Building Robust Telecom Infrastructure for DIGITAL INDIA - Jacob Mathew, Senior Vice President - Network Services, Idea Cellular Limited

DIGITAL INDIAKNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE

Conference 19-20Feb16

Building Robust Telecom Infrastructure

for DIGITAL INDIA

ByJacob MathewSenior Vice President – Networks (Projects)Idea Cellular Ltd.20Feb16

Digital India for Empowered India


Discussion Points

1.Snapshot of Telecom Industry in India (Source TRAI Report, dt 16Feb16)

2.Digital India and Role of Telecom

3.The Challenges

4.Government Support

5.What more can be done?

Snapshot of Telecom Industry in India (Source TRAI

Report, dt 16Feb16)



Number of Telephone Subscribers crossed 1022.61 Million

With Teledensity of 80.98%

Total Telephone Subscribers in India


997 Mn are Wireless subscribers – 97%

26 Mn are Wire line subscribers – 3%

Composition of Subscribers in India

Rural-Urban Divide!

• Urban Teledensity 153.49%

• 599.01 Million Urban Subscriptions

• Rural Teledensity 48.76%

• 423.61 Million Rural Subscriptions



Out of 325 Mn total Internet Users, 305 Mn are Wireless

Internet Penetration


Indian Telecom today

• Total Subscribers (Wireline+Wireless) 1023 Mn

• Market Share of Private TelecomOperators in Wireless domain 91.6%

• Total Wireless Subscribers 997 Mn (97.5%)

• Number of Wireless Internet Users 305 Mn (94%)

• Number of Internet Users 325 Mn

It’s the Private Enterprise which led the Spread &Penetration of Telecom and Internet in India

Source TRAI Report 16Feb16

Digital India and Role of Telecom



The 9 Pillars of Digital India


1. Broadband Highways

2. Universal Access to Phones

3. Public Internet Access Program

4. E-Governance

5. eKranti - Electronic Delivery of Services

6. Information for all

7. Electronics Manufacturing

8. IT For jobs

9. Early Harvest Program

Relation of the Pillars with Telecom


1. Broadband Highways - Telecom

2. Universal Access to Phones - Telecom

3. Public Internet Access Program - Telecom

4. E-Governance - Telecom

5. eKranti - Electronic Delivery of Services - Telecom

6. Information for all - Telecom

7. Electronics Manufacturing

8. IT For jobs - Telecom

9. Early Harvest Program - TelecomTelecom is the Enabling Infrastructure and the

Delivery platform for DIGITAL INDIA

Telecom an Integral Part of DIGITAL INDIA


• DIGITAL INDIA is possible only with a Robust Telecom Infrastructure

• Private Telecom Operators have a major role to play in Empowering India through DIGITAL INDIA

• Network expansion & OFC laying are most essential for creating the enabling ecosystem for spreading Broadband connectivity

DIGITAL INDIA is no more a dream, Indian Telecom is geared up to play its Role……..

Idea Cellular Limited




3G Coverage - 48% of Total Population in 13 Circles

2G Coverage - 80% Total Population PAN India

3G Coverage - 85% of Towns & 15% Villages in 13 Circles

2G Coverage - 93% of Towns & 58% Villages PAN India Idea Cellular Limited

Challenges to Network Expansion

& OFC Laying


Spectrum


Lowest Spectrum availability per Subscriber!

Other Concern areas


• Not Treating Telecom Companies as Partners in development

• Lack of Regulations, Multiple Regulations, Impractical Regulations & Misinterpretation of regulations

• Public interference due to alleged Radiation Fears

• Delay in ROW clearance for Site Build & OFC Laying

• Non renewal of existing Sites due to Radiation fears or irrational Rental demands

Telecom is not treated well in comparison with the Public good it delivers and the money it generates for the Exchequer

Government Support


Indian Telecom is geared up to play its Role……..

What Government should do?


• Treat Telecom Companies as Partners in development to accelerate DIGITAL INDIA Transformation

• Acknowledge the Role of Private Telecom Operators in DIGITAL INDIA & communicate the same down the rank & file

• Integrate the Network & OFC expansion plans of the Telecom Companies in the DIGITAL INDIA Master plan of that State / Region

• Government to play a more active role in alleviating the Radiation fears from the minds of Public

• Establish Speedy decision making mechanisms within the Government to approve RoW clearances for OFC and Tower

State Governments & Local authorities should assume Stake Holder roles in Telecom Expansions to make DIGITAL INDIA faster

What more can be done?


Telecom - An Engine for Renewable Energy Generation


Basics of telecom Network Infrastructure

The Mobile Network Architecture can be roughly divided in to 4 levels

as below,

MS – Mobile Station, popularly known as the Mobile Phones

BTS – Base Transreceiving Station

BSC - Base Station Controller

MSC - Mobile Switching Centre

MS is the Handset in the hands of the Subscriber &

Rest of the installations are owned and operated by the Telecom

Companies.

Schematic Diagram of Network


The Network is operational 24x7, 365 Days

The Opportunity


Electricity is the only input which goes in to a Telecom

Network. The cumulative connected load of entire Telecom

Network across the Nation is estimated to be more than 12GW,

running 24x7, 365 days

Telecom Companies can enter in to Power Purchase

Agreements (PPAs) with Renewable Energy Generators (Solar

or Wind Technology based Power Generating Agencies) against

their grid power consumption

If this is permitted there is huge opportunities to develop Renewable Energy Power Generation Plants

Present Policy


LOAD

Conditions•Permitted for Connected load > 1MW•It should be a Single Consumer number

Limitations of the present Policy •Connected load stipulation – limiting participation •Load aggregation of the same consumer not allowed•Very limited Options for PPAs in the present regulatory regime

Proposals - 1


LOAD

Reduce the connected load requirement: Bring down from 1 MW to 250 KW, permitting more installations to come under the Scheme. (Most MSCs will qualify)

Proposals - 2


L1 L2 L3

Allow Connected load aggregation of Multiple Consumer numbers of same Consumer: If this is allowed Telecom Operators will be able to support huge RET deployments

Proposal-3


LOAD

Metering

Village Electrification through decentralized energy generation and distribution Allow Off grid RET Plants for Open Access scheme. There is lot of scope for Village Electrification based on RET based Power Generation


> ₹ 18,000 Cr pa

Grid Power cost

In Telecom INVEST HERE

ABATE HERE

THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY

Thank You
