Tema constitutes forum to promote use of broadband

The Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association (Tema) has launched India Broadband Forum (IBF) to promote the usage of broadband in the country. IBF will be headed by an advisory board consisting of six ICT (information and communications technology) professionals.

The newly-formed forum is targeting a user base of three million by 2006, 10 million by 2008 and 20 million by 2010. It plans to bring together service providers, technology partners and regulatory and telecom professionals on a common platform.

According Tema president N K Goyal, the forum will provide technical, strategic and marketing support to various entities in the broadband segment with a view to promoting and delivering and sustainable products and services.

As several Indian companies are ill-equipped to handle the huge potential to deploy broadband for voice and data, the new forum will focus on their key areas of strength, facilitating alliances and partnerships to compliment their position in the market.

Use of broadband technologies for multiple applications has significant economic benefits, Goyal said, adding broadband should be considered an accelerator of economic development.

"According to the 10th five-year plan document, the telecom sector is projected to generate 4.8 million jobs in India by 2008. Currently, the hardware manufacturing sector for IT, electronics and telecom equipment employs 4.4 million people," he said.

According to Krone Communications managing director Bala Chandran, broadband penetration in India will increase the demand for computer and home network equipment and hand-held devices.

"The economic benefits of broadband will be multi-fold ranging from e-commerce, e-governance, tele-medicine and distance learning to a variety of entertainment, Internet telephony and reduction in commuting," Chandran said.

The enterprise sector across the verticals will stand to benefit a lot with increasing efficiencies in the distribution of goods, services and information, transcending the economic benefits of broadband from direct and indirect sources.

Chandran added, "by combining wireless and very high-speed broadband, new services can be generated with the application of innovative technologies. The objective of the forum is to evolve a time-bound national strategy that supports the recognition of broadband communications as a critical economic enabler for the future growth."