Broadband
Govt-Alacatel JV to set up b’band research centre
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet today approved the setting up of a broadband and wireles technology centre in association with global telecom major Alcatel.
The centre would be called C-DoT Alcatel Research Center and will be based in Chennai.
The total outlay of the project has been pegged at Rs.2,120 million, of which equity will amount to Rs.1,060 million.
Alcatel will hold 51 per cent equity in the venture, while the remaining 49 per cent will be held by C-DoT, a premier telecom R&D institution promoted by the government of India.
This centre will work on broadband wireless solutions initially on WiMAX technology suitable for rural areas, which will help in faster implementation of e-governance, e-education, e-health, e-agriculture and telemedicine initiatives in the rural sector.
The Center, according to the government, will put India in the category of leading nations in the research and manufacturing of next generation wireless technology.
The venture will also provide opportunities to more than 300 Indian professionals to take part in advanced global research facilities. The products developed will be marketed worldwide.
The Cabinet approval comprises the following:
(i) Setting up of a Global Broadband Wireless Research.
(ii) Providing C-DOT a grant of rupee equivalent of Rs 520 million to make equity investment in the aforesaid JV Company over a period of three years (Rs. 130 million 2005-06, Rs 260 million in 2006-07 and Rs 130 million in 2007-08).
(iii) Providing a loan to C-DOT over four years for a maximum amount of Rs 520 million for giving shareholder loan to the JV.
(iv) Approval of the JV agreement as well as Technology Transfer & License Agreement.
A strategic alliance in the form of setting up of Global Research Center would enable India to lead in developing wireless technology. This will result in spread of Worldwide Inter-operability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) Technology in India and other developing countries.
The initial project will encompass the development of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) compliant to WiMAX Technology and value addition in the infrastructure products being developed by Alcatel.
The Center would be set up within three months and an appropriate budget provision will be made for providing funds to C-DOT from the year 2005-06 to 2009-2010.
Broadband
ACT Fibernet elevates Aditya Singh to chief customer experience officer
Former senior vp to drive service, retention and delivery revamp
BENGALURU: ACT Fibernet has elevated Aditya Singh to chief customer experience officer, effective 1 January, 2026, as the broadband provider seeks to tighten its grip on service quality in an increasingly competitive market.
Singh, who previously served as senior vice-president – customer experience and loyalty at group level, will now join the executive committee and lead the company’s end-to-end customer transformation agenda.
The move gives him oversight of customer service, customer retention and service delivery, alongside a broader mandate to strengthen network resilience and field operations. The company said the reshuffle underlines its intent to deliver a “consistent, seamless and superior” experience to its 2.3m subscribers across more than 30 cities.
Headquartered in Bengaluru, ACT Fibernet, the consumer-facing brand of Atria Convergence Technologies Limited, is one of India’s largest wired internet service providers. It has built its pitch on high-speed connectivity and responsive customer support, at a time when fibre roll-outs and price wars are redrawing the broadband map.
In a statement, Singh said he was “deeply honoured” to take on the expanded brief and join the executive committee as the company sharpens its focus on simplifying customer touchpoints and turning subscribers into brand advocates.
The elevation signals a clear priority: in a crowded fibre market, customer experience is fast becoming the decisive battleground.
