Broadband
DEN selects Cisco DOCSIS 3.0 technology for broadband
NEW DELHI: After multi system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable and Datacom launched DOCSIS 3.0 technology in October 2013, it is now DEN Networks that has selected Cisco’s DOCSIS 3.0 technology for its newly launched broadband service in India.
DOCSIS 3.0 is a key component of the Cisco IP NGN architecture, which promises speeds of up to 300 Mbps per subscriber. With this, the MSO will be able to provide ultra-high-speed internet to deliver more content as compared to the existing telecom Internet service providers (ISPs).
DEN currently reaches out to 13 million homes in over 200 cities. The MSO also offers digital cable TV services in India, using Cisco’s conditional access and middleware (set-top box software) and presently reaches over six million digital pay-TV homes.
To begin with, DEN soft-launched its ultra-high-speed broadband service in one of its biggest markets and its home base, Delhi, and intends to expand the offering to other cities. The adoption of DOCSIS 3.0 is a strategic decision by the MSO to provide its subscribers with a seamless online experience with no buffering, lightning-fast downloads and higher-quality video content compared with existing telecom ISPs.
Despite a population of 1.27 billion, according to TRAI’s latest Telecom Performance Indicators Report (October–December 2013), India has only 238.71 million Internet subscribers, out of which 18.33 million subscribers are wired Internet subscribers. The remaining 220.38 million access the internet though wireless connections like smartphones and data cards. The country’s major MSOs are preparing to capture this wireline broadband market using DOCSIS technology, giving a much-needed boost to broadband penetration in India, with each MSO also aware of the untapped 100 million cable TV homes in India. Therefore, the deployment of DOCSIS 3.0 across its existing cable networks is a significant step by DEN to capitalise on the enormous business potential of the broadband market.
DEN COO Mohammad Ghulam Azhar said: “We are excited by the high-speed internet opportunity in India. With this superior technology, we are aiming to provide our broadband subscribers with a fast and consistent online experience.”
Cisco India and SAARC president, sales Dinesh Malkani added: “Cisco’s vision is to be the leading enabler of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) and broadband acceleration in India through innovative, scalable, high-value technology offerings and solutions. We believe our engagement with DEN has the potential to transform the cable and broadband industry in India by offering high-speed services to millions of subscribers and connecting those who previously were unable to access premium broadband 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.
