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By Rahul Sandil, Vice President and General Manager of Global Marketing and Communications, MediaTek
A solar-powered radio opened Rahul Sandil’s first door to the world of technology.
MediaTek, one of the world’s leading technology companies, continues to bring technology closer to people to improve the quality of life globally. In his new role as Rahul Sandil, Vice President and General Manager of Global Marketing and Communications, at MediaTek, shares MediaTek’s strategic vision of leading technology solutions for mobile devices, smart TVs, data centers, and smart vehicles, and highlights the revolutionary role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the future.
The Journey from Technological Interest to Democratization Mission
Rahul Sandil’s career began in New Delhi, India, where he grew up in a family with a marketing background. His father, an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, was the Marketing Director of DCM Toyota when international brands were entering the Indian market. His father’s stories of brand building and technology sparked his interest in the field. One of the most memorable memories is when his father brought home a solar-powered radio from Japan, which opened the first door for Sandil to explore technology.
After completing his MBA at MDI Gurgaon, Sandil started his career at the RPG group, working in mobile technology at a time when India was just starting out. He once owned a Philips mobile phone. His career progressed through the music industry at HMV, witnessing the transition from cassettes to MP3s, then to gaming startups and tech giants like Microsoft (with Xbox One), HTC (VR/AR), and Micron (semiconductors). The partnership between Micron and MediaTek brought him to the company, where he saw an opportunity to carry out the mission of “democratizing technology.”
For Sandil, the true power of technology lies in its accessibility. He recalls the smartphone boom in India in the 2000s, when hundreds of millions of people first used technology to improve their lives—from electronic payments for street vendors to connecting information in remote areas. MediaTek is now the number one global provider of chips for mobile phones and smart TVs, and is expanding into data centers and automotive technology. One highlight at MWC was its 5G NTN (non-terrestrial network) technology, which enables 10 megabits/second download speeds in remote areas, bringing information directly to farmers without intermediaries.
Strategic Vision and Potential of AI
Regarding brand strategy, Sandil emphasized the importance of balancing between building end-user awareness and supporting business partners. MediaTek not only wants to create innovative products but also help brand partners reach a wider audience at an affordable cost. He also revealed plans to expand into Windows laptops and Chromebooks (where MediaTek has been leading), as well as automotive technologies through a partnership with NVIDIA, such as high-resolution cockpits and collision detection systems.
What excites Sandil the most is the potential of AI. He shared his personal experience with ChatGPT, where AI helped accelerate research from weeks to minutes. He believes that AI will bring breakthroughs in smart farming and medicine, such as developing a Covid-19 vaccine in just one year or finding a way to treat pancreatic cancer. These advances will not only extend life expectancy but also change the way society works, raising questions about a world where people live longer, are healthier, and perhaps never have to retire.
With the spirit of collaboration and innovation, MediaTek under Sandil’s leadership is committed to continuing its mission of bringing technology to every home, from urban to rural, from mobile devices to vehicles and data centers. This is not just a slogan, but a vision that has deep meaning for him and his team. And with increasingly sophisticated and accessible technology, MediaTek is committed to continuing to drive innovation that enriches lives and creates a more inclusive future for everyone.
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