Robindhra Mangtani says maintaining a balance between work and family is a bigger challenge than convincing the Indian audience about the benefits of broadband and financial inclusion. ?I barely get any spare time,? he says. ?When I do, I switch off my mobile to avoid receiving any mail. Also, I try to spend a lot of time with my two girls and wife, taking them out for a movie, a swim or a meal.?
Lack of time notwithstanding, he is geared up to meet the challenges that come his way as senior director, public policy and regulatory affairs, GSM Association (GSMA). ?The key challenges are financial inclusion, sustainability and connecting remote users,? he says. ?India is several paces ahead of other countries when it comes to adopting new practices in the telecom sector. The best example of this is operators sharing infrastructure, which is environmentally sound and cost effective.?
Connecting rural India remains a major challenge. ?There is an urgent need to deploy innovative technologies like green power and mobile broadband. The latter, in particular, would help connect remote users.?
Mangtani has extensive experience in the telecom sector. He has worked with the UK?s communications regulator Ofcom, where he was involved in mapping a competition policy in telecommunications and mobile networks. Prior to Ofcom, he spent over 15 years in designing, developing and implementing global voice, data, IP, fixed and mobile networks for Qualcomm?s affiliate company, Cable and Wireless Global and British Airways.
He joined GSMA in 2006 as director of the Interworking and Roaming Expert Group (IREG). In 2007, he became project director for the association?s work on femtocells and technical director of the GSMA mobile alliance on content filtering. In his current position, he works on public policy and regulation.
He considers his stints at British Airways and GSMA as his most memorable. ?While at British Airways, I was once required to go to Mumbai for a project. It was 2 a.m. and we were on the ground at the airport when a 747 landed, bursting 12 tyres. The experience of changing the tyres that night is one I will never forget,? he says.
Interestingly, while Mangtani?s earliest ambition was to become a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force, he always had a keen interest in technology. ?The first gadget I purchased was a Sony Walkman, which was a bulky device that played cassettes,? he recalls.
When he manages to take some time off, he enjoys playing football, swimming or gymming. He also likes watching science fiction movies.
