Global Telecom Summit 2001 "Connecting India"
September 27-28, 2001

Welcome Address of Mr R.S Lodha, President - Elect, FICCI,

Mr Pramod Mahajan, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, IT & Communication
Hon’ble diplomats from different countries
Mr Shyamal Ghosh, Chairman, Telecom Commission
Mr Sanjay Mehta, ArthurAndersen
And my colleagues Mr Rajan Bharti Mittal, Chairman, FICCI Telecom Committee,
Mr Pramod Saxena, Co-Chairman, FICCI Telecom and
Dr. Amit Mitra and
All International and national Speakers and participants

A hearty welcome to you all

It is a privilege to have with us Mr Pramod Mahajan, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Information Technology and Communication. Sir, the portfolios held by you encompass not only vital sectors of technological convergence such as Telecommunications and Information Technology but also the sphere of political convergence in the Parliament. The Summit certainly looks forward to your dynamic views and strategic approach to guide the deliberations in the right direction.

The theme of the Conference is about Connecting India. No doubt we have made significant progress in expanding our communication capacities. That we have managed to more than double the tele-density from 1.5 to 3.7 in the last two years is, by no means a small achievement. Our target to raise it to 7 by 2005 is indeed equally impressive. More important is the rapid growth that we have made in information technology and internet.

Rapid advancement in internet and Information Technology also poses a great challenge and offers immense opportunities for developing the communication networks of the future. The emerging reality of converged services must become the cornerstone of our telecom development strategies from now on. No doubt, information technology is now driving telecom development around the world. We are, indeed, happy to have the IT Minister in the drivers seat of telecom development in our own country.

Converged services are no more a flight of fancy. Nor is it an elitist service anymore. I believe, it holds the real key to bridging the digital divide and making IT and telecom work for the masses. The same broadband which can connect corporate board rooms with video conferencing services can also be used to deliver quality education in rural schools or equipping our farmers with timely information and guidance. Multi media based communication could always be a more effective medium of communication and education in the rural areas than simple text or voice based systems.

Ofcourse, the crucial question is all about creating the infrastructure and keeping it in good health to deliver quality services. The massive funds that will be needed to invest are, no doubt, of a very tall order, but not difficult to find, if the investment policies are conducive enough. After all, China has made significant progress by utilising FDI as the main route for funding telecom development and is all set to provide 520 million connections by 2007. It already has the world largest population of mobile phone users. It has also even today, 30 million internet users as against our 3 million.

Can we do it? Can we have a definite strategy to connect India, connect the people and businesses with each other for a range of converged services and connect the country to the future? I am sure the time is just right. No doubt, most telecom markets in developed countries are highly saturated. Some of these are also slipping into turmoil. We too will have to look at the ways not only to attract investors in to out telecom industry but also ensure that our own telecom industry does not get trapped into the same kinds of problems faced in these countries.

These, I am sure, are some of the prime issues that will occupy the centre stage in the discussion at this Summit.

I am delighted that the programme has brought together both policy makers and practioners, key players from both public and private sector operators, as well as eminent international experts. It is also unique forum that has the support and active participation of all the sectoral associations representing all the vital segments of the telecom and internet community. I am sure, your discussions will help us in not only drawing an action plan for effectively connecting India but also give a visionary lead give even more advancements in future.

Thanking you,