Latest news with #Lakshminarayanan
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Tata Communications renews private 5G push
Nearly three years after first approaching the government for direct spectrum allotment, Tata Communications has renewed its push to get the airwaves for private 5G networks. 'Our representation is that for private 5G, the rules need to be different…we cannot have the same rule of spectrum rollout obligation," Amur Lakshminarayanan, the company's managing director and chief executive officer, told Mint. Unlike telecom operators who serve the broader public with 5G, private networks are targeted to a customer site, and companies cannot have telecom operator-like spectrum rollout obligations, he said. While the government is currently evaluating the prospects, Lakshminarayanan said any decision on the spectrum purchase will depend on pricing and the broader conditions set by the government. The department of telecommunications has initiated a fresh demand survey till 31 July to assess interest in assigning 5G spectrum directly to enterprises for setting up private networks. If approved, the move could allow large firms to bypass telecom service providers for high-speed, automated connectivity within their campuses and factories. Unlike public networks, private 5G networks operate in a closed environment, providing dedicated connectivity to industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, automotive and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). This ensures seamless automation and operational efficiency within factory premises and corporate campuses, free from interference from public networks. Lakshminarayanan, however, said the private 5G demand is slow worldwide as currently enterprises have not reached a stage to realize the full potential of industrial internet of things (IoT) technology. 'If in a factory, there are about 100 usecases of industrial IoT such as for workers safety, assets monitoring,etc, about 80% of them can be implemented without a 5G capability, using 4G or Wi-Fi 6 now," Lakshminarayanan said, adding that besides direct spectrum, there is an important need to shift from wired to wireless equipments in factories for private 5G take off. While Tata Communications is gearing up to play a bigger role in enterprise 5G, it is also managing near-term pressures, especially in its core connectivity business. The company's profitability has come under pressure due to recent local developments, including the US tariff orders, which have led to smaller deal sizes, cautious customer spending, and pricing pressures. In the April-June quarter, the company's Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margin fell 125 basis points to 19.1% year over year (y-o-y). 'Uncertainty continues for customers. They don't cancel the entire contract, but they might downsize. So, that kind of site termination and price erosion has happened," Lakshminarayanan said. He said such headwinds slow down or push out the ambitions by a few quarters. The company has guided for a 23-25% margin by FY27. In the Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region, payment-related delays from clients have slowed business activity for Tata Communications. Tata Communications provides enterprises with network, cloud, mobility and security services. Along with other geopolitical factors, the company's commentary on the global tariff uncertainty triggered by the US government imposing reciprocal tariffs on countries assumes significance as 58% of its data revenue comes from international markets. Despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds and continued pressures across the industry, the company witnessed a 'double-digit growth" in its order book during the quarter. 'At the same time, with new customers, we are able to go in and say how we are able to bring a full network transformation for them and that is the reason for a healthy funnel," Lakshminarayanan said. In the April-June quarter, Tata Communications posted a 6.6% y-o-y growth in consolidated revenue at ₹5,960 crore. The company's net profit, however, fell 43% YoY to ₹190 crore during the quarter. Data Services, which account for 87% of Tata Communications' revenue, saw a 9.5% increase to ₹5,152 crore during the quarter. Data Services include core connectivity services, digital platforms, and connected services. The company is seeing good traction from customers for its AI cloud offering Vayu, and is currently undertaking proof of concept for some clients. 'We have a good amount of interest. We are continuing to invest in our capabilities of the AI Studio platform," Lakshminarayanan said, adding that the scale will come gradually. Tata Communications is exploring partnerships with satellite internet firms along with its sister entity Nelco, Lakshminarayanan said.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Sundaram Home Finance aims to disburse ₹300 cr. in Madhya Pradesh
Sundaram Home Finance, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Sundaram Finance Ltd, has strengthened its footprint in Madhya Pradesh with the opening of two new branches, a top official said on Thursday. The city-headquartered company inaugurated a branch in Pithampur and Ratlam and has targeted disbursements of ₹300 crore in Madhya Pradesh this financial year. "This expansion in Madhya Pradesh is in line with our stated intent of identifying select growth opportunities in Tier II and III towns outside South India and building a stronger base in states where we already present in," Sundaram Home Finance MD D Lakshminarayanan said in a company statement here. The company currently operates two branches in Indore and one in Bhopal. With the current expansion in Pithampur and Ratlam, the total number of branches operated by Sundaram Home Finance in Madhya Pradesh increases to five. On the reasons behind expanding presence in Madhya Pradesh, Lakshminarayanan said the Central state is an important market for Sundaram Home Finance outside South India. "Rapid industrial growth is leading to increased affordability among the customers in that state. Over the last 12 months, we have seen a strong demand for home finance in larger towns like Indore and Bhopal in the mid-segment with a typical ticket size of about Rs 40 lakh", he said. He expected similar demand to continue for residential properties in Pithampur and Ratlam and expressed confidence of leveraging the increasing growth opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. The company crossed the milestone by disbursing ₹1,000 crore outside South India operations last year. The company has over 150 branches across the country.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sundaram Home Finance aims to disburse Rs 300 crore in Madhya Pradesh
Sundaram Home Finance , the wholly-owned subsidiary of Sundaram Finance Ltd , has strengthened its footprint in Madhya Pradesh with the opening of two new branches, a top official said on Thursday. The city-headquartered company inaugurated a branch in Pithampur and Ratlam and has targeted disbursements of Rs 300 crore in Madhya Pradesh this financial year. "This expansion in Madhya Pradesh is in line with our stated intent of identifying select growth opportunities in Tier II and III towns outside South India and building a stronger base in states where we already present in," Sundaram Home Finance MD D Lakshminarayanan said in a company statement here. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Bejaia (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now Undo The company currently operates two branches in Indore and one in Bhopal. With the current expansion in Pithampur and Ratlam, the total number of branches operated by Sundaram Home Finance in Madhya Pradesh increases to five. On the reasons behind expanding presence in Madhya Pradesh, Lakshminarayanan said the Central state is an important market for Sundaram Home Finance outside South India. Live Events "Rapid industrial growth is leading to increased affordability among the customers in that state. Over the last 12 months, we have seen a strong demand for home finance in larger towns like Indore and Bhopal in the mid-segment with a typical ticket size of about Rs 40 lakh", he said. He expected similar demand to continue for residential properties in Pithampur and Ratlam and expressed confidence of leveraging the increasing growth opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. The company crossed the milestone by disbursing Rs 1,000 crore outside South India operations last year. The company has over 150 branches across the country.
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Business Standard
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Sundaram Home Finance aims to disburse ₹300 crore in Madhya Pradesh
Sundaram Home Finance, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Sundaram Finance Ltd, has strengthened its footprint in Madhya Pradesh with the opening of two new branches, a top official said on Thursday. The city-headquartered company inaugurated a branch in Pithampur and Ratlam and has targeted disbursements of Rs 300 crore in Madhya Pradesh this financial year. "This expansion in Madhya Pradesh is in line with our stated intent of identifying select growth opportunities in Tier II and III towns outside South India and building a stronger base in states where we already present in," Sundaram Home Finance MD D Lakshminarayanan said in a company statement here. The company currently operates two branches in Indore and one in Bhopal. With the current expansion in Pithampur and Ratlam, the total number of branches operated by Sundaram Home Finance in Madhya Pradesh increases to five. On the reasons behind expanding presence in Madhya Pradesh, Lakshminarayanan said the Central state is an important market for Sundaram Home Finance outside South India. "Rapid industrial growth is leading to increased affordability among the customers in that state. Over the last 12 months, we have seen a strong demand for home finance in larger towns like Indore and Bhopal in the mid-segment with a typical ticket size of about Rs 40 lakh", he said. He expected similar demand to continue for residential properties in Pithampur and Ratlam and expressed confidence of leveraging the increasing growth opportunities in Madhya Pradesh. The company crossed the milestone by disbursing Rs 1,000 crore outside South India operations last year. The company has over 150 branches across the country. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Thriving through tough times: How subscription companies can keep growing
Subscription businesses face a slate of new challenges in 2025. The keys to success? Adaptability, flexibility, and creating value. The subscription economy is worth a staggering $3 trillion annually, powered by millions of subscribers to products and services worldwide. That includes a panoply of subscription types, from streaming and entertainment services to digital newsletters, which have helped grow the overall subscription economy in recent years. Consumers have been accommodating too. The average US consumer spends around $219 a month on subscriptions, totalling roughly $2,600 annually. But given consumers have had their fair share of challenges over the past five years – including a pandemic, subsequent inflation and, even more recently, economic uncertainty caused by trade wars and tariffs – they may now be hitting a breaking point. Recurly's 2025 State of Subscriptions report, which analysed data from more than 2,200 merchants and 67 million subscribers across all industries, found that acquisition rates fell 1.3 per cent year-over-year to 2.8 per cent. Conversion-to-trial rates also hit 33 per cent, a decline of 13 per cent. Particularly noteworthy for business leaders is that fraud-based declines – when a transaction is rejected by a fraud-detection system flagging it as suspicious – increased by 29 per cent. As consumers are retooling their budgets for the potential of additional price increases this year, many of them may look to cancel subscriptions to save money. For subscription businesses, that's an alarming prospect. Those businesses are already facing increased costs, the potential of some subscribers looking to cancel because of tighter budgets, and growing competition as new subscription services – such as AI assistants – enter the market. 'Subscription businesses are navigating a challenging economic environment in 2025, marked by global uncertainty and increased consumer scrutiny over spending,' says Priya Lakshminarayanan, Chief Product Officer at Recurly. 'Consumers closely track their subscription spending and quickly cancel those that do not deliver clear, ongoing value. The companies thriving in this climate are those who showcase continuous value throughout the customer journey.' As such, strategies are shifting to focus on subscriber retention. The good news is that new technologies, products and services can help companies get a handle on what may be a banner year for churn. That may be as simple as offering subscription 'pause' features. Industry data shows that allowing subscribers to temporarily suspend their subscriptions rather than cancelling them retains more than half of customers. During 2024, subscription pause usage increased 68 per cent year-over-year across industries, and 330 per cent in the digital media and entertainment category alone. 'Today's subscribers view their relationships with brands as fluid rather than fixed,' says Lakshminarayanan. 'Businesses must rethink their payment strategies – moving from rigid billing cycles to flexible, pause-friendly models. This includes embedding pause functionality at every cancellation point and using predictive analytics to re-engage paused users with personalised incentives. Businesses who think of pauses as a proactive retention tool will tend to do better.' Offering flexible payments, too, helps retain subscribers. That can mean beefing up platforms with payment provider integrations, so that subscribers can easily connect their PayPal, Stripe or other accounts to make payments. This caters to different customer needs and preferences around the world. After all, if business leaders can find ways to remove friction from the process, they're more likely to retain subscribers and customers. Offering different payment plans – be it buy now, pay later options, adapting payment models across channels, or others – was one tactic many businesses tested out through the pandemic. Further, subscription businesses may want to consider investing in AI to see how it can help scale their operations. There are billions, if not trillions, of data points out there, and harnessing them to help a subscription business isn't easy. But by using AI, business leaders can generate specific, personalised insights into market trends, subscriber preferences and even potential risks or anomalies. There's also the potential to introduce enterprise-grade subscription management integrations, which foster customer loyalty and generate more value from subscriptions, both for businesses and for subscribers themselves. That may open up additional revenue streams and further solidify the relationship between brands and subscribers. Loyalty programs can also be incredibly beneficial. According to Recurly's report, 70 per cent of subscribers would reconsider cancelling a service if loyalty incentives such as discounts were offered. Personalised experiences also make a big impact. For example, Warby Parker's Home Try-On program builds authentic, personalised connections, while Mailchimp's 'freemium' model supports personalised onboarding and customer support. 'Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, subscription businesses must make bold, data-driven strategic shifts,' Lakshminarayanan explains. 'They must leverage AI to tailor content, pricing and offers while providing flexible options to build loyalty. Businesses must also be prepared for subscription fatigue and serial churning by making it easy for former subscribers to return and being ready to pivot offerings or pricing to meet changing demands.' There are no guarantees that any of these changes will be a silver bullet. But as subscription businesses turn their attention to retention strategies, they will and should be top of mind—particularly when the near-term future is so uncertain.
