With over 95% of telecom and media operators using its communications offerings, Oracle has ambitious plans for India. Additionally with global communication companies establishing operations in India, Oracle is focusing on managing the systems and infrastructure (BSS/OSS) and partnering with the emerging India-based SIs as Communications experts, to meet the increased demand for high-end technology solutions.Mr. Vivek Srivastava, (Director, Solutions and Strategy, Japan and Asia Pacific, Oracle Communications) speaks in an exclusive interview with TelecomTiger. 

Q1: What solutions does Oracle offer to telecom companies?

Oracle is a leader in the Indian telecom industry and as the only IT vendor to offer end-to-end solutions for next generation services. Through Oracle® Communications, communications service providers can leverage integrated, open applications to gain control of the entire concept-to-cash life cycle from service creation to sale, fulfillment, delivery and billing.  In addition, communications service providers can take advantage of the complete network management-to-optimisation life cycle from forecast and planning to supply chain/procurement, build and resource management, as well as network optimisation. 

Oracle key Communications solutions include Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management, Oracle Communications Service Fulfillment Suite, Oracle SOA Suite, Oracle Service Delivery Platform, Siebel Universal Customer Master, Siebel Self Service and eBilling, Oracle Real Application Clusters, Oracle TimesTen In Memory Database, Oracle BPEL Process Manager, Siebel Contact Center and Service, Siebel Business Analytics, Process Integration Packs, and Oracle Carrier-Grade Framework among others.

Q2: Indian telecom sector is about to become more competitive with entry of new operators. Do you have any special strategy to tap this segment of new operators?

The intense competition in the telecom markets has resulted in various changes including SMS Usage towards premium SMS, Unified Access License being given to new players, with the co-existence of 3G/ Wi-Max licenses. The Mobile Number Portability will be introduced soon. The telecom scenario will also witness the entrance of Mobile Virtual Network Operators and high growth potential towards Infrastructure sharing of networks and a growing focus on managing systems and infrastructure (BSS/OSS).

Oracle provides communications solutions for the entire spectrum of the Communications industry including Mobile, Wireline, Content & Media, Cable, Satellite, and Broadband. Oracle’s differentiation lies in the open design, support for IT and industry standards, and well-defined integration approach (Applications Integration Architecture for Communications (AIA)) that simplifies implementation.

Oracle is delivering tremendous business value to the industry by offering the widest choice of enterprise and carrier-grade software applications, middleware, database technology, and decision-support tools and also by providing an end-to-end “best in class” suite by providing pre-integrated business process driven integration approach. Oracle also helps the service providers facilitate business transformation through flexible deployment and product collaboration.

Oracle further consolidates its leadership position in the communications industry with strategic acquisitions of Portal Software (Billing and Revenue Management solutions), MetaSolv (leading provider of fulfillment software), Siebel (World’s best-selling CRM software), Times Ten (In-Memory resilient real-time Database), Hot Sip & Net4Call (Service Delivery Platform) to provide best-in-class and end-to-end communications solutions.

Q3: In future, which key areas would Oracle like to identify and offer in India?

Oracle has established a strong presence in the communications industry with over 95% of India’s telecom and media operators already running on Oracle’s communications offerings.  Oracle has recently signed on customers in India like Bharti Airtel, Sun Direct, BSNL and IDEA Cellular, TataSky, to name a few.

Oracle Communications is increasing its presence in the high growth areas include DTH, WIMAX and Single Billing. India is a strategic market for Oracle Communications and there are plans for expansion of Oracle BSS Development Centre in Bangalore and opening of Oracle OSS Development Center in Hyderabad. With global communication companies establishing operations in India, Oracle is focusing on managing the systems and infrastructure (BSS/OSS) and partnering with the emerging India-based SIs as Communications experts, to meet the increased demand for high-end technology solutions.

Q4: Indian market is considered to be price sensitive. How important is it for Oracle compared to other markets in the world?

India is a significant market for Oracle Communications strategy in India. Oracle Communications brings together a portfolio of proven software that enables communications service providers to deliver next-generation convergent services rapidly, increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, and reduce costs in the business and the network.  Oracle Communications integrates industry-specific business support system (BSS) and operations support systems (OSS) applications with the capabilities of Oracle’s industry-leading enterprise applications, business intelligence tools, and carrier-grade middleware and database technologies.  All these are geared towards accelerating service creation and deliver to help communications service providers the time-to-market advantage and improve customer satisfaction, while keeping total costs low.