Telecom Blog
Prioritizing Communications & Energy
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Apr 28, 2013 03:01 PMAfter curbing unproductive expenditure and imports, we must focus on developing communications and energy.
Are India's Glory Days Over?
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Mar 12, 2013 12:59 PMUnless major structural changes are effected, India will miss an economic take-off for many years, writes Shyam Ponappa.
Who Minds the Maxwell's Demon (Revisiting Communication Networks through the Lens of the Intermediary)
— by Sharath Chandra Ram — last modified Mar 05, 2013 03:37 PMA holistic reflection on information networks and it’s regulatory framework is possible only when the medium-specific boundary that has often separated the Internet and Telecom networks begins to dissolve, to objectively reveal points of contention in the communication network where the dynamics of network security and privacy are at large – namely, within the historic role of the intermediary at data/signal switching and routing nodes.
The Supreme Court & Spectrum Management
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Mar 04, 2013 04:28 PMOnly the Supreme Court can rectify spectrum management in line with other resources, but all stakeholders can contribute.
What's Needed Is User-Centric Design, Not Good Intentions
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Jan 25, 2013 07:26 PMThe inadequacy of essentials and conveniences around us results from a slack approach to both design and execution. We know we are deficient in execution, but we need to be more aware of deficiencies in approach and design. Good intentions, while important, cannot substitute for good systems design and execution.
Inflation Control Through Structural Reforms
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Dec 21, 2012 05:55 PMInflation will persist until supply increases. Policies must therefore address supply through structural reforms, e.g., in telecom and power.
Folly of Mandating Spectrum Auctions
— by Jayna Kothari — last modified Dec 03, 2012 05:47 PMThe recent failure of the 2G spectrum auctions has brought to the fore serious questions on auctions being the only mode for allocation of spectrum.
Super WiFi & Shared Spectrum: A Time to Start Sharing
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Nov 08, 2012 03:00 PMLook into sharing spectrum and 'Super Wi-Fi', instead of auctions, refarming and exclusive allocation.
The Supreme Court Delivers
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Dec 21, 2012 05:57 PMNow, the spectrum and licence issues need resolution. On September 27, 2012, the Supreme Court of India delivered the opinion of a bench comprising five Judges on the Presidential Reference regarding the auction of 2G spectrum.
Reviving Growth
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Oct 20, 2011 09:36 PMThe government needs to reduce interest rates and undertake specific reforms to revive growth. The focus needs to be on communications, specifically broadband, it would yield results. Mobile communications have grown phenomenally but the meteoric rise got stalled. However, if the government initiates reforms in spectrum policies with incentives for broadband delivery, prospects could revive and communications could go through another meteoric rise, becoming the growth engine for the economy.
The Challenges of Direct Democracy
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Jan 30, 2012 08:51 PMIndia must weigh the pros and cons of various approaches to direct democracy and develop one of its own.
NTP 2011 Objective: Broadband
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Jul 26, 2012 06:09 PMThe Indian government has to choose between accessible, affordable services and short-term revenue, writes Shyam Ponappa in this article published in the Business Standard on June 2, 2011.
Spectrum reforms - Good & Bad news
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Jul 26, 2012 06:02 PMA good initiative is under way, but needs changes to work out complex issues, writes Shyam Ponappa in this article published in the Business Standard on May 5, 2011.
Learning from Fukushima
— by Prasad Krishna — last modified Aug 30, 2011 08:47 PMTake remedial steps and demystify the unreasoning dread of nuclear power, says Shyam Ponappa in his latest column published by the Business Standard on April 7, 2011.
India's untapped potential: Are a billion people losing out because of spectrum?
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Dec 14, 2012 06:31 PMAs one of the world’s fastest growing economies and with over 65% of its billion-plus population under 35, India has huge potential. But according to Shyam Ponappa of the Centre for Internet & Society, its spectrum management – the electromagnetic waves that are used from home appliances like microwaves and remote controls, to radios, cell phones, and of course, the internet – could be a huge barrier to the country’s economic and social development.
Big-Bang Budgets?
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified Jul 26, 2012 06:10 PMClarity of planning and conceptualisation needs to be the hallmark of policy planning for the Budget, says Shyam Ponappa in this article published in the Business Standard on March 3, 2011.
Spectrum auctions - 'Jhatka' or 'Halal'?
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 05:57 PMThe choice is between sudden death and a slow one. The article by Shyam Ponappa appeared in the Business Standard on 3 February 2011.
The policy langurs
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:15 PMThe comforts of civilised living for all Indians require dedicated collective effort. The article by Shyam Ponappa was published in the Business Standard on 6 January 2011.
Take 'Model T' for Telecom
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:16 PMWe need an initiative coordinated by the PMO that optimises both services and government revenues, says Shyam Ponappa in his article published in the Business Standard on 2 December 2010.
3G Life
— by Nishant Shah — last modified May 10, 2012 06:54 PMYou can video chat, stream music and watch TV on your phone. Offering high-speed internet access, 3G would change the world of mobile computing. Nishant Shah's article was published in the Indian Express on 14 November 2010.
Ideology and ICT Policies
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:21 PMFor better policies, decision-makers need to know their own and others’ biases, and consider what others are doing, writes Shyam Ponappa in an article published in the Business Standard on 4 November 2010.
Broad-basing Broadband
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:25 PMEducation and training through the Internet need Commonwealth Games-like crisis management, says Shyam Ponappa in an article on broadband for education and training published in the Business Standard on 7 October 2010.
What a highway can do
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:26 PMDespite signs of transformational change, we need more - SOPs and quality
'Containing Inflation' - A myth
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:30 PMWe need problem-solving, not confused rhetoric or misguided action, says Shyam Ponappa. The article was published in Business Standard on 7 August, 2008.
Catching up on broadband
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:32 PMThe govt can invest some of the Rs 1,00,000 crore from the spectrum auctions to help India catch up on broadband, says Shyam Ponappa in his latest article published in the Business Standard on July 1, 2010.
India's sorry spectrum story
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:33 PMIn this article published in the Business Standard on June 3, 2010, Shyam Ponappa analyses the spectrum story in India. He says that the approach to spectrum management is an object lesson in how not to use information and communications technology for development.
China Club instead of Bombay Club?
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:35 PMEmulate China's coordinated policies for strategic sectors, and we'll rely less on commodity exports, says Shyam Ponappa in his article in the Business Standard on May 13, 2010.
The Right Ring Tone
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:39 PMFocus on improving service quality with a strong partner, and not on one-shot stake sales, says Shyam Ponappa in his article published in the Business Standard on April 1, 2010.
Understanding Spectrum
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:48 PMWhat is spectrum and how do government and commercial decisions on this scientific phenomenon affect public facilities and costs? Shyam Ponappa examines this in his latest blog published in the Business Standard on March 4, 2010.
Alternative Scenarios
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:49 PMOnly about 48 per cent of India is covered by the telecom network with only 20 per cent rural coverage, says Shyam Ponappa. In his article published in the Business Standard on 4 February, 2010, he points out how alternative approaches may enhance extensive coverage.
Plan and Execute for Results
— by Shyam Ponappa — last modified May 10, 2012 06:51 PMGood SOPs are a starting point, but there's more under the surface that will affect results.
Developments in spectrum sharing
— by Radha Rao — last modified Aug 18, 2011 12:54 PMNew ways to share spectrum can revolutionise broadband in India - An article in the Business Standard by Shyam Ponappa / New Delhi December 3, 2009, 1:35 IST
India Study Tour - Report: The South African Telecommunications Sector: Poised for Change
— by Radha Rao — last modified Aug 24, 2011 04:02 PMCIS in collaboration with the LINK Centre, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa and in association with different institutions across India organized a Lecture Tour by Sagie Chetty from 19th Oct to 30th Oct. A report on this study tour is given by Sagie Chetty.
Response to TRAI Consultation paper No. 6/2009
— by Radha Rao — last modified Aug 24, 2011 04:06 PMCIS Distinguished Fellow, Shyam Ponappa, provides a detailed response to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's Consultation paper No. 6/2009 "Overall Spectrum Management and review of license terms and conditions". Shyam Ponappa is suggesting that, the TRAI approach the telecom policy in a manner which will facilitate greater user access and, more generally, be designed to serve the public interest in the long-term.
Managing Spectrum
— by Radha Rao — last modified Aug 18, 2011 12:54 PMThe Empowered Group of Ministers' goal should be nothing short of a broadband revolution - Shyam Ponappa / New Delhi, November 5, 2009 (Business Standard)