BSNL’s new CMD, Pravin Kumar Purvar says that it’s time to start monetising content

New Delhi: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.'s (BSNL) new CMD, Pravin Kumar Purvar, said that it’s time to start monetising content services.
With content consumption in India growing at a tremendous pace, it’s high time to evolve into pay-per-view model for content consumption said BSNL’s newly appointed Chairman and Managing Director, Purvar during a panel at the ongoing India Mobile Congress, 2019.

“Any telecom operator providing content services cannot bring all the content in a single platform on a free basis, today in India most of the content is being delivered for free. I think the model has to evolve where the content should be monetized,” said Purvar.

Even where the industry has moved towards solution-based approach and the solution offered through service, the pay per use model should come into existence, he said

Indians spend 17 hours a week on social media which is highest in the world. Also, 30% phone time of Indians is spent on entertainment along with over 60 minutes daily time spent gaming, news and health, says a report by State of Mobile 2018.

On the other side, Partha Narasimhan, CTO, HPE Aruba had a different view.

“Today, users don’t like to make the choice. The shifting needs. Users just expect us to deliver things that are simple, easier to consume and thus the value starts getting high. The more simpler the access is, that’s when the value increases. This is where monetisation models will be a bit difficult”, said Partha.