Venugopal N. Dhoot appointed chairman CMAI, Ravi Sharma is executive chairman

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Communications and Manufacturing Association of India announced appointment of Venugopal N. Dhoot as its chairman and Ravi Sharma as executive chairman.

CMAI, is a telecom industry association working for the Telecom sector as a whole representing all stake holders including operators, manufacturers, infrastructure providers and operators, system integrators, value added services providers, etc. CMAI is the only association of its kind having an integrated approach and covering all segments and technologies related with the telecom sector in India.

The CMAI has signed more than 30 MoUs with different countries and associations, including associations in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Slovakia, Uzbekistan, Morocco, France and with IEEE USA, CEA USA, CTO UK, IETE India, Cambridge Wireless UK and East of England UK.

Dhoot said: "India always needed a telecom association, which represents all stakeholders of the Indian Telecom Industry together and CMAI perfectly fits in that role. I feel honored in assuming the responsibility of CMAI chairman. I am also happy to announce the appointment of Ravi Sharma as executive chairman. We shall work together with all stakeholders for further enhancing the image of the Indian telecom sector.”

CMAI signs MoU with Cambridge Wireless

N.K. Goyal is among my oldest friends, mentor and acquaintance in the Indian telecom industry. Yesterday afternoon, he alerted me about this significant development.

First, a bit about N.K. Goyal. He is currently the president, Communications & Manufacturing Association of India (CMAI), chairman Emeritus TEMA (Telecom Equipment Manufacturers' Association of India), Chairman CTIA, and Vice Chairman ITU APT India.

India has been focusing significantly on wireless broadband in order to bring the power of the internet to rural India, thereby fostering economic growth. To facilitate and make this a reality, the Communications & Manufacturing Association of India has signed an MoU with Cambridge Wireless to foster this aim.

You can read more of this at Business Weekly, UK.

Those of you interested in the Indian telecom industry should be aware that India already has over 400 million telecom subscribers and is targeted to cross the 650 million by 2012, with new subscribers joining at the rate of 10-15 million a month.

Thank you very much, Sir! Well done for keeping India's telecom flag flying high.