UK body makes India call to talk mobile content

Anticipating a massive surge in India’s nascent mobile entertainment market once 3G (third generation) telecom services are introduced in the country, top representatives of the UK-based Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF) met with officials of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Thursday to discuss the opportunities and issues involved.

MEF policy & initiatives director Suhail Bhat, who is touring India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, told DNA that an Asian Regulation Committee would be set up next month, with 37 members from the region. This will be followed by a round-table meeting of regulators and industry representatives in January.

According to an MEF report (prepared by independent analyst Direct2Mobile), India’s mobile entertainment market will grow to $2.24 billion by 2013. It was estimated at $403.13 million in 2008.

MEF is focused on formulating effective industry guidelines “to grow a vibrant mobile entertainment industry” around the world, said Bhat. The Forum sees a key role for itself in the context of regulation, as social inclusion is becoming a reality through mobile internet. “Not everyone can have a computer and therefore internet connectivity, but most people have mobile phones and accessing the Net on a handset would be easy if the rates are not steep,” explained Bhat.

For instance, Singapore is planning to introduce free Wi-Fi connections for everyone in the country sometime soon. Many countries in Europe are also pushing for low-cost broadband connectivity on mobile phones. India is also targeting mass-scale internet connectivity through mobile phones, and social inclusion is a priority for the current UPA government.

Interestingly, the UK government has sought MEF’s advice on how to get its people excited about the 2012 London Olympic Games through innovative mobile phone content. When asked about the Commonwealth Games to be hosted in Delhi next year, Bhat said MEF would be “happy to be involved” if it is asked.