Netplus Broadband plans to invest Rs 300 crore capex in 2022: Prem Ojha

Fastway Group is pioneer in digital entertainment services and a dominant market leader in this space. Fastway has an Internet arm, Netplus Broadband, which is 100% subsidiary of Fastway Group and the fastest-growing ISP in the region providing next-gen services.

Prem Ojha, Group CEO of Fastway and Netplus Broadband, tells us more. Excerpts from an interview.

DQ: Tell us about Netplus Broadband and the unique offerings that the company provides to customers?

Prem Ojha: Netplus Broadband is the most preferred service provider in Punjab. Revered for its superfast connection speeds and high customer retention rate, Netplus Broadband is the dominant and fastest-growing ISP in the region, providing next-generation services such as high-speed broadband on the FTTH platform, and smart telephony, and OTT services.

The company offers high-speed Internet to residential, SMR, and corporate customers across major cities and townships of urban and rural Punjab with an extensive FTTH network across 8 states. The company delivers world-class services to over 5 lakh customers.

DQ: What were the company's goals and objectives when it was founded? Tell us about your journey since the company's foundation?

Prem Ojha: Our goal is to be the best broadband service provider in the country with the mission of providing broadband to everyone and everywhere.

The company started operations in 2016 and did an aggressive rollout across 8 states with 6 million home passes through 14K channel partners, and with powerful and aggressive customer offerings providing value for money for the customers.

Netplus Broadband is the first service provider to launch a 1Gig plan in the region. The company had significant growth of over 5 lac customers, and is a dominant market leader in the region.

DQ: What are your growth plans for 2022?

Prem Ojha: We strive to re-organize at the national level as a model ISP providing next-generation services. We partnered with BBNL for rural expansion, and have plans to invest Rs 300cr capex in 2022.

We are working to be among the top five broadband companies in 2022. India has close to 6.5 lac villages. The next way of expansion for us this year will be through rural broadband project that we all are focusing upon. We will also be investing heavily in technology development and automation to have a cutting edge over the competition in delivering a next-generation experience. We will be continuously expanding and grooming our service delivery team. We plan to reach a 7.5 lac base this year with 10 million home passes.

DQ: How is your company helping customers in Tier2 and Tier3 cities?

Prem Ojha: We are one of India’s leading operators focused on Tier2 and Tier3 cities. We provide the same quality of FTTH fiber that we give to our urban customers. Our mission is to take broadband service delivery to every gram panchayat through strategic tie-up and mission. We have our services in almost 300 + tier 2 and Tier3 cities and systems already in place to manage them effectively.