Alternative networks?
by Abhishek on November 9, 2006
Wifi networks carrying calls other than the conventional means? Govndraj Ethiraj feels that the time has become ripe for such a venture.
Govind writes in for Business Standard, argubaly one of the best newspapers in India. I maynot agree with some of their prescriptions but nevertheless they have invested in “mind capital” and the quality of their write ups shows in their printed matter.
Govind says that Wifi can be used to carry calls which works out to be cheaper. Of course, I have explored these options way back earlier on; the current “competetive” scenario has resulted only in oligopolies and each new talk plan is basically a rehash of the others. Without disclosing upfront about the estimated monthly outgo, TRAI okays each plan without taking the consumer’s advantage in question. As a result we are fleeced to no extent. I really doubt whether WiFi can be used to carry out the calls-the investments are way too huge to justify parallel (and cheaper ) networks. Where would Bharti get it’s crores from?
Assuming that wifi becomes available all around, what is the gurantee that telcos won’t use all means to block the calls via Skype or any other internet phone? High usage charges would spike any consumer interest because in all probability it would be a “value added service” which by it’s own argument, can be priced higher. Unless of course, people set up their own small WiFi networks. A long shot indeed.
I think that ideas like this need to be propagated on a wider scale than a blog with hardly any influential readership. Slowly steadily, they should take up ideas to free the broadband from the restrictions of the frigging idiots who seem to have other ideas. We need a REAL revolution and not what the frigging media seems to tell us.
3 comments
Business Standard eh?
so i checked out their site, and saw menu items proclaiming…
BS headlines (not very interesting)
BS week (having one ?)
BS Motoring (sounds like my car)
..hmmm
at least, they are not located at BS.com
reads quite professional
maybe..its quality BS
thx for the tip
by blr_p on 24th Nov 2006 at 12:49 am. #
Ahh one man’s opinion!
I have raised the issue of their crappy web implemetation. However, there seems to be no urgency on their part. Indeed, this matter has been forwarded to their top heads and it is upto them whether to outsource in India or somewhere else!
Contrast this to IBN Live which have their in house team to implement the “latest” web designs and the pages. No wonder they have the Gzipped magic which loads up the pages in a jiffy. Of course they are paying through their nose for the bandwidth; I believe that they have long term plans to drive the news channel from the web in anticipation of the shift in consumption of news through broadband networks. This sounds far fetched but we can wait, right?
Still, do let me know about the alternative networks. I believe that small time players would have a major advantage riding on the broadband networks rolled out by major players. It wouldn’t stop anyone from giving out a Skype like service via handsets and local Wifi’s. Imagine the cost savings. Though, I believe, it would need major legal uphaul which is next to impossible.
by Abhishek on 24th Nov 2006 at 08:19 am. #
” I believe that small time players would have a major advantage riding on the broadband networks rolled out by major players.”
..i feel this may be possible only if the last mile is unbundled. I think they have already done this in the UK. But it only works if the network itself is reliable. I’m not sure about how effective Wi-fi will be on a large scale, sure there might be savings in smaller setups, like within a corporate campus. So think the writeups are just proofs of concept at this stage.
PS
i was not criticising the BS website or its design, have seen much worse, i think its functional, just joking about the use of BS in various places.
by blr_p on 24th Nov 2006 at 11:55 am. #