But the actual excitement stems from the phenomena of convergence. Third generation or 3G technologies now enable high-speed data transfers over air waves. This, in other words means that the mobile telephone handset will allow users to browse the Internet while driving in their cars, video conference while shopping, and conduct banking transactions as well. The whole world is waiting with bated breath readying to meet the opportunities that 3G technologies offer.

In India, however, there is a pall of gloom. The private mobile operators are bleeding. Their calculations regarding revenues from the Indian market have fallen flat. The action or rather inaction on the part of the policy makers have shattered dreams.

To make matters worse, competition is expected from the government-owned basic service providers who have an edge over the mobile service providers.

But for a healthy market to persist, competition would be required. To meet this competition, the private operators would have to innovate and attract more subscribers. At the moment there is little differentiation amongst products. The pre-paid cards system has not yet dented the market. Other innovations and endeavours often meet with regulatory flak. Little succour has come from the new revenue sharing system and the hope that the tariffs will be made competitive enough is quite dashed at the moment.

But this hope could be rendered insufficient. The players would have to start thinking from the customer’s perspective -- a proven key to success in business. They would have to increase total revenues by lowering prices or by providing more options to the customer,then, increasing the subscriber base and lowering overall costs.

The government, on the other hand, should start considering the mobile business as strategic to fulfil infrastructural needs.