The Indian Merchants’ Chambers (IMC), organized a meet on Mobile Value Added Services Conference in Mumbai. The conference focused on MVAS for 3G networks and applications in India, mobile commerce in India, VAS in rural markets, Mobile VAS funding and social networking and mobile marketing/advertising on mobiles.
According to CIOL’s report the discussion ranged from the disparity in revenue sharing and the dwindling profits. The panel also expected MVAS to be one of the few industries that can snag double digit growth even in this slowdown. S S Sirohi, deputy director general – VAS, BSNL shed light on to this expectation from the telecom sector.
“The competition and regulations in telecom industry has allowed low tariffs to users, however it has lowered the revenues and profits for the operators,” said Sirohi.
“The pressure on profits and revenues has forced the operators to look at other avenues using the same platform. And MVAS has an immense potential to grow and currently the MVAS market is worth around Rs 2000-3000 crore against the telecom market of Rs 14000 crore,” added Sirohi. He also added that the MVAS market will reach Rs 6000-8000 crore by 2012 and services such as mobile banking, mobile commerce and mobile location base services will grow with the 3G spectrum.
The panel comprised of:
- Peeyush Agrawal, chief general manager – Wireless Services, MTNL
- S S Sirohi, deputy director general – VAS, BSNL
- Vijay Mukhi
- Nitesh Mittersain, IMC’s convener, Mobile and IT Committee
