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• Reliance Jio, BBNL Boost Network Infrastructure in Uttarakhand
• MTNL Allowing Users to Pay Bills Later
• Vivo Y73 Featuring Mediatek G95, 8GB of RAM Teased
• 73% Enterprises Will Invest in 5G in the Next Three Years: Report
• PAWR Open-Source 5G SA Software Lab Launched
• Telecom PLI Scheme to Help India Become Self-Reliant: DoT Official
• Apple Statistics Reveal 85% Compatible iPhones Have iOS 14 Installed
• WhatsApp Rolled Out Much Awaited Fast-Playback Feature
• Broadband Connection Has Slowed Because of Additional Devices? Here’s What You Can Do
• HarmonyOS from Huawei Poses a Threat to Google and Apple
• Connect Broadband Overshadows Airtel and BSNL’s 100 Mbps Plan

Reliance Jio, BBNL Boost Network Infrastructure in Uttarakhand Posted: 05 Jun 2021 09:18 AM PDT Network connection during the pandemic has become an essential need, especially considering how most tasks have moved online due to the same. From schools to business to multinational companies to the smallest of shops, most of them rely on the internet to converse with others and get their tasks done. In areas that might be in the midst of secure land or near national borders, this is an issue that might plague them from day one due to the lack of network towers, and, in 2021, that is simply not feasible. Today, Reliance Jio decided to address this issue by doing something for people living in border villages. It was announced on Friday evening that Jio mobile towers had been erected in several border villages of the Dharchula sub-division, which can allow to improve mobile network connectivity as well as reduce the dependence of locals on mobile networks of the neighbouring country of Nepal, as per officials. What Else Do We Know About The Setup Furthermore, Mr Dharchula SDM A K Shukla stated that the Bharat Broadband Network Ltd is providing a VSAT communication network in order to provide internet facility to the residents who are located in the Himalayan villages that are located above 8,000 feet where  Jio towers are not able to work. He also said that the mobile towers of the Jio company are functioning at several places located in the Dharchula sub-division, reducing their prior dependence on Nepali networks. As per the SDM, all of the 35 villages from where locals usually migrate during the summer can benefit from the improved mobile and Internet connectivity in the area. The villagers have also complained of weak and fragmented signals at times in the past. Puran Pandey, a resident of Johar Valley, said that villagers in the remotest Namik village have to gather at a hilltop to talk to their friends and family as the newly installed Jio tower has no signal in their village. To tackle this, improved mobile and Internet connectivity in border areas is key as it can help repopulate the depleting border villages and provide them with a medium of contact. Shalu Datal, another local, said that with better communication facilities, residents of usually abandoned villages near the Indo-China border might return home and stay there throughout the course of the year.

MTNL Allowing Users to Pay Bills Later Posted: 05 Jun 2021 07:30 AM PDT The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all sorts of industries and sectors in more ways than one, with smaller corporations to multi-million dollar entities being affected by the pandemic. Telcos too have been forced to operate on reduced staffing due to this, as a lot of these people could not go to physical offices. It seems that due to this issue, state-owned telecom service provider Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited or MTNL has also been affected by this as it released a message to its users that make use of the provider’s services. This comes after the provision of some deals that the provider announced earlier in May. Earlier this week, the company confirmed that it would be providing a breather for MTNL Mumbai customers by giving them an extension in the due date for payment of bills. The delivery of said bills has been subject to constant delays due to the reduction of staff in the post office. As a result of this issue,  MTNL Mumbai has extended the last or final date for the payment of key services like landline, broadband, and FTTH bills dated for the month of May 2021. What Does MTNL Mumbai Have To Say MTNL Mumbai's retail customers have been given an extension till the 11th of June, 2021 for the payment of due bills whilst the group billing customers have also been given an extension till 15th June 2021 for the payment of due bills. Furthermore, MTNL Mumbai sent out a statement clarifying about the same and expressing regret due to the inconvenience that has been caused from its ends towards the customers. It states that delivery of the bills has been delayed due to reduced staff in the post office. Hence, the due date for landline, broadband and Ftth bills for bill dated May-2021 has been extended till 11th June 2021 for retail customers and till 15th June 2021 for Group billing customers. Inconvenience is regretted," In case you missed it, MTNL Mumbai had mentioned earlier last month that it had reintroduced a promotional offer on the STV 153, STV 259 and STV 409 for a span of 90 days. The company also extended the promotional offer applicable on STV 196, STV 329, STV 399, Data STV 1298 and PV 1499 for another period of 90 days or 1.5 months.

Vivo Y73 Featuring Mediatek G95, 8GB of RAM Teased Posted: 05 Jun 2021 06:00 AM PDT Vivo has been restructuring key elements of the company, from the pricing model to the overall competitiveness of its devices to the software; all of these aspects are being fixed for the better, leading to a better and more competitive brand that is capable of taking the fight to competitors rather than being a company with an overpriced product, with only a selfie snapper to its credit. Now, Vivo is preparing to launch another new phone in India, as it confirmed the launch of the Y73 in the Indian market. The company’s India Director, Mr Nipun Marya, teased the image of the upcoming phone on Twitter earlier today. In case you missed it, the device features a design similar to that found on the Vivo V21 series, sporting a rectangular camera module. The teaser image that was tweeted out by Mr Marya reveals that the handset makes use of a triple-camera setup on the back, with prior knowledge helping us know that the overall design is quite similar to the V21 series. The company is yet to reveal the launch date or any further details regarding the same. Whilst you would have to wait for the specifications till the device is launched usually, MySmartPrice recently leaked the complete specifications of the device, so we know what to expect from the same. Vivo Y73 Leaked Specifications (As Per MySmartPrice) The Vivo Y73 will feature a 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel. The display will come with support for HDR10 and feature an in-display fingerprint scanner for additional security. On top of the display, it will make use of a water-drop notch to house the front camera. In terms of performance, under the hood, the phone will rely on the 12nm octa-core MediaTek Helio G95 SoC, which will be coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. The phone will also come with Vivo's Extended RAM feature that is capable of offering 3GB of virtual RAM with the help of internal storage. The device will run Android 11-based Funtouch OS 11 out of the box. To allow for all this performance, the device will make use of a 4,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging. The optics, too, are quite decent, with the triple-camera setup on the back featuring a 64MP primary camera paired with two 2MP sensors for depth and macro duties. Towards the front, for selfies, the device will rely on a 16MP front camera. The handset will supposedly weigh 170 grams, which is quite light. The phone is supposedly going to be priced around Rs. 20,999 for 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant.

73% Enterprises Will Invest in 5G in the Next Three Years: Report Posted: 05 Jun 2021 05:15 AM PDT The results of a study on Reimaging Industry Futures by Ernst and Young, now popularly known as EY, a business advisory firm, have been revealed. The study aimed at showcasing the perception of 5G technology within enterprises. The study reveals how Covid-19 accelerates uptake and interest in new technologies such as 5G and IoT. EY is known to be a digital transformation specialist and keeps conducting studies like these, showcasing the present and predicting the future of technologies. Most Organisations Are Taking a Cautious Approach Towards 5G The findings of its Reimaging Industry Futures Study showed that almost three fourth of enterprises constituting about 71%, believe that the pandemic has helped accelerate their ongoing digital transformation plans. 52% of these enterprises showed greater interest in 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT). Only 17% of the enterprises are currently investing in 5G, and 73% plan to commence investments in 5G over the next three years. These statistics showcase that a majority of organisations are taking a cautious approach towards 5G. Further findings of the study have revealed that since the Covid-19 pandemic, 27% of Asia-Pacific organisations have shown greater interest in 5G and IoT. This is comparatively higher than 13% and 15% of enterprises showing interest in America and Europe, respectively. Europe is falling behind in terms of the future of 5G being incorporated in business processes as only 70% of European companies have plans to bring 5G into their businesses in the near future. On the other hand, 80% of businesses in Asia-Pacific and 75% of companies in the Americas have plans to include 5G in their business processes in the near future. Suppliers Incapable to Provide End-to-End 5G Solutions a Key Concern EY Global Telecommunications Leader Tom Loozen has said that even though organisations understand the importance of 5G, IoT and other emerging technologies, the capability gap among suppliers poses a key concern. He added that Telecomm Operators should take steps to improve their transformation expertise and recognise that businesses want suppliers to act as partners that provide end-to-end solutions. He advised that to enable these end-to-end solutions, operators should focus on new ecosystem positions while focusing on the opportunities for the business model overhaul that 5G can enable.

PAWR Open-Source 5G SA Software Lab Launched Posted: 05 Jun 2021 04:30 AM PDT The Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR), a public-private partnership for wireless research, has announced the launch of OpenAirX-Labs (OAX). The project office will support the development and testing of an open-source Standalone 5G software stack from the OpenAirInterface (OAI) Software Alliance. The OAX lab will be located at the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things at Northeastern University in Boston. The OAX Lab Will Mirror a Similar OAI Test Location in France A U.S.-based home to work from OAI will be given by the launch of the OAX lab under PAWR. OAI has had its home in Europe, and the launch of the new lab expands the potential ecosystem of companies and partners. PAWR has stated that the OAX lab will mirror a similar OpenAirInterface test location established at Eurecom in France. The OpenAirInterface in France has a cloud-based Continuous Integration and Development (CI/CD) suite. It provides a neutral, remotely accessible lab environment. The Open-Source 5G software will be made as a new software profile on PAWR's wireless testbeds after the initial development, and testing is completed. PAWR has two wireless testbeds currently operational in New York City and Salt Lake City. In the coming future, another wireless testbed will be operational in the Triangle area of North Carolina, which is in the process of being built right now. PAWR is said to announce a fourth wireless testbed later this month as well. OAX Lab Will Have an End-to-End 5G Implementation: PAWR PAWR has commented on the benefits of the OAX lab by saying that researchers will have to get access to the software profile for ongoing exploration of 5G spectrum sharing, network automation and other wireless technologies. PAWR also added that OAX would have an end-to-end 5G implementation for development and testing across multiple metrics. It will also maintain a crowdsourced inventory which would include different ecosystem solutions that would encourage increased collaboration and critical interoperability testing. PAWR Technical Program Director Abhimanyu (Manu) Gosain has said the launch of the OAX lab would strengthen U.S. efforts to expand the capabilities and performance of 5G networks. It will also enhance the technologies that will move the wireless industry beyond 5G. He added that they are ensuring that by hosting the OAX lab as a part of the PAWR program, there is a clear path from software development through testing and prototyping of new software, hardware and wireless applications.

Telecom PLI Scheme to Help India Become Self-Reliant: DoT Official Posted: 05 Jun 2021 03:36 AM PDT A recent report by PTI has surfaced with a statement from a senior DoT official, who wished to remain anonymous, stating that the main objective of the Rs 12,195-crore production linked incentive or PLI scheme for the telecom sector is to help domestic production, reduce import dependency as well as create jobs. The official said that the scheme had been designed post wide and regular consultations with the industry, inclusive of discussions in relation to the provision around research and development. Via PLI, the DoT’s objective is to boost local production of telecom equipment, reduce dependency on imports and provide opportunities to domestic manufacturers to focus on exports. India wants to “make for the world” was also stated by the individual. In case you missed it, the Department of Telecom (DoT) recently started accepting applications for the PLI scheme meant for the telecom sector that intends to provide an incentive for manufacturing of network equipment such as routers, broadband transmission equipment, 5G equipment as well as consumer-related devices and electronics items that are necessary for providing optical fibre-based connections. What Does The PLI Scheme Specify? According to the scheme, an investor can be given an incentive for incremental sales of up to 20 times the committed investment, which in turn enables them to reach global production scales as well as utilise their unused capacity to ramp up production. Top leaders like Nokia and HFCL have shown interest when it comes to participating in the scheme, whilst both international and domestic players have appreciated the move. Famed Korean electronics giant Samsung has also reached out to the DoT with backing for the scheme. Samsung, in a letter to the DoT, stated that during these unprecedented times, proper and continuous policy support, as well as the creation of a conducive policy environment for the electronics sector, intends to show the Indian government’s commitment to make the country a manufacturing hub. In a statement within the letter, it is mentioned that Samsung sincerely appreciates and wholeheartedly supports the government’s initiative network PLI. The scheme will not only allow in complementing the next generation telecom services, including the 5G rollout, but it will also support India’s flagship programme. Programmes like Make in India will also benefit from the same. Furthermore, government sources have also hinted that Foxconn Technology Group has also shown interest and supported the scheme, which could be signs of great things to come for the Indian manufacturing scene as a whole.

Apple Statistics Reveal 85% Compatible iPhones Have iOS 14 Installed Posted: 05 Jun 2021 03:26 AM PDT According to the new iOS adoption statistics released by Apple, 85% of all iPhones are now running on iOS 14. The statistics also revealed that iOS 14 was installed in 90% of devices released in the last four years. The data was collected by analyzing App Store visits on June 3rd. According to the report rolled by IANS, only 10% of the users with an iPhone released in the last four years are running an older version of Apple's in house operating system that is iOS. 7% of All iPhones Ever Launched Are On an Earlier iOS Version According to a report by AppleInsider, amongst the 10% of users with an iPhone launched in the last four years, 8% of them are on iOS 13, and 2% of users are running an even earlier version. It is interesting to note that Apple does not include all of its iPhones ever made in this mix. Apple has revealed that 85% of the compatible iPhone have iOS 14 installed now. iOS 14 is only compatible with iPhone 6S and further. Apple had launched the iPhone 8 series in 2017, which was four years ago. From iPhone 8 to iPhone 12 launched in 2020, 8% of these devices are still running on iOS 13. When Apple adds all the iPhones ever made in this mix, about 7% of users have an earlier iOS version installed. Apple Also Revealed iPadOS Adoption Data The iPadOS adoption data reveals a similar picture as 91% of the iPads released in the last four years are on the latest iPadOS 14. According to the report, 8% of users are still using iPadOS 13 on their devices. A small number of users, accounting for 1%, use an older iPadOS operating system update. This data also only included iPad devices compatible with iPadOS 14. When Apple includes and tracks all models of iPads, the statistics reveal that 79% of those devices have iPadOS 14 installed. Amongst the rest of Apple's tablets that the company tracked, 9% of the users are using iPadOS 13, and 12% of the users are on an even earlier version of Apple's operating system custom-built for tablets.

WhatsApp Rolled Out Much Awaited Fast-Playback Feature Posted: 05 Jun 2021 01:34 AM PDT WhatsApp has rolled out a new fast-playback feature for its users in India. The company had been testing the feature on the beta version of the application for quite some time and has finally rolled it out for the users now. Millions of users that use the voice message feature of the application will appreciate the move from WhatsApp since now they won't have to listen to everything at the same slow pace at which the message has been recorded. However, the company missed out on introducing the slow-playback feature for voice messages. WhatsApp Users Can Fast Forward Message By Up To 2x WhatsApp is offering users to fast forward the message by up to 2 times. A thing worth noting here is that even when the user taps on the fast forward button, the pitch of the voice note will stay the same so that there is no issue in understanding the message that has been delivered. To use the feature, users simply need to tap on the voice message and play it. Upon playing the voice message, users will find an option to increase the pace of the voice note by 1.5x initially. As mentioned above, if the users want, they can also further increase the speed of the message by up to 2 times. With the new fast-forward feature, users won't have to worry about long voice messages coming their way. They can simply fast-forward the message and shorten the length of it by 50% with the 2x speed option. The feature will be available for users regardless of whether they are communicating in a personal chat window or are in a group. The new feature is now available for all the users in India. To ensure that you can take benefit of the new feature, update the app to its latest version available in both iOS and Android. Features such as this compel users to keep using the application despite the new privacy policy drama created by the company. WhatsApp still hasn't said that it is completely scrapping the privacy policy. The social media giant has been scrutinised because of the new policy very much. Interestingly, its user base still stays strong in India and around the world.

Broadband Connection Has Slowed Because of Additional Devices? Here’s What You Can Do Posted: 04 Jun 2021 11:30 PM PDT It is often observed that the speed advertised by an Internet Service Provider is not the actual speed we receive. While there can be a number of reasons for that, the most common and known reason is that the speed advertised does not take into account multiple devices connected to a single broadband connection. Although, multiple devices simply connected to a broadband connection does not directly slow your internet speed. It is these multiple devices transferring data over the internet that slows down your broadband connection. Your Wi-Fi router is limited in its capability to manage internet traffic. It can only transfer a fixed amount of data per second. When various devices are connected to a Wi-Fi router transferring data at the same time, the router will share that data between devices. If your broadband connection is for your home or office where multiple devices would stay connected, there are multiple things you can do to ensure high speed. Checking Your Internet Speed Regularly Speed tests are an important element of a broadband connection. Since a user pays for a broadband connection based majorly on the speed he/she requires, it is always recommended to do regular speed tests to check if you are getting the speed you paid for. There are ample portals that allow you to test your internet speed, and we recommend you choose a trusted portal for accurate results. Regular speed tests of your broadband connection with multiple devices connected will help you ascertain and manage your broadband connection better. It will help you make a decision on whether you need to upgrade your broadband internet plan or not. Upgrading To The Latest Broadband Modem or Router A modem depending on the type of internet connection you have, are devices that transfer and manage internet traffic between devices that are connected to it. They act as a bridge or medium for the ISP to access their users' devices. As we mentioned above, your Wi-Fi router or modem are limited on their capacities of managing internet traffic. You should always choose to upgrade your router, which offers you maximum speed and security. Another important aspect when it comes to the modem or router is its location. To get the best and high-speed connection on all your devices, make sure your router or modem is centrally located in an upright position. Regular Scanning For Viruses Using Anti-Virus Software You have upgraded your broadband internet plan and your Wi-Fi router, yet you might be experiencing a slow internet connection. Viruses are harmful to your computer as they can access and control your data and the device itself. However, if the virus infected computer is connected to a broadband connection, the virus can reduce the power of your assets and slow your broadband connection down. Regularly scanning your computer for viruses using anti-virus software will help keep your computer and broadband connection safe.

HarmonyOS from Huawei Poses a Threat to Google and Apple Posted: 04 Jun 2021 09:30 PM PDT Yesterday, in a separate event, Chinese tech giant Huawei officially revealed the first devices to make use of the company’s HarmonyOS operating system. This will be seen on two new tablets, namely the MatePad Pro and MatePad, as well as the Watch 3. As of now, it will be limited to China only, with no update regarding shipping in other parts of the world like Europe or India. The new OS poses a bit of a risk for Android, since, if it does do well, certain Chinese companies could make the switch, denting the overall market share that Android has enjoyed ever since its inception. In case you missed it, Huawei started work on the OS after the US trade ban implications meant that the company could not make use of Google’s services for the time being. The launch is quite significant as it paves the way for the company to take on the like of Apple’s iOS which currently holds a 26% market share and Google’s Android with 73% as of May 2021. The first glimpse of the UI was seen back in 2019, with original research having been commenced way back in 2012, much before all these issues arose. What Sets HarmonyOS Apart Now, for those of you unaware, the key differentiator which also gives HarmonyOS a unique identity is the ability to offer a specific app store, which is called App Gallery. This is Huawei’s equivalent of Play Store on Android and App Store on iOS, with the app being an open-source platform, which basically means that developers will be able to provide apps for the platform and other manufacturers can opt to use the operating system on their devices. Supported devices include laptops, tablets, phones, watches and certain other appliances, with the company stating that more than 300 application, as well as service partners, around 1000 hardware partners, and 500,000 developers, have jointly participated in making the Harmony ecosystem. Wang Chenglum the president of Huawei’s consumer software business stated that regardless of the size of the device, only one system can cover smart terminal devices with memory as small as 128K, as large as 4GB or more, bringing consumers an ultimate full-scene interactive experience. Furthermore, Huawei has revealed that its operating system will be installed in approximately 300 million devices by the end of 2021, with about 200 million of them being Huawei’s own. The idea to come up with an in-house OS system will ease the issues relating to software for Huawei, but, the overall woes are far from over, as the export restrictions will still impact overall sales.

Connect Broadband Overshadows Airtel and BSNL’s 100 Mbps Plan Posted: 04 Jun 2021 06:30 PM PDT As we covered two days back, Connect Broadband had introduced new 'Entertainment Plans' for its users. The company offers 100 Mbps plans which are as good as the plans offered by any other operator. In fact, Excitel, a growing ISP that boasts of offering few of the cheapest broadband plans in India, gets direct competition from Connect Broadband. There's just one area where Excitel is ahead of Connect Broadband, and that is in the data department. Excitel users get truly unlimited data with the plans. Apart from that, Connect Broadband also gives a solid competition to the plans offered by Bharti Airtel and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Let's see how. Connect Broadband 100 Mbps Plan Connect Broadband offers several 100 Mbps broadband plans in Punjab. We will focus on the base plan offered by the company since we are looking for the most value. The cheapest 100 Mbps broadband plan from Connect Broadband comes for Rs 699 per month (exclusive of taxes). Further, the company offers unlimited data with a fair-usage-policy (FUP) limit of 3.3TB and free STD calling with the plan. Post consumption of the FUP data, speed for the users drop to 10 Mbps. There are no other benefits offered with the plan. How Does Excitel, Jio, Airtel and BSNL's Plan Do Against Connect Broadband's 100 Mbps Plan? Airtel and BSNL offer their 100 Mbps plan for Rs 799 per month. Both the operators charge more for GST. There are no over-the-top (OTT) benefits included with BSNL's plan, while there are Airtel Thanks benefits offered with Airtel's plan. Since the data offered by all the companies is similar, which is 3.3TB per month, the plan from Connect Broadband makes more sense since it is Rs 100 cheaper. Operators including Excitel, Reliance Jio, and Connect Broadband all offer their 100 Mbps plans for the same Rs 699 per month. There are no OTT benefits included with either of the plans. If you have to choose between either of the operators, consider the quality of service. One thing to note here is that both Excitel and Reliance Jio offer their broadband services in multiple parts/cities of India, while Connect Broadband only offers it in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. If you are thinking of purchasing a plan for the long term, Excitel's long term plans are cheaper than both Jio's and Connect Broadband's plans. There are more 100 Mbps plans offered by Connect Broadband that also come with ISD calling and OTT benefits. But those plans cost way more than the base 100 Mbps plan from the company.

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