${latestitem Title}

---

• BSNL and Vodafone Idea Still Have a Great Future in India
• Vivo V21 5G With 44MP OIS Selfie Camera to Launch on 29 April
• Mi 11 Ultra vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Where Should You Spend Your Rs 70,000?
• O2 Slovakia Inks Deal With Ericsson for 5G Deployment
• Has the Budget Smartphone Segment in India Reached Its Peak?
• Vodafone O-RAN Test Laboratory Launched in the UK
• Vodafone Idea Can Boost Revenues With Competitive Broadband Offerings

BSNL and Vodafone Idea Still Have a Great Future in India Posted: 24 Apr 2021 06:32 PM PDT Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Vodafone Idea (Vi) both have a great future in the Indian telecom market. Even though the operators have been fighting to survive and losing most of their subscribers to Jio and Airtel, they can still turn things around pretty fast. BSNL will benefit a great deal if it can improve its network quality and coverage throughout India by launching 4G in the next 14 months. Since 5G is still far from reaching pan-India, the state-run telco should move fast and offer great 4G services and build a strong and loyal subscriber base. Vi, at the same time, should look to enhance its network coverage. Like we have mentioned in the past, the telco has great spectrum resources; all that it needs is capital in the short and medium-term to move aggressively. Vi already offers industry-unique prepaid offers to its subscribers and is refarming its 3G spectrum for 4G to enhance user capacity on its network. The telco should be fine if it can just manage to raise capital soon. 4G Penetration Not There Yet India has a very huge population. The country already has millions of 4G customers, but there is a scope for the telcos to add more soon. The rural and remote parts of India, including the dark spots, are still waiting for proper 4G services. Telcos such as Jio and Airtel have already started targeting the rural subscriber base; it would benefit Vi if it does the same. That said, even BSNL can benefit from the fact that its competitors haven't exploited the Indian population with their 4G services. BSNL and Vi will have to plan and work something out for motivating 2G and 3G users of the country to shift to their 4G network. If they can manage to do that, they will increase the competition in the market. One good thing for BSNL is that it has the government's support. The telco is already getting support through the revival package announced by the government. However, that's not the case for Vi. If it fails to raise capital in the medium-term, the telco's difficulties will multiply several times. Broadband Services Both the telcos already have broadband services. Vi provides fiber broadband services through its subsidiary company called You Broadband, while BSNL offers its fiber plans through its Bharat Fibre service. Like we mentioned, Vi can leverage its broadband business to increase its revenues, and the same applies to BSNL. The number of fixed wireline broadband connections is growing every month in India. It is high time that both BSNL and Vi start focusing on their broadband business a bit more seriously. The Lack of True 4G Network It would not be wrong to say that Indian users haven't seen what true 4G feels like. The operators are in a race to offer the cheapest plans with a ton of benefits; that's why their network load is more than what it should be. Because of that, users are mostly consuming data services through a very overloaded and congested network. BSNL 4G with a strong network quality would bring a positive change in this regard. A strong 4G network would allow BSNL to attract new 4G customers and further retain old ones. With an improved network, even Vi would be able to retain its old customers and add new ones.

Vivo V21 5G With 44MP OIS Selfie Camera to Launch on 29 April Posted: 24 Apr 2021 08:29 AM PDT Up until 2020, Vivo was behind other smartphone brands because of overpricing its mid-range devices that came with mediocre specifications but a powerful camera. But Vivo changed the game in 2020. It announced the V20 series, which had the V20 and V20 Pro with 5G support. Both these devices offered compelling features for a minor price hike in comparison to the competition. Now, Vivo has announced the launch date for the V21 5G. The device will launch in India on April 29, 2021. Vivo V21 5G: What Do We Know So Far? As of now, Vivo has revealed that the device will be launching on April 29 and will also be the first phone in the world to sport a 44MP selfie camera with OIS. Another teaser suggests that the device will have a slim design. So far, the company has revealed the design of the Vivo V21 5G, which is showcased in the image above. The two colour options are named 'Dusk Blue' and 'Sunset Dazzle and Arctic White'. To add to this, the device has a notch on display, which is not cutting edge, especially considering that devices under the 15k segment have started offering punch-hole based devices. The notch, in this case, houses the aforementioned 44MP selfie sensor. The triple rear cameras are present towards the top right corner of the device, with the volume rockers and power button placed on the right side of the device. Another bit of information has surfaced about the rear camera, according to which the primary sensor out of the triple rear camera setup is a 64MP OIS night camera. One key highlight, according to Vivo, is the extended RAM availability, which provides the 8GB RAM model with 3GB additional RAM or extended RAM. As per the website, the 3GB RAM effect on the 8GB phone allows one to maximise their phone's potential and run apps faster without any coherent lag. In terms of the global debut, the Vivo V21 5G will make its debut on April 27 in Thailand alongside the Vivo V21e. The company is also expected to be working on additional variants of the device, such as the V21 SE. So far, the V21 5G is confirmed just for India. The device will also run Android 11 out of the box, much like its predecessor, which was also one of the first devices to do so.

Mi 11 Ultra vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Where Should You Spend Your Rs 70,000? Posted: 24 Apr 2021 05:26 AM PDT Xiaomi launched its latest flagship device, namely Mi 11 Ultra, along with the Mi 11X and Mi 11X Pro in India on Friday. Since the device had launched internationally, everyone knew about its specifications and just how powerful it is. A month prior, OnePlus had launched the OnePlus 9 series in India. The OnePlus 9 series was super hyped because of the Hasselblad cameras. The most interesting thing about the OnePlus 9 series was its pricing. OnePlus went beyond what it did with the OnePlus 8 Pro and priced the OnePlus 9 Pro starting at Rs 64,999, which went up to Rs 69,999 for the high-end model. Since the Mi 11 Ultra has launched for the same price as the OnePlus 9 Pro’s high-end model, let's take a look at which device is better and where should you spend your Rs 70,000. Mi 11 Ultra vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Display Starting with the display, the OnePlus 9 Pro comes with a 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display with support for 1440×3216 pixels resolution. The device can support maximum brightness of up to 1300 nits and further support 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, Multi-touch; offers 90.23% screen-to-body ratio, and has a pixel density of 526ppi. On the other hand, the Mi 11 Ultra comes with a larger 6.81-inch AMOLED display with support for 1440×3200 pixels resolution. Its maximum brightness is capped at 1700 nits, more than what OnePlus 9 Pro can support and offers a 91.35% screen-to-body ratio. The device also comes with support for 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ along with a pixel density of 515ppi. Both the devices come with an A+ rating from DisplayMate and are protected by the covering of Corning Gorilla Glass. Overall, there are very few differences in the displays of both devices. Some users, however, would find the display of the OnePlus 9 Pro better because of its optimisation with the clean experience of OxygenOS. There's one more thing that we can't ignore, and that is the secondary display of the Mi 11 Ultra. For the unaware, the Mi 11 Ultra comes with a secondary display at the rear with an Always-on-Display (AOD) function that reflects notifications, time, and date for the users. Mi 11 Ultra vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Design The OnePlus 9 Pro is 163.2mm long, 73.6mm wide, and 8.7mm thick, while the Mi 11 Ultra is 164.3mm long, 74.6mm wide and 8.3mm thick. Again, very minimal differences in the size of the devices. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro weighs 197 grams that is much lighter than the Mi 11 Ultra's 234 grams. In terms of design, the OnePlus 9 Pro and the Mi 11 Ultra are totally different. The Mi 11 Ultra is kind of bold with the huge camera bump at the rear and a secondary display, while the OnePlus 9 Pro goes for a more clean and minimalistic look. Apart from this, both devices come with an IP68 rating that makes them water-resistant and dust-proof. The OnePlus 9 Pro further comes with a Gorilla Glass covering at the rear. Mi 11 Ultra vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Performance Both the flagships are powered by the same chipset – Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC coupled with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB internal storage. But since this is mostly an on-paper comparison, we can't comment on which device is better in performance yet. Both come with their own thermal systems and gaming modes for allowing uninterrupted gaming. Only a long-time usage of the devices will make it clear which one is better in regards to the performance. Mi 11 Ultra vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Camera Let's talk about the cameras now. OnePlus 9 Pro is essentially priced so high because of the Hasselblad value; thus, its cameras should be very good. The OnePlus 9 Pro comes with a quad-camera setup at the rear, where the primary sensor of the device is a 48MP wide-angle lens paired with a larger 50MP ultra-wide angle sensor, an 8MP telephoto sensor, and a 2MP monochrome sensor. On the other hand, the Mi 11 Ultra comes with a triple-camera setup at the rear with a 50MP primary wide-angle sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide angle sensor, and a 48MP telephoto sensor with support for 120x digital zoom capability. The cameras of both devices support HDR shooting. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro can record at a maximum resolution of 8K at 30fps, while the Mi 11 Ultra can record at a maximum resolution of 8K at 24fps. The front camera of both devices is standard, with the OnePlus 9 Pro offering a single 16MP primary sensor at the front and the Mi 11 Ultra offering a 20MP primary sensor for selfies. Front camera sensors of both devices can support recording in full-HD at 30fps. Mi 11 Ultra vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Connectivity Both the devices are capable of connecting to a 5G network. There is a USB Type-C port in either of the devices for facilitating fast charging, and both can support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Let's take a look at the frequency bands they support. Mi 11 Ultra Frequency Bands – 5G: n1 / n3 / n5/ n7 /n8/ n20/ n28/ n38/ n40 /n41 /n77 / n78 / n79; 4G: FDD-LTE: B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / B7 / B8 / B12 / B17 / B20 / B28/ B32 /B66, 4G: TDD-LTE: B38 / B40 / B41 / B42, 3G: WCDMA: B1 / B2 / B4 / B5 / B8, and 2G: GSM: 850/ 900/ 1800 MHz. OnePlus 9 Pro Frequency Bands – MIMO: LTE: B1, 3, 40; NR: N41, 78; 5G SA: N41, 78; 5G NSA: N41, 78; 4G: LTE-TDD: B34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46; 4G: LTE-FDD: B1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26; 3G: WCDMA: B1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 19; and 2G: GSM: B2, 3, 5, 8. Mi 11 Ultra vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Battery The Mi 11 Ultra ships with a 5,000mAh battery, while the OnePlus 9 Pro comes with a 4,500mAh battery. In terms of charging, the Mi 11 Ultra can support 67W wired and wireless charging, while the OnePlus 9 Pro can support 65W wired and 50W wireless charging. Mi 11 Ultra vs OnePlus 9 Pro: Conclusion The Mi 11 Ultra can be concluded as the most powerful flagship that Xiaomi has ever launched in India. At the same time, the OnePlus 9 Pro isn't what we expected it to be. It is not like the OnePlus 9 Pro isn't a powerful device, but it seems slightly overpriced. The reviews of the OnePlus 9 Pro are out, and users don't really feel the Hasselblad partnership made a big difference on the device's camera. In terms of on-paper specs, the Mi 11 Ultra has a clear edge over the OnePlus 9 Pro. But then, in terms of software, the OxygenOS feels like a much better option to a majority of the users. To conclude, if we were to spend Rs 70,000 on one of these devices, we would go for the OnePlus 9 Pro. This is because of two reasons; one being the OxygenOS superiority over the MIUI and the second being the overall build quality of the smartphone. Even though OnePlus might not have been able to beat the Mi 11 Ultra completely in the specs sheet, it still feels like a more premium device to us. That said, the Mi 11 Ultra is by far the best device from Xiaomi and would still make for an excellent purchase. The only thing is, its software and the animations aren't as pleasing to the eye as they are in the OxygenOS. Which device would you go for, and why?

O2 Slovakia Inks Deal With Ericsson for 5G Deployment Posted: 24 Apr 2021 02:38 AM PDT The smartphone service provider in Slovakia, O2 Slovakia has inked a deal with the European telecom gear vendor Ericsson for the commercial 5G rollout and development of existing 2G, 3G and 4G radio access network (RAN) infrastructure. Ericsson will be the technological partner for O2 Slovakia. The telecom gear maker released a press release and said that the agreement follows a multi-vendor trial that happened across the service provider's 5G pilot networks in Bratislava. Developing Telecoms report that in the same period, O2 Slovakia has acquired spectrum in the crucial 5G 700 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency ranges. Ericsson Radio System Will Aid 02 Slovakia in Meeting Sustainable Targets The press release dropped by Ericsson also claimed that the 5G RAN technologies from the portfolio of Ericsson Radio System will help O2 Slovakia in delivering improved mobile broadband (MBB) and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) customer experiences. Not only this, but it will also support new and enhanced Fixed Wireless Access business shenanigans such as consumer TV services. Jenny Lindqvist, Head of Ericsson Northern and Central Europe region, said that 5G is a major technology that will create a deep impact on Slovakia's post-pandemic economic revival. In addition, Ericsson Radio System will also aid O2 Slovakia in fulfilling sustainable targets of reducing power consumption and add to the continued decarbonization within the ICT industry and across various other sectors. To accelerate and deploy the targets by 2022, O2 Slovakia strives to make a robust 5G product portfolio with 10x more energy efficient than 4G per transferred data. O2 Slovakia Will Drive Next Generation Mobile Experiences Igor Toth, CEO of O2 Slovakia, said that the contract would help the entity to drive next-generation mobile experiences for its existing and future customers. Also, it will cater to the rising demand for data traffic and open the doors of superior connectivity for households with Fixed Wireless Access. With the new deal with O2 Slovakia, the European vendor Ericsson has 137 commercial 5G agreements and deals with individual and unique operators. Out of the total deals, 78 are publicly announced 5G deals, whereas 85 deals are live 5G network across five continents.

Has the Budget Smartphone Segment in India Reached Its Peak? Posted: 24 Apr 2021 12:37 AM PDT India as a country is quite unique for a variety of reasons. One of them is our obsession with the best and the will to get only the best and nothing else. This mentality trickled down to the smartphone segment with the initiation of Redmi or Xiaomi in India back in early 2013. Seven years down the line, the entire market has gone through a plethora of changes, for better or for worse. There was a time when mid-rangers were often the best deals (in the 20-40k segment), with OnePlus leading the charge in the same segment. Budget smartphones were decent, but they lacked the raw power one might require. Flagships were in a class of their own, with only brands such as OnePlus and, at times, Xiaomi breathing down their neck. What Changed In The Market? While there is no proof based on numbers, it is my belief that the change was ushered in with the launch of the Poco F1. A product under Rs 20k that offered a flagship processor, certain exclusive features and a decent set of cameras? Was I dreaming? Thankfully not. To date, there has been a lack of any product that had its name on the consumer’s mouth as there had been for the Poco F1. Down the line, Poco failed to bring another strong contender to the segment, with a spiritual return in early 2021 in the form of the Poco X3 Pro. However, I am of the understanding that the Poco F1 got other brands thinking. What if the companies could provide stronger specifications for a minor hike in prices? Would that result in higher sales? The Realme 6, to me, was an example of this. The company catapulted from a mediocre 5-series of devices to the Realme 6 series, which offered a 90Hz display, a good set of cameras, a decently sized form factor and a proper gaming chipset. The sales that followed were further proof of my belief. Which Companies Are At Peak Now? When the word peak appears in my mind, I go to Redmi. They have never been on the back foot, but in recent months it seems they have stepped up their game quite a bit. They went from a slightly disappointing 9-series of smartphones to the 10-series, which, in layman's terms, obliterated the competition. Offering features such as a Super AMOLED panel, a 120Hz refresh rate, massive batteries, decent chipsets and a good set of cameras (including a flagship 108 MP camera) under Rs 20k? One would be forgiven for thinking they were dreaming. Another name that comes to mind is Realme, which peaked in late 2020 rather than 2021. The company was able to provide features such as 65W charging, proper gaming chipsets, fast displays and even 5G under the Rs 20k segment, at least in the past few months. Does This Mean Advancements are Over? Definitely not, but with the pace that these companies have, it is not that far till the point when we see generic upgrades (something obvious with Realme) due to the lack of advancements possible in a certain price segment. Is this a bad thing? Not at all, but it does mean that we are slowly reaching the point where either the competition is too close due to the availability of all resources or the possibility of having to wait for a generation or two for a truly market breaching product.

Vodafone O-RAN Test Laboratory Launched in the UK Posted: 23 Apr 2021 09:30 PM PDT The British multinational telecom company Vodafone has recently launched an Open RAN (O-RAN) test and validation laboratory on its Newbury campus. The information was recently released by the telco through an official statement. Vodafone also shared crucial details regarding the launch and said that the new lab is the first dedicated and robust research and development facility for O-RAN in the U.K.  The test and validation laboratory will employ 30 engineers in the beginning, and it will follow the commitment of Vodafone to develop 2,500 mobile sites with the O-RAN technology. O-RAN Technology is Based on Interoperability Concept Vodafone shed light on the details of the launch and marked that O-RAN technology is based on the concept of interoperability. In simple terms, telecom operators would get access to multiple suppliers to source necessary equipment for the development of mobile sites. Commonly, a major chunk of Radio Access Network (RAN) is built of specific proprietary design that slashes the supplier’s list for telecom operators. The new O-RAN technology normalises the development of both hardware and software to ensure that all elements are interoperable. Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer of Vodafone, said that the O-RAN is still in the developing stage, and the telco wants to spur the development. To avoid the perfect buyout product situation, Vodafone has made an investment in the New R&D lab along with the commitment of 2,500 O-RAN sites in the U.K countryside. Vodafone Strives to Build Mobile Network Using Equipment from Different Suppliers Even though O-RAN ensures meaningful and comprehensive benefits like innovation, competition and carbon savings, Vodafone will only deliver benefits if they support the ecosystem. Back in 2020, the telecom giant claimed to be the first operator in the country to build a live open RAN 4G site. Matt Warman, who is the Minister for digital infrastructure, marked that Vodafone is clearing the way in building mobile networks that will feature equipment from different suppliers. The newly designed R&D department at Newbury will put the U.K at the front position of the telecom revolution. It will also create new jobs and opportunities for other entities in the coming future.

Vodafone Idea Can Boost Revenues With Competitive Broadband Offerings Posted: 23 Apr 2021 06:32 PM PDT Vodafone Idea (Vi) can boost its financials with the help of competitive broadband offerings. Other telcos such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have been doing so for quite some time. Telcos can not only bring revenues through their broadband arms but also sell the stakes of their broadband company to investment firms for raising capital whenever required. One thing that Vi desperately needs is capital. The loss-making telco hasn't added net positive subscribers for several consecutive quarters now. Even during the month of January 2021, the telco lost 2.3 million subscribers. For the unaware, Vi does have a broadband company called You Broadband. It is a subsidiary company of Vi that offers fiber services to users across several cities of India. Vi can leverage You Broadband by offering really competitive plans and services. Let's take a look at how Vi's broadband service differs from that of its competitors, Jio and Airtel. Vi's Broadband Plans Ages Behind Airtel Xstream Fiber and JioFiber's Plans First of all, You Broadband offers high-speed unlimited data broadband plans only in select circles such as Pune. In the rest of the circles/cities, the company only offers unlimited broadband plans with up to 60 Mbps speed in general. Sure, there are limited data plans available with 100 Mbps, 150 Mbps, and 200 Mbps, but they are way too expensive than what Airtel and Jio offer and also come with very little data. In comparison, JioFiber and Airtel Xstream Fiber users don't have to worry about data with any of their plans. Further, with JioFiber and Airtel Xstream fiber, users don't have to waste a lot of their time and energy in selecting a plan. They know what to expect from the offerings of the companies whenever they visit their website to purchase a plan. The companies offer standard plans that are applicable to every and any circle they are providing services to. But that's not the case with You Broadband. With You Broadband, users get different plans at different prices in different circles. The worst part is, there are no over-the-top (OTT) benefits included even with the highest speed plans offered by the company. All of this clearly means one thing, users won't be too excited to go for You Broadband’s services when they have got alternatives such as JioFiber and Airtel Xstream Fiber. Some other companies, such as Excitel and Tata Sky Broadband, have also enhanced their offerings and started offering standard plans in every circle with OTT benefits (only Excitel, no Tata Sky Broadband). Vi Needs to Capitalise With You Broadband You Broadband should really introduce standard plans for every city it is providing services in. Further, Vi should focus on offering OTT benefits with the You Broadband plans and also bring in higher speed unlimited data plans to every circle at an affordable monthly cost. You Broadband can help Vi in its enterprise business as well. Note that the company already offers enterprise-specific solutions. Since Vi is focusing a lot on the enterprise market nowadays, the telco can leverage its broadband business and offer advanced business tailored solutions to its enterprise clients. If Vi can manage to grow its broadband business rapidly, it will be able to boost its revenues.

You are subscribed to email updates from TelecomTalk. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States