Huawei India, in collaboration with Ernst & Young, has released ‘India Broadband Report 2012’ y’day at New Delhi. The 108 pages report, released in presence of Huawei India CEO Mr. Cai Liqun along with Mr. A. Sethuraman, ED, Huawei India has highlighted current trends and impact of broadband on 7 key industry sectors namely- Education, Healthcare, Enterprise, BFSI, Governance, M2M and Entertainment. The report also includes forecast data on broadband industry in India.
But why technology providers like Huawei are releasing such reports? What could be the possible motive?
Understand the fact- Huawei isn’t the broadband service provider nor it intends to do so in future. Objective is clear- move from product based strategy to solutions based strategy for Indian customers. In fact, if sources are to be believed, Huawei has recently completed the trials of 100G transport Network for Airtel, although formal announcement is awaited. Huawei is one of the leading solution providers in transport network space in India with offering products ranging from 2G E1 Microwaves to DWDM based technologies. With release of report Huawei has set clear sight to replace Ericsson as one of the most preferred technology partner of Indian telcos and broadband industry will be the next war-zone for the company.
Although, report offers some statistical insights into growing broadband industry- wired & wireless, it’s hardly of any delight where Huawei has kept solutions offerings for Indian market away from report. With opening of its second largest R&D centre in B’lore, Huawei would be delivering solutions for Indian market, customized for their needs. Huawei is likely to invest $2 billion in R&D centre in India in next five years, where focus would be on providing integrated product based solutions like single RAN & FAN to lower the TCO of equipment & reduce the technology migration costs for telcos. (2G->3G->4G)
Huawei has refused to comment on any BWA trials with RIL Infotel, but it’s widely known that equipment maker is eyeing larger piece of RIL’s 4G Equipment contract. Apart from RIL, Huawei is aggressively pushing boundaries of trials with Airtel, Tikona & other service providers for TD-LTE based broadband solutions & transport network. 
Upon asking for shift of wired broadband subscribers to wireless broadband, Mr. Sethuraman, offered optimistic forecast on picking up fibre based FTTx broadband solutions in India. Though he’s reiterated the key role of regulator in promoting & supporting solution providers, it’s widely known fact that without pushing for basic infrastructure, case for broadband won’t be a success story in India. Huawei understands the fact quite well.
So what’s vision of Huawei for Indian Telecom Industry? Move away from products only company to solution delivery platform for telco, invest more into growing mVAS segment, especially in healthcare, M2M market. With services like digital shopping mall & cloud phone Huawei has offered the two way business model- one for content providers & other for telcos for providing platform. Offering win-win solutions would be the key for success in Indian market and Huawei has struck right note in the present market context.
