Page 9 - Telecom Industry

Satcom spectrum's admin allocation big step to connect remote areas: ISpA

Indian Space Association on Wednesday said the government's clear stance on the allocation of Satcom spectrum on an administrative basis is a major step in connecting remote and unserved areas and inclusion of all in digital India. Indian Space Association's (ISpA) Director General AK Bhatt said the satellite industry awaits the final decision based on telecom regulator Trai's consultation paper on spectrum costing. Bhatt noted that the regulator has proposed few methodologies, and added that the satellite industry is "aware" that it will pay a "cost" based on the best method. "We in ISpA welcome the Minister of Telecom for his very unequivocal and clear statement on the method of allocation of spectrum for satellite communication. The government's intent, which had been defined in the Telecom Act, 2023, and which clearly lays down that the assignment of spectrum should be by administrative method and (that) is the globally harmonised method followed all over for using the shared ..

India second highest target for ransomware attacks in Asia Pacific: Report

Global ransomware attacks have risen by 18 per cent, with India's top three targets being the manufacturing, telecommunications, and technology sectors

India set to lead 6G revolution; our telecom sector aggressive: Scindia

India is resolved to lead the world in 6G, communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday, terming the telecom sector of the country as 'aggressive' and 'ambitious'. Scindia, speaking at the inauguration of India Mobile Congress and World Telecommunication Standardization (WTSA) 2024, said with the Bharat 6G Alliance, India hopes to contribute at least 10 per cent patents to 6G standardisation. "It is our belief and our commitment -- India followed the world in 4G, we marched with the world in 5G, but we shall lead the world in 6G," the minister asserted. With the fastest 5G rollout in India wherein 98 per cent of districts and 90 per cent of all villages were covered in a span of just 21 months, Scindia said it is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's effort of not just embracing, but bracing the country to become the first-mover in 6G technology. "It is noteworthy that the Indian Mobile Congress and the International 6G Symposium demonstrates both local and global ...

Network issue: India still lags US and China in 5G rollout, shows data

The index assigns countries an overall score on the state of 5G development based on two broad categories: 5G infrastructure and 5G services, each given equal weight

Majority of 5G network users experience reduction in call drop: Survey

More than half of respondents who have migrated to the 5G network have experienced a reduction in call drops and an improvement in data speed, online survey firm LocalCircles said in a report on Monday. According to the survey, 53 per cent of smartphone users surveyed say the call drop or connect situation has improved after migrating from 3G and 4G to 5G services. Around 30 per cent of respondents shared that there has been no improvement in the call drop rate, 9 per cent complained that it has somewhat deteriorated, and 5 per cent shared that the call drop problem has "significantly deteriorated" in the survey. LocalCircles claims that the survey received a total of over 47,000 responses from consumers (smartphone users) located in 361 districts, while the number of responses to each question varied. The survey conducted between August 5, 2024, and October 10, 2024, found that 60 per cent of smartphone users surveyed who have migrated to 5G say the data connection is faster compa

India advances in 6G race, ranks among top six in global patent filings

Starting Oct 15, Delhi will host the World Telecommunications Standardisation Assembly providing a forum for delegates from 190 countries

PM Modi likely to inaugurate ITU's telecom standard meet, IMC on Oct 15

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the first-ever telecom standard conference to be organised by the UN's International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in India as well as the India Mobile Congress (IMC) on October 15, according to the invitation sent by organisers of both the events. The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) conference is held at a gap of four years. The recommendations and proposals approved at WTSA set the direction for development of communication technologies. "ITU is excited to announce that WTSA-24 will be inaugurated by His Excellency, the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, on Tuesday 15 October 2024," ITU said in an official note. Telecom department-backed India Mobile Congress 2024 eighth edition will also be held concurrently with WTSA 2024. The size of the annual India Mobile Congress (IMC) has almost doubled since last year in terms of participation from foreign countries, exhibitors, startups ...

PHD Chambers seeks revision of Trai satcom paper for level playing field

After Reliance Jio, the industry body PHD Chamber of Commerce has also demanded revision of telecom regulator Trai's consultation paper on rules for satellite spectrum allocation, alleging that it misses questions around the level playing field between Satcom and terrestrial networks. PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Executive Director Ranjeet Mehta, in a letter to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Chairman AK Lahoti, said that not addressing the issue of a level playing field between terrestrial and satellite-based communication service violates Article 14 of the Constitution. "The absence of questions addressing the issue of a level playing field in the consultation paper prevents many stakeholders from considering these concerns and providing crucial inputs to Trai. "Moreover, not addressing the concerns to ensure a level playing field between satellite and terrestrial access services during the consultation process may violate Article 14 of the Indian Constitution

Ericsson bags 4 more telecom circles for 4G, 5G deployment on VIL network

Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson has bagged four more telecom circles from Vodafone Idea for the deployment of 4G and 5G technology, the company said on Monday. Last month, debt-ridden Vodafone Idea (VIL) had awarded about Rs 30,000 crore telecom network contract to Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung for a period of three years. "Ericsson will upgrade 4G and deploy 5G across the Indian telecom circles it already powers for Vi. In addition, Ericsson will provide 4G and 5G services in the telecom circles of Delhi, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, thereby increasing its footprint and market share with Vi substantially," a company statement said. Under the deal, VIL also replaced its Chinese vendor in Chennai and Andhra with Nokia. Nokia has become the largest supplier to VIL covering circles that generate more than 50 per cent of the debt-ridden telco's revenue.

Jio urges Trai to review consultation paper on satellite spectrum

Reliance Jio has urged telecom regulator Trai to come up with a revised paper on spectrum allocation for satellite communication alleging that it ignores the key point of ensuring level-playing field between satellite and terrestrial services. In a letter to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Chairman, Anil Kumar Lahoti, Reliance Jio has sought revision of the consultation paper on recommending rules for "terms and conditions for the assignment of spectrum for certain satellite-based commercial communication services". "We are surprised that the consultation paper has completely overlooked the critical issue of ensuring level-playing field between satellite-based and terrestrial access services. This omission has resulted in the lack of any questions addressing the need to create a level-playing field between these services," Reliance Jio (RJIL) said in a letter dated October 4. Jio said that due to the omission of this point, stakeholders will not be able to adequately ..

DoT launches new system to stop fraudulent international calls with telcos

4.5 million or one-third of such calls being stopped

Airtel CEO pens note on spam-fighting network; says crackdown will continue

Bharti Airtel is combating the "growing menace" of cyber frauds with network intelligence and Al to analyse patterns and accurately identify spammers, CEO Gopal Vittal said as he asked customers to be vigilant on 'suspected spam' indicator, now available. The regulator TRAI and the industry have upped the ante to crack down on the spam menace, and the regulator's new missive on whitelisted (approved) URLs has also come into effect from October 1. An HDFC Bank spokesperson, in response to a specific query, told PTI that the bank is "compliant as of today" with norms, and does not expect any difficulties. Meanwhile, Vittal penned a note to subscribers promising that Airtel will continue to work on identifying verified scammers and permanently blocking them from its network. "Our new solution makes us India's 1st Spam Fighting Network and we hope you will feel more confident and secure every time you receive that spam call or message," Vittal told subscribers. Over the last six month

Telecom ministry to cut off 21.7 million mobile connections linked to fraud

Indians lost at least Rs 500 crore to fraud in the six months before March, prompting the Centre to form an inter-ministerial panel to address gaps in banking, immigration, and telecom

Time to move on: Telcos should build business plans sans govt relief

The industry must focus on further rationalisation of tariffs, which will possibly result in a much better ARPU - a metric that captures the health of the telecom sector and its stakeholders

Vodafone Idea begins fresh talks with govt on AGR dues: CEO Akshaya Moondra

Bank funding to conclude in 7-8 weeks, says Vi CEO

Indian telcos to join forces to tackle rising spam calls & messages menace

Telecom companies have traditionally been hesitant to share sensitive data because it could affect their business customers financially

DoT eases process to issue licences for trial, demo, equipment approvals

The Department of Telecom has eased the process to issue licences for experimental, demonstration and equipment-type approvals to reduce delays and simplify regulatory requirements to promote innovation and streamline operations for businesses, an official statement said on Tuesday. The changes have been made based on the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on ease of doing business and simplifying regulatory processes in the telecom sector. The department has induced deem approval process for experimental and demonstration licence while all the applications for equipment type approvals (ETA) for license-exempt wireless devices will now be granted on a self-declaration basis. "For Experimental Licences cases not requiring Inter-Ministerial Consultation, the licence will be deemed issued after 30 days if no decision is conveyed," the statement said. In cases requiring Inter-Ministerial Consultation, the DoT will seek comments within seven days of ...

No major tariff hike, but telecom companies' revenue up 7.2% in Q1

Jefferies says sector will maintain 15% CAGR till FY26

Verizon to buy Frontier in $20 billion deal to boost fibre network

Frontier shares, which had surged nearly 38 per cent in the previous session, fell below Verizon's offer price in premarket trading to $35.14, while Verizon climb­ed about 1 per cent

5G, 6G rollout will spur growth to become developed nation: DoT secretary

After 5G, India is now gearing up for 6G rollout which will spur the growth that is required to achieve the developed nation status, Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal said on Wednesday. Mittal said that the government has replaced 150 years old Telegraph Act with a new Telecommunications Act which is expected to stand the test of time for the next 20-30 years. "5G technology has been already rolled out. We are now planning for 6G. All of them will spur the growth in achieving the developed nation status that we are yearning for," he said while speaking at a public relations industry event Prana. Mittal said that the race of technology is not going to stop. He said policymakers need to visit global manufacturing hubs in countries like Vietnam and China and get their acts together to replicate the success stories in India. "I think the 12 (industrial) cities which the government has announced will be able to do that. I think if we can do that in 100th years, at 2047, we will not fail o