Exactly ten years ago, Jyoti Basu in Calcutta called Sukh Ram in Delhi in what was the first mobile phone call in India. Brick sized cell phones used to cost Rs. 45,000 and each call costed Rs. 16.5/minute.
Back then, cell phone was a status symbol. Today, there are over 60 million mobile connections in India (expected to double in number in next 12 months). A local call costs around less than Rs 1/min and a cell phone can be purchased for less than Rs. 2000.
Indian Telecom sector, like any other industrial sector in the country, has gone through many phases of growth and diversification.
Starting from telegraphic and telephonic systems in the 19th century, the field of telephonic communication has now expanded to make use of advanced technologies like GSM, CDMA, and WLL to the great 3G Technology in mobile phones. Day by day, both the Public Players and the Private Players are putting in their resources and efforts to improve the telecommunication technology so as to give the maximum to their customers.
The Indian telecom sector can be broadly classified into Fixed Line Telephony and mobile telephony. The major players of the telecom sector are experiencing a fierce competition in both the segments.
The major players like BSNL, MTNL, VSNL in the fixed line and Airtel, Vodafone (Hutch), Idea, Tata, Reliance in the mobile segment are coming up with new tariffs and discount schemes to gain the competitive advantage.
The Public Players and the Private Players share the fixed line and the mobile segments. Currently the Public Players have more than 60% of the market share.
India’s telecom sector has been doing exceptionally well in past decade. Its structural and institutional reforms have provided tremendous growth opportunity to this sector. India has nearly 200 million telephone lines making it the third largest network in the world after China and USA. With a growth rate of 45%, Indian telecom industry has the highest growth rate in the world.
The first reforms in Indian telecommunications sector began in 1980s when the private sector was allowed in telecommunications equipment manufacturing. In 1985, Department of Telecommunications (DOT) was established.
Back then, cell phone was a status symbol. Today, there are over 60 million mobile connections in India (expected to double in number in next 12 months). A local call costs around less than Rs 1/min and a cell phone can be purchased for less than Rs. 2000.
Indian Telecom sector, like any other industrial sector in the country, has gone through many phases of growth and diversification.
Starting from telegraphic and telephonic systems in the 19th century, the field of telephonic communication has now expanded to make use of advanced technologies like GSM, CDMA, and WLL to the great 3G Technology in mobile phones. Day by day, both the Public Players and the Private Players are putting in their resources and efforts to improve the telecommunication technology so as to give the maximum to their customers.
The Indian telecom sector can be broadly classified into Fixed Line Telephony and mobile telephony. The major players of the telecom sector are experiencing a fierce competition in both the segments.
The major players like BSNL, MTNL, VSNL in the fixed line and Airtel, Vodafone (Hutch), Idea, Tata, Reliance in the mobile segment are coming up with new tariffs and discount schemes to gain the competitive advantage.
The Public Players and the Private Players share the fixed line and the mobile segments. Currently the Public Players have more than 60% of the market share.
India’s telecom sector has been doing exceptionally well in past decade. Its structural and institutional reforms have provided tremendous growth opportunity to this sector. India has nearly 200 million telephone lines making it the third largest network in the world after China and USA. With a growth rate of 45%, Indian telecom industry has the highest growth rate in the world.
The first reforms in Indian telecommunications sector began in 1980s when the private sector was allowed in telecommunications equipment manufacturing. In 1985, Department of Telecommunications (DOT) was established.