Wifi Revolution

Tata Communications (News - Alert) has been elected to lead the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) as Chair of the Alliance. This election is considered to be a significant recognition of the role being played by the company.

 

Tata Communications’ Vice President - Planning, Retail Business, Prateek Pashine, has been appointed as the Chairman of WBA.

The Wireless Broadband Alliance is into its fifth year of operation and was created to drive the adoption of wireless broadband technologies and services around the world. The company focuses on developing a common commercial, technical and marketing framework for wireless network interoperability.

The WBA now aggressively focuses its pursuit with various other alliances and forums on other forms of wireless broadband roaming like Dual Mode devices and WIMAX roaming.

Tata Communications is currently the only Indian telco to be a part of this prestigious industry forum and Mr. Pashine is the first Indian to hold this top position.

"It is an honor for Tata Communications to be given this responsibility. The company which has the largest number of Wi-Fi hotspots in India and is also currently rolling out India's largest Wimax network, will now further leverage on this experience to help evolve global wireless standards," said Prateek Pashine, in a statement on the announcement of his election.

"Tata Communications has been the pioneer of internet services in India and continues to be an important player in the Indian wireless broadband market which has the potential to replicate the success story of Indian mobile market,” said Julie Ragbourne, Head – Consumer Products, British Telecom and Outgoing Chair of WBA, in a Thursday statement.

 

“We at WBA recognize and acknowledge the contribution made by Tata Communications' team with great appreciation. I congratulate Prateek on this new responsibility and I am confident that he will continue to provide robust leadership and promote the interests of the wireless broadband industry as a Chair of WBA."

Tata has been driving strong growth of the WiFi hotspot industry in India and today has the largest public hotspot network in India with roughly 350 hotspots. The company has drawn up plans year to further enhance the footprints to over 1000 hotspots in order to bring the Internet that much closer to the large Indian traveling and on-the-move population.

The company recently launched Wimax services for retail customers and has been offering this service for domestic customers since Dec 2007. The company plans to invest $500 million in the next few years on Wimax technology.

This leadership position is a significant position for Tata and Mr. Pashine and exploration into the expansion of the WiFi (News - Alert) and WiMAX industries and opportunities. For Tata Communications, this placement will not only propel exposure of the brand, it will also position the company as taking a leading position in the industry, providing solutions today that will address market needs tomorrow.

Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMC (News - Alert) and has also written for eastbiz.com. To see more of her articles, please visit Susan J. Campbell’s columnist page.

 

Back to WiFi Revolution home