Vodafone and IDEA on 3G-4G technology at IAMAI Mobile Conclave 2010

Mumbai: IAMAI organized the first edition of its Mobile Conclave in Mumbai at ITC Grand Central. Key topic of discussion at the Inaugural Session was 3G-4G: EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION. The discussion was focused around key discussion points like with 3G just round the corner, are the MVAS players ready?  What is the Government’ perspective on this?  How are the handset manufacturers responding to this opportunity? Some of the Key Speakers at the Inaugural Session included Kumar Ramanathan, CMO, Vodafone, Navanit Narayan, Chief Service Delivery Officer, Idea Cellular, Kunal Bajaj, Head-India Operation, Analysys Mason and S. P. Narayanan, Senior Vice President Marketing, Idea Cellular.

Navanit Narayan, Chief Service Delivery Officer, Idea Cellular –“ Internet as we all know is becoming the entertainment channel of choice for all of us, offering us unparalleled selection of music, television, video on demand and new at our fingertips”

Internet will continue to develop as a place for communication, interaction, information and media consumption.  To enjoy the benefits of internet we need mobile broadband and the demand for speed is only going to increase. Soon the dependency on the internet will become a reality and they preference for wireless will increase. Broadband is the key enabled for inclusive growth,

Kumar Ramanathan, CMO, Vodafone said – “Simplification of Technology and Services has to be the DNA, new paradigm and the new business model.  Is it Evolution or is it Revolution, I think it’s a bit of a cusp, it’s time for change, it’s time to act and probably not a revolution yet. ”

He addressed the audience with his views on India being a country of contrasts, country of deep income divides, country where more than 50% of our income comes from services. Though India is a technology superpower yet literacy and education is a challenge, we talk about affordable health care but actually it’s less than 1%. India and China are both countries with high GDP but in India more than 50% of the GDP comes from Consumption whereas in China the GDP comes from infrastructure builder. According to Nokia, by 2020 we will be looking at more that 92% of Indian youngsters less than the age of 25, are going to challenge the service providers to be technology friendly and tech savvy. While there is one part of India which is Brand conscious throwing an excess of CAGR by 50%, there is also an India which spends a considerable amount of earning for a better living. This in turn is going to throw up new opportunities, new spaces and huge amount of consumption. There is an India we see and India we don’t see, if any industry that has a full view of Indian will release that there is we will be looking at unprecedented consumption and growth. Two Industries which have full view of this aspect include Telecommunication and Microfinance.