According to Madan G. Onkar, head of internet and broadband solutions at Mahindra Comviva, data has overtaken voice, accounting for the bulk of operator traffic. “This, coupled with the emergence of over-the-top players and the launch of new applications, has increased the pressure on operators in terms of managing data traffic and signalling,” he comments.

To meet this challenge, operators need to reassess the value of their pipe and leverage their untapped assets; they need to focus on data analytics and create strategic alliances with content partners. This presents a huge opportunity, which Mahindra Comviva is well positioned to tap given its wide range of products and solutions. “In addition to our flagship portfolio of mobile data platform products, we also offer solutions for evolved policy management, data monetisation, video optimisation, and security and data experience management suites which can be implemented on any data network – mobile, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max and fixed line. We have partnered with various telecom companies and internet service providers to help them manage, optimise and monetise their data traffic,” says Onkar. A key target before him is to establish Mahindra Comviva as a leading player in the data segment in markets such as Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, SAARC and Eastern Europe. He is also responsible for the profit and loss of the company’s internet and broadband solutions unit.

Onkar brings to the table over two decades of industry experience with the latter part of his career being focused on product evangelisation, conceptualisation and incubation, and the launch of messaging and internet infrastructure-centric solutions. “In the initial phase of my career, I was involved in networking and hardware distribution, and launched an independent initiative focused on manufacturing execution systems (MES). I was a founding member of Jataayu Software, a company focused on ‘unwiring the internet’, which was acquired by Mahindra Comviva (then Bharti Telesoft), and has been here since,” says Onkar. He considers his MES initiative as his most memorable project. “Through several product evangelisation initiatives, I have learnt how to time products in the market. Creating something new has always excited me, whether it’s setting up my own venture or being part of a start-up like Jataayu Software or what I’m doing now.”