Crisis, Corona And Beyond

While the pandemic forced organizations to go digital in a big way and the TSPs emerged as the key enablers, the new normal will be more virtual, dynamic and telecom-driven

The first Voice&Data TLF Dialogue on the role of telecom in crisis saw the speakers deliberate on the role played by the telecom sector in crisis management, the “new normal” trends, and India’s infrastructure needs for a digital economy.

Speaking at the webinar Bharti Enterprises ViceChairman and Bharti Infratel Executive Chairman Akhil Gupta said that the telecom sector was better prepared among the industries to face the COVID-19 crisis. “Crisis management is not new to the telecom sector. It has always been on the ground to face the emergencies and exigencies of connectivity and the COVID-19 pandemic was as good as facing earthquake or flood in the country,” he said.

Gupta further added that during the initial days of the lockdown, the industry witnessed a superb coordination among telecom equipment and internet service providers who created their war rooms to handle the situation. He, however, credited the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) for its commendable efforts in making this happen.

“The department was proactive in enabling the movement of equipment and people in a timely manner, with the respective state governments also doing their part to help the industry provide seamless connectivity to end-users,” he said.

Highlighting that the lockdown that followed COVID-19 crisis led to a massive surge in demand for data, which broke several records and predictions on connectivity, Bharti Airtel Global Chief Information Officer Harmeen Mehta said, “What was predicted to happen in 10 years happened overnight, leaving the telecom industry at its edge on how to deliver services uninterrupted.”