Build E-Infrastructure At A Faster Pace

The world' s largest microprocessor company Intel is changing gears to adapt to the new Net economy . The company is expecting to play the role of a catalyst. Craig R Barrett, Intel's president and CEO, is here to outline his strategies for global e-business economy. Barrett joined Intel in 1973 as a technology development manager and was named vice-president in 1984. He was promoted to the post of senior vice-president in 1987 and executive vice-president in 1990. He was elected to Intel's board of directors in 1992 and was named the company's chief operating officer in 1993. He became the company's fourth president in May 1997 and chief executive officer in 1998. Excerpts from various interactive sessions with Barrett.

 

Q. Intel has announced a $200 million initiative worldwide to be invested over the next few years in the Internet media business. Does it include India?

I do not see this project coming to India in the near future. This is currently at an experimental stage in the US. The programme aims at building a network of broadcast operation centres for the company's Internet media services business. We see a significant momentum building in this area.

Q. What will be Intel's relationship with Microsoft in view of the problems that the company is facing with the US Justice Department?

We have a strong relationship with Microsoft, and we are committed to work with them in the future as well. I would not like to comment on the problems the company is facing with the Justice Department.

Q. World over, one can see demands for Internet infrastructure increasing. Your views.

IT managers will need to build a balanced computing environment, including multiple clients, high performance PCs, Internet appliances and servers, to address the demand due to increased Internet business links, automated business processes and the associated data traffic growth.

Industry must work towards new infrastructure consisting of new communication products and services that improve e-commerce transactions through faster online connections, security authentication and lesser server response time.

Q. What according to you are the challenges India faces in this area?

Indian businesses have to expand their e-business infrastructure at a rate that keeps pace with the rest of the world. The country needs to capitalise on the convergence of voice and data and make appropriate investments in the telecommunication infrastructure. This expanded infrastructure will bring costs down and drive up adoption levels.

India also needs to prepare for exponential growth by capitalising on its growing base of knowledge workers and Internet users. India has many of the ingredients needed for the success of e-business. It just needs to add world class telecommunications and IT infrastructure. India can become a regional leader in Internet and e-commerce.

Q. What are the steps the country should take to become successful in this sector?

India must increase the PC and Internet penetration, and construct a world class telecommunication infrastructure. Deregulation of the Internet and foreign investments has resulted in a growth in Internet service providers here.

As a country, India needs to continue to reduce access costs and deploy faster telecommunications infrastructure. To harness the Internet economy, the country should focus on developing and investing in Internet infrastructure and business-to-business e-commerce.

Q. The logistics system requirements for ground delivery is not in place in India. Your comments?

It is true that transactions can take place speedily over the Internet, but at the same time, to fulfill this, there is need for a robust ground level infrastructure. I do not have any magic solution for this. The problem is severe at the business-to-consumer space.

Q. A lot of work is going on in the broadband services area worldwide. What is Intel's role in this sector?

The world is expecting this (broadband services) to happen and every body is expecting it to be rolled out soon. We as a company will be working with various entities, including telecom companies, satellite companies and other service providers to make this a reality. I think this (broadband service) is the real challenge the technology world is facing today.