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• Tecno Starts Teasing Pova 2 Smartphone, to Feature 7000 mAh Battery
• Nokia Exec Finds Flaws in 5Gi Standard, Still Optimistic About Fifth Gen in India
• BSNL Will Continue to Hold Largest Share of Multiplay Households
• WhatsApp May Soon Allow Users to Join Missed Group Calls
• These Xiaomi Phones Will Receive Quarterly Updates From Now On
• Apple Confident of Selling Way More Phones This Year With iPhone 13
• Top 3 Entry Level Broadband Plans in India
• BSNL Introduces Online Bill Payment Facility for FTTH, Landline Connections
• Oppo Reno6 Series 5G Has Finally Arrived in India
• Excitel to Change Broadband Experience for Users With Aprecomm
• Tata Sky Adds TravelXP 4K HDR Channel for No Additional Cost and Removes Some Channels
• OnePlus Nord 2 India Pricing and Variants Leaked
• Amazfit GTR 2 LTE to Come With eSIM Feature and 90 Different Sports Mode
• JioPhone Next to Help Jio Break Market Shackles, Cannot Be Compared to LYF Phones
• BSNL Will Pay 1% SUC to Government for Satellite Services
• Indian Telecom Tariff Hike Can be Made More Predictable and Smooth
• Apple Patent Reveals Interesting Dual-Prism Periscope Camera for the Future
• Vodafone Idea Is Actively Looking to Bring Fresh Capital
• Excitel Rs 449 Plan Crushes Entry-Level BSNL Plan
• Docomo Wi-Fi Station SH-52B 5G Router to Change How People Connect

Tecno Starts Teasing Pova 2 Smartphone, to Feature 7000 mAh Battery Posted: 14 Jul 2021 08:13 AM PDT It seems that Tecno could soon launch a new smartphone in the Indian market, as is evident via the release of new teasers from the company. The latest of these teasers confirms the existence of a massive 7,000 mAh battery in the upcoming device. Whilst the teacher does not mention that the device could be the Tecno Pova 2, the image that is attached to the tweet does confirm the existence of the upcoming Pova 2. This teaser comes to us via the CEO of Trassion Holdings India, Arijeet Talapatra. It is interesting that whilst Tecno has confirmed the presence of the massive  7,000 mAh battery, it is yet to reveal when the handset will launch in the Indian market, but, a launch could occur soon. What do We Know About the Tecno Pova 2? It is worth noting that the company has not revealed any details, but, as it has been launched in the Philippines, we know what to expect from the device. The Tecno Pova 2 makes use of a  6.9-inch FHD+ LCD display and is dependent on the MediaTek Helio G85 chip when it comes to power, which itself is coupled with the Mali G52 GPU. The device will come with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, which can be expanded via a memory card. For optics, the device sports a quad-rear camera setup, with a primary 48 MP camera coupled with a 2 MP macro camera, a 2 MP depth sensor, and a 2 MP AI lens. There is also an 8 MP front camera for selfies. As has been mentioned earlier, the device is backed by a massive 7,000mAh battery that comes with support for 18W charging. The smartphone will boot Android 11 out of the box with HiOS on top. Miscellaneous features include  Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, OTG, FM radio. When it comes to colours, the Tecno Pova 2 is offered in three different hues, Polar Silver, Dazzle Black and Power Blue. There is no mention of expected pricing, but it could be priced in the 15k segment to compete with the likes of the Realme 8, Poco M3 Pro 5G and the Redmi Note 10 Pro. Tecno is also gearing up for the launch of the Canon 17 series of devices in India, with the two devices in the series being the Camon 17 and Camon 17 Pro, both of which are set to be powered by MediaTek G series chipsets, massive batteries, and high-refresh-rate displays.

Nokia Exec Finds Flaws in 5Gi Standard, Still Optimistic About Fifth Gen in India Posted: 14 Jul 2021 08:00 AM PDT The 5G technology is going to be the harbinger of everything good in the Indian telecom industry in the coming years. The problem of low latency will be gone away, paving for higher throughput and other use cases. This is what Nishant Batra, global chief strategy and technology officer of Nokia, the Finnish giant said in an interview. The executive also shared a lot of insights into how 5G will supposedly change the market and consumer pattern in India and shared his thoughts on some of the developments as to how the industry might evolve a few years from now. The interview also witnessed some of his aspirations for the company in the current telecom scenario. Launch of 5G in India and Nokia's Telecom Business Firstly, Batra highlighted that 5G in India should be more than just testing latency and speeds. Although the trials have shown the potential of what speeds the 5G technology can usher in. But, the fifth-generation technology network should be more than that, and the multiple use cases should also be tested. Speaking about Nokia's telecom equipment business in India. Batra admitted in the ET Telecom interview that the number of customers for telecom equipment has surely gone down, but that is something for the regulator (TRAI) and the telecom ministry to worry about. As for Nokia's business, despite the fewer number of customers, Batra said that the company was delivering a high volume of business to these companies. As for Reliance Jio, the exec said that Nokia is an aspirant for its business in India. Bell Labs in India and 5Gi Lastly, speaking about the indigenously developed 5Gi standard in India, Batra said that in other parts of the world, such experiments had been done before, and they have not usually turned out well. He hinted that India should be aiming towards a standardised launch of 5G services which is also compliant with the other global trends. The executive finally ended the interview stating his wish of bringing Bell Labs to India and remarked that if the ministry is open to conversations, then Nokia would bring forth its proposal for the same.

BSNL Will Continue to Hold Largest Share of Multiplay Households Posted: 14 Jul 2021 07:38 AM PDT Tata Sky along with other standalone cable and Direct-to-Home (DTH) players "could get affected with the growing adoption of multiplay services in the urban areas," says Deepa Dhingra, senior telecom analyst at GlobalData. According to a report released by GlobalData, a data and analytics company in late June, multiplay service revenues are "expected" to record a 5.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2020 and 2025. Among the multiplay households, the report said that the double play bundles accounted for 83.9% market share in 2020, followed by triple-play and quad-play bundles with a 12.3% and 3.7% market share respectively. Regional Wired Broadband Operators Likely to Soon Offer Multiplay Services The Telecom Subscription Data for the period ended April 30, 2021, as released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) highlights that India has 2.24 crore wired broadband users. "Fixed broadband services offer low latency and superior speeds with symmetrical download and upload speeds compared to mobile broadband, which makes fixed broadband services more suitable for enterprises segment where multiple devices are connected to the same network," Dhingra told TelecomTalk in an email interview. Further, Dhingra said that wired broadband has gained traction in recent years as it offers "more consistent and reliable speeds" for learning, work from home as well as entertainment, making it ideal for residential users. "GlobalData also believes aggressive promotions by service providers in terms of discounts, complimentary unlimited telephony services and free subscriptions to OTT applications have been helping gain traction for multiplay plans," Dhingra said. Crucially, Dhingra said the regional broadband operators are "likely to follow the trend and start offering multiplay bundles," in the upcoming years due to "increasing competition from large players," like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. "The existing broadband lines can be used to deliver telephony, broadband and video services, which leads to optimum utilization of network resources at reduced Capex," Dhingra said. JioFiber, the fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) service offered by Reliance Jio is said to be currently offered in over 100 cities across the country. However, the company in the past highlighted that its JioFiber service will be available across 1600 cities in India. Similarly, Bharti Airtel in early July said that its Xstream Fiber service would be available in 1000 cities across India in a "matter of months." "Growing popularity of video-on-demand platforms and enhanced user experience through 4K Set Top Box definitely help service providers attract subscribers, especially in urban cities where fixed broadband has a relatively better coverage," Dhingra said. The Telecom Subscription Data for April highlights that Bharti Airtel is the second-largest wired broadband service provider with over 31 lakh users while Reliance Jio has over 28 lakh users. "However, limited availability of fixed infrastructure in rural areas pose [a] challenge for operators to provide services that require low latency and higher capacity," Dhingra said. We believe that though regional operators with limited resources are at a disadvantage when it comes to providing services in urban areas, untapped markets in rural and remote areas provide a wide scope for growth for these operators." Airtel, Jio Would Offer "Fierce Competition" to BSNL In late 2020, Jio revamped its JioFiber plans with the operator providing its users’ access to 12 over-the-top (OTT) platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Zee5 on its select plans. Meanwhile, the Airtel management in early July said that the company is "is in talks" with OTT services for "seamless integration with Black plans." While GlobalData expects multiplay service revenues to grow over the next few years, Dhingra said that the standalone DTH and cable players like Tata Sky "have also started promoting video-on-demand content." The senior telecom analyst at GlobalData said that the move by Tata Sky to promote video-on-demand is in a bid to enhance its "competitiveness in the market." "Standalone cable and DTH players have been taking advantage of the limited coverage of fiber and other high-speed technologies in rural and remote areas, where delivering traditional cable and satellite services have remained more cost-efficient," Dhingra said. In late February, the state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited unveiled a new Cinema Plus add-on service bundling multiple OTT subscriptions including Zee5 and SonyLIV into a single package. In the previous years, the operator largely offered Disney+ Hotstar with its select plans. It also has to be noted that the state-run operator in late 2020 also unveiled new broadband plans at multiple price points on par with JioFiber and Xstream Fiber plans. According to the Trai data, BSNL has over 60 lakh broadband users as of April 30, 2021. However, the Telecom Subscription Data also highlights that the operator has lost over 20 lakh broadband users between December 2019 and April 2021. "BSNL already leads the multiplay service market in terms of the number of multiplay households," Dhingra said. "We project that BSNL will continue to hold the largest share of multiplay households over the next five years, however, aggressive strategies adopted by Airtel and Jio would give a fierce competition, leading to decline in BSNL's market share."

WhatsApp May Soon Allow Users to Join Missed Group Calls Posted: 14 Jul 2021 06:59 AM PDT WhatsApp seems to be testing certain improvements in relation to its voice-calling interface within the service. Furthermore, the company has also been testing the ability to join group calls whilst they are in progress. Out of these two improvements, the second one is yet to be possible as of now, since, if you miss a group call, an active participant will need to add you back so as to allow you to join the conversation that has been going on. It seems that WhatsApp has found a loophole with the option that lets a user join an ongoing group call, as it is rolling out two new changes to the iOS beta users. The popular WhatsApp related blog WABetaInfo has reported that the popular instant messaging software has released the WhatsApp for iOS beta version v2.21.140.11. WhatsApp’s New Beta Build Will Make Video Calls Easier! This update will bring with it a new user interface or UI for calling that seems to be similar to Apple’s FaceTime interface. It will allow users to rapidly see the option that they might be looking for, complete with a new Ring button that is present next to the username. The latest iOS beta update is also prepping the ability to allow people invited to a group call to join post the start of the call. The report adds that if a user has temporarily ignored the participation process within a group call, and started WhatsApp after some time to find out that the pre-mentioned group call is ongoing, the users will be allowed to join without any intervention of the participant, which has been the case for quite some time. WhatsApp might also present the user with an alert as to whether or not you want to join the call, without needing to ask other participants to add the user once again. When there is a group call that you are allowed to join, WhatsApp will show a banner stating Tap to join in the Calls tab as well as a Join call button present within the group chat wherein the call had previously started. Both features have now been enabled in WhatsApp for iOS beta build v2.21.140.11 with users given the option to update to the latest version to test these new features. WABetaInfo also adds that WhatsApp will be rolling out these aforementioned features on WhatsApp beta for Android soon, but an exact month of release or date has not been revealed.

These Xiaomi Phones Will Receive Quarterly Updates From Now On Posted: 14 Jul 2021 06:48 AM PDT Xiaomi on Wednesday released a fresh support document (first noticed by XDA Developers) focusing on how often security updates would arrive on devices across the Mi brand, Redmi and Poco. The document focuses on devices from sub-brands and the primary segment and consists of budget devices all the way up to the flagship Mi 11 line-up. The document mentions that Xiaomi releases monthly and quarterly security patch updates on Xiaomi devices for at least two years after product listing in the marketplace. It added that monthly and quarterly security updates would include Android security patches released by Google, as well as patches for Xiaomi-specific issues. As of now, only three devices are listed under monthly updates, namely the Mi A-series of devices, consisting of the Mi A2 Lite, Mi A2 and the Mi A3. Which Devices are Featured in the List? There are a total of 60 devices that are set to get quarterly updates, with some of the big ones being the Mi 11 Ultra, Poco X3 NFC and the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max. Do note that the list is a bit odd since there are some omissions, such as the Mi 11 and Mi 11 Pro. The Mi 10 Ultra and other Redmi K30 series of devices are not present, despite the presence of the Redmi K20 series and the Mi 10 Pro. The Mi A3 is listed under the quarterly update list, but that seems to be a blunder. The list includes the Mi 10T Pro, Mi 10T, Mi 10T Lite, Mi 10i, Mi 9T Pro, Mi PLAY, Mi 10, Mi 10 Lite 5G, Mi 10 Pro, Mi 9, Mi 9 Lite, Mi 9 SE, Mi 9T, Mi 9T Pro, Mi A3, Mi Note 10, Mi Note 10 Lite, Mi Mix 3, Mi 11 Lite 5G, Mi 11 Ultra. Poco branded devices include the Poco C3, Poco F2 Pro, Poco M2, Poco M2 PRo, Poco X2, Poco X3 and the Poco X3 NFC. Redmi devices are much higher in number, with the devices listed being the Redmi 7A, Redmi Go, Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7S, Redmi Note 7 Pro, Redmi 10X 4G, Redmi 7, Redmi 8, Redmi 8A, Redmi 8A Dual, Redmi 8A Pro, Redmi 9, Redmi 9 Prime, Redmi 9A, Redmi 9AT, Redmi 9i, Redmi 9C, Redmi 9T, Redmi 9C NFC. Other notable Redmi devices include the Redmi K20, Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi Note 8, Redmi Note 8 Pro, Redmi Note 8T, Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, Redmi Note 9S, Redmi Note 10 5G, Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi Note 10S, Redmi Note 10T 5G, Redmi Note 10 Pro Max. Xiaomi also notes that as of now, monthly and quarterly security patch updates may not be released at fixed intervals, but it has added that regular OS updates will add up-to-date security patches.

Apple Confident of Selling Way More Phones This Year With iPhone 13 Posted: 14 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT The Cupertino-based brand, Apple, seems to be brewing a new strategy for sales in the background as we speak. The giant has revealed that it plans on amping up the production of Apple's latest phones slated to be launched in the coming months, and that is the Apple iPhone 13 series. As per these reports, Apple is reportedly working on making at least 90 million handsets for sales which is much higher when compared to the previous 75 million handset figure which Apple has stuck to in the past. This means that Apple is expecting its sale to skyrocket by as much as 20%. Apple Amping Up Production Rapidly The main reason why Apple seems to be doing it is in the way things are finally coming back to normal. Apple has noted that with the widespread availability of vaccines and the virus slowly dying down in many areas, there is a return to normalcy. This means that with the launch of Apple's iPhone 13, there could be higher sales with people turning up in stores to change their devices and buy new ones. Apple has likely stuck to its iPhone 12 like lineup for this year, with an iPhone 13 Mini in the making with a 5.4-inch display and other 6.1-inch display phones like the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. Not only this, but the brand will also debut the iPhone 12 Pro Max which comes with a 6.7-inch screen. The rise in 5G Also One Reason Not only this, but the massive rise in rollouts of 5G network across the USA and in other parts of the world is also a pointer to Apple to raise sales. In other news, it has been reported by Bloomberg that Apple is likely to bring an LTPO display that would allow the iPhones to run 120 Hz refresh rate screen, something that the Apple devices had been missing in comparison to other brands like Samsung and OnePlus. We have already talked about how Verizon has launched a 1 Gbps connection on the 5G network in many parts of the US. This phenomenon is likely contributing to Apple's expectations of higher sales this year leading it to the decision of manufacturing 90 million handsets.

Top 3 Entry Level Broadband Plans in India Posted: 14 Jul 2021 04:45 AM PDT Broadband service providers have developed a premium range of broadband plans to provide high-speed internet access to users. Whether you are looking for modest or highest priced broadband plans, one thing which ISPs promise is seamless internet and customer care services. The renowned service providers like BSNL Bharat Fibre, JioFiber and Airtel Xsteam Fiber offer decent internet speed and multiple benefits with their broadband plans. The entry-level broadband plans developed by these services providers are widely famous around the tech space. Follow the article to the end for a comprehensive guide on entry-level broadband plans by BSNL, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio. JioFiber Rs 399 Broadband Plan The broadband arm of Reliance Jio has added a huge chunk of subscribers because of its modest broadband plans and various benefits. The entry-level broadband plan of JioFiber is priced at Rs 399. With this broadband plan, users will get 30 Mbps internet speed. The best feature of the broadband plan is that users will get symmetrical speed which means equal download and upload speed. The validity of the plan is 30 days and JioFiber will offer unlimited data (3.3TB) to cater to the internet needs of users. Along with unlimited data, users will also get free voice calling benefits. The price of the broadband plan does not include GST, and a commercial usage policy will be applied to the broadband plan. Airtel Xstream Fiber Rs 499 Broadband Plan The entry-level broadband plan of Airtel Xstream Fiber is priced at Rs 499. With this broadband plan, users get 40 Mbps unlimited internet data (3.3TB). As of calling, Airtel offers unlimited local and ISD calling benefits. Airtel thanks benefit also included in the plan. Not only this, but users get subscriptions to Wynk Music and Shaw Academy. Users can also opt for the Xstream box with 1 month HD pack. The validity of the Rs 499 broadband plan is 30 days. BSNL Bharat Fibre Rs 449 Broadband Plan The state-owned telco has also developed extensive broadband plans for its users. The entry-level broadband plan of BSNL is dubbed Fibre Basic and priced at Rs 449 per month. The plan offers 30 Mbps internet speed till 3300GB. Once the data cap is over, internet speed is reduced to 2 Mbps. Users also get unlimited local and STD calling benefits to any network. The price of the BharatFibre broadband plan is exclusive of GST.

BSNL Introduces Online Bill Payment Facility for FTTH, Landline Connections Posted: 14 Jul 2021 04:34 AM PDT Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been up to a lot of activity in recent times. BSNL has also been facing stiff competition from the private telecom companies and as a result, the public telco has to up its game to survive the competition. This means offering competitive services, plans, and other benefits similar to the private telcos. In a similar move, BSNL has now started offering online payment facility to it subscribers. This means that the customers of fiber broadband by BSNL, and even landline customers will be able to pay the BSNL bills from the comfort of their homes. BSNL Online Bill Payment Explained It is worth noting that this new payment facility allows the BSNL subscribers to pay the bill in advance and more than the amount in the current bill. This means that the subscribers have the option of covering their future payments as well to avoid disconnection in case they are not able to pay the next bill on time. As for the payment procedure, the subscribers of BSNL who wish to make online payments will have to head over to the official BSNL portal, and then go to the "landline" section. Over here, you will now have to enter your phone number along with the STD code. Make sure that there are no spaces between the STD code and the landline number. In the next step, you will have to enter the communication details. These communications details will be used for sending bill payment confirmations and other details. Therefore, keep in mind that you should enter an active number in these fields. Multiple Payment Options Available Once you are done with this formality, you will have to enter a captcha in the final stage post which you will be able to make payments. As for the payment methods, the subscribers will have the option to use UPI, internet banking, and other debit or credit cards. This facility is bound to increase the comfort of the users and will facilitate easy bill payment for BSNL customers.

Oppo Reno6 Series 5G Has Finally Arrived in India Posted: 14 Jul 2021 03:28 AM PDT Oppo has just launched the Reno6 series 5G in India. The Reno6 series 5G comes with two smartphones – Oppo Reno6 5G and Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G. Both the smartphones have launched in single variants only. Oppo has enabled the devices to support 65W fast charging. Along with this, the smartphones come with enhanced gaming software. Both the Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G and the Oppo Reno6 5G feature the Diamond Spectrum design which is also there in the Oppo Reno5. Let's take a look at the complete specs and price of both smartphones. Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G Specifications The Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G comes with a 6.5-inch FHD+ OLED curved display with support for 90Hz refresh rate. The smartphone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC coupled with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. There is a triple camera setup at the rear where the primary lens is a 64MP sensor paired with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor and a 2MP macro sensor. There is a 32MP monochrome sensor at the front for selfies and video calls. The smartphone comes with a 4,500mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging. It will run on ColorOS 11.3 based on Android 11 out of the box. Oppo Reno6 5G Specifications The Oppo Reno6 5G has launched with a 6.5-inch FHD+ OLED display with support for 90Hz refresh rate (same as Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G). Almost every other specification of this smartphone is the same as of Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G. The only difference is in the battery capacity, chipset, and memory. The Oppo Reno6 5G comes with a smaller 4,300mAh battery, but can also support 65W fast-charging. The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It will also run on ColorOS 11.3 based on Android 11 out of the box. Oppo Reno6 Series 5G Price The Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G has launched in a single variant with 12GB+256GB for Rs 39,990 and the Oppo Reno6 5G has launched in a single variant as well – 8GB+128GB for Rs 29,990. Both the smartphones will be available in two colour options – Aurora and Stellar Black. The smartphones will be available in the online stores of Flipkart, Oppo's official website and the company's offline retail partners.

Excitel to Change Broadband Experience for Users With Aprecomm Posted: 14 Jul 2021 03:05 AM PDT Excitel has partnered with Aprecomm to improve the broadband internet experience for the users. The broadband internet service provider (ISP) wants to improve the way the customer care team of the company responds to the users. The partnership between both companies has enabled Excitel to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for bringing down the time and resources taken in solving a query of the customer. Excitel has over 6,00,000 active households using a broadband connection from the company. To cater to their problems, Excitel will be using AI technology to remotely optimise the Wi-Fi connection of the user. Excitel Has Converted Its FTTH Connections to AI-Enabled Smart Wi-Fi Access Points This partnership with Aprecomm has enabled Excitel in converting its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connections to AI-enabled Smart Wi-FI access points. With the help of AI technology, Excitel will be able to proactively monitor and assess the wireless experience of the several devices connected to their customers' Wi-Fi networks. This will further enable the ISP in providing real-time insights to users about their Wi-Fi performance and issues so that any problem can be solved in no time. Mr Vivek Raina, CEO, Excitel Broadband, said that the company's FTTH connections would be able to optimise and self-adapt based on the users' needs with the help of AI technology. Mr Raina said that the AI technology being used would allow the customer service agent of the company in remotely solving the problems of the users' internet connections'. In an exclusive conversation with TelecomTalk, Mr Raina expressed his concern over the inefficient method of restarting the Wi-Fi router for solving connection issues. Mr Raina said that if restarting the router doesn't work, the service agent has to go to the house of the customers, and that takes a lot of time and resources. This new AI technology is set to solve all of these issues right away. Mr Raina confirmed that this improved customer care service is already available for customers throughout India.

Tata Sky Adds TravelXP 4K HDR Channel for No Additional Cost and Removes Some Channels Posted: 14 Jul 2021 02:33 AM PDT When it comes to picking DTH operators for your Direct-to-Home TV connection, Tata Sky seems to be the top choice of the subscribers in a lot of cases. This is because of the service quality which Tata Sky is offering along with many picks in the Set-Top Boxes. Also, the plans and channel bouquets of Tata Sky have been considered to be attractive by many. In the latest development of revamping its channel collection, we have gathered that Tata Sky has added and removed some channels from its portfolio. Meaning that some channels which the subscribers might be watching have gone bust from the platforms, while a handful of new ones have been introduced. Two Services Removed from Tata Sky The two services that have been removed from Tata Sky from its platform include the Alias Service 1840 and another channel includes the devotional channel Aradhana for Rs 2. As the name suggests, the Aradhana is a devotional channel that was available for Rs 2 per month. However, on the flip side, another interesting addition to the Tata Sky channel list is the TravelXP 4K channel. The TravelXP 4K HDR channel will allow the subscribers to watch high-quality travel content. Subscribers who are used to watching other expensive channels like TLC and others could use this addition on their channel subscription free of cost since the channel is available for Rs 0. Revamp of Punjabi Services In other news, Tata Sky has also recently revamped its Punjabi service called, Punjab De Rang. This service is run by PTC which is the biggest Punjabi channel network across the world. Under this service, the subscribers will be able to experience content in Punjabi for all age groups. As for the cost, the subscribers should note that the Punjab De Rang service from Tata Sky is available for Rs 1.5 per day. Tata Sky is also offering a discount on its STBs meaning that new customers of Tata Sky can avail either a discount on Rs 200 or Rs 150 depending on the choice of their STBs.

OnePlus Nord 2 India Pricing and Variants Leaked Posted: 14 Jul 2021 01:42 AM PDT OnePlus Nord 2 5G is going to launch in India on July 22, 2021. Just a week before its launch, the pricing and the variants of the smartphone has leaked. According to a popular leakster, Yogesh (@heyitsyogesh), the OnePlus Nord 2 5G will come in two different variants in India. Further, the smartphone will be priced much higher than what the original Nord came for. Let's take a look at the leaked price of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. OnePlus Nord 2 5G Leaked Price OnePlus will be coming out with two variants of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. The first variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage will be priced at Rs 31,999, and the second variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage will be priced at Rs 34,999. Again, note that this is the leaked price, and it is not confirmed by the company but comes from a popular leakster. The leakster revealed that OnePlus Nord 2 5G would come in three different colours – Grey Sierra, Blue Haze, and Green Woods. The 'Green Woods' variant is expected to be the special edition version of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G which will come with a leather finish. The special edition variant will launch at a later stage in India. OnePlus Nord 2 5G, What's Confirmed? There are also a ton of things that are already confirmed about the smartphone. The company has already revealed that the OnePlus Nord 2 5G will be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI chipset. Further, the company yesterday revealed that the smartphone would come running on the OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 out of the box and will get two major Android upgrades along with three years of security updates. OnePlus has also confirmed that the OnePlus Nord 2 5G will sport a 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display with support for 90Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ certification.

Amazfit GTR 2 LTE to Come With eSIM Feature and 90 Different Sports Mode Posted: 14 Jul 2021 01:00 AM PDT The demand for smartwatches has elevated in the technology-driven era. Smartwatches have become a crucial aspect of our lives. There are ample companies that are constantly launching premium smartwatches for customers. Huami is one such company that is rolling out different smartwatches with intriguing features. Tracing back to April, Huami announced the Amazfit GTR 2 LTE with an eSIM feature to allow users to make and receive calls from their smartwatch. Not only this but, the smartwatch will have support for Amazon Alexa at the launch period. As of the launch date, it is expected that Huami will launch the Amazfit GTE 2 LTE soon. Amazfit GTR 2 LTE: Expected Specifications Since Amazfit GTR 2 LTE is a variant of Amazfit GTR 2, we can expect the features and specifications to remain the same. If you are not aware, the Amazfit GTR 2 features a 1.39-inch AMOLED 326PPI display with 454×454 pixels. The smartwatch also comes with scratch-resistant diamond-liking carbon coating with more than 50 dial faces. Under the veil, the smartwatch has a heart rate sensor, Spo2 monitoring, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, 3GB storage and 90 different sports mode. Amazfit GTR 2 also comes with a BioTracker 2 PPG biological tracking optical sensor, 3-axis geomagnetic sensor, ambient light sensor, speaker and microphone for calling and music playback. The smartwatch is powered by a 471 mAh battery. With support for Android 5 and iOS 10, the Amazfit GTR 2 is one of the finest smartwatches available in the market. Is eSIM the Only Difference? You must be wondering that Huami has just added an eSIM feature in the Amazfit GTR 2 LTE. However, the Amazfit GTR 2 version sold in China features a 338 mAh battery. It is speculated that Huami has reduced the battery size to accommodate the eSIM feature. To date, no public announcements have been made regarding the launch date of Amazfit GTR 2 LTE. However, the Amazfit Global Twitter account has released a teaser product video of the smartwatch, highlighting some prime features such as 90 sports mode, onboard storage and 4G connectivity support. It is expected that the Amazfit GTR 2 LTE will be launched globally in the third quarter.

JioPhone Next to Help Jio Break Market Shackles, Cannot Be Compared to LYF Phones Posted: 14 Jul 2021 12:06 AM PDT Everyone's waiting to see how the JioPhone Next will perform in the Indian market. I have already talked about what JioPhone Next needs to do for garnering success in the Indian market. But, there is a set of users/people who are quite sceptical about Reliance Jio's plans for launching the new affordable 4G smartphone. These users are comparing the JioPhone Next with the LYF phones. For the unaware, Jio was selling the affordable LYF smartphones and marketing them heavily back in 2016. Even though these devices came with 4G support and were affordable, the user experience was quite bad. Eventually, brands such as Xiaomi and Redmi started offering alternatives and LYF is now almost gone from the Indian market. Many users are comparing the LYF smartphones with the JioPhone Next because the latter is supposed to be a cheap 4G smartphone, just like the former. So what's the point of launching the JioPhone Next? If LYF phones couldn't make an impact and convert legacy network users to 4G networks, why will JioPhone Next be able to do that? The answer to this question is, JioPhone Next and LYF phones both serve a different purpose to the company and the market, and the JioPhone Next is a completely different offering. Let me explain why. LYF Smartphones Purpose in 2016 Before we understand what Reliance Jio intends to do with the JioPhone Next, let's understand the purpose of LYF smartphones. Jio announced its arrival in the Indian market in late 2016. When Jio arrived, there were few operators, including Airtel, Vodafone, and others already providing 4G services in select parts of India. All of these operators were pre-dominantly offering 4G LTE services, while Jio wanted to offer 4G VoLTE services. However, there weren't many affordable smartphones available at the time that supported 4G VoLTE. In the 2016 and 2017 period, only select devices supported 4G VoLTE, and the rest ran with 4G LTE support. To change this, Jio came out with LYF phones that were not only affordable but also came with VoLTE support. Yes, the LYF phones didn't have the best software and hardware integration, the camera was bad, and the UI was just awful, but Jio didn't intend to make them the best affordable smartphones anyway. Remember that Jio is not in the smartphone business; it is in the network services business. Jio wasn't competing with the smartphone brands but only pushing them to come out with affordable 4G VoLTE smartphones. When Jio came out with affordable LYF phones with 4G VoLTE support, this motivated the other smartphone companies to come out with such devices as well. Jio might have faced a huge loss with LYF phones, but it was all covered by the proliferation of 4G VoLTE smartphones in India because now Jio could offer telecom services to more users. So understand, the point of LYF phones was just to increase the number of 4G VoLTE smartphones in the affordable range in India. JioPhone Next Purpose in 2021 JioPhone Next comes at a time when there are already 4G VoLTE devices available in a very affordable price range in India. However, there is still a set of users who are using legacy network services on old phones because they can't spend Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 on a 4G smartphone and don't even want to upgrade to yet another feature phone (JioPhone). So what is the purpose of JioPhone Next? JioPhone Next aims to bring the best of Android and make it as affordable as possible for users. Again, this wasn't the goal of LYF phones. JioPhone Next will come with very optimised software which has been specially built by Jio and Google together. Through the JioPhone Next, Reliance Jio wants to go a step ahead in motivating users who are still on legacy networks to upgrade to a 4G smartphone. For all we know, Jio might sell the JioPhone Next at a loss, but if it can achieve its goal of new 4G users, the telco will very much make up for the lost money on smartphones by selling 4G plans to the new users. This is the key reason why LYF phones can't be compared with JioPhone Next. The JioPhone Next will be launched in India on September 10, 2021. I expect it to do really well if Jio has, in fact, reached a level of software optimisation which no other brand has in the super affordable price range.

BSNL Will Pay 1% SUC to Government for Satellite Services Posted: 13 Jul 2021 10:49 PM PDT Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will have to pay a percentage of its adjusted gross revenue (AGR) towards the spectrum usage charges (SUC) to the government for providing satellite-based services. As per a PTI report, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked the state-run telco to pay 1% SUC for offering services based on satellite communications. At present, the state-run telco offers satellite-based communication services to several shipping companies, government organisations, and more, all of which are authorised by the Home Ministry. BSNL Pays Much Lesser SUC Compared to Private Operators DoT is asking BSNL to pay only 1% SUC on AGR, which is much lesser than what the private operators, including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea pays. The telecom department said that spectrum charges would be applicable from the point of inception of global satellite phone services (GSPS). The private operators have to pay SUC based on a weighted average method which makes them pay around 3% to 5% of AGR. It is worth noting that satellite phones services in India are only provided by BSNL. The private operators are not allowed to provide such services out of security concerns. The government will also include the revenues/proceeds in AGR that come from the sale of handsets. In case BSNL makes an excess payment, the excess amount will be adjusted against the other SUC dues that are payable by the telecom operator to the DoT. BSNL 4G BSNL is rooting for rolling out its 4G networks across the telecom circles in India. The state-run telecom operator has a hybrid 4G plan wherein it will take the help of both the Indian vendors and the foreign multinational companies to launch its PAN-India 4G networks. BSNL hopes to roll out 4G networks across India by the end of 2022, which is still quite far away.

Indian Telecom Tariff Hike Can be Made More Predictable and Smooth Posted: 13 Jul 2021 09:32 PM PDT The Indian telecom industry currently stands in a very weird spot right now. The fifth-generation 5G network stands on the door of the Indian consumer market, and the telecom companies are already conducting testing for this network. On the other hand, the burden of financial bearings like the unexpected AGR dues, the spectrum allocation dues, and above all, the unsustainable tariff rates, which are too low for an industry this big, plague the insides of these companies. While on the face value, it might seem like higher data consumption in India might translate to a lot of earnings for the telecom companies. But, we wish the picture was this simple and rosy. The fact rests that a tariff hike in the near term is inevitable. The How and When of Tariff Hike Now that we know that a tariff hike is somewhere on the horizon, the next question comes as to how it is to be implemented and when will it hit the consumers. Coincidentally, those are exactly the two areas where the telecom companies can decide to do justice to the consumers and bring some transparency into the price hike process. The last time the price hike was done by the telecom companies was in 2019. Since then, the prices of the data plans have remained largely the same. The first thing that the telecom companies can do is gently nudge the consumers towards favourable rates. As we have seen in the past, the telecom industry in India is a ruthlessly competitive market, and the companies fight tooth and nail to retain and bring in more subscribers. But, this leads to an environment where some companies run on low tariffs for long years for fear of losing subscribers. What can be done in this regard is an annual tariff hike or a semi-annual one wherein the telecom companies gently raise the tariff on the existing plans by a certain percentage. This tariff hike would not only bring some transparency and remove the shock element from these events but would also help the consumers in adjusting and paying for the rising operational costs which the telcos might be bearing. Restructuring Plans to Ease the Consumer Burden The dried-up revenue source of IUC is another factor why the telecom companies are suddenly in a financial dilemma now. To make the tariff hike process smoother for the consumers in the coming months, the telecom companies might also provide other options in the plans’ portfolio. For example, some of the extra benefits like OTT services, extra data etc., can be dropped to provide a forked plan structure which gives the option to consumers to choose from many plans. Not only this, Vodafone Idea's data rollover and weekend binge features are something that should be adopted by the industry widely among all telecom companies. Lastly, the telecom companies recognise the need for a data hike in the coming days, and instead of hanging up on the rope for fear of subscribers churn, the tariff hike is not something that the industry should be running away from but instead embracing in a practical and well thought of manner.

Apple Patent Reveals Interesting Dual-Prism Periscope Camera for the Future Posted: 13 Jul 2021 08:29 PM PDT Apple has been known to launch products by taking their sweet time, instead of jumping ahead of the regular crowd. 5G iPhones were launched around a year later in contrast to Android smartphone makers, but, upon release, the devices were able to convey the importance of 5G in a much greater sense than flagships from Samsung, Huawei or Xiaomi. Optics have always been the company’s strong point, with videography being undefeated, owing to the great camera software that couples good sensors on the devices. Be it the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the devices can take on and defeat almost all smartphones in terms of optics, with only Google taking the fight to Apple. USTPO Listing Reveals Unique Periscope Camera Tech The United States Patent and Trademark Office or USPTO recently published a patent that demonstrates the Cupertino giant’s research and development when it comes to a smartphone periscope camera. As per the publication, Apple had filed the patent in February of 2018, well before the Huawei P30 Pro did the same. The description and added image show that the company’s periscope zoom camera makes use of two prisms, an infrared filter, four or five lenses as well as a camera sensor. Whilst Huawei’s periscope cameras have a similar set-up to the one described above, the difference is in the use of two prisms. The goal behind choosing this is to allow Apple to install the camera sensor in a parallel manner to a smartphone’s back panel, rather than at right angles. Furthermore, the patent adds that the periscope camera has an aperture of f/2.4 and offers 3x optical zoom, but, we can imagine that Apple will have improved on these details in the past three years. In terms of a probable launch, Ming-Chi Kuo, who is a famed Apple analyst expects such iPhones featuring periscope cameras to launch in 2023. Certain companies like Huawei and Samsung have beaten Apple to the periscope camera, which as a concept are optic instruments that allow users to see around obstacles without visibility. It usually includes mirrors that have prisms that refract the light at certain angles, allowing for the viewing to what is above or below the actual line of sight. In smartphones, periscopic cameras usually offer 5X or 10X zoom by making use of more than a single lens alongside the main camera sensor. A periscope's role, in theory, is to aid in the accommodation of the array of lenses without increasing the smartphone's thickness by major amounts.

Vodafone Idea Is Actively Looking to Bring Fresh Capital Posted: 13 Jul 2021 07:15 PM PDT Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) keeps on exploring various opportunities and options to raise funds, as per a board approval it received earlier on September 4, 2020. As and when such proposals are considered by the company's board that warrant disclosures, the firm will comply with the regulations, Vodafone Idea (Vi) said in a regulatory statement. In its board meeting held last year, Vodafone Idea got approvals to raise funds of up to Rs 25,000 crore. Last week, various newspaper reports stated that VIL was in talks with a host of private equity firms such as TPG Capital, Apollo Global and Carlyle Group to raise up to $1 billion. The company was also looking at divesting assets such as optic fibre and data centre to raise funds. Vodafone Idea Needs Funds to Keep Running VIL had a total debt of ?1,86,705.5 crore as of March 31, 2021. The operator also incurred losses of Rs 44,233.1 crore for the year ended March 31, 2021, and posted a negative net worth of ?38,228 crores. VIL pared consolidated net loss to Rs 7,022.8 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021, from ?11,643.5 crores recorded during the same period a year ago. The company's auditor – S.R. BatliBoi & Associates LLP – had also raised concerns relating to the company's ability to continue operations unless funds are raised. There exists material uncertainty relating to the Group's ability to continue as a going concern which is dependent on its ability to raise additional funds as required. The company continues to be in negotiations with lenders for continued support, refinancing of debts and monetisation of certain assets, among others, the auditor had said. Earlier, consumer forum Telecom Watchdog urged the Government to reject VIL's request for more time to pay Rs 8,292 crore of dues. The not-for-profit organisation has termed VIL's request for one-year deferment to pay the dues as "illegal", even as it called for a forensic audit of the firm's last 10 years' accounts. Vodafone Idea might also be hoping for a favourable adjusted gross revenue (AGR) hearing where the telco's dues might get reduced because, as per Vi, the government made errors in the calculation of the dues.

Excitel Rs 449 Plan Crushes Entry-Level BSNL Plan Posted: 13 Jul 2021 06:32 PM PDT Excitel has been growing very fast since the time pandemic kicked in. The fiber internet service provider (ISP) offers very unique broadband plans to its customers. Then there is Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), which too offers pretty great broadband plans. There's a plan from both the companies that literally cost the same but BSNL's plan gets crushed by Excitel's plan pretty hard. I am talking about the entry-level BSNL's plan and a plan from Excitel that cost the same Rs 449 per month. Let's take a look at why Excitel's plan is better than BSNL's. BSNL Rs 449 Plan Everyone aware of the BSNL's broadband offerings knows what BSNL's Rs 449 per month plan comes with. However, for the unaware, BSNL's Rs 449 plan is the cheapest broadband offering from the company and it provides users with 30 Mbps internet speed and 3.3TB (3,300GB) data for the month. There is also a free landline connection offered to the users. There's no other benefit included in the plan. Now let's take a look at Excitel's Rs 449 plan. Excitel Rs 449 Broadband Plan Excitel offers its Rs 449 per month broadband plan with 200 Mbps speed and truly unlimited data. If you are confused about how Excitel is offering its 200 Mbps plan for Rs 449 per month, let me explain. Excitel doesn't offer low-speed broadband plans such as 30 Mbps, and 50 Mbps. The company offers three plans only – 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, and 300 Mbps. If you purchase the 200 Mbps plan from the company for 1 month, you will have to shell out Rs 799. However, the company keeps reducing the monthly cost of the plan as the validity increases. The Rs 799 per month broadband plan from Excitel that offers 200 Mbps speeds will only cost Rs 449 per month if the user purchases this plan for 12 months. Meaning, there's one upside to BSNL's plan – users don't need to pay for 12 months together. However, with Excitel's Rs 449 per month plan that offers 200 Mbps speed, users will need to shell out a total of Rs 5,388 together. Note that none of the prices mentioned in the article is inclusive of taxes. So on the Rs 5,388, there will be taxes added further. If you are thinking of purchasing BSNL's entry-level plan and keep the connection for 12 months or more, just go for the Excitel's Rs 449 per month broadband plan if you have the cash. You will get much higher speeds and much more data with Excitel’s Rs 449 per month broadband plan.

Docomo Wi-Fi Station SH-52B 5G Router to Change How People Connect Posted: 13 Jul 2021 12:51 PM PDT NTT Docomo is one of the largest telecom network operators in Japan. The company has time and again come out with products that have changed the way people interact with the internet. The Docomo Wi-Fi Station SH-52B is one such product that stands to change the way people connect with each other and use mobile networks for the internet. The Docomo Wi-Fi Station SH-52B is a 5G router that can deliver a maximum downloading speed of 4.2 Gbps when connected with a 5G network. If connected with a 4G network, the portable router can deliver maximum speeds of up to 1.7 Gbps. Let's take a look at the complete features of the Wi-Fi Station SH-52B 5G router. Docomo Wi-Fi Station SH-52B Complete Specifications and Features The Docomo Wi-Fi Station SH-52B is so small that it can literally fit inside your palms. This means that you can carry it anywhere with you in a bag to ensure that you are always connected to the internet. Because of 5G support, the router can deliver a maximum downloading speed of 4.2 Gbps and uploading speed of 218 Mbps when connected with a 5G network. While connected with a 4G network, the router can deliver a maximum downloading speed of 1.7 Gbps and uploading speed of 131.3 Mbps. It supports Wi-Fi 6 standard and offers dual-band connectivity (2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz). The Docomo Wi-Fi Station SH-52B runs through a 4,000mAh rechargeable battery. The maximum number of devices that can connect to the Wi-Fi network created by this portable router is 17. Unfortunately, the company hasn't mentioned the size (dimensions) and the weight of the product on its website. But that will be clear once the product goes out on the first sale from the end of August 2021. The Docomo Wi-Fi Station SH-52B will only be available in a single black colour. What makes Docomo Wi-Fi Station SH-52B really interesting is that people can literally carry it anywhere they go!

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