Anil Ambani: Telecom person of the year 2007
His marketing strategy has made millions of Indians happy, they got the best mobile tariffs in the world-local call costs at 15 paise/minute, and STD call at 40 paise/minute
Reliance Infocomm is now known as Reliance Communications (RCom). Reliance Communications Limited founded by the late Shri Dhirubhai H Ambani (1932-2002) is the flagship company of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group currently has net worth in excess of Rs. 55,000 crores.
Reliance Communications corporate clientele includes 1,850 Indian and multinational corporations, and over 250 global carriers. It is also an integrated telecom service provider with licenses for mobile, fixed, domestic long distance and international services.
Reliance Communications offers a complete range of telecom services, covering mobile and fixed line telephony including broadband, national and international long distance services, data services and a wide range of value added services and applications. Reliance India Mobile, the first of Rcom’s initiatives was launched on December 28, 2002.
This marked the beginning of Reliance's vision of ushering in a digital revolution in India by becoming a major catalyst in improving quality of life and changing the face of India. Reliance Infocomm plans to extend its efforts beyond the traditional value chain to develop and deploy telecom solutions for India's farmers, businesses, hospitals, government and public sector organizations. Until recently, Reliance was permitted to provide only “limited mobility” services through its basic services license.
However, it has now acquired a unified access license for 18 circles that permits it to provide the full range of mobile services. It has rolled out its CDMA mobile network and enrolled more than 6 million subscribers in one year to become the country’s largest mobile operator. It now wants to increase its market share and has recently launched pre-paid services. Having captured the voice market, it intends to attack the broadband market. Rcom is currently having a subscriber base of around 4.8 crores. It has got license to operate in Sri Lanka and Uganda. Rcom will provide telecom coverage to 234000 villages by setting up 8982 sites in the remotest parts of India by the end of FY 2007 Rcom has recently acquired UK based VANCO Group and it has also bid for MTN after Airtel. And now it is ready to acquire it by giving 61% equity share to MTN which is allowed up to 74% to foreign investors as per the norms. Currently, MTN is having the subscriber base of around 6.8 crores.MTN has an income of $ 9.7 billions and operating profit of $ 4.1 billions as per FY 2007-08.
NEW DELHI, INDIA: When the VOICE&DATA jury, comprising eminent professionals from the telecom field, met in Delhi in June to choose the Telecom Person of the Year 2007, the five-hour selection process was steamy.
The reason was obvious: The telecom sector is growing faster than any other segment and naturally their CEOs have a lot to crow about. The jury had to select one from three CEOs, who had made it to the final list through nominations from the industry and the initial scrutiny. Among the three, one of the main contenders was a young CEO. The jury decided that he should come back next year to try and win the coveted award. The list now had two names-both CEOs of two well-known companies.
The pivotal difference between the two: one is an entrepreneur and the other is not so popular, as his credit is shared among a number of his big daddies.
Following a five-hour closely held, hotly debated discussion, the name was announced: Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, chairman of Reliance Communications. Anil Ambani joined Reliance Industries (currently promoted by his brother Mukesh Ambani, following their split) in 1983 as co-chief executive officer. Forbes ranked him number 104 among the World's Richest People in 2006.
The Ambani family faced criticism when it announced its ambitious plans to build a countrywide telecom network, as its prior expertise lay in commodities-textiles and petrochemicals-business only. Apart from that telecom needs a service-oriented mindset, critics felt. What they did not remember was how the family had served its millions of shareholders.
Policies in India are made in line with Ambani's vision, says an industry expert. His business acumen and closeness to politicians assisted him in making it to the Rajya Sabha in June 2004, as an independent member. Ambani chose to resign voluntarily on March 25, 2006. The same association with politicos gave him negative returns too when the Mayawati Government in Uttar Pradesh put a spanner on his ambitious plans to build a 1,200-acre SEZ.
Media sees his aggression when he announces financial results for the Reliance ADA group of companies, and when he attends the annual general meetings and faces questions from shareholders. When he meets the press, he has answers to all their questions. He also remembers to call select journalists by name.
To merchant bankers he, who has already contributed immensely to the financial reforms of the country, is one of the financial wizards of the world. May be because of his expertise, he gave up in the race to grab Hutchison Essar stake, after indirectly jacking up the valuation. His negotiations with the Qualcomm chief are also a folk theory now.
How did Ambani become the VOICE&DATA Telecom Person of the Year 2007?
What are his personal and organizational achievements in the recent past?
His path-breaking marketing strategy that was put in by the strongest team of telecom professionals the country has ever seen has made millions of Indians happy as they got the best mobile tariffs in the world.
The aggression resulted to adding to his already swollen kitty. Every hour India will be adding around 20,000 new mobile customers and Reliance Communications over 4,000. When mobile telephony first began in India, a local call cost Rs 16 per minute; an STD Rs 50; and a call to the US Rs 100 per minute.
With Reliance Communication’s pioneering price initiative, a local call now costs a mere 15 paise per minute, STD 40 paise, and a call to the US costs less than Rs 2 per minute. The presence of Reliance Communications is making the competition in India panicky.
His marketing strategy has made millions of Indians happy, they got the best mobile tariffs in the world-local call costs at 15 paise/minute, and STD call at 40 paise/minute
Reliance Infocomm is now known as Reliance Communications (RCom). Reliance Communications Limited founded by the late Shri Dhirubhai H Ambani (1932-2002) is the flagship company of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group currently has net worth in excess of Rs. 55,000 crores.
Reliance Communications corporate clientele includes 1,850 Indian and multinational corporations, and over 250 global carriers. It is also an integrated telecom service provider with licenses for mobile, fixed, domestic long distance and international services.
Reliance Communications offers a complete range of telecom services, covering mobile and fixed line telephony including broadband, national and international long distance services, data services and a wide range of value added services and applications. Reliance India Mobile, the first of Rcom’s initiatives was launched on December 28, 2002.
This marked the beginning of Reliance's vision of ushering in a digital revolution in India by becoming a major catalyst in improving quality of life and changing the face of India. Reliance Infocomm plans to extend its efforts beyond the traditional value chain to develop and deploy telecom solutions for India's farmers, businesses, hospitals, government and public sector organizations. Until recently, Reliance was permitted to provide only “limited mobility” services through its basic services license.
However, it has now acquired a unified access license for 18 circles that permits it to provide the full range of mobile services. It has rolled out its CDMA mobile network and enrolled more than 6 million subscribers in one year to become the country’s largest mobile operator. It now wants to increase its market share and has recently launched pre-paid services. Having captured the voice market, it intends to attack the broadband market. Rcom is currently having a subscriber base of around 4.8 crores. It has got license to operate in Sri Lanka and Uganda. Rcom will provide telecom coverage to 234000 villages by setting up 8982 sites in the remotest parts of India by the end of FY 2007 Rcom has recently acquired UK based VANCO Group and it has also bid for MTN after Airtel. And now it is ready to acquire it by giving 61% equity share to MTN which is allowed up to 74% to foreign investors as per the norms. Currently, MTN is having the subscriber base of around 6.8 crores.MTN has an income of $ 9.7 billions and operating profit of $ 4.1 billions as per FY 2007-08.
NEW DELHI, INDIA: When the VOICE&DATA jury, comprising eminent professionals from the telecom field, met in Delhi in June to choose the Telecom Person of the Year 2007, the five-hour selection process was steamy.
The reason was obvious: The telecom sector is growing faster than any other segment and naturally their CEOs have a lot to crow about. The jury had to select one from three CEOs, who had made it to the final list through nominations from the industry and the initial scrutiny. Among the three, one of the main contenders was a young CEO. The jury decided that he should come back next year to try and win the coveted award. The list now had two names-both CEOs of two well-known companies.
The pivotal difference between the two: one is an entrepreneur and the other is not so popular, as his credit is shared among a number of his big daddies.
Following a five-hour closely held, hotly debated discussion, the name was announced: Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, chairman of Reliance Communications. Anil Ambani joined Reliance Industries (currently promoted by his brother Mukesh Ambani, following their split) in 1983 as co-chief executive officer. Forbes ranked him number 104 among the World's Richest People in 2006.
The Ambani family faced criticism when it announced its ambitious plans to build a countrywide telecom network, as its prior expertise lay in commodities-textiles and petrochemicals-business only. Apart from that telecom needs a service-oriented mindset, critics felt. What they did not remember was how the family had served its millions of shareholders.
Policies in India are made in line with Ambani's vision, says an industry expert. His business acumen and closeness to politicians assisted him in making it to the Rajya Sabha in June 2004, as an independent member. Ambani chose to resign voluntarily on March 25, 2006. The same association with politicos gave him negative returns too when the Mayawati Government in Uttar Pradesh put a spanner on his ambitious plans to build a 1,200-acre SEZ.
Media sees his aggression when he announces financial results for the Reliance ADA group of companies, and when he attends the annual general meetings and faces questions from shareholders. When he meets the press, he has answers to all their questions. He also remembers to call select journalists by name.
To merchant bankers he, who has already contributed immensely to the financial reforms of the country, is one of the financial wizards of the world. May be because of his expertise, he gave up in the race to grab Hutchison Essar stake, after indirectly jacking up the valuation. His negotiations with the Qualcomm chief are also a folk theory now.
How did Ambani become the VOICE&DATA Telecom Person of the Year 2007?
What are his personal and organizational achievements in the recent past?
His path-breaking marketing strategy that was put in by the strongest team of telecom professionals the country has ever seen has made millions of Indians happy as they got the best mobile tariffs in the world.
The aggression resulted to adding to his already swollen kitty. Every hour India will be adding around 20,000 new mobile customers and Reliance Communications over 4,000. When mobile telephony first began in India, a local call cost Rs 16 per minute; an STD Rs 50; and a call to the US Rs 100 per minute.
With Reliance Communication’s pioneering price initiative, a local call now costs a mere 15 paise per minute, STD 40 paise, and a call to the US costs less than Rs 2 per minute. The presence of Reliance Communications is making the competition in India panicky.