Page 2 - Telecom Services

Bharti Airtel's tariff plan changes may benefit Vodafone Idea more

Airtel's withdrawal of select prepaid plans could lift its ARPU, but analysts say Vodafone Idea may gain more if it follows with a similar tariff rejig

Airtel removes long-validity prepaid plans, keeps headline tariffs steady

The telecom operator has removed several 56- and 60-day prepaid plans as it seeks to move high-data users towards costlier packs and encourage migration to postpaid services

BSNL proposes ₹77K cr capex over next 5 years to break even by FY29

BSNL plans ₹77,000 crore of capex over five years to add 200,000 4G sites and expand 5G, targeting operational break-even by FY29

Trai directs utilities, courier and logistics providers to use 1601 series

The 1601 series will be issued to utilities, courier and logistics providers for transactional and service calls, helping consumers identify legitimate callers

Trai puts quality of service for 5G network slicing under scrutiny

Draft norms mandate 21-day prior notice for new network slices, each with separate service quality standards

India's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone to be set up in Gwalior

India signed an MoU with Madhya Pradesh to establish the country's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone in Gwalior with ₹493 crore central support

Scindia announces India's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone in Gwalior

Centre and Madhya Pradesh to sign an MoU for the Phase-I project as India looks to strengthen telecom manufacturing and accelerate 6G ambitions

Indus Towers eyes debt-funded Africa push with Airtel as anchor customer

The telecom infrastructure company plans to enter Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia with Airtel Africa as its anchor customer, while funding the expansion largely through debt

Telecom subscriber base rises to 1.3 bn in June, Airtel leads growth: Trai

Telecom subscriber base in the country increased marginally to 134.8 crore in June, driven by net addition of subscribers on the networks of Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday. Bharti Airtel led subscriber growth during the month, adding 31.63 lakh users compared with May. The additions included 29.89 lakh mobile subscribers and 1.73 lakh fixed-line connections. It was followed by Reliance Jio which reported a net addition of 22.91 lakh subscribers, comprising 21.46 lakh in mobile segment and 1.44 lakh in fixed line segment. Together, the two private telecom operators accounted for 54.54 lakh, or about 87 per cent, of the total net addition of 62 lakh subscribers in June. "The number of total telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,343.1 million at the end of May 2026 to 1,348.08 million at the end of June 2026, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.37 per cent," sector regulator TRA

Indus Towers' Q1 results: Profit growth stays muted as margins flatten

Telecom infrastructure firm reports modest profit growth in Q1FY27 as expenses outpace revenue, while customer-led network expansion supports performance

Govt bars communication infra providers from sharing data outside India

Under a new authorisation framework notified by the Department of Telecommunications, all telecommunication data, logs and information associated with telecom networks must be stored within country

Govt not considering fresh restructuring plan for MTNL, says Scindia

The Centre says earlier financial and administrative measures have helped MTNL remain Ebitda-positive since FY21, despite mounting liabilities and declining income

HFCL turns profitable in Q1, posts ₹245 cr profit on strong revenue growth

The technology company reported a June-quarter profit against a year-ago loss as revenue more than doubled and Ebitda surged, backed by strong demand across businesses

Banks align on Vodafone Idea's projections, seek promoter promise

Banks have largely agreed on Vodafone Idea's financial projections but want stronger promoter guarantees before approving ₹35,000 crore in fresh funding

Meity evaluating Trai request for regulating caller ID apps: S Krishnan

Meity is evaluating Trai's request to act against caller ID apps under the IT Act as banks seek a dedicated number series to ensure genuine customer calls are answered

Three decades on, does India's telecom regulator need a fresh mandate?

In the rapidly evolving telecom landscape, changes are needed to make Trai more agile

Jio's offer to repurpose 26GHz spectrum faces Airtel's opposition

The spectrum band promised a lot - high speeds in 5G-enabled cellphone handsets, and enough bandwidth to work in crowded areas like stadiums, airports and ports

Telecom subscriber base rises to 1.34 bn in May, Airtel leads growth: Trai

Telecom subscriber base grew to 134.3 crore in May, driven by net additions on the Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio networks, according to Trai data released on Thursday. Airtel led the growth in subscriber base with net addition of 29.8 lakh subscribers over the month of April, comprising 29.26 lakh in the mobile segment and 53,809 in fixed line connection segment. It was followed by Reliance Jio, which reported a net addition of 22.55 lakh subscribers, comprising 21.54 lakh in the mobile segment and 1.01 lakh in thefixed line segment. Both private telecom operators jointly contributed 52.36 lakh new subscribers, or about 94 per cent, in the total net addition of 55.6 lakh subscribers in May. "The number of total telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,337.54 million at the end of April 2026 to 1,343.10 million at the end of May 2026, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.42 per cent," Trai's monthly data subscriber report for May 2026 said. The total number of wireles

India's telecom market may be nearing saturation: What drives growth next?

With tele-density nearing saturation levels, telecom operators may have to rely less on adding users and more on monetising data, broadband and digital services

Jio to step up communications game with indigenous satellites: Akash Ambani

After taking the lead in the telecom services segment on the ground, IPO-bound Jio is now looking to step up its game in connectivity from the skies with indigenous communications satellites, Jio Platforms managing director Akash Ambani said on Friday. At present, the satellite communications segment is dominated by foreign companies like Elon Musk-led Starlink and French service provider Eutelsat. "Jio connected India on the ground. Now, we must connect India from the skies. There are still remotest villages, island communities, and border outposts where the Jio network cannot reach. For them, satellite connectivity will be the bridge to the rest of India. Jio is evaluating the development of a sovereign Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation for India," Ambani said. While speaking at the 49th Annual General Meeting of Reliance Industries Limited, he said Jio is also partnering with a global constellation for leasing satellite capacity. "We are also partnering with the leading ..