Is it any surprise that Broadband is not really taking off in this country? Fact of the matter is deep rooted corruption. Here is a break up analysis of how things are rotten in Karnataka (as an example) and assuming that similar “rates” apply at central government. There is no doubt that being in politics is pure money making enterprise. Here are the low down statistics.

While the Tata-Corus deal was over Rs 36,000 crore, they could have acquired the Government of Karnataka for just Rs 2,825 crore by buying 113 MLAs. Another Rs 1,000 crore might have had to be doled out to mid-term dissidents and other contingency expenses. For such investment, the returns from bribes are fabulous. Even Warren Buffet cannot match it.

This is mere change for a major group like Tata’s. Imagine the clout that these companies have at the national level, their ability to influence major policy decisions and ride roughshod over the customer’s interests.

For example, here is a news from the past when Tatas took over VSNL in 2002 during the time when BJP was in power and it was on a disinvestment spree.

The Tatas today took charge of the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) after signing shareholders’ agreement with the Union Government for acquisition of 25 per cent stake in the telecom major for Rs. 1,439 crores.

Adjusting for inflation, it would be much more than the figures suggest but I wonder how much “speed money” was given and whether it was the right thing to do. It had acquired it’s long distance telephony which at that time was very lucrative.

The total valuation of Tata Indicom as a brand is expected to be in “billions”. This is not counting it’s lucrative tower business.

The company’s GSM services were launched after NTT DoCoMo picked up 26% in the company. The Japanese telecom major, which prides itself in its third generation (3G) offerings, spent $2.7 billion on its first investment in Tata Teleservices, valuing it at just under $11 billion.

One could argue against such fancy valuations but there is no “benchmark” for such a valuation. Rajesh Jain has interesting take on corruption (1,2,3,4,5).

It’s not that the powers that be are not aware of the prevailing situation on ground. It’s easier to keep it this way because a populace kept “busy with basic issues of life like a proper dwelling, electricity, food and infrastructure” would hardly have any time to think about issues like ‘broadband’. Ask the person on street and the familiar reaction would perhaps be,”WTF”.

Hence many times I think that our pretensions about “knowledge based economy” may all be crap and flotsam. The basic issues lie much deeper and as Atanu Dey rightly points out that the basic impediment to our progress may well be the Indian Government itself. It doesn’t matter to anyone though because as we fucking multiply to billion plus, there is always someone laughing behind our backs making a killing of millions.

To round it up, it is pure money power that allows these companies to roughshod it over us. They know that regulations cannot be enforced, the justice system inordinately slow and right to information act does not apply to private organizations (though I can argue against it). At the same time, not being transparent is the biggest asset available to them.

This thought came to my mind as and when I was discussing this issue with someone. The contents of the email are:

The best way out, in my opinion, is to form a NGO. Key advantages in my opinion, are:

1) Focused efforts.

2) Access to funds.

3) Some toe hold to lobby.

4) Most of the western organizations like EFF (please Google for it) are very keen to promote “Open Access”.

5) A platform for bringing about a policy change.

These are are idealized goals and currently with the limits on my time, I am unable to pursue this matter. Of course, with a “united front”, anything that is done, either survey or interaction with the media, it is done with a single voice; rather than a disparate group of people speaking about it in different tangents. Media contacts matter but having an open web presence is also very important.

It all needs serious investment- buying up a domain name, registering the NGO, lawyers for legal opinion, pursuing this matter to a logical conclusion, chasing the funds, making pitches and marketing and then the most important thing- lobbying.

I am not a fan of the existing NGO’s because in my opinion, they are sold off to the highest bidder and the have covert or overt agendas. However, this is just a thought and I am floating this idea because I feel that you can carry this off.

I don’t foresee a role in such a venture for myself because my long term interests don’t align with the final outcome. My interests are primarily in Brain Tumors and getting in to molecular research than fighting the idiots for Broadband access. At present, I am not happy with the “speeds” or the “ping times” but I have realized that it’s difficult (if not impossible) to shake the entrenched lobbies. Be it Tatas or Birlas or whatever fancy name these corporates have. I can only suggest and contribute bit of my time, if some sort of a venture does take off the ground.

At some point in time, I was heavily in to Open Access where in all the locked knowledge ought to be in public domain and accessible by high speed broadband networks. This got me interested to delve deeper in the present rut and culmination of the efforts to blog about the mess. Blogs have a sorely limited access and worse still, most of people don’t realize how important it is to have a free knowledge based economy because everything is interlinked.

I don’t find the same level of enthusiasm and need to “bring about a change” on the forums. Most of the times, it has brain dead morons who would just whine about the whole issue. It needs hard work to go out, meet people and bring about a “policy change”.

Who gives a damn anyway?

Here is a low down of the Tata Wimax; a first user account of their services and the reasonable expectations from a service provider.

I am happy with Airtel providing me with an excellent DSL at my premises. However, in my opinion, I am paying a “heavy price” for 1 Mbps unlimited connectivity.

I am filing a RTI application with TRAI to know as to how the price has been ‘fixed” and whether it has the mandate from the regulator. It would take some time for “action” but in the meantime, I would continue to write about the “experience”.

I don’t endorse any of Tatas’ products personally but I guess, I need to be fair in my coverage. It’s very difficult to get a uniform view about the products because of various experiences with the companies and their products; given the fact that most of the customer surveys are funded by the companies themselves.

Over the Shyam’s blog for the low down on Tata Wimax.

Cheers!!