Introduction of Telecommunication Industry: The telecommunications industry was about a $4 trillion sector in 2010, including about $1.

3 trillion in total revenues in the US. Indian telecom industry is growing at a great pace & India is expected to become a manufacturing hub for telecom equipment. Indian telecom equipment manufacturing sector is set to become one of the largest sectors globally by 2010. Due to rising demand for a wide range of telecom equipment, particularly in the area of mobile telecommunications, has provided excellent opportunities to domestic and foreign investors in the manufacturing sector. Telecommunication: Telecommunication is the transmission of information, over significant distances, for the purpose of communication. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded drumbeats, lung-blown horns, or sent by loud whistles, for example. In the modern age of electricity and electronics, telecommunications now also includes the use of electrical devices such as telegraphs, telephones, and teletypes, the use of radio and microwave communications, as well as fiber optics and their associated electronics, plus the use of the orbiting satellites and the Internet.

Telecommunications Industry Telecommunications industry deals with the activities and services of electronic systems for transmitting messages through cables, telephone, radio or television. Components and factors responsible behind the growth of telecommunications industry Two major factors responsible for the growth of telecommunications industry are use of modern technology and market competition. One of the products of modern technologies is optical fibers, which are being used as a medium of data transmission instead of using coaxial or twisted pair cables. Optical fibers can carry a high volume of data and are easier to maintain and install. Uses of communication satellites make this telecommunications industry a booming industry.

The use of mobile network has a crucial role behind the growth of an improved telecommunications industry. Leading companies are showing their interest to invest in this telecommunications industry. Telecommunications industry is going to be a digitized one. Use of ISDN (Inter Services Digital Network) makes this telecommunication industry a total digitalized system and eventually enhanced the speed and quality of digital communication. The introduction of these advanced technologies makes the telecommunications industry a competitive one, where a number of multinational companies have shown their interest to invest in this industry and consequently the prices are reduced, the quality is also improved. During the period of 1990, the telecommunication industry showed a speedy growth in terms of investment and eventually increased the competition. The competition between the companies led to the decline of revenues. Employment opportunities in telecommunications industry Telecommunication industry has created immense employment opportunities. Most of the employees in this industry are engaged in large establishments, although there are some small establishments, where a large number of small contractors are involved. Fifty five percent of all workers are engaged in office and administrative support occupations. The other occupations of this industry relate to installation, maintenance, and repair . Telecom Industry Analysis Telecom industry analysis uncovers the fact that this industry has a huge business potentiality and is going to be a booming industry. Telecom industry analysis also reveals that this industry will provide an immense employment opportunity in the coming years. Statistical report Phoenix Center research revealed that in the coming years, there will be a healthy competition among the providers of telecommunication services. At the same time, the price will be lower and quality will be higher. The new telecommunications technologies will replace the traditional telecom services. Statistical data also reveals that the telecommunications industry is going to be a dynamic and booming industry in the near future. The telecom industry comprises of complex network of services like telephones, mobile phones and internet services.

Telecom industry trends Throughout the world, telecom industry are being controlled by private companies instead of government monopolies. Traditional telecom technologies are also being replaced by modern wireless technologies, specifically in case of mobile services. One of the major objectives of telecom industry is to enhance the quality and speed of Internet technology. These days, telecom industry is more concerned with texts and images (Internet tech), rather than voice (telephone service). Most of the research works are going on Internet accessibility, specifically on data applications and broadband services. The other major division of telecom industry is mobile network sector, where lots of innovative research works are going on. Previously the traditional telephone calls used to earn the maximum revenues, but these days mobile service is going to replace traditional telephone services. Telecom Industry in India, India Telecom Industry: Telecom industry in India has a big market potentiality and is a fast growing sector. Government of India is eager to reconstitute this telecom industry by enacting effective policies for more investments from foreign companies, which results in a very competitive and deregulated market in the world. Policies of telecom industry in India: Government of India implemented the unified access licensing regime, which enables basic and cellular mobile service to use any modern technology. In 1997, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was formed to facilitate the growth of the telecom sector in India. Major services and market potentiality of Telecom industry in India Telecommunication sector in India is primarily subdivided into two segments, which are Fixed Service Provider (FSPs) and Cellular Services. Telecom industry in India constitutes some essential telecom services like telephone, radio, television and Internet. Telecom industry in India is specifically emphasizing on latest technologies like GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), CDMA(Code Division Multiple Access), PMRTS(Public Mobile Radio Trunking Services), Fixed Line and WLL(Wireless Local Loop ). India has a prospering market specifically in GSM mobile service and the number of subscribers is growing very fast.

Economic perspective of telecom industry in India Telecom industry in India has a major role in Indian economy. The Indian government is also enforcing some effective telecom policies and regulations for the infrastructural growth of this industry. Indian telecom market provides a tele-density of 8.5 percent as registered in the year 2004. A number of leading multinational telecommunication companies are approaching and showing their interest to invest for the telecom industry in India. Telecommunication industry of India ranked sixth among all the telecommunication sectors in the world. In the year 2004, the total number of telephone subscriptions were US$93.2. Leading telecommunication service providers of telecom industry in India

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), Bharti Airtel, Tata Teleservices, SIFY Ltd. are the major telecommunications service providers in India. PEST Analysis:
PEST analysis stands for "Political, Economic, Social, and Technological analysis" and describes a framework of macro-environmental factors used in the environmental scanning component of strategic management. Some analysts added Legal and rearranged the mnemonic to SLEPT; inserting Environmental factors expanded it to PESTEL or PESTLE, which is popular in the United Kingdom. The model has recently been further extended to STEEPLE and STEEPLED, adding education and demographic factors. It is a part of the external analysis when conducting a strategic analysis or doing market research, and gives an overview of the different macro environmental factors that the company has to take into consideration. It is a useful strategic tool for understanding market growth or decline, business position, potential and direction for operations. The growing importance of environmental or ecological factors in the first decade of the 21st century have given rise to green business and encouraged widespread use of an updated version of the PEST framework. STEER analysis systematically considers Socio-cultural, Technological, Economic, Ecological, and Regulatory factors.

Pest Analysis: Political Factors

The Communications Act 2003 Environmental Concerns Internet Regulation Concerns Over Radiation From Mobile Telephones Converged Regulation Telecommunications Ombudsman Economic Factors

- Fluctuations In The Economy - Overall Economy Of UK Social Factors

- Shift Towards The Information Society - Mobile Society - Commercialization Of The Home - Increasing Need For Communications - Internet At Home - Changing Population Demographics Technological Factors

- Wireless And Mobile Communications - Convergence - Residential VoIP - Real-Time And On-Demand Communications

Porter's 5 Forces Analysis in Telecom Industry:

1. Threat of New Entrants. It comes as no surprise that in the capital-intensive telecom industry the biggest barrier to entry is access to finance. To cover high fixed costs, serious contenders typically require a lot of cash. When capital markets are generous, the threat of competitive entrants escalates. When financing opportunities are less readily available, the pace of entry slows. Meanwhile, ownership of a telecom license can represent a huge barrier to entry. In the U.S., for instance, fledgling telecom operators must still apply to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to receive regulatory approval and licensing. There is also a finite amount of "good" radio spectrum that lends itself to mobile voice and data applications. In addition, it is important to remember that solid operating skills and management experience is fairly scarce, making entry even more difficult. 2. Power of Suppliers. At first glance, it might look like telecom equipment suppliers have considerable bargaining power over telecom operators. Indeed, without high-tech broadband switching equipment, fiber-optic cables, mobile handsets and billing software, telecom operators would not be able to do the job of transmitting voice and data from place to place. But there are actually a number of large equipment makers around. There are enough vendors, arguably, to dilute

bargaining power. The limited pool of talented managers and engineers, especially those well versed in the latest technologies, places companies in a weak position in terms of hiring and salaries. 3. Power of Buyers. With increased choice of telecom products and services, the bargaining power of buyers is rising. Let's face it; telephone and data services do not vary much, regardless of which companies are selling them. For the most part, basic services are treated as a commodity. This translates into customers seeking low prices from companies that offer reliable service. At the same time, buyer power can vary somewhat between market segments. While switching costs are relatively low for residential telecom customers, they can get higher for larger business customers, especially those that rely more on customized products and services. 4. Availability of Substitutes. Products and services from non-traditional telecom industries pose serious substitution threats. Cable TV and satellite operators now compete for buyers. The cable guys, with their own direct lines into homes, offer broadband internet services, and satellite links can substitute for high-speed business networking needs. Railways and energy utility companies are laying miles of high-capacity telecom network alongside their own track and pipeline assets. Just as worrying for telecom operators is the internet: it is becoming a viable vehicle for cut-rate voice calls. Delivered by ISPs - not telecom operators "internet telephony" could take a big bite out of telecom companies' core voice revenues. 5. Competitive Rivalry. Competition is "cut throat". The wave of industry deregulation together with the receptive capital markets of the late 1990s paved the way for a rush of new entrants. New technology is prompting a raft of substitute services. Nearly everybody already pays for phone services, so all competitors now must lure customers with lower prices and more exciting services. This tends to drive industry profitability down. In addition to low profits, the telecom industry suffers from high exit barriers, mainly due to its specialized equipment. Networks and billing systems cannot really be used for much else, and their swift obsolescence makes liquidation pretty difficult.

Investment in Telecommunication industry:

In today's economy, many news sources are filled with reports of the increasing levels of telecommunication industry capital investments. As a telecom industry executive, where can you turn for a business financing resource you can trust? Here are a few tips on finding the right capital investment source for your telecom business. First of all, look for a full service capital investment specialist. An industry leader is a much more stable financing source than a smaller single service financier. Look for a major corporation that offers asset based solutions, lines of credit and capital investment programs as well as ordinary loans. Once you have found such a company, you can rest assured that they are a full service organization suited to all your capital investment needs. Next, investigate the capital investment company's track record of success. Have they been able to deliver results for other telecommunications professionals in the recent past? What are some of the companies for which they have obtained results? How much financial asset did they obtain for these companies? Are any testimonials available from satisfied customers? Find out what companies have walked the path you are about to embark on before you commit to a business financing resource. In addition, be sure to carefully examine their policy on customer service. As a business financing resource, they should be willing and able to answer all your questions fully and offer you the support that meets or exceeds your expectations. Make sure they have a full staff to offer you quality client support services.

The Indian telecom market is expected to grow three fold by 2012 & market size over US $ 8 billion. Moreover the government has set a target of 20 million broadband connections by 2010. The National Telecom Policy 1999 targets tele-density at 15 per cent by 2010. This will entail an investment of US $ 40- 50 billion over the next 6-8 years. There is an immense opportunity for DTH in the Indian market which is almost 10 times compared to the developed countries like the US and Europe. For every channel there is a scope for broadcasting it in at least ten different languages. So every channel multiplied by ten that is the kind of scope for DTH in the country. Indias media players have all the ingredients to develop a successful DTH industry. So currently there is a lot of pent-up demand in the Indian market for DTH.

It is expected that by the year 2010 there will be over 500 million subscribers in the Indian telecom market. Cellular subscriber base is projected to grow at a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 48 per cent & expected to reach 88 million in 2012. Over 150% growth in telecom services is projected in 5 years. India will require large investments in network infrastructure & India expected to be fasted growing telecom market in the world. Since the project expected to reach 30-40% per year 250 subscribers by 2009- 2010.Total estimate of investment opportunity of USS 22 billion expected over the next five years. Investment opportunity of $22 billion across many areas: Telecom Devices and Software for Internet Broadband and Direct To Home Services Gateway exchange Set top box Modem Mobile handsets and consumer premise equipments Gaming devices EPABX Telecom Software Telecom Services for voice and data via a range of technologies. With the rapid growth of the telecom network, there are further opportunities to expand the telecom infrastructure and research and development. Incentives to invest Tax incentives under the current Budget Customs duty on convergence products to be reduced from 10% to 5%. Exemption from excise duty for specified inputs and raw materials for manufacture of specified electronics/ IT hardware to lower the network cost for telecom service providers. Specified parts of set top boxes and specified raw materials for use in the IT/electronic hardware industry to be exempted from customs duty. Internet telecommunication service brought under the service tax net. And countervailing duty on wireless data modem cards with exempted by way of excise duty exemption.