Excitel Broadband co-founder Vivek Raina has stepped down from day-to-day operations after 11 years, saying the company is well placed for its next growth phase; he will remain a shareholder and adviser while a new leadership team drives expansion of the fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) business across India.
Leadership change and strategy
Varun Pasricha, formerly Excitel’s chief operating officer, has been appointed chief executive officer. Pasricha brings nearly two decades of corporate experience, having held roles at companies including Zomato, G4S and Max Healthcare, and is expected to focus on operational scaling, customer retention and service quality.
Under the new leadership, Excitel plans to continue strengthening its fibre network and partner ecosystem. The company’s growth has relied on a collaboration-driven last-mile model that enabled rapid deployment across tier I, II and III cities. As demand for high-speed connectivity rises—driven by streaming, online gaming and remote work—management is prioritising deeper market penetration and improved service delivery.
Raina’s tenure and next steps
Raina helped build Excitel into a recognised affordable-ISP by focusing on unlimited data plans and aggressive expansion from its early base in Delhi-NCR to dozens of cities, serving close to a million subscribers. His telecommunications career includes senior roles at Digicable Network India, Hathway and Reliance Communications, which informed his understanding of India’s broadband market.
He stated his decision to step back reflects a planned transition rather than a sudden exit. Raina will continue to support the company as a shareholder and mentor, and has indicated he may take a brief break before exploring new entrepreneurial opportunities. He remains active in startup mentoring initiatives such as Launchpad Kashmir, which supports founders from Jammu & Kashmir.
Implications for India’s broadband market
The Indian ISP sector is highly competitive, with increasing need for reliable, affordable broadband in urban and smaller-town markets. Excitel carved a niche through budget-friendly, unlimited plans and a partner-led delivery model.
Industry observers view Raina’s departure as a leadership milestone that preserves strategic continuity: with Pasricha assuming operational control and Raina retaining an equity stake, the company appears positioned to pursue further network expansion and service enhancements as India’s digital adoption grows beyond major metros.
