Broadband
Asianet Selects Cisco Technology to Deliver Next Generation Broadband
MUMBAI: Asianet today announced that it has selected Cisco to deploy DOCSIS 3.0, a next-generation cable broadband network which is a key component of the Cisco IP NGN architecture. This technology increases upstream and downstream speeds to Asianet broadband customers by offering speeds of up to 300 Mbps per subscriber. DOCSIS 3.0 will help Asianet to achieve ultra-high speeds and will help enable the multi-service operator (MSO) to deliver more content over existing networks. The deployment of DOCSIS 3.0 will also allow Asianet to offer broadband services with bandwidth far superior to that of mobile Internet service providers.
In today’s video-led Internet community, a superior HD video experience on cable TV as well as on broadband has become absolutely imperative. Asianet and Cisco are working together to offer this enhanced video experience to the end consumer. The introduction of DOCSIS 3.0 is also expected to change the business dynamics for Asianet in Kerala, as the state observes Phase III of cable digitalisation. With the deployment of this technology, Asianet will be uniquely positioned to offer an immersive video experience on the same coaxial cable that delivers its high-quality digital video.
DOCSIS 3.0 technology will help enable Asianet to offer fiber-equivalent speeds on its HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coaxial) networks at an economical price. While GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) is capable of providing 100 Mbps to each home, the cost of building and maintaining a GPON-based fiber network is much more expensive and skilled than with an HFC network. DOCSIS technology allows cable operators to reuse their existing cable plants to offer broadband services by upgrading them to two-way networks.
As the largest cable TV and Internet service provider in Kerala, India, Asianet has plans to fast-track the deployment of DOCSIS 3.0 modems to deliver an impressive Internet surfing experience to its 200,000 subscribers. The company is one of the early adopters of DOCSIS 3.0 and is offering its cable TV consumers an unrivalled broadband experience and revolutionary consumer entertainment.
Supporting Quotes: Mr. G. Sankaranarayana, President and Chief Operating Officer, Asianet Satellite Communications Ltd: “Today’s consumers are evolving and demanding more from their cable service providers. We decided to renew our strategies and offerings with a focus on delivering compelling customer services. We are already seeing a lot of appetite for our new offerings in the market and will be the first MSO to offer speeds of up to 50 Mbps per subscriber in the state, in the first phase, followed by 100 Mbps service in phase 2. We needed a technology that could help us deliver superior customer experiences and help us in being a class apart from the competition. And Cisco was our obvious choice, given the depth of understanding it has of the pay-TV and broadband infrastructure business.”
Mr. Sandeep Arora, Regional Manager, Service Provider, Cisco India & SAARC: “Our engagement with Asianet has the potential to transform the cable and broadband industry in Kerala. Asianet will be delivering a differentiated experience to its subscriber homes by enabling high-speed broadband beyond 100 Mbps on the same cable as digital broadcast channels. Considering the highly competitive and fragmented broadband market, this deal propels Asianet to the pinnacle of the industry in the region. Our IP Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture helps enable convergence of networks and services, providing an immersive experience to cable subscribers. Asianet is getting ready to deliver the connected life to consumers, addressing their immediate needs while laying the foundation for rapid deployment of next-generation services.”
Broadband
Excitel Broadband names Varun Pasricha as chief executive officer
Former COO steps up to lead broadband firm’s next growth chapter
MUMBAI: Excitel Broadband has elevated its chief operating officer, Varun Pasricha, to the role of chief executive officer, handing the reins to a leader who has already spent nearly eight years shaping the company’s rise.
Pasricha joined Excitel in August 2018 and has since been instrumental in building what he describes as “the most loved broadband brand in the country”. Now, as chief executive officer, he is expected to steer the internet service provider through its next phase of expansion in an increasingly competitive home broadband market.
Before his tenure at Excitel, Pasricha held senior leadership roles at Zomato, where he led sales transformation and served as business head for partner growth across India and the UAE. He oversaw the shift in the company’s advertising model from fixed ad slots to performance driven engagement, migrating more than 7,000 paying clients globally while delivering a 20 per cent upsell on the portfolio.
Earlier, at G4S India, he was senior vice president for strategic business, managing a profit and loss portfolio exceeding Rs 1,000 crore. Over two years, he grew the business by around 50 per cent while improving margins through contract renegotiations and cross selling. He also worked closely with the leadership team as vice president for strategic projects, focusing on corporate strategy, restructuring, and new business launches, including entry into last mile logistics.
His career spans strategy and operations across sectors. At Max Healthcare, he was senior manager for business strategy, working on planning and joint venture rollouts in tier II cities. He co-founded Edventure Online, an education advisory venture aimed at helping students make informed career choices. At Indus Towers, he served as senior business manager in the central strategy team, helping convert the energy vertical from a cost centre into a profit engine.
Pasricha began his career at McKinsey & Company as an analyst, building the consulting toolkit that would underpin his later operating roles.
With a résumé that blends boardroom strategy and frontline execution, Pasricha’s appointment signals continuity with ambition. For Excitel, the message is clear: the company is betting on a leader who already knows where the cables run and where the next connections must be made.
