New Delhi, May 8, 2012
Communication Multimedia Applications Infrastructure- CMAI Association of India (CMAI), the apex organization promoting the Indian IT and Telecom sector, announced the 6th National Telecom Awards 2012 honoured the lasting contributions made by IT and Telecom Companies for the betterment of telecommunication services in the country at a gala function held at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi
To recognize the contribution made by telecom, mobile and ICTE Companies towards nation building and enabling Governmental policies in reaching the common man through Technology, Software and various communication mediums; CMAI has been organizing the National Telecom Awards since the year 2007. Felicitating the best Telecom Companies and Service Operators for their research, development & innovations in this sector, the 6th National Telecom Awards identified and recognized the outstanding contributions to the field of communication, ICT, multimedia and infrastructure while providing greater encouragement and impetus to the players for their contribution in building a robust National Telecom Network.
CMAI NTA 2012 Awards were presented by luminaries like Dr Hamadoun Touré, Secretary General, ITU Geneva, in the presence of Hon’ble Sh R Ashoka. Minister for Home and Transport, Karnataaka, Shri GB Pradhan, IAS Secretary MNRE; Prof. Dr SS Mantha, Chairman, AICTE, Shri Akhil Gupta, Deputy Group CEO and Managing Director, Bharti Enterprises; Shri Bharat Agarwal, Executive Director Dainik Bhaskar Group of Newspapers; Shri Ravi Sharma, CEO Adani Powers Ltd.; The 6th National Telecom Awards this year was attended by over 2500 delegates making it the mother of all Telecom events in India.
Hon’ble Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and IT said in his message, “CMAI Association of India has been fast emerging as the Forum to represent voice of its 48,500 Members and their Associates, in the Global milieu. It is heartening to know that CMAI is not just popular in India only and has been recognized by more than 54 MOU partners globally. The National Telecom Award has been recognized as the apex event for innovation and talent from the ICT industry. The presence of Dr. Hamadoun Toure, Hon’ble Secretary General of ITU signifies its importance, not only in India but globally.”
Dr. Hamadoun Toure, Secretary General ITU while presenting the National Telecom Awards on this occasion said, “CMAI NTA awards have been running since 2007, and play an important role in recognizing the contributions made right across the ICT sector towards nation-building and enabling Governmental policies in extending the benefits of Communications technologies to every man, woman and child in this great Country. As you will know, the CMAI covers the entire spectrum as the ICT sector – including fixed and mobile operators; manufacturers; ISPs and broadband operators; infrastructure and telecom and service providers; and businesses which drive applications, innovation, education, healthcare and so much more. The National Telecom Awards also play their part-because in recognizing important feats in the ICT sector they also help companies formulate the way forward for the Indian ICT 
sector.”
Adding more on this occasion of National Telecom Awards, Dr. Toure, ” As we have seen from past Awards, this process does more than simply recognizing great work already done; it also provides encouragement and impetus to players right across the sector to continue working towards building a robust National Telecom Network, and improving the lives of citizens right across India.One of the reasons for India’s success, of course, is that it can boast some of the most affordable tariffs in the world for voice calls and text messages- which have created huge opportunities for socio-economic development across the country, and provided the framework for long-term sustainable development.”
Dr. Toure further said that “It is also a great pleasure to see so many delegates here in the audience today; Indeed, I believe that this is the first time that National Telecom Awards have been organized on such a grand scale in any Country in the world. I am delighted to be a part of the 2012 National Telecom Awards, which I am sure, will have a long-lasting impact on ICT development and international telecom policies, both here in India and around the world. He said let me express a wish, therefore, that when we come to celebrate next year’s National Telecom Awards, in May 2013, that we can come here with some great new success stories and innovative solutions for women and girls in ICT.”
Dr. Toure also emphasized that ” It is now clearly time to do for broadband what has already been done for mobile, and I am pleased to note that India has been making active steps in this regard-notably with the National Broadband Plan, with the National Telecommunication Policy 2012, and with Convergence Licensing and a technology-neutral spectrum policy.
Ms. Mamta Sharma, Chairperson, National Council for Women earlier while chairing the discussions on empowering women and girls in IT education, emphasized the need to impart education and training to them on ICT. Ms. Senorita Issac, Founder, Human Achievers Foundation, on this occasion, gave away the award to Association of Spouses of African Heads of Missions (ASAHOM), for recognizing their efforts towards Indian Women Empowerment. Human Achievers Foundation has been working towards women empowerment and child development for over eight years.
Moreover Dr Toure also added that “Women are the bedrock of our societies. They are the pillars of strength in every family and community. We need to ensure that they are fairly rewarded and have the same opportunities as everyone else. Let me therefore urge CMAI, and all the delegates here present, to work sincerely for the empowerment of women and girls both within and through ICT.”
Shri Sanjay Kapoor, CEO India South Asia, Airtel expressed in his message, that ” It is indeed a great honor for us to be recognized for the 3rd consecutive year at the Country’s very reputed and prestigious Awards – National Telecom Awards from the leading trade body CMAI Association of India. With over 48,000 members and 54 MoU partners world-wide, CMAI Association has become the face of Indian Telecom trade, recognised in global market-place.”
Shri Ravi Sharma, Executive CMAI said, “India has been on the forefront of the international Telecommunication revolution for some time now and with awards of this magnitude happening in the Country, the emergence of more telecommunication opportunities is bound to happen on a humongous scale. India right now stands on the threshold of becoming the global superpower in telecommunication and the future policies of world telecommunication is bound to be influenced by India’s proactive role in it. The National Telecom Awards while recognizes the important feats in the sector will also formulate the way forward for the Indian telecom industry which will have a long-standing impact on the world telecommunications portal. I wish to be a witness to the important policy decisions which will be taken during these awards which I am pretty much sure will have a long standing impact on international telecom policies of the future.”
Shri NK Goyal, President, CMAI Association of India said, “With the telecommunication buzz being on an all-time high, the time is right to involve more and more players from the sectors which bringing together acclaimed jury members and representations from Indian Associations of Telecom Industry and global ICT associations, is all set to mark India’s timestamp on the global communication environment in a big way.”
About CMI National Telecom Awards
Started in 2007 to felicitate the best Telecom Companies, Service Operators, research & development and innovations, the CMI National Telecom Awards are instituted by CMAI Association on India. Having the support of the entire Indian Associations of Telecom Industry and global ICT associations, the CMI National Telecom Awards brings on board acclaimed jury members and is considered to be the mother of all telecom events in India.
