Bharati has bought over Zain telecom in Africa. The exact details are “obscured” and frankly, I didn’t really bother much over the period of time because it was a “meh” news. I believe that Bharati has done the right thing because even if this is “over valued” deal, it would add to it’s stature. All the more, it would help Bharati to negotiate (on very favorable terms) for the 3G equipment only for the scale. Because size DOES matter.
All the more Bharati Telecom now needs to step up it’s customer acquisition for 3G and retain it’s existing customers before the mobile number portability is cleared for final implementation. This MNP would benefit the newer players in a big manner because the existing customer are fed up of the tardy implementation of the customer care by existing operators.
This is a familiar rant here for the regular readers on the blog and frankly, I am at pains to point out anything new or even “exciting” development. There is NONE. All the more, few operators are crying hoarse about EVDO or fancy WiMax (and some operators claiming that the existing technologies would not be able to support the data requests), some of them talk about “blazing speeds”, some like Tata Photon Plus are reducing their prices for the modem and very gladly claim that they would shift the existing customers to “higher speed slots”. Some like Reliance are still persisting with hollowed out infrastructure. Puke.
Assholes. Thats the word that comes on top of mind recall.
Now this is purely a personal opinion. We are a desperate nation. A hungry nation. An impatient generation. My “forefathers” would have been happy to accept the present state of affairs. When standing in a long queue was the norm for landline connections. One needed the “right approach” and ability to swing the deal in your favour. When the bloody lineman was the God because it was “His” mercy that your telephone worked.
We are a far cry from the “bastards”. But that mentality lingers on. It still does.
Maybe, in the backdrop of Bharati buying out the majority stake in Zain assumes more significance. For the first time, a company has thought big. They are planning big. They are now overturning the rules of the game on to favor themselves. I hate them for keeping the pace out; be it broadband or be it mobile service.
Although, “not exciting” but nevertheless, a significant development.