Praveen Cherian, chief executive officer, global services business, STL
STL is driven by its mission to transform lives by bridging the rural-urban digital divide. The global optical and digital solutions company has been at the forefront of delivering advanced offerings to connect the hinterland and facilitate digital transformation in rural areas. In an interview with tele.net, Praveen Cherian, chief executive officer, global services business, STL, shares his views on the recent digital connectivity trends in rural India, the company’s initiatives to enhance last-mile connectivity, and the challenges faced…
What are the recent digital connectivity trends in rural India? What are the key factors driving digital adoption?
Many of us living in cities may not fully realise what digital connectivity has done for us. Whether it is through our phones, internet access, or broadband connections, we have access to the world all the time. Digital connectivity has made it possible for us to carry out banking transactions and pay utility bills without leaving our homes. Unfortunately, this degree of connectivity is not yet available in many rural parts of India, depriving a large portion of the population of these conveniences. As a result, many people have migrated from villages to cities over the years. It is essential to prioritise rural transformation and provide digital connectivity to these areas so that everyone can enjoy the same benefits. Internet penetration in villages has the potential to revolutionise industries and uplift the lives of rural communities, creating a multitude of opportunities, including access to healthcare, social welfare, finance, and more. At STL, we take immense pride in our work because our mission is to provide connectivity to the world.
What are the current challenges in ensuring last-mile connectivity? How can these be resolved?
The issue of last-mile connectivity persists due to various reasons. In India, there is a lack of a structured approach. For instance, certain services like electricity and water have well-organised and structured processes, with vendors capable of providing connectivity to homes. However, this is not the case with internet services, both in rural and urban areas. In cities, one can see many fibre cables strung across poles and trees in a very haphazard manner. Many countries with foresight have addressed this issue by providing conduits and ducts, similar to the way water is supplied to every household. These are part of physical infrastructure access. Once these ducts are installed, they are managed by a third party, a government body, or a telecom company. For example, in the UK, most of the ducts are laid by British Telecom while other service providers use the existing ducts instead of digging up the road or premises for last-mile connectivity. This structured approach prevents unnecessary damage to property and reconstruction.
In India, however, the process is unstructured, as it requires right-of-way approvals for last-mile connectivity along with various other approvals from different civic bodies depending on whether the connection is passing through a highway or a village. This lack of structure leads to property damage and reconstruction, which could have been avoided if proper infrastructure was laid down in the first place and a systematic approach was followed.
What initiatives has STL taken for extending digital infrastructure and services to rural areas?
At STL, we focus on fibre products, including manufacturing of fibre optic cable and all fibre optic connectivity accessories. We take immense pride in our work and achievements. Our contributions to the BharatNet project have been significant. We have been directly involved in the installation of fibre connections, providing connectivity to various states, such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. We have made efforts to provide every village in these states with high speed data connectivity. Apart from this, we have been actively involved in large defence sector projects. For instance, we have provided network connectivity to the Indian navy and army. Moreover, we have been instrumental in providing connectivity to the army across the country in the tough terrain of Jammu & Kashmir.
With the pan-Indian roll-out of 5G services, what use cases and adoption trends do you foresee among rural consumers?
At STL, our goal is to ensure that services, including social welfare, healthcare, education and other services, are accessible to every individual in the country. In addition, we are looking to explore entertainment services, which are also a significant aspect of the digital world. Today, data connections bring entertainment right into our homes, reducing the reliance on satellite connections. In addition, gaming has significant potential, particularly in rural areas. We believe in providing rural areas with the same amenities that urban areas enjoy.
