FOREWARD BY SAM PITRODA

Book Title: "The Business of Telecommunication---Networking in the New Millennium"

Author : Niraj K. Gupta

Publishers: Tata McGraw-Hill

About the book:

The Business of Telecommunication begins by tracing the growth of telecommunications in the last 100 years. It goes on to capture the key elements that have propelled innovation-led changes in technology. The wide range of topics covered through the eight chapters encompass all the aspects of the business of telecom:

Telecom Technology Evolution

Asia Pacific Races Ahead

Telecom Liberalisation in India

Financing Telecom Projects

The Marketing Arena

The AirTel Story: Case Study of an Operator

Emergence of Wireless Technologies

National Telecom Policy 1999

Glossary of Technical Terms

Supplemented at the web-site: www.telecombyNirajGupta.com

The book focuses on the trends and patterns in the explosive growth of the telecom markets with specific reference to the Asia-Pacific countries. It is highly illustrated with numerous examples, statistics and charts. The book:

Describes the markets for growth, in particular the Asian markets-competition and value-added services that have led to the differentiation for a business to sustain itself over time…
Answers how technology has interfaced closely with business growth and societal changes in the area of cellular/mobile and Internet markets…
Details various telecom service licences, marketing strategies (including brand building, pricing, pre-paid, channel management, etc.), wireless technologies, i.e. wireless-in-local-loop, multiple access technologies (FDMA, TDMA, CDMA), network planning…
Covers integrated corporate networks: needs for reengineering and ERP, role of telecom-LANs and WANs, VSATs, various aspects of the Internet and e-commerce…
Narrates the story of AirTel, a premier cellular operator of India…

A useful reference for telecom professionals, enthusiasts, as well as students of electronics and communication technology and management.

What others say about the book:

- Foreword by Sam Pitroda, Chairman & CEO, WorldTel (excerpts):

"Niraj Gupta, with his vast experience and exposure to the telecom industry, does a fabulous job of describing the industry, technology, policy framework and examples of excellence…He demystifies the Indian telecom myth by using language that is common to us all. His unique experience as an insider in telecommunication offers him an advantageous position in analysing the industry…"

- The Economic Times (Top Story) August 18, 2000:

"Niraj K Gupta, director (South Asia) of FLAG Telecom, says, ``Most of the rapid evolution in telecom is happening in response to two big needs — to talk on your feet and to compress and transmit vast amounts of information on the Internet to mobile machines.’’ This gallop has been so fast that it has outstripped even the ability of specialists to keep up with techspeak. Gupta, who has also worked with Alcatel and Ericsson, has recently published a book titled The Business of Telecommunication (McGraw Hill, 2000) which figures a glossary that runs to 46 pages — about a tenth of the length of the entire volume. And lest events leap ahead of text, the book is updated at the site telecombyNirajGupta.com. Lost in the semantic undergrowth of the New Economy? Read on..."