Technoglitch
Core Member
Idea Cellular managing director Himanshu Kapania has downplayed the importance of optic fibre for mobile data expansion, saying microwave can easily take care of the current demand for high-speed broadband services. "Optic fibre is overrated," Kapania told ET. His comment comes at a time when laying this fibre is touted as the big difference between Reliance Jio Infocomm's Rs 1 lakh crore yet-to-launch network and those of existing telcos, which depend on microwave as the backbone.
But Kapania maintains his stand. "There is no need for it (optic fibre) now. How do you justify putting up such cost ahead of demand," said the top executive at India's third largest mobile company. He though said that optic fibre could be needed at a later stage. "When we add spectrum to handle significantly higher capacity, we will look at it." At the moment, however, even the fibre that exists isn't entirely used.
Optic fibre for mobile data is overrated: Idea Cellular MD Himanshu Kapania - Times of India
But Kapania maintains his stand. "There is no need for it (optic fibre) now. How do you justify putting up such cost ahead of demand," said the top executive at India's third largest mobile company. He though said that optic fibre could be needed at a later stage. "When we add spectrum to handle significantly higher capacity, we will look at it." At the moment, however, even the fibre that exists isn't entirely used.
Optic fibre for mobile data is overrated: Idea Cellular MD Himanshu Kapania - Times of India
