![Committed to provide value-for-money device to every citizen Committed to provide value-for-money device to every citizen](https://varindia.com/public/index.php/storage/news/uploads/2011/10/Shashin_KarbonnMobile.gif)
Shashin Devsare
Executive Director
Karbonn Mobiles
How do you see the recent national Draft Telecom Policy 2011?
The Draft Telecom Policy issued by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is bound to be an important stepping stone in the liberation of mobile phone technology in the country. The mobile phone will cease to be viewed as a mere instrument of communication and will be thus recognized as an instrument of empowerment.
Which all initiatives do you see as important for the industry?
The recognition of telecom as an infrastructure sector will go a long way in liberating the sector and bring in huge reforms which the sector was in dire need of. Also, the extending of tax sops and preferential statuses to the locally made hardware operators will be an added boon wherein Karbonn Mobiles being the market leader in the domestic sector will aim to provide localized value-for-money instruments to the citizens on a larger scale.
With an impetus by the government on R&D and product development, we intend to bring in more innovative products which coupled with our in-house R&D team and an eye on international technological updates will help us create a more value-for-money product range for the Indian market which will thus meet the vision of providing the people of India secure, reliable, affordable and high-quality converged telecommunication services anytime and anywhere. The Policy aims to make the indigenous technology equipment manufacturers self-sufficient. The policy provides a roadmap for India to become a leader in cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technologies through R&D. Karbonn Mobiles intends to play a larger role by the deliverance of state-of-the-art mobile phone hardware coupled with a top-of-the-line technological network.
How will this policy affect Karbonn Mobiles?
This Draft Policy will only go forward to solidify Karbonn's standing as a major domestic player. We are a brand which provides international product range customized to a indigenous need base. Thus, the various benefits extended to the domestic players will go a long way in, firstly, us being able to provide a more varied product portfolio into the domestic market and, secondly, will help us fulfil the vision of the government to achieve a 100% mobile phone penetration in the country by 2020. Through the various policy initiatives which put in added impetus on promoting indigenous players to produce more local-centric products, Karbonn Mobiles stands to benefit through its offering of a more localized product range based on an extensive research and development module. While Karbonn Mobiles focusses on a R&D mechanism which concentrates on the domestic market, it definitely stands to benefit largely from the policy initiatives of the Draft Telecom Policy.
Would you be redefining your strategies as a result of the new Policy?
The Draft Telecom Policy in the long run will only add on to the concrete positioning of Karbonn Mobiles as a major domestic mobile phone player. We intend to ride on the positive policy guidelines and bring in the domestic market a varied product range which locally collated will be customized to the consumer's needs and will not only benefit the addendum customer base but will also contribute a major chunk in the proposal of the Government to engage the emerging technology trends, thus making it possible for millions of citizens of the country to access mobile communication services. Karbonn Mobiles will continue to market itself as a national brand offering an international product range customized to localized needs and will continue with its commitment to provide a value-for-money mobile device to every citizen to make him self-reliant. With its offering of a cutting-edge gadget-cum-brand connect, Karbonn Mobiles welcomes the Draft Telecom Policy which is sure to pave the way for complete teledensity in the country in the times to come.
How many handsets do you plan by the closure of the financial year in March 2012?
The monthly mobile units sold in 2009-10 were 2,50,000 and 4,30,000 in 2010-11. We expect to sell 10 millions in this ongoing fiscal year.
Share details of your channel presence.
We have a pan-India presence. We had 35,000 outlets in 2009-10, which increased to 50,000 outlets in 2010-11. Seeing the demand and market opportunities, we are expecting to be present through 70,000 outlets within this year.
Syeda Beenish
beenish@varindia.com
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