Road ahead will entail targeted extension of digital entertainment services in rural areas, and tier-B and -C cities: Fastway Group

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. It is also the fastest-growing ISP in the region providing next-gen services. Fastway is the largest MSO in North India.

S Gurdeep Singh, Founder and Chairman of Fastway tells us more. Excerpts from an interview:

DQ: Brief us about Fastway and unique offerings that your company provides to the customers.

S Gurdeep Singh: The largest multiple-system operator (MSO) in North India, Fastway Transmissions is a pioneer in the field of digital entertainment services. We are providing services not only in Punjab, but also in other important northern Indian states, including Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi NCR, and Uttar Pradesh. We offer interactive content on 400 SD+HD channels, 400 SD+HD channels of digital entertainment, and next-gen Android TV services.

Fastway has an Internet arm, Netplus Broadband, which offers fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services to its customers, along with voice and OTT. With more than 3,000-plus enterprise clients, Netplus is a reputable organization directly involved in offering Wi-Fi solutions under government Smart City Projects. Netplus serves regions of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir. Pricing is moderate and economical. Fastway provides a wide range of economical services to its clients.

Fastway has recently launched its Android STB services. This is an Android Hybrid STB powered by Google. FW Android TV is loaded with a host of features. Along with 5,000+ Android Apps through the Google Play store. The user will give direct access to the same on the STB and remote itself.

Subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide range of India-specifics and international content with a single click. The STB has loads of features such as 4K Ultra HD Picture quality, Dolby Audio, Dolby Vision, dual-band Wi-Fi, HDMI port, Bluetooth connectivity, followed by Chrome Cast built-in.

DQ: What were the company's goals and objectives when it was founded?

S Gurdeep Singh: Having commenced operations in 2007, the company has established a strong infrastructure by laying down an extensive network of optic fiber cable fulfilling the entertainment appetite through 450 SD+HD channels. Fastway is a household name in the region and the most preferred brand.

Fastway began operations in 2007, and has since built a strong infrastructure by installing a vast network of optical fiber cable to satisfy the region's thirst for entertainment by providing 450 SD+HD channels. Fastway is the most well-known and favored brand in the area.

We have a pool of over 3,000 + professionals, 4 million customers, 1,5000+ channel partners, 95% market share, 2+ crores viewers, 100+ local channels, 1,5000 + km of underground fiber, 200+ seater call center, and presence across 8 states and 300 + cities.

DQ: What are your growth plans for 2022?

S Gurdeep Singh: With more than 4 million customers across 8 states and 300+ cities, our vision is services expansion. In the current fiscal, we want to offer our services throughout all of India. To support integrated services of the future, we are heavily investing in building world-class fiber infrastructure.

For this growth trajectory to continue, the road ahead will entail a targeted extension of services in rural areas, along with tier B- and C-class cities. India has close to 650,000 villages. The next route of expansion for us will be rural expansion. We will be investing heavily on technology development and automation to gain an edge over the competition in delivering next-generation services to the customers.

DQ: After expanding the horizon, what were the major challenges faced by the company?

S Gurdeep Singh: It is a growing, yet, fiercely competitive market. This keeps our average revenue per user under pressure. However, these challenges are very temporary in nature. We strongly believe that quality services and superior value for money offerings will help us retain our leadership position in the long run.

DQ: How is your company servicing customers in tier-2 and tier-3 cities?

S Gurdeep Singh: We strive to reorganize at the national level as an organization providing next-generation services. Our Internet arm, Netplus Broadband, has partnered with BBNL for rural expansion, and has plans to invest Rs 300 crore capex in 2022. 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.