With new license holders launching services, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Secretary Shri Siddharth Behura said that the Indian telecommunication sector is eyeing an investment of more than Rs 1,30,000 crore by the next two years.

While inaugurating the16th Convergence India 2008 in Delhi, Mr. Behura stated that more and more investment was needed in the telecom equipment segment
similarly in which investment has come to mobile handset manufacturers.

Mr. Behura hoped that around 75% of the equipment required would be manufactured in the country itself.

“Present slow growth of broadband in India will get a boost from the reduction of CPE prices and USOF initiatives,” Mr. Behura added.

MTNL CMD RSP Sinha said that India would shortly turned into superpower in telecommunication industry with Indian operators routinely adding up more than 8 million new mobile clients on a monthly basis.

Mr. Sinha added that the next exponential development will be ‘broadband explosion.’

“MTNL is the only telecom operator in the world to offer IPTV on MPEG 4, whereas the European countries are offering this service on MPEG 2,” Mr. Sinha also said.

He also disclosed that MTNL has already rolled out mobile TV services in Mumbai and Delhi.

Discussing MTNL’s upcoming plans, Mr. Sinha also said that operator is concentrating on fixed-mobile convergence.

“This will help in better utilisation of spectrum as well,” he said.

Prem Behl of Exhibitions India Group said, “Broadband will be in enormous demand with the rollout of triple-play services. With rural broadband coming up in a big way, we will be able to achieve every target that we have been tasked with.”