To mark its 25th Anniversary, tele.net has brought out a special commemorative issue around the theme, “Connecting a Billion Lives – 25 Years of Indian Telecom”. For this issue, we conducted a special survey among top sector experts to assess the state of the sector and identify the key milestones in its journey.
Sunil Bharti Mittal was voted as the Biggest Changemaker in the Indian Telecom Sector for his contribution to the industry over the past 25 years.
For the survey, tele.net reached out to a cross-section of people, including industry leaders, experts and stakeholders, all of whom have been closely involved with the sector and held key positions in it. The respondents were asked to evaluate both the achievements and the failures of the sector over the years, as well as the changes and challenges expected over the next several years. They were also asked to identify the people who have made the biggest impact on the sector in the past 25 years.
The survey threw up some interesting results. Below are some of the key findings of the survey with the experts’ take on the past, the present and the future of the telecom sector.…
Person who has made the biggest contribution to the sector
Sunil Bharti Mittal topped the list, well ahead of Mukesh Ambani and late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Top three successes
The fastest 5G roll-out globally, the lowest tariffs in the world, and the strong smartphone uptake driving digitalisation.
Biggest game changers and pathbreaking developments
The entry of Reliance Jio was viewed as the biggest game changer in the sector in recent times. Policy reforms such as liberalisation and privatisation, unified licensing, revenue sharing, auctioning of spectrum, and The Telecommunications Act, 2023 were viewed as pathbreaking developments.
Disappointments and topmost challenges
The 2G spectrum scam and the consequent exit of global players were seen as the biggest disappointments. Meanwhile, high taxes, levies and spectrum prices; financial stress; poor quality of service and network issues; low rural penetration; and low fiberisation emerged as the topmost challenges impeding sector growth.
Most promising technologies
Artificial intelligence, satellite internet and 6G.
Top 5 future growth segments
Data centres, satcom, cloud services, private networks and cybersecurity.
The survey results have been published in the magazine’s 25th anniversary issue. The issue also includes many special features, guest articles and expert opinion. It showcases the successes, examines the failures and highlights the changes in the sector over the past 25 years. It also attempts to identify the biggest challenges, the best strategies and the most promising technologies for the next 25 years. All this, through the voices of the sector, representing all stakeholders and making it a very special issue.
About tele.net:
tele.net is the leading magazine for the Indian telecom sector. It is targeted at top decision-makers, service providers, and technology and network heads in the telecom sector. The segments covered include wireless and wireline services, infrastructure, internet and broadband, network and technology, equipment and devices, data centres, and satcom. The magazine provides news, information and analysis of the latest developments in the sector, relating to policy, projects, innovations and investments. The magazine was launched in 2000 and is published monthly. Over the past two-and-a-half decades, tele.net has consistently served as an objective and independent forum for discussion and debate; an accurate source of news and data; a reliable monitor of investments and deals; and the most trustworthy source of information and analysis for the telecom sector in India.
