Airtel pins hopes on e-governance

Airtel is looking at 25 per cent growth for its enterprise services on the back of increased e-governance projects.

Currently Airtel Enterprise Services (AES) contributes close to 30 per cent to overall Bharti revenues.

According to Saurabh Goel, chief operating officer - east of Airtel Enterprise Services, "We expect the government clientele to contribute close to 50 per cent of our overall revenues within three years. Currently it contributes close to 20 per cent."

Goel added, "The government is increasingly using our data service products for rural connectivity. It is also increasingly looking at state wide area network and connectivity for all its departments. This, in itself, is expected to push sales for us".

Going forward, Airtel is looking to introduce enhancements of its managed network services portfolio. It would also launch a variety of new products aimed at the convergence of voice and data, and roll out new value-added and wholesale products aimed at growing the mobility market. In the next few months, Airtel would also introduce new internet and international data products to meet specific needs of different segments of corporate customers.

The company is planning to enhance its VSAT and conferencing product portfolio.

On the voice side, Airtel plans to introduce a number of value-added and application-based services for its fixed line, mobile and international calling corporates.

It will also look at getting into the VOIP services space soon, informed Goel.

AES provides telecom services and solutions to large corporates, small and medium enterprises and to the national and international telecom carriers. The group focuses on verticals like BFSI, IT, ITES, manufacturing and distribution, media and services, government and PSUs, education, telecom, and retail, among others.

Airtel Enterprise Services has invested close to Rs 6239 million as on September 2007.

"We also hope to replicate one of our e-governance projects with the Gujarat government in Bengal," Goel said.

Airtel is setting up telecom infrastructure to connect 13,716 village panchayats and common service centres in Gujarat.

It has already finished implementation in 1000 sites in Gujarat, informed Goel.

Once connected, the panchayat offices or e-grams are expected to form a powerful socio-economic network supporting information dissemination and facilitating e-governance initiatives in the state.

The project linking 13,716 village panchayats and common service centres located in the remotest corners of the state is expected to ensure cost-effective video, voice and data services in the areas of agriculture, e-governance, health and education.

The connectivity will also facilitate point to point, and point to multipoint video conferencing services, VOIP services, intra and internet services from these village panchayats and common service centres, Goel said.