State-run Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), is aiming to double its revenue by 2025, and wants to transform itself into a master system integrator by working closely with technology partners and startups in the areas of fifth generation (5G)-led services, Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things. In an interaction with ETTelecom. Muntazir Abbas, TCIL chairman Sanjeev Kumar speaks on company’s orderbook, next generation technology, Atmanirbhar Bharat, upcoming IPO, and G2G initiatives. Edited excerpts. What is your current order book size? What is your current revenue, and how much do you plan to grow it by 2025?
Our current order book value is nearly Rs 6,800 crores, and have an annual
revenue of about Rs 1,750 crore. We are expecting to double the revenue by 2025, to reach Rs 3,500 crores.
What are your priority areas at TCIL?
Information Technology, telecom-related 4G/5G applications, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things-based agriculture, transportation, healthcare and other citizen-centric services.
How are you planning to take a state-driven firm to get into technologies such as fifth generation (5G), IoT and AI?
TCIL shall go with focused approach on these technologies, and tie up with different technology providers, startups and act as master system integrator to offer user friendly innovative solutions leveraging IT and telecom technologies.
With Centre’s Atmanirbhar (self-reliant India) Bharat, how are you using products that are locally manufactured? What is your roadmap?
We support the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. TCIL shall give preference to local technology not only within India butfor our overseas programs as well. However, we are keen to support local products but some state-run companies are struggling to deploy commercially-proven networks today although we have indiginous products such as Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON).
What are your current government-to-government (G2G) projects?
Our ongoing G2G projects include BharatNet initiative in Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh; IT enablement of post offices; virtual classes; asset tracking, e-Arogya Bharti and e-Vidya Bharti projects for African nations; and construction of schools and medical colleges.
By when TCIL is expected to come up with an IPO?
The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has to decide the right time for an IPO. Current focus is to disinvest 30% stake of TCIL into Bharti Hexacom.Do you think, government should promote R&D to develop homegrown products?
The Universal Service Obligation fund should pump in sufficient funds to the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) for research and development (R&D) activities. It has some excellent offerings but does not have adequate funds to develop products such as routers.
