B. K. Syngal

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Brijendra K Syngal
Born1940[1]
Ambala, Punjab Province, British Raj[1]
Died9 July 2022 (aged 82)
NationalityIndian
Alma materIIT, Kharagpur
Known fortelecommunications
Awards
Scientific career
InstitutionsVSNL India

Brijendra Kumar Syngal (1940 – 9 July 2022) was an Indian telecommunications executive who was referred to as the ‘Father of Internet & Data Services in India’. His five-decade career included senior executive positions in the major and public sector telecom companies in India including Chairman and Managing Director of VSNL,[2][3] India’s leading provider of telecommunication services, Chairman of Reliance Telecomm [4] and Vice Chairman of BPL Communications.[5] Syngal also served as Chairman, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (London);[6] Governor, INTELSAT Board, Washington DC;[7] and as a Councillor for the INMARSAT Council in London.

Syngal was Senior Principal, Dua Consulting, New Delhi, India. He headed the Consulting and Advisory team of Telecom Experts in the disciplines of Licensing, Regulation, Policy Formulations and Government Affairs. He provided services to a large number of Telecom Clients, both National and Multi-National, in these areas.[7]

Career[edit]

He held various technical qualifications including B.Tech. (Hons.) and M.Tech. from IIT, Kharagpur,[8] India, C Eng (UK), M.I.E.E. (UK) and Sr. M.I.E.E. (USA). He was also a member of the London Court of International Arbitration.

One of Mr. Syngal's earliest major accomplishments included assisting ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) and Department of Space with the launch of their satellite in 1992, when US-imposed sanctions prohibited use of US-based facilities for tracking of satellites during the most crucial launch phase. He was instrumental in the award of a major contract for supply of space segment capacity on the Indian INSAT system in 1994–1995.[9] Under his chairmanship (1991-1998),[10] VSNL launched the first publicly-available Internet plans in India in 1995.[11][1]

Under Mr. Syngal's leadership, VSNL‘s gross revenues rose 215 percent from $515 million to $1.6 billion. Stock market capitalisation rose 355 percent, from $0.9 billion to $4.1 billion, profits rose 666 percent, and gross revenue per employee rose 204 percent, switched-voice traffic rose 354 percent, and data traffic rose 1091 percent. Under Mr. Syngal's stewardship, VSNL conceived, planned and executed what was at that time the biggest Global Depository Receipts (GDR) issue out of India and the third largest out of Asia (Excluding Japan). The issue was oversubscribed about ten times.[12]

VSNL rose to become an international company, both in terms of the services it offers and its ownership. Under Mr. Syngal's chairmanship, VSNL also contributed to the explosive growth of India's software industry. The software growth increased from US$60 million in 1991 to US$2 billion in 1997–98. Employment in the software sector increased from 40,000 to 6,00,000 in the same period. In 1998, he and his team of associates joined Reliance, and remained there until his resignation in 2001. During his tenure as Reliance Infocomm chairperson, Syngal was said to be also serving as the president of the Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India—one of the telecom industry’s trade associations.[13]

He has written for Business newspapers and Magazines like the Economic Times, Business India. Other contributions include "The Chakrarvyu in the Local Loop";[14] Telecommunications as the fourth Dimension of Transportation after Land Sea and Air;[15] Commoditisation of Connectivity.[16] He has been an illustrious guest and key note speaker at various forums including events at his Alma Mater- IIT Kharagpur and Industry events. He has also been a visiting lecturer at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad (ISB) on Corporate Governance in the Public Sector.

Honors and awards[edit]

Syngal has received many industry awards including Telecom Man of the Decade Award by Wisitex Foundation, India, Partners in Progress Award by the Government of Maharashtra for his contributions in telecommunications sector both in India and abroad.[17]

Syngal has been the recipient of the Ambrose Fleming Medal for Achievement in Communications conferred by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), UK.[18]

He was also credited with bringing the internet to India in 1995, ahead of any Asian country, with the exception of Japan.[19] He was named one of the '50 stars of Asia' by the Business Week magazine in 1998.[20] He was also honored by his Alma Mater (Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur) with a life fellowship for his contributions in the field of communications and changing the life of millions by bringing internet and digital connectivity to India.[21]

Some of his other awards given in recognition of his outstanding achievement in the telecom sector include:[22] "Partners in Progress" award, by the Govt. of Maharashtra, "International Excellence Award – 1994" in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of telecommunications both in India and abroad.

Bibliography[edit]

BK Syngal has edited two books- 'Back to the DOTs' and 'VSNL unleashed'.[23]

Personal life[edit]

Syngal died on 9 July 2022 at the age of 82.[24][1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Bureau, BL Mumbai (10 July 2022). "'Father of Indian Internet' BK Syngal passes away". The Hindu Business Line. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Strategic Solutions...About B.K.Syngal". Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  3. ^ "India's B.K. Syngal". Bloomberg.com. 29 June 1998. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020 – via www.bloomberg.com.
  4. ^ "B.K. Syngal is fellow of IIT". @businessline. 20 September 2003. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  5. ^ "rediff.com: Syngal set to head BPL cell ventures : BS". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Jury for the Corporate Awards | Data Security Council of India". Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Senior Principals – Dua Consulting". www.duaconsulting.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  8. ^ "The Best And The Brightest". outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  9. ^ An excerpt taken from "Reflections by IITians" Published by Ram Krishnaswamy 2008
  10. ^ Mookerji, Nivedita (16 May 2020). "What Telecom Man reveals about India's business-politics links". Rediff. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  11. ^ "VSNL starts India's first Internet service today". www.dxm.org. 14 August 1995. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Brijendra K. Syngal, Senior Principal, Dua Consulting". tele.net.in. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  13. ^ Block, Daniel. "How Reliance Jio is monopolising the telecom sector". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  14. ^ "The chakravyuh of local loop". @businessline. 27 February 2003. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Business News Live, Share Market News – Read Latest Finance News, IPO, Mutual Funds News". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Commoditisation of Connectivity". www.linkedin.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  17. ^ "iitkgp.org". www.afternic.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  18. ^ "IET Names Winners of 2008 Achievement Awards". www.machinebuilding.net. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  19. ^ Ghosh, Shauvik (29 June 2015). "The birth of the Internet in India". livemint.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  20. ^ Sapkale, Yogesh (11 February 2020). "'Telecom Man' Is Story of BK Syngal, the Father of Internet in India and the Revolution". Moneylife. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Business Today". Archived from the original on 18 April 2016.
  22. ^ An excerpt taken from the book "Reflections by IITians" Published by Ram Krishnaswamy 2008
  23. ^ Nair, C. N. N.; Ltd, Videsh Sanchar Nigam (1 January 1996). Back to the dots--: development of India's external telecommunications from morse to mouse. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd.
  24. ^ "BK Syngal, the Telecom Man of India, is No More". Moneylife. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.

Further reading[edit]

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