Telecom Sector

Vodafone Idea, Meta launch silent mobile verification for Vi customers

Vodafone Idea and Meta launch silent mobile verification to enable faster, OTP-free and more secure authentication across major social platforms

Customising for customers? Issues in 5G slicing spark net neutrality debate

Vodafone Idea's attack on Airtel's priority postpaid plans has reignited the debate over 5G slicing, net neutrality, and equal network access in India

Delhi High Court upholds Trai's cap for TV ads at 12 minutes per hour

The High Court ruled that TRAI acted within its statutory powers and that the advertising cap strikes a balance between broadcasters' commercial interests and viewers' rights

'Does not breach net neutrality': Airtel defends Priority Postpaid service

Bharti Airtel has defended its new "Priority Postpaid" service before a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) panel, asserting that the offering, powered by 5G network slicing, neither violates net neutrality norms nor degrades service quality for prepaid users. According to the submission made by Airtel in response to a clarification sought by the Committee on Communications and Information Technology, the company said not allowing the use of mainstream features of 5G to offer services will jeopardise the potential of 6G in the country. "Priority Postpaid is implemented in a content-neutral manner and is fully consistent with the existing TRAI and DoT framework. There is no blocking, throttling, content-specific prioritisation, zero-rating, or preferential treatment of any application," Airtel said. Airtel had launched "Priority Postpaid" plans on May 19, which promise consistent speed even in crowded markets for postpaid customers. "Airtel Priority feature does not degrade the .

Centre looks to untangle cyber compliance, audit knots for telcos

Service providers may see single-point incident-reporting requirements

Vodafone Idea closing ₹35K crore SBI-led funding 'very fast': CEO

Vodafone Idea expects to close talks with an SBI-led consortium soon after promoter equity infusion and AGR relief improved its financial position

Bharti Airtel Q4 profit falls 33.5% despite strong revenue growth

Telecom major reports strong revenue growth and higher ARPU, while profits decline amid a high base and continued network investments

Bharti Airtel approves ₹28,200 cr share-swap to raise Airtel Africa stake

Bharti Airtel will issue shares to promoter group firm ICIL in a cashless transaction that strengthens its indirect holding in Airtel Africa

Best of BS Opinion: Vodafone must quickly raise capital, improve services

From Vodafone Idea's financial struggles and Bengal's political tensions to oil market reactions during the Iran conflict, here are the top opinions of the day

Hope for Vodafone Idea: The telco must quickly raise capital

The government has supported Vi in many ways so that the sector does not slip into a duopoly

AGR relief eases Vodafone Idea pressure, spectrum debt concerns remain

Reduction in AGR dues may improve Vodafone Idea's ability to raise funds, but rising spectrum payment obligations from FY27 remain a key concern for analysts

Call for a basic plan: Telcos must also offer non-data plans for users

Trai pushes telcos to offer cheaper voice-SMS plans, aiming to improve affordability and digital inclusion amid rising concerns over pricing and limited competition

Reform-linked capex loans to states tied to RoW for telco towers

In the budget for the year 2026-27 outlay for SASCI scheme was enhanced from Rs 1.44 trillion in the revised estimate for FY2026 to Rs 2 trillion

Rising costs, Iran war: Telcos may face dual headwinds in coming quarters

Rising smartphone prices and weaker travel demand may slow 2G upgrades and hit roaming revenues, posing near-term challenges for Indian telcos

Bharti Airtel gain subscribers; Vodafone Idea continues to trail

Jio, on the other hand, continues to remain as the largest carrier and additions may not appear high due to the base effect

India's telecom imports from China rose to $6.37 billion in FY24: Govt

India's imports of telecom instruments from China climbed to USD 6,371 million (about Rs 59,500 crore) in 2023-24, up from USD 5,553 million in 2019-20, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, in a written reply to Lok Sabha, said that total imports in the telecom instruments category rose from USD 13,333 million in 2019-20 to USD 17,010 million in 2023-24. "The imports under the principal commodity 'telecom instruments' have increased from USD 13,333 million in 2019-20 to 17,010 million in 2023-24. Further, the import from China during the period has increased from USD 5,553 million to 6,371 million," the minister said. To boost domestic manufacturing of telecom instruments, he said the government has introduced the Public Procurement order to give preference in government procurement for goods and services which meet the minimum domestic value addition criteria. He also noted the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

Trai imposes graded penalties for failure to file tariffs in time

Trai tightens compliance norms with graded penalties and interest for delays in tariff reporting by telecom service providers

Telecom sector braces for higher expenses as diesel price increases

Tower firms rely on diesel generators to power sites in non-grid remote, rural areas

No plan to privatise BSNL, says Jyotiraditya Scindia in Lok Sabha

Communications minister says BSNL will remain a public enterprise, highlights subscriber growth and progress in 4G rollout

Telecom industry to need additional ARPU of ₹35-40 to get 15% ROCE: Ind-Ra

Ind-Ra says telcos need a Rs 35-40 ARPU increase to achieve 15% ROCE, indicating another round of tariff hikes even as profitability improves and capex intensity falls across the sector