China is mixed bag; it is being promoted at the cost of internal dissensions. It is hailed as the model of communism mixing up with capitalism and therefore, the “most happening country in Asia”. Sarcasm apart, China is groaning and creaking under the weight of it’s own lopsided policies.

The Hindu(newspaper) makes a pertinent point to project China, come what may. It’s panel of “intelligent people” are willing to ignore the ground realities and instead focus on the huge shopping malls and buildings coming in. As globalisation spreads its tentacles in there, traditional Chinese way of life is being destroyed. Of course, keeping a tight lid “behind the iron curtain” is the state media.

A recent report insists that Chinese have taken to Short Message Service(SMS for short) in a big way.

Further insists,” China’s telephone subscriber base has touched 674 million, including 325 million fixed line phones and 349 million cellular phones, both occupying first place in the world”.

Even if half the numbers are true, India is way behind the numbers. There has been enough controversy about the numbers, rather than actual usage. This is one area where we clearly fall behind China. Given the current juvenile fascination with comparing India and China on the world stage and crop of “analysts” springing up to offer their “insights”, there is an enormous room for skepticism here.

The details for their Telecom Regulation are sketchy. One could really take comfort in numbers for us. It is a classic story of missed oppurtunities. 50+ years and we are grappling for decent infrastructure.

Economic Times has an excellent article on Spectrum policies. I did not elaborate, given the confusing nature of allegations and counter allegations. One this clear from all this. Litigation wouldnt end and so would the confusion.

Frankly, 3G services are making a lot of noise on the world front. I became aware of the same, when I recieved a forwarded mail; India is being watched closely on the world front as regards to the roll out of the services; specially WiMax. I believe that it is the companies that have the direct stakes in the telecom scenario. For example, Ericcson supplies most of the telecom equipment; it would drag the European government in exerting the “diplomatic pressures”. All this is part of the game. Obviously, they too would be gung ho about the “millions waiting in the wings”. Hence the hoopla.

My intention is not to trash what has been achieved. Nor discount the low telecom rates(with more price cuts that an be sustained). It is the hypocrisy that really gets me. I abhor the guts of the corporates; fake billings and lousy customer services with pathetic end user usage. They back it up with “smiles and giving world class service” claims. There is a serious disconnect between the service levels and claims perse. Plus of course, the real threat of cartelisation. It pays everyone to stick on with each other and edge out any new player.

In any case, there needs to be a free and frank discussion on where we are headed. At times, I feel demoralised trying to catch up with the dirty politics that these people play without being caught. For example, some insider source in Airtel claimed that they really give a raw deal to their dealers; often flogging them to work and dropping them when it is inconvnient for them to carry on with them. How much is true, is not known. Yet, these allegations for a company don’t really go well with the images splashed in dailies. Or for that matter, Sunil Bharti getting the best telecom award for the best CEO. Oh, did he not claim that he is no longer involved running the Telecom business?

Read More on Spectrum policy

This is a quickie. MTNL has smelt the oppurtunity somewhere and is planning to launch it’s WiFi Services in Mumbai.

The report says that it plans to lauch in Five Star hotels and clubs; they have taken the permission for the same. Oh well, the paying customers are there. It flies in the face of logic; precisely becuase,they have screwed up policies for Broadband access. What do they hope to achieve in the WiFi space?

MTNL is dying a slow death- the others are catching up with the same. Let me see the tea leaves and try and predict the future. In all probability it would be sold off or merged with BSNL. This remains a speculation; given the fascination for FDI; this looks a disticnt possibilty. Watch this space.