Urgent Need to Streamline Build out of Telecom Media and Technology (TMT) Infrastructure
for a Convergent India
Emerging Technological Scenario
Current technological scenario visualizes a ubiquitous use of mobile phones, tablets,
lap tops and TVs. If we club these into a 4-screen ecosystem, the first thing to
appreciate is that all these are connected and Internet is the most common app and
web being an ubiquitous bearer, these would come by default with each of these end
user devices. The connectivity is also going to be ubiquitous IP. What are
we going to use these devices for can also be clubbed into apps, services and content.
While an end user really does not bother about the underlying technology and connectivity,
certainly he/she is concerned about the end device which is his/her choice and is
owned by him/her as also the app, service or content which at that time is most
important to him/her.
India is waiting to see an emergence of 3G and 4G in a very big way. 4G is going
to be mostly LTE and going forward, it would most certainly be all IP paving the
way for around 1/4 subs base being 3G say 250 M in 2014 if M&A guide lines go well.
It is clear that we are in for a big mobile broadband revolution. Mobile streaming
TV is going to be a big service even though it may be watched for not more than
20 to 30 mins a day but it would be a must have service by 2016 like e-mail on mobile.
All this comes with its own issues of content, roaming, charges etc.
Need for a Ubiquitous Broadband
Broadband today is not ubiquitous even if we include mobile broadband too. The broadband
is coming up as part of National Broadband Plan (NBP) under which NOFN is being
rolled out. However, there is a huge question mark over the last mile access network
which has been left up to the operators to roll out. Since 1994, private operators
have abundantly rolled out wireless networks but hardly any high capacity fixed
access network for consumer broadband. Whether open access FTTX networks for consumer
broadband as recently being seen in the developed countries for their GDP enhancement
start coming up in India remains to be seen. Nonetheless, all this is going be IP
based.
MIB has issued an ordinance for digitization of TV in phases going up to Mar 2014.
The technology neutral approach has been followed there but there are only two technologies
DVB and IP TV delivered over different media like cable, xDSL, FTTX and satellite
DTH. The development of IP is fast becoming so ubiquitous that Internet TV is being
talked about which is over IP and not DVB.
As and when true broadband for consumers starts proliferating, India would also
soon see big number of VAS and content oriented services. This will bring up a huge
number of VAS and content providers. The issues of Digital Rights Management (DRM)
would become pronounced. All of these would be delivered over IP targeted
to a 4-screen ecosystem. Therefore, copy rights, IPR, safety and security of content
become important.
Digitization of CATV
Government has very rightly taken up the digitization of CATV as a national project.
This is a land mark decision which needs to be appreciated as it has unlimited benefits
for India. The big question is how this exercise should be done so that country
benefits for eternity.
A simple concept here is that we must exploit the best of both DVB and IP in the
digitization process to realize on ground an open access multi play infrastructure.
The motivation comes from the fact that DVB addresses the content and IP addresses
the ubiquitous carriage and distribution. This hot puerile combination retains the
primary objective of digitization of CATV where stake holders like MSOs, LCOs, broadcasters
and other content owners and aggregators do not lose anything. The gainers are both
MSOs and LCOs who become providers of open access IP carriage and distribution infrastructure
which becomes a big highway and carries the conventional digital TV, video traffic
as also allows VOIP, High Speed Internet (HSI) and very potent high capacity IP
back haul for all wireless cells like femto, pico, micro, macro, 3G, 4G etc. Such
a scenario where carriage and distribution mechanism is ubiquitous IP separates
the content from carriage. Carriage truly becomes agnostic to content and services
as also has no dependence upon physical media which may be any like copper DSL,
coax, OFC (FTTX), wireless and satellite.
The country stands to gain immensely. There will be a huge penetration of true broadband
into very large number of CATV HHs enabling multi play of voice, data, TV, video
and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) through smallest femto, smaller pico, small micro
and macro cells of 3G and LTE being back hauled through this ubiquitous IP carriage
and distribution. The entire costs come down as such the services can be priced
low. Consumer is the greatest beneficiary.
MSOs and LCOs apart from carrying TV and video traffic are enabled to offer their
open access infrastructure to any service provider like telcos, MNOs and ISPs. They
have additional revenue opportunities and would get compensated for losing the carriage
money and any other money due to incorrect accounting of analog CATV subs. Consumers
and the country gain hugely because of fair accounting.
Convergence is Imminent
Convergence is the hottest path which would bring a paradigm shift in the way data
services would be delivered. Convergence would soon see coming together of all major
service providers. One scenario is coming together of DTH operators, fixed service
providers, mobile operators and BWA operators. Imagine a DTH STB with a very versatile
remote-cum-keyboard which is capable of :-
(a) Satellite TV as usual being done at present.
(b) A USB port allows wireless dongle to make DTH TV as wireless connected TV. This
is a very good new business opportunity for DTH operators, mobile operators, BWA
operators and ISPs.
(c) An Ethernet port allows fixed service providers to make DTH TV as connected
TV with High Speed Internet (HSI) and all IP TV apps. This is another very good
business opportunity for DTH operators, fixed service providers and ISPs.
Stake holders like LCOs and MSOs also need to evaluate the above scenario and upgrade
their cable infrastructure to allow not only just digital TV (DVB) but also IP TV
for all non entertainment apps too over IP. In case they do not do this, they would
soon find losing out to DTH players in a big way. Moreover, smart TVs with built
in total connectivity infrastructure inside giving a versatile remote-cum-keyboard
have started seeing the light of the day.
Major Strategic Shift for MICT and MIB is Good for India
Google fiber TV and Google fiber are latest to bring together HD TV and super speed
internet. It is indeed an eye opener. Our MICT and MIB need to work together. There
is a need for us to visualize as to what our children would get out of Telecom,
Media (TV) and Technology (TMT). None of us would like a pea nut for our generations
next while the developed economies children would continue with low priced feast
of finest class of cashew and they would innovate so much that we would remain dumb
struck. We would never like our children to stay folded hands and simply admire
their amazing infrastructure. We need a strategic shift.
We need to accept this looming truth and give better direction to our on-going telecom
and CATV infrastructure roll out process which is directly impacting our GDP growth
by -1.38 % to - 6.9 % from 2013 to 2020 as every 10 % penetration of broadband enhances
the GDP by 1.38 % and NTP 2012 wants 600 mn broadband users by 2020 or so. In order
for this to actually happen and does not remain like 13.7 mn broadband users in
Mar 2012 against the target of 100 mn by 201, our vision needs to be much wider.
Our two key ministries MICT and MIB need to be re-organized so as to fully exploit
their respective competencies. While MIB is best equipped to handle all facets of
information and content which the end user is served through different networks
of radio (FM/AM), cable (CATV) and satellite (DTH), MICT is the last word in all
types of networks. The networks are built, deployed and operated around the media
like copper, cable, OFC, radio and satellite and different Customer Premise Equipment
(CPEs), including handsets, devices and Set Top Boxes (STBs). These are incomplete
without active Network Elements (NEs) and most importantly Network Management Systems
and Business Support Systems like OSS, BSS, CRM, contact centers, revenue assurance
and fraud management. MICT is fully organized to handle all facets like technology,
regulatory and commercial aspects of all types of networks. MICT is also the only
body which can effectively manage the spectrum for all wireless, RF and satellite
networks. Spectrum being the most important oxygen for all wireless, RF and satellite
networks cannot be split for management between MICT and MIB. MIB is the last word
for all information and content being consumed by the users every minute. Allowing
MICT to manage all networks infrastructure and services and MIB to manage all information
and content and applications by all end beneficiary departments would be the most
logical step. This would result into optimum use of competencies, yield synergy,
reduce delays in strategic decisions and above all save a lot of government expenditure
removing all overlaps causing inefficiency.
To substantiate this, let’s see the example of CATV network. India has 140 mn HHs
getting CATV service since 1988. Except for mostly unorganized laying of OFC by
the LCOs and MSOs taking it closer to the HHs, nothing has changed in the CATV network.
While the rest of the developed world has progressed so much that CATV operators
have become potent competitors to telcos, India has slipped this opportunity. 140
mn HHs are only getting poor quality of CATV service on an infrastructure which
if upgraded at a pittance can deliver a multi play of voice, High Speed Internet,
TV, Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC), mobile back haul and so on. Telcos have not
invested in high capacity wired access network and will never do but focus on 3G
and 4G and LCOs/MSOs are directionless. The country suffers. There is a need to
resolve this as soon as possible by giving all networks to MICT so that every piece
of network infrastructure is fully exploited through good policy and regulatory
framework capable of allowing a future proof open access ecosystem built around
FTTX and can see the light of the day by organizing 5000 MSOs and 60000 LCOs to
work in cooperation with 8 national telcos to deliver carrier grade cost effective
multi play at least 30 % cheaper to roll out. The service can thus be priced also
low benefiting the consumers.
Conclusion
A fast growing economy like India cannot afford to miss building a convergent India
any more. The country has made very good progress in telecom but that alone is inadequate.
Full exploitation of competencies already available with MICT and MIB is the need.
Overlap must be eliminated so that management of networks and information and content
is efficient, fast and well streamlined to inter-alia send right signals to the
international investment community. In this context, India would need to be different
from developed economies. Our organized MSOs and LCOs can be effective providers
of open access last mile infrastructure for telcos and other service providers to
seek interconnection and deliver the services in a cooperative way rather than in
a competitive way. The collaboration is in the infrastructure space and not in the
products, apps and services space which must remain competitive for the benefit
of consumers. MIB can really focus upon issues to better organize the MSOs and LCOs
by addressing their genuine needs of RoW and FDI.
An open access future proof ecosystem for broadband and TV throws open infinite
space for unlimited VAS services including the must have virtual education, virtual
healthcare, e-governance, personal safety and security, parenting and social monitor
and so on all at affordable tariffs both on PCs and TV. All stake holders get new
revenue opportunities and country progresses.