Bharti Airtel, which recently strengthened its footprint in the 3G and broadband wireless access (BWA) space by acquiring 49% stake in Qualcomm’s BWA entity, has framed a strategy which would not duplicate its wireline broadband services but complement it. Further, since data demand and services will decide the winners of tomorrow, it is ready for possible collaborations with rivals while competing with them – the “frenemies” of the future.
The strategy and outlook on data were shared by Bharti Airtel CEO for India and South Asia Sanjay Kapoor in an exclusive interview with FE, his first after the company announced the acquisition of Qualcomm's BWA entity on May 24.
Kapoor said as part of the strategic shift from being just a telecom company, the stage is being prepared to become the leader in the data space, where an entirely new ecosystem would grow around smart phones and computers.
As with any other new technology, it is the youth which would power the data revolution.
“We have a large youth population – 400 million people in the sub-14 years age bracket,” Kapoor said.
