 "'TCIL's strength comes from taking up new challenges'")
A prime engineering and consultancy company, Telecommunications India Ltd (TCIL) is a wholly-owned public-sector enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. TCIL provides Indian telecom expertise in all fields of telecom, civil and IT to developing countries of the world. With core competency in areas such as switching, transmission systems, cellular services, rural telecommunication, optical-fibre-based backbone transmission systems, IT and networking solutions, application software, e-governance, 3G network, WIMAX technology and civil construction projects, TCIL is also pushing the cause of sustainable development. Chairman and managing director Vimal Wakhlu outlines how brand equity is one of TCIL's mainstays. Edited excerpts from the interview:
TCIL is involved in a number of civil projects. What are some of the biggest technology demands in the area? Is the market equipped to meet those demands?
Project management and consultancy are the key strengths of TCIL. We have domain knowledge in the fields of telecom, IT, electrical and civil infrastructures. Thus, TCIL is also involved in architectural consultancy, road, building projects so far as the civil vertical is concerned. We have been involved in the Cyber Park and Cyber City projects of Algeria and Sudan. Since these projects are not standalone projects but involve components of other domains as well, they tend to be complex. These projects thus have to be executed in a collaborative mode. Given the general current trend, the market is certainly equipped to meet these demands at the international level.
TCIL has been involved in every facet of the telecom sector. During the times of wireline boom until the early 1990s, TCIL had executed such projects in most African nations, West Asian countries, South Asian and other countries.
TCIL also formed JVs with a number of companies to enter into other areas such as cable manufacturing as TTL (Tamil Naidu Telecom), TBL (TCIL Bell South) for billing solution for Telecom, ICSIL (Intelligent Communications Systems India).
With the advent of mobile communication system, TCIL formed a JV and obtained a mobile licence for operation in the states of Rajasthan and the north-east states. This is currently known as BHL (Bharati Hexacom). Apart from this, TCIL also started UTL Nepal along with MTNL and VSNL (now Tata Communications). Also, TCIL rolled out cellular networks in Bhutan and Afghanistan.
When it comes to broadband, TCIL was the pioneer in rolling out FTTH (fibre to the home) project for Kuwait. Now TCIL is a major player in this domain in various countries including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Mauritius. This has made us a unique company with outstanding credentials in this area in India. TCIL had also been involved in the design and business modelling of the RASCOM Satellite, Africa's own satellite. We were also involved in the rollout of a number of satellite-based networks.
TCIL has also rolled out an OPGW (optical power ground wire) project for Sonalgaz Algeria, wherein 4,000 km of this cable was laid along the ground wire of high tension power lines under live conditions.
Thus TCIL has been at the forefront of telecom technology. Apart from this, TCIL has played a major role in the restoration of telecom services in Kuwait after its liberation from Iraq, and also in Afghanistan after the 2002 war over there.
What are some of the turnkey projects that TCIL has executed in rural areas? Can you give some examples?
TCIL has rolled out a number of telecom infrastructure projects in rural areas, including those for companies such as PGCIL, GAIL, and so on, including OPGW (optical power ground wire) projects. TCIL has also executed the East-West highway project for Nepal, wherein the remote areas of Nepal have been connected by optical fibre. Also, in remote and inaccessible areas of Nepal, TCIL rolled out a VSAT-based network for backhaul purposes for Nepal Telecom. More than 800 locations, even on the foothills of Everest were installed so that the mobile services could be extended to these locations.
How do you envisage TCIL’s role grow or change in the next few years?
TCIL's strength comes from taking up new challenges. The domain becomes secondary. A few years back, TCIL undertook a project called Vessel Traffic System in the Gulf of Kutch. It was a challenging project that involved erecting massive lighthouses along the marshy land of the Gulf for surveillance and ship-to-shore communications. The project was successfully completed with successful partnerships involving civil works, communication networks and radar systems. We also entered into the domain of water management (automated gate control) for the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam in Gujarat.
TCIL has the capability to accept any challenge. We want this to be leveraged for solving the problems of the developing nations, be it in the field of education, health, e-governance, power, homeland security, defence and so on. TCIL would like to play a major role in these areas.
Also, fossil fuel-based energy and e-waste is posing a major challenge to Mother Earth. We would like to get involved on a global scale to sort out this mess to save the Earth for our future generations. We have started working in this direction by trying our solar-based energy for telecom and also e-waste management.
In the field of energy management, TCIL provides solutions such as smart metering to monitor energy use and mitigate pilferage. TCIL also provides green energy solutions such as hybrid power generators for telecom towers and base stations and solar powers, not only in India but also in neighbouring countries such as Bhutan and Nepal.
As part of our vision to leverage technology for development, we have laid out plans to enter into all the latest technologies from 4G services, fibre to the home, fixed mobile convergence and the like.
We are also offering services to government organizations on the managed services model. In this model, services are used on a pay-as-you-use basis, without any capital investment. For instance, we offer managed services for e-procurement through TCIL’s e-procurement portal; e-procurement allows for transparent, secure and efficient procurement of goods and services, enhancing confidence in the procurement process. I feel that if we try to solve the problems of the people, the business should flow.
TCIL has done some significant projects in areas such as health and e-governance in the telecom sector. Can you tell us more?
TCIL has entered the health and education sectors in a big way over the past seven years. One of the flagship projects has been the Pan-African e-Network Project, conceived by the former president of India APJ Abdul Kalam, which envisaged connecting 53 countries of Africa to India with 12 leading hospitals of India and five leading universities for telemedicine and tele-education, and also the VVIP connectivity among the heads of the states of Africa. This project that involves connectivity through land (MPLS Network within India), sea (submarine cable connectivity between India and Africa) and sky (satellite communication within Africa). This project was completed on a turnkey basis by TCIL. This project has been a great success. Against a target of 10,000 students over a five-year period, who would undergo various diploma, degree and post-graduate programmes, we already have more than 11,000 students.
Apart from tele-medicine, which was another component of the project, there has been another spin off. India being a medical
tourism destination, a lot of patients come to India for surgeries and medical treatment. Earlier, they had to come back to India every six months to one year for a follow-up, but now with all the leading hospitals including the AIIMS being a part of the Pan African e-network, this follow-up happens online from 48 countries of Africa.
TCIL has been the first company in India to enter the e-governance domain. Consultancy in the SWAN Projects have been undertaken in a number of states.
TCIL’s reach has gone beyond Indian borders. What are some of the most significant overseas markets for you and why?
TCIL started its operations with the overseas markets. We have footprints in almost 80 nations around the globe. As has been mentioned earlier, we are currently present in 49 countries of Africa, in West Asia and South Asia. Our strengths are competitiveness and a good brand equity as a quality-conscious company. We get work in some countries at our rates despite not being L1. The clients are confident that once the work is allotted to TCIL, it shall be done to their satisfaction.
TCIL is involved in a number of civil projects. What are some of the biggest technology demands in the area? Is the market equipped to meet those demands?
Project management and consultancy are the key strengths of TCIL. We have domain knowledge in the fields of telecom, IT, electrical and civil infrastructures. Thus, TCIL is also involved in architectural consultancy, road, building projects so far as the civil vertical is concerned. We have been involved in the Cyber Park and Cyber City projects of Algeria and Sudan. Since these projects are not standalone projects but involve components of other domains as well, they tend to be complex. These projects thus have to be executed in a collaborative mode. Given the general current trend, the market is certainly equipped to meet these demands at the international level.
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What are some of the most crucial roles that TCIL has undertaken when it comes to the telecom sector?
TCIL has been involved in every facet of the telecom sector. During the times of wireline boom until the early 1990s, TCIL had executed such projects in most African nations, West Asian countries, South Asian and other countries.
TCIL also formed JVs with a number of companies to enter into other areas such as cable manufacturing as TTL (Tamil Naidu Telecom), TBL (TCIL Bell South) for billing solution for Telecom, ICSIL (Intelligent Communications Systems India).
With the advent of mobile communication system, TCIL formed a JV and obtained a mobile licence for operation in the states of Rajasthan and the north-east states. This is currently known as BHL (Bharati Hexacom). Apart from this, TCIL also started UTL Nepal along with MTNL and VSNL (now Tata Communications). Also, TCIL rolled out cellular networks in Bhutan and Afghanistan.
When it comes to broadband, TCIL was the pioneer in rolling out FTTH (fibre to the home) project for Kuwait. Now TCIL is a major player in this domain in various countries including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Mauritius. This has made us a unique company with outstanding credentials in this area in India. TCIL had also been involved in the design and business modelling of the RASCOM Satellite, Africa's own satellite. We were also involved in the rollout of a number of satellite-based networks.
TCIL has also rolled out an OPGW (optical power ground wire) project for Sonalgaz Algeria, wherein 4,000 km of this cable was laid along the ground wire of high tension power lines under live conditions.
Thus TCIL has been at the forefront of telecom technology. Apart from this, TCIL has played a major role in the restoration of telecom services in Kuwait after its liberation from Iraq, and also in Afghanistan after the 2002 war over there.
What are some of the turnkey projects that TCIL has executed in rural areas? Can you give some examples?
TCIL has rolled out a number of telecom infrastructure projects in rural areas, including those for companies such as PGCIL, GAIL, and so on, including OPGW (optical power ground wire) projects. TCIL has also executed the East-West highway project for Nepal, wherein the remote areas of Nepal have been connected by optical fibre. Also, in remote and inaccessible areas of Nepal, TCIL rolled out a VSAT-based network for backhaul purposes for Nepal Telecom. More than 800 locations, even on the foothills of Everest were installed so that the mobile services could be extended to these locations.
How do you envisage TCIL’s role grow or change in the next few years?
TCIL's strength comes from taking up new challenges. The domain becomes secondary. A few years back, TCIL undertook a project called Vessel Traffic System in the Gulf of Kutch. It was a challenging project that involved erecting massive lighthouses along the marshy land of the Gulf for surveillance and ship-to-shore communications. The project was successfully completed with successful partnerships involving civil works, communication networks and radar systems. We also entered into the domain of water management (automated gate control) for the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam in Gujarat.
TCIL has the capability to accept any challenge. We want this to be leveraged for solving the problems of the developing nations, be it in the field of education, health, e-governance, power, homeland security, defence and so on. TCIL would like to play a major role in these areas.
Also, fossil fuel-based energy and e-waste is posing a major challenge to Mother Earth. We would like to get involved on a global scale to sort out this mess to save the Earth for our future generations. We have started working in this direction by trying our solar-based energy for telecom and also e-waste management.
In the field of energy management, TCIL provides solutions such as smart metering to monitor energy use and mitigate pilferage. TCIL also provides green energy solutions such as hybrid power generators for telecom towers and base stations and solar powers, not only in India but also in neighbouring countries such as Bhutan and Nepal.
As part of our vision to leverage technology for development, we have laid out plans to enter into all the latest technologies from 4G services, fibre to the home, fixed mobile convergence and the like.
We are also offering services to government organizations on the managed services model. In this model, services are used on a pay-as-you-use basis, without any capital investment. For instance, we offer managed services for e-procurement through TCIL’s e-procurement portal; e-procurement allows for transparent, secure and efficient procurement of goods and services, enhancing confidence in the procurement process. I feel that if we try to solve the problems of the people, the business should flow.
TCIL has done some significant projects in areas such as health and e-governance in the telecom sector. Can you tell us more?
TCIL has entered the health and education sectors in a big way over the past seven years. One of the flagship projects has been the Pan-African e-Network Project, conceived by the former president of India APJ Abdul Kalam, which envisaged connecting 53 countries of Africa to India with 12 leading hospitals of India and five leading universities for telemedicine and tele-education, and also the VVIP connectivity among the heads of the states of Africa. This project that involves connectivity through land (MPLS Network within India), sea (submarine cable connectivity between India and Africa) and sky (satellite communication within Africa). This project was completed on a turnkey basis by TCIL. This project has been a great success. Against a target of 10,000 students over a five-year period, who would undergo various diploma, degree and post-graduate programmes, we already have more than 11,000 students.
Apart from tele-medicine, which was another component of the project, there has been another spin off. India being a medical
tourism destination, a lot of patients come to India for surgeries and medical treatment. Earlier, they had to come back to India every six months to one year for a follow-up, but now with all the leading hospitals including the AIIMS being a part of the Pan African e-network, this follow-up happens online from 48 countries of Africa.
TCIL has been the first company in India to enter the e-governance domain. Consultancy in the SWAN Projects have been undertaken in a number of states.
TCIL’s reach has gone beyond Indian borders. What are some of the most significant overseas markets for you and why?
TCIL started its operations with the overseas markets. We have footprints in almost 80 nations around the globe. As has been mentioned earlier, we are currently present in 49 countries of Africa, in West Asia and South Asia. Our strengths are competitiveness and a good brand equity as a quality-conscious company. We get work in some countries at our rates despite not being L1. The clients are confident that once the work is allotted to TCIL, it shall be done to their satisfaction.