Industry Welcomes Positive Steps Initiated by Government in Telecom Sector

A Seminar on “Digital India: Investment and Business Opportunities” was organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to-day at the India International Trade Fair 2016. The event was graced by the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Sh. Ravi Shankar Prasad and Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Sh. P.P. Chaudhary. The event was attended by eminent speakers from the Industry, besides senior officials from the Ministry and witnessed a packed house. The Seminar also commemorated one year of successful deployment of Indian Conditional Access System (iCAS). A practical hands-on program for mobile handset design engineers was also launched at the event.

MeitY, through a novel PPP model, had funded a unique project for the development and implementation of Indian Conditional Access System (iCAS) for Set Top Boxes (STBs). M/s. ByDesign India Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, in association with C-DAC has successfully developed the iCAS. The development of iCAS has enabled India to enter a niche market hitherto dominated by few big global companies. More than 1,50,000 Set Top Boxes with iCAS have already been deployed across the country in the last one year. More than 60 Multi-System Operators have installed iCAS enabled head-ends. The iCAS is beneficial to domestic Set Top Box manufacturers and Operators because it is available to them at a price of USD 0.5/ license for a period of three years, as against market price of USD 4-5/ license for other competing products, thus saving significant foreign exchange. As a result, the prices of competing CAS products have also shown a declining trend. The iCAS enabled STBs have been deployed even in remote regions of the country.

A program on practical hands-on for Mobile Handset Design Engineers was announced during the seminar. It is a first of its kind unique initiative where Government, Industry and an international partner have come together to develop local Skill & Competency of Mobile Handset Design Engineers in India. This is a step forward towards further promoting Investments into growing Mobile Manufacturing in the country. Under the programme, the first batch of 50 Engineers to be trained partially in India and largely in Taiwan starting 1st of December, 2016 was announced. The programme aims to build capacity and improve the competence level of Indian Mobile Manufacturers. On behalf of MeitY, this program is being coordinated and organised by NIELIT in collaboration with Mediatek Inc., Taiwan; supported by Handset Industry in India represented by ICA.

Mr. Ujjwal Munjal, Founder Director, Hero Electronix Pvt. Ltd., speaking at the seminar said, "The digital revolution is changing the world around us very rapidly. With the Government's continued support and initiatives like Digital India and Make in India, our country is poised to become a significant player in electronics manufacturing and innovation as it has already done in the software and services sector." Hero Electronics has ambitious plans to participate in this Digital revolution.

Shri P Balaji from Vodafone informed that as India’s largest FDI investor welcomed the positive steps and initiatives taken by government. Vodafone has invested over Rs. 1,15,000 crore over the years. It has been the largest purchaser of spectrum in the recent auction at over Rs. 20,000 crore and brought in over Rs. 47000 crore in first half of the current financial year. With over 200 Million subscribers, over 50% in rural India, Vodafone remain committed to contribute to bringing internet, broadband and connectivity to citizens across India and support Government’s Digital India vision.

Mediatek presented plans of 7 billion $ investment in the next 5 years and informed that India will be a critical part of this plan. Mr. Grant Kuo, Managing Director, MediaTek India, said, “MediaTek has had a presence in India for over 12 years now, and is a key partner to the country’s growth story over the past decade. Mediatek is looking to take its commitment a step further to support India Government’s Digital India initiative.

Making India better is at the core of Panasonic India’s ideology. Panasonic will be expanding its IT services from India to entire ISAMEA Region, focus on Cloud Analytics for Security Surveillance Solutions, develop endpoint Devices & Digital Solutions for India Specific Applications suitable to harsh environment and Indian weather conditions. Along with launching initiatives to make smartphones in India, Panasonic looks forward to establish local partner eco system for Smart Phone Manufacturing.

Mr. Dinesh Malkani, President Cisco India & SAARC said that India is home to CISCO’S global headquarters. Cisco recently announced their manufacturing operations, with first products to be delivered in March 2017. On skill India, Cisco is training students at a pace twice as fast as last year. Cisco truly believes that India will be the largest DIGITAL country in the world.

Delta group assured its contributions towards Digital India and its commitments towards Electronics Manufacturing Industry in India.

Courtesy – Press Information Bureau, Government of India