Tata Communications representative to chair Wireless Broadband Alliance

Mumbai: Tata Communications Ltd has announced that the company has been elected to lead the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) as Chair of the Alliance.

Prateek Pashine, Tata Communications vice president for planning, retail business, has been appointed as the Chairman of WBA.

The Wireless Broadband Alliance was created to drive the adoption of wireless broadband technologies and services around the world by developing a common commercial, technical and marketing framework for wireless network interoperability. The WBA is now in its fifth year of operation, and is aggressively pursuing with various other alliances and forums on other forms of wireless broadband roaming like Dual Mode devices and WIMAX roaming.

Tata Communications is the only Indian telecommunications company to be a part of this industry forum, and Pashine is the first Indian to hold this position.

Speaking about the announcement of his election, Pashine said, "It is an honour for Tata Communications to be given this responsibility. The Company which has the largest number of Wi-Fi hotspots in India and is also currently rolling out India's largest Wimax network, will now further leverage on this experience to help evolve global wireless standards.''

Julie Ragbourne, Head - Consumer Products, British Telecom and Outgoing Chair of WBA, said, ''Tata Communications has been the pioneer of internet services in India and continues to be an important player in the Indian wireless broadband market which has the potential to replicate the success story of Indian mobile market. We at WBA recognize and acknowledge the contribution made by Tata Communications' team with great appreciation. I congratulate Prateek on this new responsibility and I am confident that he will continue to provide robust leadership and promote the interests of the wireless broadband industry as a Chair of WBA."