The technology, information, and internet sectors are cornerstones of modern innovation and economic growth. These industries drive progress by continuously introducing new products, services, and business models. Through digital technologies and internet services, individuals, businesses, and organizations can connect, collaborate, and share information effortlessly, transcending geographical boundaries. Leaders in this field play a pivotal role in steering innovation, setting industry standards, and guiding technological advancements.
One such leader is Sudhir Kunder, the Chief Business Officer (CBO) of DE-CIX India. Sudhir joined DE-CIX India with a vision to revolutionize the internet landscape in one of the world’s most diverse and populous nations. His mission was clear: to make the internet more accessible and reliable across India. Beginning with just 74 customers in December 2019, Sudhir has navigated numerous challenges to expand and enhance the company’s services.
Dominating the Asia-Pacific Region
DE-CIX India, the country’s largest interconnection platform, now boasts over 600 connected networks nationwide. The company offers premium interconnection services, including peering, DirectCLOUD, and Microsoft Azure Peering Service (MAPS). Operating as a carrier and data center-neutral exchange, DE-CIX India connects Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), Over-The-Top (OTT) players, DNS root servers, and both national and international telco networks. With exchanges in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, DE-CIX Mumbai has rapidly become the largest internet exchange in the Asia-Pacific region, outshining 153 exchanges across 29 countries. Backed by DE-CIX, one of the world’s largest interconnection platforms based in Frankfurt, Germany, DE-CIX India operates legally compliant, carrier-neutral services across the nation.
Overcoming Educational Hurdles
“We have always been committed to ensuring seamless business operations for our customers, with assistance just a phone call away. Our goal is to provide them with best-in-class services,” says Sudhir Kunder.
One significant challenge DE-CIX India faced was educating its ISP customers about the benefits of peering. Many ISPs were initially unaware of how to maximize the services they had access to. This required substantial investment in time and effort to manage the entire customer lifecycle. DE-CIX India’s dedication to supporting customers through every stage of their journey—from sales to pre-sales and post-sales—has been evident.
The company helps customers acquire ASN numbers, secure licenses, and maintain the financial and technical health of their organizations. Some customers were not fully optimizing their investments in peering services or effectively negotiating with transport layer partners for competitive pricing. By engaging with customers throughout their lifecycles, DE-CIX India aims to streamline the onboarding process and educate them on leveraging existing fiber infrastructure within various network types.
Empowering Leadership
Sudhir’s leadership style is centered on empowering individuals to realize their full potential while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. He emphasizes clear communication and transparency to ensure alignment with collective goals. By building strong relationships founded on trust and respect, Sudhir creates an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and innovative ideas can thrive.
His approach to management is characterized by situational leadership, with a focus on teamwork, empowerment, and continuous development. Sudhir believes in equipping his team with the necessary tools, support, and trust to encourage creativity and a sense of ownership. Collaboration is key to achieving optimal results, bolstered by ongoing training and skill enhancement initiatives.
Valuing Attitude Over Talent
For Sudhir Kunder, identifying and nurturing talent within DE-CIX India is a top priority. He believes that people are the company’s most valuable asset, guiding the creation of a supportive environment where potential is recognized and nurtured from the ground up. Sudhir’s recruitment strategy prioritizes attitude over talent, understanding that while skills can be developed, a positive mindset is crucial for success within DE-CIX India.
The company employs a comprehensive approach to talent development, including training, coaching, mentoring, and guidance, ensuring that the team is equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary for success. Mentorship plays a vital role in fostering an environment of continuous learning and growth, helping DE-CIX India cultivate a culture where individuals are recognized, nurtured, and given opportunities to thrive.
Building a Resilient Network
DE-CIX India has introduced innovative solutions such as Peering DirectCLOUD and MAPS, which have redefined the connectivity landscape. These solutions offer scalable, reliable, and ultra-low-latency connectivity options, replacing traditional transit methods. By enabling direct interconnections to CDNs and CSPs, the platform helps reduce costs associated with reliance on full-duplex bandwidth, allowing businesses to reinvest savings into growth and innovation.
As digital operations continue to expand, DE-CIX India’s platform is crucial in providing reliable cloud connectivity services, CDNs, and enterprise applications. The platform reduces dependence on on-premises infrastructure and private networks, offering unparalleled network resilience and redundancy through a distributed architecture that ensures continuous uptime and robust disaster recovery. DE-CIX India empowers businesses to embrace digital transformation by offering advanced, cost-effective, and scalable interconnection solutions, fostering innovation and agility for a modern, efficient, and resilient future.
A Game Changer for Business Efficiency
DE-CIX India has significantly enhanced network performance, reduced latency, and improved connectivity for its customers through the implementation of advanced technology and strategic services.
HOCHTIEF and Microsoft Azure Peering Service (MAPS): HOCHTIEF, the world’s fifth-largest construction conglomerate, faced latency issues with Microsoft’s servers. By utilizing DE-CIX Germany’s MAPS, latency was reduced by 90%, and trouble tickets were halved. Connection time to Microsoft Teams decreased from 53 milliseconds to 5 milliseconds, enhancing communication and boosting productivity.
Narayana Nethralaya and DirectCLOUD Service: Narayana Nethralaya, a renowned eye care institution, improved its digital operations by implementing DE-CIX India’s DirectCLOUD service. This resulted in a substantial reduction in latency from 330 milliseconds to 40 milliseconds, enhancing patient care management and internal processes.
Driving Success through Innovation
Since its inception, DE-CIX India has demonstrated remarkable growth, expanding its customer base from 74 in December 2019 to over 600 today. The company has extended its interconnection platform to Hyderabad, further enhancing its presence and connectivity options. Technological advancements, such as the introduction of 400 Gigabit Ethernet Access in Mumbai, ensure fast and reliable data exchange. With an increased network capacity of 800 Gigabits in Mumbai, DE-CIX India remains committed to delivering high-quality, future-ready services to its customers and supporting the growth of the digital ecosystem.
Promoting peering services has helped ISPs save on bandwidth costs and attract more participants, establishing DE-CIX India as a hub of interconnectivity. Initiatives like DirectCLOUD and MAPS have transformed ISPs into Digital Solution Providers, offering faster and more secure cloud connectivity. This shift has diversified revenue streams, increased competitiveness, and met evolving customer demands. DE-CIX’s low-latency connectivity has benefited enterprises, SMEs, and SMBs, providing scalable IT infrastructure without compromising performance. Overall, DE-CIX India’s dedication to customer needs and innovation has fueled significant growth and success.
Commitment to Seamless Service Delivery
“As we build this new business unit, we will also ensure that we take care of our partners’ interests every step of the way,”
says Sudhir Kunder.
The decision to expand DE-CIX India’s service portfolio is part of a strategic process led by Sudhir Kunder and his team. Within the DE-CIX ecosystem, innovation and expansion are continuous priorities, driven by the evolving needs of customers. The recent acquisition of a national long-distance (NLD) license by DE-CIX India has opened new avenues for strategic growth. This license enables the establishment of an Enterprise Business Unit (EBU), incorporating both direct and indirect business models. The EBU will allow Sudhir and his team to manage the entire customer lifecycle in the enterprise domain.
Balancing Innovation, Stability, and Profitability
At DE-CIX India, maintaining a balance between innovation, stability, and profitability is paramount, according to Sudhir Kunder. The company places a strong emphasis on compliance and carefully considers its investments, as demonstrated by its early decision to obtain licensing despite ambiguities. This commitment to legal compliance has instilled confidence in both domestic and international clients, highlighting the company’s customer-centric approach. Sudhir Kunder believes that this focus on customer experience has been instrumental in DE-CIX India’s success as one of the world’s most profitable Internet Exchanges, known for its reliability.
Remaining innovative and competitive in the dynamic interconnection and networking industry is crucial for DE-CIX India.
Here’s how DE-CIX India has achieved this:
- Customer Focus: DE-CIX India prioritizes customer feedback to shape relevant and valuable services.
- Technology Integration: Initiatives like DirectCLOUD and MAPS integrate advanced technology for secure cloud connections with top cloud service providers like AWS, Oracle Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
- Strategic Expansion: Recent investments, including obtaining a national long-distance (NLD) license, have enhanced the service portfolio to meet market demands.
Informed Decision-Making
Sudhir Kunder’s approach to risk-taking and decision-making at DE-CIX India combines thorough analysis with strategic foresight. He views each decision as an opportunity to steer the company toward success with a clear understanding of the business environment.
Rather than relying on instinct, DE-CIX India makes informed choices based on extensive research and market insights, ensuring that every risk is calculated and aligned with long-term objectives. This method extends to expanding into new markets, investing in emerging technologies, and launching innovative services.
Financial prudence is a cornerstone of the company’s decision-making process. DE-CIX India invests in growth responsibly, ensuring that expenditures are justified and sustainable. Regular reviews and assessments are integral to its approach, recognizing the ever-changing business landscape. By frequently evaluating strategies and performance, the company identifies areas for improvement and potential risks, allowing it to adapt swiftly and maintain agility and resilience in the face of challenges.
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