Telecom Exports Slow Down In 1998-99

Telecom services and project exports from India registered a slow-down during 1998-99, the latest report of the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) says.

In rupee terms, telecom exports recorded a 7.69 per cent growth compared with 50.55 per cent in 1997-98. During 1998-99, telecom services and projects worth Rs 2,800 crore were exported from India compared with Rs 2,600 crore during the previous year.

Government-owned companies, Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) and Telecommunication Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) accounted for a bulk of these exports with exports worth Rs 2,376 crore and Rs 391 crore, respectively, during the fiscal.

 

The other major exporters included National Radio and Electronics Company (NREC), Motorola India, Fujitsu India Telecom and Fujitsu Optel.

While NREC exported transmission apparatus worth about Rs 15.59 crore, Motorola exported pagers worth about Rs 36.86 crore to China, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and the US.

Pager exports, however, decreased by about 48 per cent from Rs 86.86 crore in 1997-98 to Rs 45.44 crore in 1998-99. Telecom software exports were also hit with exports decreasing by over 76 per cent. In rupee terms, software exports decreased from Rs 26.47 crore in 1997-98 to Rs 6.2 crore in 1998-99.

Transmission apparatus was one of the sectors that recorded an impressive growth from Rs 17 crore in 1997-98 to Rs 37.21 crore 1998-99, an increase about 120 per cent. Pager components debuted on the list of telecom exports.

Of the major export destinations, Singapore, Hong Kong and other south Asian countries remained the top export destination for telecom equipment. Exports to this region, however, decreased from Rs 165 crore during 1997-98 to Rs 70.26 crore in 1998-99, a decrease of over 57 per cent.

Telecom exports to Japan, Korea and other far eastern countries, however, increased by about 160 per cent from Rs 26 crore in 1997-98 to Rs 70.26 crore in 1998-99. Exports to North America, West Asia, Australia and other Oceanic countries also grew, but those to Africa, Europe, Russia and CIS countries declined.

GROWTH IN EXPORTS OF TELECOM SERVICES

1994-95

US$ mn Rs. Cr

267 827

396 1325

486 1727

693 2600

675 2800