Light Reading India Turns One!

Light Reading India completes a year today and it has been a year filled with learnings for the team.

The endeavor was to launch a platform to deliver credible and unbiased coverage of the Indian telecom sector. We believe we have successfully achieved this. In the process, we might have lost a few friends and annoyed a few companies, but nevertheless we stand committed to delivering an unbiased coverage of the industry.

When we were launched a year back, the industry looked ready to take off for the mobile broadband growth, with 3G just launched and the expectation was that 4G would also be launched soon. The take-off didn't happen, at least, not as expected. 3G didn't take-off as per the industry expectation, and the uptake has been painfully slow. More importantly, the policy slowdown hit the industry hard. The lack of clarity led to the postponement of upgradation and other decisions by the operators, bringing the industry to a standstill. This was coupled by the 2G-scam which hit the industry hard.

So it was not the best of times for a new brand like ours. Despite the challenges, we believe we have made a difference.

The clouds now seem to be clearing. The government has given a go-ahead to the much awaited National Telecom Policy 2012. The market leader Bharti launched 4G in Kolkata and Bangalore. Later in the year, Reliance Industries - the only company which owns a pan-India BWA spectrum - is also expected to launch the 4G services in the country. The 1800-MHz auctions are likely to take place in August this year.

The road ahead looks clear and the journey is going to be exciting. Zip yourself up for the adventure ahead!

Gagandeep Kaur, Editor, Light Reading India