Page 5 - Telecom

Jio continues to remain country's strongest brand for 2024: Report

Jio, the telecom and digital arm of billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance, continues to be the strongest Indian brand, ahead of likes of Life Insurance Corporation and State Bank of India, according to the latest report 'Global-500 2024' published by Brand Finance. Jio had topped India's strong brands in Brand Finance's 2023 rankings as well. In the 2024 ranking, Jio is placed at the 17th position among the world's strongest brands with a Brand Strength Index of 88.9 in the list led by WeChat, YouTube, Google, Deloitte, Coca Cola and Netflix. LIC is placed at the 23rd place on the list, followed by SBI at 24th rank. It is ahead of brands like EY, and Instagram. "Jio, a relatively new entrant in the telecommunications sector, emerges as the strongest brand with a notable 14 per cent increase in brand value to USD 6.1 billion, alongside a high brand strength index score of 89.0 and associated AAA brand rating," the report said. "Jio's meteoric rise in the telecom industry is benefiti

Govt bats for direct-to-mobile technology, pilots in 19 cities soon

Govt keen to launch by 2025 technology that can allow multimedia content on smartphones without active internet

Trai directs Jio, Airtel to clarify terms on unlimited 5G data offerings

Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have both clarified that unlimited does not equate to infinity as data usage is restricted by speed and network

Centre to disburse Rs 400 cr to 20 firms under PLI scheme for telecom gear

All of these 20 companies, including Nokia and Jabil, have met their targets under the production-linked incentive scheme for manufacturing telecom goods

JioSpaceFiber: Jio previews satellite-based internet connectivity at IMC 23

Jio said the service has already been available in four remotest locations in India - Gir Gujarat, Korba Chattisgarh, Nabrangpur Odissa, and ONGC-Jorhat Assam

HBL Power soars 8%, hits new high on healthy outlook; up 208% in 6 months

CARE Ratings expects total operational income of HBL to grow over 25% YoY (backed by strong demand) in FY24 along with sustaining its operating margins.

OTTs vs telcos: Who will steal a march in 'Walled Garden' season 2?

As telecom companies and OTTs tussle over revenue-sharing for data usage, the jury is still out on who will prevail

Stock of this telecom equipment company has zoomed over 200% in 5 months

Shares of Avantel surged 20 per cent to hit a new high of Rs 306 on the BSE in Tuesday's intra-day trade, after the board recommended issue of bonus shares in the ratio of 2:1.

Fresh spectrum allocation plan in the works, may open up more bands

May provide clear direction on satellite spectrum

Trai recommends entry fee cut for mobile, other telecom service licences

Telecom regulator TRAI on Tuesday recommended a cut in the entry fee for mobile and other telecom service licences, and favoured merging of bank guarantees, in a bid to facilitate entry of new players and promote ease of business for existing ones. In a sweeping set of recommendations, the sector regulator has mooted that the entry fee for Unified Licence (UL) in case of access service be halved, which along with suggestions of merging bank guarantees and other measures will "facilitate the orderly growth of the sector". The measures will spur investment and growth, and in effect improve the quality of service and enhance consumer welfare, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). "Entry fee for following UL authorisations should be rationalised...Access service from Rs 1 crore to Rs 50 lakh for each telecom circle/ metro area; from 0.5 crore to 25 lakh for J&K and North east each," TRAI release said. For National and International Long Distance, TRAI has ...

No plan to share revenue of OTT platforms with telcos, says govt: Report

Telecom firms have been asking OTT platforms to share their revenues with the telecom service providers as some apps have begun to provide bandwidth-heavy offerings

ATIS' Next G Alliance, Bharat 6G Alliance ink MoU to explore collaboration

ATIS' Next G Alliance and Bharat 6G Alliance have signed a pact to explore collaboration opportunities on 6G wireless technologies, according to a release. The work will encompass aligning research and development priorities that support a common 6G vision and creating secure and trusted telecommunications as well as resilient supply chains. "ATIS' Next G Alliance and the Bharat 6G Alliance today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration opportunities on 6G wireless technologies," the release said. Launched by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), the Next G Alliance is an initiative to advance North American wireless technology leadership over the next decade through private sector-led efforts with the initial focus on 6G. "The efforts of its working groups in Applications, Green G, National 6G Roadmap, Societal and Economic Needs, Spectrum and Technology are building the foundation for North American leadershi

With 'Choice' initiative Vi allows postpaid users to modify plans

'Choice' initiative allows users to opt for lifestyle benefits across entertainment, food, travel and mobile security

Loss-making telcos BSNL, MTNL sign MoU for synergy of operations

Loss-making state-run telecom firms BSNL and MTNL have signed a memorandum of understanding that will pave the way for synergy of operations between them, MTNL said in a regulatory filing. BSNL has already taken over mobile service operations from MTNL. "We would like to inform you that MTNL has inked a MoU with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited on Thursday, August 31, 2023," MTNL said. The government has in the last four years approved Rs 3,23,047 crore financial support for the revival of the public sector telecom firms and an additional Rs 1.39 lakh crore BharatNet project which is handled by Bharat Broadband Network Limited. "The MoU with BSNL will pave the way for synergy of operations between MTNL and BSNL in order to provide pan India telecom services as a public sector enterprise under the government of India," the filing said.

Telcos face intentional fibre cuts by cable operators in Kolkata: COAI

The telecom industry is facing critical network downtime in the metropolis, as service providers are suffering from widespread intentional fibre cuts by local cable operators (LCOs) across several localities, the Cellular Operators Association of India claimed on Thursday. Such unwarranted coercive actions from unauthorised entities to skew fair competition and limit the customers' choice of service providers, is completely unfair and unjustified, it said in a statement. The telecom service providers (TSPs) are not even being allowed to acquire fresh connections by the LCOs, the COAI claimed. The telecom industry is facing a critical network downtime situation in Kolkata, as the TSPs are suffering from widespread intentional fibre cuts/damage by Local Cable Operators (LCOs) across several localities within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and surrounding non-KMC areas, which is resulting in the customers suffering due to lack of essential digital connectivity, it said. The field .

Tata Communications launches cloud-based roaming lab for 5G trials

The cloud-based 5G roaming lab trials the international mobile roaming experience by closely monitoring traffic movement and network usage

ARPU: What is average revenue per user, and how is it calculated?

ARPU is an important indicator of a telecom company's business health. Here is what it means

Amara Raja Batteries to expand into two-wheeler market to power growth

The company, which owns the Amaron battery brand, aims to penetrate into two-wheeler EV market first with chargers and eventually through battery packs as it expands its so-called 'new energy' segment

Telecom service industry to see revenue growth up by 7-9% in FY24: ICRA

The telecom services industry is expected to post moderate revenue growth of 7-9 per cent in FY 24, due to muted average revenue per user (ARPU) expansion in the absence of tariff hikes in the near-term, ICRA said. ICRA believes that the ongoing 5G roll-out entails densification of the network and sizable deployment of fibre, which is likely to increase the capex intensity in the near to medium term. This would keep debt levels elevated at around Rs 6.1-6.2 lakh crore as on March 2024 (as against Rs 6.3 lakh crore as on March 31, 2023). "ICRA expects the telecom services industry to report moderate revenue growth of around 7-9 per cent in FY2024 over FY2023, owing to muted average revenue per user (ARPU) expansion in the absence of tariff hikes in the near-term," ICRA said in a release.

Bill payment reminders, OTPs, promotional content to cost more for firms

Enterprise messages include commercial communication like bill payment reminders, one-time passwords, and promotional messages.