'Achieving 20 percent growth won’t be difficult'

Acterna has recently launched a testing solution for the next-generation
wireless. It claims that the solution is the most cost-effective in its
category. Vishnu Goel, MD, Acterna India, spoke to Voice&Data about the
company’s ongoing projects and targets. Excerpts:

How are you bridging ‘last mile’ between carrier and
the end-user?

We reach out to businesses and end users by making them aware
of the existence of such solutions that increase efficiency of the existing
network access systems manifold. With this, carriers begin to react quickly to
meet customer demand. For example we worked with DoT and helped them with the
synchronization of their services. This ensured a requisite Quality of Service (QoS)
level with fewer missed calls and unbroken voice over calls. We want companies
to increase their pie of investment into these solutions that promise better
quality with reduced costs.

What is your competitive advantage for sustenance in the
market?

Only recently we launched the industry’s most
cost-effective testing solution for the next generation wireless. We were also
the first to introduce a portable ADSL test solution. Acterna is the only
company in India whose technical support center is equipped with an Automatic
Test Equipments (ATE) dedicated for fiber optics and cable TV instruments.

What are your foremost operational plans now?

We are helping HFCL, Bharti Cellular and Reliance roll out
fiber optic- based communication network and synchronization services. For
Reliance, we will synchronize communications services with their fiber optic
master hub. We are in talks with Kolkata based RPG Netcom for remote fiber
testing, management and synchronization systems. Work is also underway for BSNL,
VSNL, MTNL, Bharat Telecom and Indian Railways.

Will the 20-25 percent targeted growth for the Indian arm
be achieved this fiscal?

Achieving the 20-25 growth growth will not be difficult.
First, because of our proven ability to provide services to new private telecom
operators. We are accruing a lot of forex earnings from exports of our products
and services. Most of our revenues will also accrue from our work with United
Telecom of Nepal, Mobitel of Sri Lanka and Gramin Telecom of Bangladesh. Besides
Acterna Singapore is taking our support in completing some of their tasks.

Radhika Bhuyan