Telecom can strengthen our bonds with Pakistan

When I got an invitation to speak at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
(PTA)-LIRNEasia event in Islamabad, I was excited. Visiting our neighbor in the
current political scenario, I thought, should give me some unforgettable
experience. Yes, I was right. The moment I landed at Lahore airport (en route),
I realized that I was in a hostile country because they had cut my mobile
connectivity!

Needless to say, I was the luckiest among the group of professionals from
India who were invited to participate in the event. I was one of the few who got
through the visa process unfazed. Most of them faced visa issues for different
reasons. They included well known professionals from Trrai and other reputed
organizations in India.

We were invited to speak in an event that focused on creating awareness about
making more revenues from non-voice business. The conference was attended by
more than forty foreigners, mainly from the Asia Pacific region. The highlight
of the entire event was to improve cooperation among the participating countries
to boost telecom growth in non-voice business.

However, after the ill-treatment we were given at the immigration center-just
because we were Indians-I thought it's more important for us to make the
authorities 'act than just talk.'

India is also not different in its attitude towards Pakistanis. There are too
many restrictions for a Pakistani visiting India. It's almost impossible to get
visa for a Pakistani to visit India-whatever be the reason. Visiting Delhi for
business/conference purposes is not in their agenda. Recently, a top PTA
professional refused to come to attend a telecom meet in Delhi because he did
not want to face the harassment of being a Pakistani in India. He narrated the
story of his last visit to India sardonically, saying that he was thrown out of
the hotel in Jaipur when he was identified as a Pakistani.

Improving telecom trade with our neighbors, including Pakistan, should be on
our immediate agenda. Both countries should work together to encourage
constructive business across the border.

Most of our operators are yet to increase non-voice revenue to 20% of the
total voice revenue. In this area, we can have more discussion with Pakistani
operators and VAS players. There can be joint development of VAS. Demands of
mobile customers in both the countries are almost the same. We need
entertainment-film, cricket, cultural, and more. We are cost conscious. While
India has gone ahead in 3G, but is yet to exploit its business potential;
Pakistan will have 3G networks soon.

India needs liberal policies to speak on the mobile and speak up. Pakistan
has more liberal telecom practices. In Pakistan, I can easily get a SIM from the
vendors which can be used during my stay there without any hurdles; whereas in
India, it is not the case.

Let us talk. We need to open our channel of discussions. There is more
potential to do business with our neighbors.

Baburajan K

baburajank@cybermedia.co.in