Incessant whining and trying to disrupt a new delivery route for your content you weren’t innovative enough to create ourself certainly sounds like Hollywood thinking. However, Hollywood isn’t Netflix’s only problem — with Netflix getting more vocal about the anti-competitive impact of metered billing, North America’s largest ISPs are also going to increasingly be taking aim at the company.
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Cablevision’s system can even beam different ads to different set tops in the same house watching the same program, depending on what has been watched on each individual set top. correction: Cablevision tells us the furthest down they drill is to the household level for tailored ads. “Addressable advertising is done at the household level and utilizes general characteristics such as household demographics and geography implemented on an anonymous basis,” the company tells us, adding that Cablevision does not use viewership data.

It’s not clear what happens as Cablevision makes their planned shift away from physical set tops to remote DVR storage. While most cable companies are looking at Internet advertising lustfully they’ll probably need to tread carefully, given the fallout that struck companies like NebuAD for their behavioral ad systems. NebuAD’s efforts failed spectacularly because the systems were implemented not only without notifying users, but in potential violation of both privacy and wiretap laws.

Users in this thread in our Cablevision forum note that Cablevision customers can opt out of this service via the privacy portion of Cablevision’s online portal.
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Corruption and nepotism is order of the day. So well, this S Band is a needed for “wireless broadband” and since spectrum is a scarce resource, there is money to be made at public expense. The deal is simple. Create a shell company, buy spectrum (or have it arranged to be transferred) and sell the equity to a foreign investor.

In effect, the foreign investor may be Chinese, American or of any hue or color. By a simple stroke, these guys get a toe hold in the state of security, a backdoor entry for them. In event of war, when communication needs would be paramount, these bastards would simply cut us out.

Hence, despite the huge brouhaha about the charges sticking out, the “zero sum game” of the losses and the “tamasha”, people are fed up. Although, I still don’t see any signs of “mass upheavals” all around barring perhaps the Chinese armed terrorists called as Naxalites and the on slaught of cheap human labor and sex traffickers from Bangladesh.

Therefore, The Statesman has correctly identified the Sunday Special as S Band Spectrum Scam and analyzed it’s ramifications.

I quote:

Devas was conceived in secrecy by an “incestuous” relationship with ISRO. Most of its board members and senior employees are former ISRO personnel who provide inside information. The deal was masterminded by three former scientific secretaries of ISRO. The ISRO headquarters is very much chairman-centric and of late has become a den of corruption and favouritism. They misrepresented facts to the then secretary, department of space, and misled the Space Commission and the Union Cabinet. The fact that a very one-sided contract was signed by Antrix with Devas on 28 January 2005 was never disclosed to the Space Commission or the Union Cabinet.

This is the reason why the news has gained so much prominence.

Here is a shocker (with my emphasis).

The S-band spectrum, defined as radio waves with frequencies that range from 2 GHz to 4 GHz, was allocated by the World Radio-communication Conference for terrestrial mobile communications services in the year 2000. Armed with this confidential information, Devas is supposed to have developed a novel commercial application in association with global experts and approached for S-band spectrum allocation at a throwaway price. Under the legally binding agreement, Devas would pay Antrix a total of $ 300 million over a period of 12 years. The cost of building the two satellites, GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A would be Rs 416 crore. The launching cost is extra. ISRO had approached Arianespace, a European consortium, for the launch of GSAT-6 because of delays in its own satellite launch programme. The hidden benefit of the use of 70 MHz S-band spectrum, according to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, would be more than Rs. 200 lakh crore.

If this is not good enough, the author has made a clear case of why the guilty needs to be punished.

The emerging requirements of S-band spectrum by strategic government organizations and societal needs were ignored. Defence minister AK Antony woke up to the S-band requirements of the Army, Navy and Air Force only after the Cabinet decided to annul the deal. “The government is now conscious of the necessity of giving the required capability to the armed forces, paramilitary and other strategic organisations,” he said.

The author goes on to provide instances of serious national security lapses.

Between January 2005 and July 2010 Devas was busy selling the capacity to foreign vendors, getting foreign investment board clearances, attempting trials without witnesses and waiting for European technology to mature which they could sell as their own technology. It offloaded 17 per cent of its stakes to Deutsche Telekon (Singapore) for $75 million. In short, attempting bigger frauds and covering their tract as the satellites were getting ready.

Hence the big issue remains of “money laundering” by the established players, loss of paper trail and the likes.

It’s a pathetic scenario indeed.

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In any case, I am toying with the idea of filing a second RTI application but my attention is fixated on academics and it would be impossible to keep a track of the same. In case anyone among the readers feels motivated enough, please let me know through feedback on drapuri (at) gmail (dot) com and I would happily guide the way out including help with drafting of the application.

Trust me, you’d feel very happy with the process to move the sarkari machinery in motion to respond to you. The idea is to inundate these idiots with RTI applications and make them realize that their own regulations are being flouted.

The context of the RTI application should include pointed questions towards mobile number portability, relevant orders to the same, procedure outlined, whether the telecom operators are filing compliance reports, copies of those reports, penalties to be imposed on operators who delay, cause of delays and what action has TRAI taken to ensure compliance with the erring operators.

This is important because TRAI’s own rules are being flouted, mobile number portability would have benefited the incumbent operators and the biggest losers would have been the Government Operators. With delays in capacity expansion, BSNL is already loosing market share. But then, who cares?

The entry of private operators hasn’t really shaken up the market. With perhaps per second billing as the highlight of the year, there is nothing else to speak of. In any case, it would not result in “drastic savings” because of the complex interconnect and termination charges. We don’t really know how we are being scammed.

A further highlight of the proposed RTI application can be the break up of the call rates and the scope for reduction of the same. The operators are dependent on voice revenues to a large extent; data and VAS accounts for a growing percentage of revenues, but as per media reports, not good enough to impact the bottomline in any significant manner. Therefore, the scramble is on to protect the cash cow; at any cost because the customers can be MILKED.

The big question really is: How much profit is really profitable?

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Of course, it wouldn’t be affecting the execs in their plush offices because it is the deceit that keeps them comfortably on their asses. During a routine criminal investigation in Haryana, the police discovered huge number of connections in a single person’s name. After further probes, they discovered that a number of telephone connections had been booked in the name of fictitious entities. In simple lay man’s terms it means that anyone could potentially “misuse” the phone numbers without the fear of being traced.

The Haryana police booked a couple of Airtel employees and it took considerable resources (my guess) to avoid a PR disaster for them. The whole matter seems to be subdued and suppressed and talked off only in hushed up tones. It is not getting the attention it deserves. By rough estimates, if the proper physical verification takes place now, it would shave off one third of the numbers which the companies gloat about. No wonder, Ramachandran, COAI chief, is keen only for the random verification of the subscribers. They cite huge logistics problems for the same.

This has grave implications for the internal security of this nation. In the name of driving up subscritions and ramping up subscribers, the norms have been thrown out. It didn’t apply to them in the first case either.

Getting a pre paid is simple. One has to furnish a “proof” of residence/ photgraph. That’s it. No questions asked. The “verification” is done at the level of the shopkeepers who is supposed to know the local residents. A little “consideration” and things get rolling for a new connection. Prepaids cannot be traced to the original subscribers and the SIM card can be destroyed and a new one had.

Post paid norms are tougher and no wonder, I get to hear delays on the part of the companies to verify everything at their end.

This wouldn’t be solved overnight and is a clear cut violation of licensing norms. Why haven’t their licences been cancelled?

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However, the purpose isn’t to highlight the mess about the city. The idea is to mention the best of the best that we ever had in India- The Delhi Metro. This offers a study in contrasts. This is the FIRST project of it’s kind that hasn’t undergone any cost over runs (I may be mistaken, but I have a reason to be almost sure of this statement). No political interference, contractors paid on time, the trains run super smooth, the stations clean as a chimp’s bum and over all it’s a different kind of a experience to be there.

Why am I excited about the project? It offers connectivity. The metro takes the shortest possible time to traverse the distance from point A to point B in air conditioned comfort. Something that could have been thought off earlier. When things came to a boil, this was the BEST way out. The other decision, I believe, is to run the public transport on Compressed Natural Gas or CNG. The environment is cleaner, much much cleaner and thanks to Supreme Court intervention, we can safely breathe in fresh air.

I am driving at the need to unshackle the constraints on public infrastructure and making the people a part of the decision making process. The way the Government has taken the “initiative” in everything. It isn’t the fact that we cannot do it. It is about doing it horribly wrong. For example, take the Defence. We were brain washed about the Light Combat Aircraft being the “best in the field”. While it cannot be denied that the project is indeed prestigious, we cannot afford the delays in cost escalations. Crores have been spent on the project and the “technology demonstrator” that flew in the skies had an American engine!

Similarly, we have a notional presence of the regulator for mobile phones and broadband. As I mentioned earlier on, TRAI is to serve the interests rather than to safe guard the interests of we as consumers. The least it can do is to highlight the present mess in telecom through media. We have the structures, but we are not enforcing the same for greater common good.

At much deeper level, what can be done? I believe that we ought to band together to make this happen. To make the public structures accountable. To bring out the information in the public domain. To be a partner for the progress of the country. The idea is to VOTE. To vote for your rights. In my opinion, the right to recall a non performing idiot should be enforced. And we should collectively demand the same. This would definitely bring in the credibilty in the existing structure. This is of course, germ of an idea; I might pick this up on some other platform.

Some day, we ought to get together and have the country of our dreams and not the flawed institutions that have been left behind.

Wrapping up the post on Connectivity. It is the connectivity of ideas and implementing them on ground. Not to accept the “fait accompli” but instead work to make it happen. Together, WE can do it.

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I have been reading about concerned people who wish to bring about a change through various media. Beyond a flickering headlines, most of them wither out of the public memory sooner or later. Perhaps the media is to be blamed mostly for that. Yet, the ones reporting are derived from the same society as we are. Are we in a fact to be blamed?

The rot goes in much deeper- the malaise is deep set. There have been few lucky people to be able to manipulate the system to their advantage. The education system is in a mess- tinkering with it and ideological brainwashing hasn’t really helped us much. Its a tragedy of monumentous proportions that we are ruled by those people who have no absolute majority in Parliament. What kind of a democracy is this?

Coming back to the infrastructure. Telecom has the potential to bring about disparate groups, spread by either geographical distance or language barriers to come closer on a common platform. The role of telecom in improving the GDP has been explored and enough commentaries made on the same. Yet, vested interests have made sure that we stay aloof in the time warp.

For example, a fundamental shift in the policy to open up the last mile to private players would revolutionise the broadband reach- given the fact that incumbent BSNL is sitting on miles and miles of unused copper. Of course, the policy planners would want to have duplication of the infrastructure- funds that can be utilised elsewhere would invariably line their pockets. This doesnt get proved given the notorious judicial system that is known for inordinate delays.

I dont have the wherewithal to fight the system; stangely, the people who are supposed to be “public servants” are our lords. The same mindset pervades that they be addressed as “Your Lordship”-and hope that you would be attended to.

In this gloom and doom, there is hope- possibly we as a people and ordinary consumers would not be treated unfairly and certainly not at their terms. Yet, this “fight” isnt over yet. I aim to speak out against the whole system on this blog.

Incidentally, I take this oppurtunity to invite among you to contribute. Of course, this would be subjected to “editorial control” so that it conforms to the whole tenor of this blog. Any editorial modification would be notfied and after mutual consent this would be put up on the main website ( Sifybroadband.techwhack.net). I would appreciate a fresh perspective anyday.

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Tata are one of the oldest business houses in this country. As the ad line went, “We Also Make Steel” encapsulated what Tata’s stood for. Hence, it gave them unparalleled advantage as far as brand name recall is concerned. Tata’s acquired Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL). Their foray in the GSM business was partnership with other operators branded as Idea Cellular. Tata is using its own brand name to market CDMA based telephones.

After acquiring VSNL way beyond its market price, some people had expressed surprise over the excess valuation done. I felt long time back that it was a prize catch. The main reason was that VSNL had painstakingly created infrastructure, which Tata’s did not have to do. Then came the acquisition of Tyco which again was a sick unit picked for a song. How they planned to leverage the same was a mystery to all. It soon became clear after they acquired Dishnet DSL and marketed the same as VSNL Broadband. It gave me some reason to cheer that broadband OPPORTUNITY may soon be knocking at my doorstep. Arguably, Tata has replicated the same model of business as Reliance did. From international gateways to bandwidth and bringing it on to the end user premises. It could be a perfect recipe for success, until Tata spoilt their own broth.

For long, they chose to concentrate in a few southern states. As the other players spread far and wide, Tata’s were surprisingly sleeping over the same. They would claim that they were in the process of consolidation. I doubt whether funds were a problem. Given Tata’s size, it could easily muster the resources it needed for expansion. It chose to sit back and wait.

Finally, it did launch in other circles at a breakneck speed. In the meantime, frustrated consumers started complaining about the lousy services. Or the lack of customer support which failed to resolve the complaints on a timely basis. Dishnet soon screwed up its market and brand name that it had created from a scratch. As I had mentioned earlier, Tata’s chose to rely on the existing infrastructure instead of creating their own. This could be interpreted as either sensible or foolishness.

Admittedly, Tata’s have chosen to concentrate mainly in the urban areas. It goes beyond reason to sniff around in the saturated markets. In any case, according to feedback I got in my city, they have not really been up to the mark. Of course, freebies like Internet or free phone for the first 3 months have not really enthused many subscribers. The only positive factor I see is the per second pulse. This means that usage can be tracked easily.

Internet remains a major problem with most of the operators. Tata’s have missed out the bus on that too. Perhaps they are still suffering from the hangover of acquiring VSNL as their subsidiary. What they got in addition to infrastructure was massive sloth and typical bureaucratic delays. My earlier post on the same amplifies the same. However, I fail to understand the logic behind having Saurav Ganguly as their mascot. How would he be able to sell the products given his own limited appeal? Another instance of lousy effort in marketing.

The only way to shake up the moribund state of affairs is getting aggressive on Data. For example, if it could offer unlimited Internet through its dial up mode. It could collaborate with BSNL to offer its broadband offering using BSNL’s local loop. I am not aware of what goes on in the background, yet given the size of Tata’s they could achieve that.

They ought not repeat the mistakes that they are doing in the mobile telephony segment. Namely fishing in saturated markets. It is absolutely asinine to try and lure away customers from established operators. This is because they do not have any real differentiator in services. The only hope for them is to tap the lucrative corporate market, but given the aggressiveness of Reliance in the same segment, it seems unlikely that they would be able to manage to do take a sizeable share. Plus, of course, a big question mark over their own network!

The best option seems to be capturing the market share in Dial up Internet especially in the small cities. One main reason why it could be winner there is that it owns its own gateways, thanks to VSNL acquisition. Yet seeing their efforts and halfhearted attempts to make any headway, it is like shooting their own foot. As I mentioned, it is the same hangover that refuses to change.

There have been enough snide remarks over their capabilities. Some said that they are best in making salt and they ought to stick on to that. My word of advice to the highly paid morons sitting high up. Until the time you are a volume player, any attempt to narrow your product offerings is suicidal. The same comparison can be drawn from the fast moving consumer goods. Hindustan Lever is having unparalleled reach thanks to its massive grass roots distribution and product offerings in almost every segment of the paying capacity of its patrons. “We Also Make Steel” should now be replaced by “We Also Make our Customers Happy”!

Discuss on: Sify Broadband, Tata Indicom, Airtel Broadband, Reliance Broadband, MTNL – BSNL Broadband, Dial Up, Others

This post was submitted by Dr. Abhishek Puri on the Broadband Blog on Techwhack.

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