article titled "Dialling Progress" authored by V Sridhar and me has appeared in Financial

Chronicle. The article indicates the poor quality of connection and clarity experienced by us as subscribers on mobile networks; outlines the measurement methodology of QoS implemented by TRAI; examines the gap in the metrics and methodology; and prescribes measures for enforcing stricter QoS metrics and measurement procedures. We also suggest empowering TRAI for the imposition of penalty on errants.

Please click on the picture for print replica or click on the link Dialling Progress 

 

122 licences cancelled , another 50K Crore?

@4.4Mhz for each of the 122 circles, about 530Mhz will be Available for auction.  Just to re-cap, 3G auction resulted in @ 71 Blocks * 5 Mhz , 355 Mhz spectrum was sold at roughly 190Crore per Mhz  ( Frequecy pair - UL +DL) 

 Even if consider the say 50%  ( Trying to be Bejan Daruwalla for a moment!!) of the average price realized during the 3G Auction per Mhz, the upcmoing 2G Auction could give more than 50K Crore.  But will the Telcos be able to cough up this with already stretched Balance sheets. Hopefully,  the goverment will make this  530Mhz  technology neutral,  that would make it attractive the operators as they could use the spectrum for 4G whenever it becomes economically viable.

Will large players buy? Spectrum is so scarce that they will bid.  . But what will they do with their existing 3G spectrum. The bigger ones could move their higher ARPU customers to 3G and free-up some space.

Will the operators like Uninor rebid in the auction? They could at least in the circles they are doing well. Infact Uninor wanted additional spectrum in some of the circles where they were doing well like Westbengal.

Dwindling ARPU. Prices will go up and some sanity will set-in. India’s ARPU is about 2USD are perhaps the lowest

Mobile Handset Industry: Is change the name of the game?



Picture source: Rediff

This article written by me has appeared in Rediff. The article tries to argue that 1) The Industry structure has changed dramatically thanks to market outsiders like Apple and Google (2) With no differentiation, mobile phones have become like TV and other consumer electronics market(3) More consolidation in OEM space, patent wars , newer technologies on the anvil makes the industry so dynamic that practically anyone can create an impact in this market.

Please click the link below or click on the image for the article:

"Mobile Handset Industry: Is Change the name of the game?"



Top 5 Smartphone vendors

The infographics below show the dramatic change in  Top 5  smartphone vendors over the past 3 years.