Know HYDERABAD better

In the background of India’s ever gaining importance of becoming the back office of many things (read manpower, outsourcing, software etc, etc.,) some of its twenty eight provinces (states) are having a royal marketing go of outdoing at each other to get the best of these investments. Such is the growing prowess of Indian IT industry where in quick time it has a contribution of 3% of India’s GDP.
Andhra Pradesh state is one amongst the bigger states having the advantage of being centrally located (in India) and whose infrastructure is better compared to other states. These coupled with aggressive marketers at the helm of affairs have led Andhra Pradesh to be one amongst the larger recipients of FDI in India. With large infrastructure developments planned for the state in the near future Andhra Pradesh would be playing the perfect host to all such FDI inflows especially IT, ITES, Biotech and manufacturing sectors.
The state is well placed to be the hub of Information Technology with the availability of trained software professionals. In any IT destination, the industry depends on the availability of trained human resources in the local market and the state already has well established network of engineering colleges. As per the STPI figures, Andhra Pradesh have more than 85,945 professionals working in the state IT sector (year 2004 ) which is expected to grow by another 20 % for 2005. This according to STPI was 64000 in the year 2002(source: Times of India, April 2005 & Nasscom report 2005). According to many experts the biggest challenge to be facing the IT industry here would be retaining the experienced manpower. IT as an activity has been not only being used by the industry for its business purposes but it has also been utilized by the state government for better delivery of services to the common people like having electronic seva (eseva). The objective being to provide greater customer service by the government fast, having seamless accessibility to information desired, greater transparency, improved quality to the end customer. This has been a success.
AP Broadband Network: By September 2006, all villages in the state will witness a digital revolution in AP Broadband network. The AP Broadband Network, which would be established with private participation, will connect the state headquarters with 10 gbps to each of district headquarters, with one gbps from district headquarters to each of the 1,127 mandal headquarters and with 100 mbps from mandal headquarters to each of the villages. The network will have 80,000 kms of optic fibre connectivity right up to the village level. The broadband network will also provide services to 40,000 government offices. This will enable all government departments to deliver convenient citizen services through eSeva centres, Internet Village kiosks and web-based online services. Widespread availability of broadband services at very low and affordable rates is expected to take not just convenient government services to the doorsteps of the citizens but also trigger significant economic activity in every sector( source : Times of India April 2005).
According to a recent Times-TNS survey Hyderabad is one amongst the top 3 hot destinations for IT and ITES and it fares well for setting up new operations as the infrastructure is good, cost of living is cheap and has a cosmopolitan culture. Hyderabad is also turning out to be a preferred R&D destination of many IT companies. Although one area for concern would be to generate and maintain a good supply of quality manpower at a very consistent manner. Hence the role of human resources/recruitment firms, industry would prove to be a crucial element in the overall development/growth path of IT industry here.