Page 28 - Telecom Services

Govt unveils new policy reforms for satellite communication services

The government on Wednesday unveiled new policy reforms for satellite communications services to ease procedures and streamline clearances to expedite the rollout of Satcom across the country, especially in remote areas. Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw exhorted the industry to increase tower deployments for a speedy 5G rollout. The current pace of tower deployment needs to increase from 2,500 towers a week to 10,000 towers per week, he said. The government has done its bit in ushering in reforms, and it is now up to the industry to show its commitment, the minister added.

OTT apps: COAI bats for 'same service, same rules' under draft telecom Bill

Industry body argues for 'same service, same rules', says current disparities give OTT players privileges but not responsibilities

'Telcos may see steady Q2 as SUC saving aid margins; 5G updates key focus'

Telecom companies are expected to witness "steady" revenue growth in Q2FY23 with slight sequential uptick in average revenue per user albeit softer net additions, while SUC (spectrum usage charges) savings are seen lifting margins, say analysts. Amid mega 5G network deployments by telcos, market analysts will be keenly tuning in to management commentaries on pace of roll-out for next-generation services, capex outlook and markers on tariff hikes. "We expect Indian telcos to report a steady quarter with stable ARPUs and slowing net adds. Margins would be higher q-o-q as we get 45-50 days benefits of lower SUC," BofA Securities said in its Q2 earnings preview for the sector. India's largest telecom operator Reliance Jio is expected to come out with its Q2 report card on October 21 (Friday), while Bharti Airtel is scheduled to announce its results on October 31. In the earnings' preview for the sector, ICICI Securities anticipated "steady revenue growth" and said margins may jump on .

BSNL has worst call drop rate in 14 of 18 surveyed cities, shows Trai data

Vodafone Idea had the highest data download rates, across both 3G and 4G networks in the most number of cities

Vodafone Idea board to mull issuing convertible debentures to a vendor

Development comes on the heels of Indus Towers warning the financially stressed telecom company of disconnection of services over non-payment of dues

How ready is India to sell indigenous 5G technology globally? Jury's out

Though Airtel and Reliance Jio are developing their own 5G technologies, they are still tying up with global gear makers to roll out the network in the country

Draft Telecom Bill enhances unease of doing biz amid regulatory overlaps

Regulatory overlaps between multiple ministries and overreach by DoT worry stakeholders

Jio topples BSNL to become largest fixed-line service provider in August

Private telecom operator Reliance Jio toppled state-run BSNL in August to become the largest fixed-line service provider in the country, according to a Trai report released on Tuesday. This is the first time since the beginning of telecom services in the country that a private operator has gained the numero uno position in the wireline segment. According to Trai's subscriber report for August, Jio's wireline subscriber base reached 73.52 lakh while that of BSNL was at 71.32 lakh. BSNL has been providing wireline services since the last 22 years, whereas Jio launched its wireline offering 3 years ago. The wireline subscribers in the country grew to 2.59 crore in August from 2.56 crore in July. The growth was dominated by the private sector, with Jio adding 2.62 lakh new customers, Bharti Airtel 1.19 lakh, Vodafone Idea (Vi) 4,202 and Tata Teleservices 3,769. State-run telecom firms BSNL and MTNL lost 15,734 and 13,395 wireline customers, respectively, in August. The overall telec

Telecom Bill revisits licence raj, impinges on privacy safeguards

Many global agencies have raised concern that the draft Bill will adversely impact privacy by giving DoT almost unlimited powers to access and endlessly demand all manner of private information

The challenge of getting India's 350-400 mn 2G users to upgrade to 4G or 5G

With India rolling out 5G services, can telcos get the sizeable 350-400 million 2G customers to upgrade to 4G, or even better - but very improbably - straight to 5G?

Adani Data Networks gets unified licence for full fledge telecom services

Adani Data Network has been granted unified licence for access services, which enables it to provide all telecom services in the country, according to two official sources. Adani Group entered the telecom sector after buying spectrum in the recent auction. "Adani Data Networks has been granted UL (AS)," an official source said. Another official said that the permit was granted on Monday. An e-mail query to Adani Group did not elicit any reply. Adani Data Networks Ltd (ADNL), a unit of Adani Enterprises Ltd, acquired the right to use 400MHz of spectrum in the 26GHz millimetre wave band worth Rs 212 crore for 20 years in the recent 5G spectrum auction. The Adani Group had said that it plans to use the airwaves for its data centres as well as the super app it is building to support businesses from electricity distribution to airports, and gas retailing to ports. "The newly-acquired 5G spectrum is expected to help create a unified digital platform that will accelerate the pace and s

DoT summons mobile device makers, telecom companies to push 5G updates

The two sides play a blame game as users' search for 5G services continues

Indians not 'sticky', highly likely to switch mobile brands and carriers

As with the mobile brands, Indian users were among the most likely in the world to switch their current mobile network carriers, according to YouGov's 'Loyalty in Telco Report 2022'

India 5G download speeds hit 500 Mbps on test networks, show Ookla's data

The latest data by the internet testing firm Ookla highlighted that telecom operators across India are still revamping their networks to strengthen the 5G download speed

5G-enabled device shipments speed up: Here're top brands in India

Currently only 8-9 per cent of all smartphones in India are 5G enabled but adoption is increasing fast

Eye on 5G opportunities, Tatas to recast telecom biz with extra funding

In June this year, the central government allowed enterprises to set up captive non-public networks to buy 5G spectrum directly from DoT, to establish their isolated networks

Australia updates telecom law to protect customers' data after Optus hack

The Australian government announced changes Thursday to its telecommunications law to protect vulnerable customers after personal details were stolen in a major cyberattack on the nation's second-largest wireless carrier. The changes to Telecommunications Regulations allow Optus and other providers to better coordinate with financial institutions and governments to detect and mitigate the risk of cybersecurity incidents, fraud, scams and other malicious cyber activities, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said in a joint statement. What this is all about is to try and reduce the impact of this data breach on Optus customers and to enable financial institutions to implement enhanced safeguards and monitoring, Rowland told reporters. More than one in three Australians had personal data stolen when Optus lost the records of 9.8 million current and former customers including passport, driver's license and national health care identification numbers in a

Nokia to scale up mfg in India by 1.5x to support its 5G service rollout

The firm is supplying radio access networks to Ericsson and Reliance Jio for their 5G networks from its Chennai plant. Vodafone Idea is yet to finalise its contract as it awaits fresh funding

Taxes absorb 58% telco revenues in nation with lowest tariff: Voda-Idea CEO

Says operational cash generation can be released for investments if govt eases tax burden

Govt approves Rs 26,000 crore to install 25K mobile towers in 500 days

The government has approved Rs 26,000 crore for installation of 25,000 mobile towers in 500 days, an official statement said on Tuesday. According to a telecom ministry spokesperson, financial support for the project will be provided by Universal Services Obligation Fund and it will be implemented by Bharat Broadband Network. The project was announced by Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at three-day long 'Digital India Conference of State IT Ministers' that concluded on October 3. "In his concluding remarks, Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that connectivity is vital for Digital India and its reach to every corner of the country. He announced that Rs 26,000 crore has been approved to install 25,000 new towers in next 500 days," the statement said. Minister of State (MoS) for Electronics and Information Technology and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MoS Communications Devusinh Chauhan and IT ministers from 12 states and UTs, namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,