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