Page 2 - Broadband

Satellite spectrum battle: Ambani calls for auction; Musk backs allocation

While Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper are batting for administrative allocation of satellite spectrum, Reliance Industries argues that auctions are necessary to ensure a fair playing field

BS@50: From limited broadband to booming digital landscape in 5 decades

For India, leading the charge in technology adoption remains paramount. Our meticulously crafted blueprint ensures agility, allowing us to weather the storm and flourish

Trai proposes to cut broadband charges for public wifi service providers

Telecom regulator Trai on Friday proposed to bring down broadband connection charges for public data offices, which provide public wifi services, at par with retail users, as the number of public wifi spots in the country is far below the target number envisaged by the government. In the explanatory note of draft Telecommunication Tariff (Seventh Amendment) Order, 2024, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) found that the annual tariff of a 100 mbps of internet leased line tariff are 40-80 times more than 100 mbps of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband connection for retail users. Trai said it is of the view that public data offices (PDOs), specifically the small-scale units like local shops, retailers, generally have low revenue potential and they neither need an ILL connection nor they can afford high backhaul rates which are applicable for large commercial entities. "The authority proposes that for the purpose of providing PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) scheme

'Govt needs Rs 4.2 trn to connect 240 mn households with broadband'

India will need an investment of Rs 4.2 lakh crore by 2030 for connecting 24 crore households in the country with broadband services, according to an industry expert. While speaking at the Broadband India Forum conference, Prashant Singhal, Telecom Sector Leader, Emerging Markets, Partner in a member firm of EY Global, said that at present 4 crore households are connected with broadband in India. "To connect 24 crore households in India with high-speed broadband service, India will need to invest Rs 4.2 lakh crore on digital connectivity infrastructure across all modes- fibre, mobile towers, satellite broadband, wifi, data centres etc," Singhal said. According to the break-up provided by him, fibre deployment will need investments in the range of Rs 2.7-3 lakh crore, passive infrastructure Rs 90,000-96,000 crore, WiFi and in-building solutions Rs 6,600-Rs 9,000 crore, data centres Rs 9,700-Rs 14,100 crore and satellite broadband services Rs 26,000-29,000 crore. "Besides, USOF ...

IPTV to challenge cable TV mkt in India: Excitel Broadband CEO Vivek Raina

Fixed line broadband player aims to triple 1 million customer base in 3 years

SAR Televenture to raise Rs 450 cr via FPO, rights issue to fund expansion

Telecommunication infrastructure provider SAR Televentures Ltd is looking to raise Rs 450 crore through a combination of Further Public Offer (FPO) and a rights issue to fund the company's expansion plans. The Noida-based SAR Televentures, which made its debut on NSE's Emerge platform in November 2023, is engaged in the business of installing and commissioning telecom towers in India. The composite public issue with a face value of Rs 2 consists of a further public offer of Rs 200 crore and a rights issue of Rs 250 crore, according to the draft offer documents filed last week. Proceeds from the issue, to the extent of Rs 273 crore will be used for funding the setting up of Fiber to the Home (FTTH) network solutions for 3 lakh home passes; Rs 42.50 crore for setting up of an additional 1,000 number of 4G/5G telecom towers; Rs 30 crore for funding incremental working capital requirement of the company. Besides, funds will be used for general corporate purposes. As part of its strateg

Reliance Jio's Hathway, Hinduja arm in race to acquire Siti Networks

Hathway Digital and IndusInd Media & Communications did not wish to comment on the development

Soon, you will be able to use satcom services on your phone; here's how

At the present moment, there are 5-6 devices available in the global market that provide support for satellite connectivity

Jio-Airtel battle for home Wi-Fi connections as they aim for higher Arpu

The mobile Arpu for Airtel stood at Rs 200 at the end of the first quarter of FY24. On the other hand, Airtels's Arpu for home services stood at Rs 608

Amazon seeks IN-SPACe's approval to provide satcom services in India

Amazon is also expected to apply to the DoT for a global mobile personal communication by satellite services (GMPCS) licence

After laptops, tablets, govt moots import licence for broadband gear

Senior telecom industry executives said that such a move would make home broadband services more expensive and lead to supply chain bottlenecks

Elon Musk's Starlink may soon get a licence to start its services in India

The telecom ministry is expected to hold a meeting later this month to discuss the proposal of Starlink for a GMPCS service license, and it is likely to be passed

At 7 million, India saw highest mobile subscriber addition in Q2: Ericsson

The number of mobile broadband subscriptions grew by about 100 million in the quarter, totalling 7.4 billion-a year-on-year increase of 5 per cent

Cabinet approves Rs 1.39 trn for connecting 640,000 villages with broadband

The Union Cabinet has approved a last-mile broadband connectivity plan for 6.4 lakh villages across the country under the BharatNet project with an outlay of Rs 1.39 lakh crore, according to sources. Around 1.94 lakh villages have been connected under the BharatNet project at present, and the balance is likely to be connected in two and a half years, they added. "The Cabinet in its meeting, held on Friday evening, has approved Rs 1,39,579 crore for providing last mile optical fibre-based connectivity to homes in all villages of the country," one of the sources said. The last-mile connectivity will be provided by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), an arm of state-owned BSNL, in partnership with village level entrepreneur (VLE). "The model to take fibre-to-the-home, with the help of a local entrepreneur, was finalised after the successful completion of a pilot project. The pilot project was initially carried out to connect villages in four districts and then expanded to 60,000

India misses its 10-million target of public Wi-Fi coverage by end of 2022

The count is just 0.5 million, whereas the target set by the government was 10 million by the end of 2022; India is also likely to miss its 50 million public wifi hotspots target by 2030

Bharti group-backed OneWeb could begin satellite broadband services by Sept

A company executive said OneWeb's satellite broadband services can begin in India as soon as spectrum in the Ka/Ku bands is allotted

India hosts SG9 meeting to advance standards for Television technology

The meeting is being held from May 9- May 18, 2023, and this is the first physical meeting of SG9 since Covid-19 pandemic

Policy vacuum

Govt must frame rules for space communication

Jio launches plan at Rs 198 per month for fixed broadband services

Stepping up the fight in fixed broadband segment, Jio on Monday introduced its entry level broadband plan at a price as low as Rs 198 per month. The plan, named Broadband Back-up plan, will come with top internet speed of 10 megabit per second. Earlier, the minimum price for availing Jio Fiber connection was Rs 399 per month. The company has also provided an option to upgrade the internet speed to 30 mbps or 100 for 1 to 7 days by paying in the range of Rs 21 to Rs 152. "...we at Jio understand the customer's need to remain connected round the clock with dependable broadband connectivity at home. With JioFiber Backup, we want to offer alternate reliable broadband connectivity for homes. This new concept of a back-up connection allows homes to have an alternate broadband connectivity with an assured supply of data at an affordable price," Jio spokesperson said. Jio now leads the fixed line connection segment with 84 lakh customers accounting for 30.6 per cent market share. A new .

Nokia join hands with Netplus to deliver broadband services in India

Nokia on Monday announced that it has entered into a partnership with Netplus Broadband, an Internet Service Provider (ISP), to deliver future-proof and world-class broadband services in India