In the northern land of Indo-Australian plate marked by colossal plains, mammoth mountains and varied islands, the communication through Radio and TV broadcasting is crucial. India is poised to be among the top five economies in the world by 2020. Home to over a billion mobile subscribers and the second largest Internet user base in the world, it will become a key force of reckoning for global business, policy, and technology advancement. This rapid evolution requires enterprises and industries to advance with a sound digital transformation strategy for existing business lines, new business models, and technology. Connectivity, devices and application trends are changing the dynamics of the telecom and broadcast sectors. The establishment of a digital ecosystem is underway for Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) overlooked by its Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. George Kuruvilla.
Before George took charge as CMD in 2015, there were only 4 verticals at BECIL namely; Radio Group, TV Group, Defense & Communication Group and Regional Office (South). George added new verticals – CCTV & Surveillance and e-Governance & IT. A separate vertical was also formed to handle the Common Transmission Infrastructure (CTI) projects after the auction of Phase III frequencies for Private FM Broadcasters.
Developing a Team of Sagacious Expertise
George Kuruvilla, an Indian Broadcast Engineering Service Officer (87 batch) and an M. Tech in Digital Communication System from IIT Roorkee, after serving All India Radio, Doordarshan and Prasar Bharati Secretariat for about 23 years in different senior positions, joined BECIL as General Manager and thereafter as full time Director (O&M).
He has taken several steps to empower and motivate the young officers and staff of the company which includes timely promotion at every level, making 3 new verticals and giving independent charge to AGM/Managers besides DGMs and a General Manager. Above all, CMD is supported by a veteran retired Defense Officer as Director (O&M). Mr.George hired a few Senior Retired Government Officers to play the role of Advisors to each of the new verticals he had introduced to oversee the work with their experience, advice and guidance. His efforts led towards building up a strong middle management, gaining vital experience in project management and expertise in their respective domains. This exercise has resulted in excellent team work for new verticals of BECIL.
Solutions in Transmission and Production Technology
Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) is an ISO certified Mini Ratna, Public Sector Enterprise of Government of India under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. BECIL came in to existence on 24th March 1995. They provide project consultancy services of international standards for broadcasting in Transmission and Production Technology including turnkey solutions in the specified fields of Terrestrial and Satellite Broadcasting, Cable and various IT related fields, including Acoustics and Audio-Visual systems.
It also provides associated services like building design and construction, human resource related activities like training, providing man power etc. It also undertakes supply of specialized communication, monitoring, security and surveillance systems to defense, police department and various para-military forces. The operations of the company headquartered in New Delhi and it now has its Corporate Office in Noida and Regional Office in Bangalore. BECIL plays a pivotal role in Modernization and Growth of Radio and Television Broadcasting through Terrestrial, Cable and Satellite Transmission in India and abroad, and achieves excellence.
The Proven Competence of BECIL
BECIL has started catering Manpower Requirements in the broadcast and IT sector including e-Governance for different government, semi-government and autonomous bodies to assist them in getting suitable professionals. They also provide technical consultancy for Ministry of Transport for a pilot project of Highway Advisory Radio between Delhi and Jaipur using DRM plus technology.
Set Top Box (STB) Development as OEM for DD Free Dish DTH Service has been in the process and it is intended to benefit Doordarshan and its viewers spread across the nation. BECIL is in the process of making Strategic Agreement with Software Technology solution provider and startup firms Audio & Video Forensics to develop a platform for safe/smart city projects of the government.
Current Trends and Strategies to Stay Competitive
The technological developments are largely affecting the broadcasting industry. Before the dawn of the Internet age, broadcasting was not only a principal source of entertainment, it also linked citizens to the world outside of their homes, and helped to develop a sense of community. With the expansion of internet and IETs, more and more people turn to it to receive latest breaking news reports and entertainment contests through digital media rather than rely on the conventional radio and television reporting.
To stay competitive, broadcasters have to be faster and better at what they do than ever before by following the new techniques. To ensure continuous growth and development of BECIL, George has started to explore new technological products for providing turnkey solutions by integrating High-end Cameras, Fiber Networking, Satellite Communication, IP based Radio Transmission Switching/Routing, storage of Audio-Visual content, Automation Software for Content Handling and to diversify in to new areas of CCTV and Surveillance and e-Governance & IT as well as Safe & Smart City domains. This is in line with the mandate given by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for Digital India, Skill India, and Make in India. Mr. George is a Founding and Governing Council Member for Skill Council IASC (Instrumentation Automation Surveillance & Communication Sector Skill Council) under the skill India programme. He makes intensive efforts to go for strategic partnerships to participate in the tenders floated by various Central Government Departments, State Governments and Public Sector Undertakings.
Envisioning Tremendous Growth along with Technology
BECIL envisions facilitating the growth of Broadcasting in India and in developing countries in the Asian & African regions. Under the leadership of Mr. George, BECIL has plans to continue with the present setup but with a change in approach. BECIL has started venturing in to the new techniques being adopted in the field of Broadcasting to stay as a leader in Broadcast consultancy. The most encouraging fact for the CMD was that BECIL has registered profit in 2016-17 turning around the earlier years. This is an indication that in coming years BECIL is going to rise higher and higher under the leadership of Mr. George.
George Kuruvilla: Elevating Broadcast Industry in Collaboration with Technology
