${latestitem Title}

---

• BSNL ADSL Modems Now Cost Only Rs 29 Per Month Under New Scheme
• OnePlus Is Refraining From Mentioning IP68 Rating for OnePlus 9 Pro Due to This Reason
• SIA-India Seeks Satellite Spectrum Certainty, Access to USO Fund, Level-Playing Field Ground
• Reliance Jio Is the Fastest Speed Provider, Vodafone Idea Top in Uploads
• ZEE5 Set to Gain Traction From Original Content
• Microsoft Will Offer Just One Major Update Each Year for Windows 11
• After Social Media Companies, News Broadcaster Association Opposes New IT Rules
• Samsung Could Reintroduce Vapour Chamber Cooling With Galaxy S22
• BSNL 4G Networks Needed, Can’t Wait Anymore: Opinion
• OnePlus to Rollout ColorOS for OnePlus 8 Series
• 5G Spectrum Auctions in India to be Delayed Further
• Samsung Just Increased Price of Galaxy F02s, Galaxy M02s, and Galaxy A12
• RCom Lenders Worried About Getting Money Back as DoT Might Not Renew Telecom License
• WhatsApp Working to Enhance Photo Sharing for Users
• 5G in India Will be Majorly Based on O-RAN
• BSNL VPN Services Starting at Rs 390 Available Across India
• Mi 11 Lite vs Redmi Note 10 Pro: Which Is the Best Mid-Range All Rounder
• Telecom Ministry Gets New Head, Here are the Challenges That Lay Ahead for Him
• Google Pixel 6 Series of Devices Might Offer 5 Years of Software Support, As Per Leakster
• JioFiber Gets Serious Competition from This Plan of Alliance Broadband

BSNL ADSL Modems Now Cost Only Rs 29 Per Month Under New Scheme Posted: 09 Jul 2021 08:15 AM PDT Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has hammered yet another offer for its broadband subscribers. The thing to keep in mind about this offer is that the new promotional scheme is only for the ADSL broadband customers and not FTTH subscribers. Under this new promotion, BSNL has put out a public announcement saying that it will only charge a meagre Rs 29 per month as the monthly rental for the ADSL modem. To recall, BSNL usually charges upwards of Rs 100 in some cases for the ADSL monthly modem rental. Here are more details about this newly launched offer. ADSL Broadband Modem Monthly Rental Details BSNL has informed its customers, that under this new offer, the ADSL subscribers will have to pay Rs 29 per month in the name of modem monthly rental. In the previous pricing regime, before the offer, the subscribers had to pay Rs 70 for the non-WiFi variant of the modem as monthly rental which resorts to an annual payment of a whopping Rs 860. Going far ahead of this, the WiFi modem users of an ADSL subscription would have had to pay Rs 110 per month in the name of modem monthly rental. The burden of these hefty monthly rentals has been reduced for the ADSL internet connection users. BSNL FTTH Still a Better Option The BSNL officials in various circles have also been directed to comply with the latest issued TRAI regulations. Not only this, the area managers have been asked to make sure that the collection of the old modems is done appropriately. To the subscribers of ADSL broadband connection, we would recommend moving to a better-suited FTTH connection as the option that BSNL is offering to its FTTH customers are plenty and there are tons of offers, free data, and multiple freebies to be explored which make the BSNL FTTH plans worthy of their tag. To give you an insight about one of the best BSNL Broadband offerings, the public telecom is offering a free month of subscription if they pay for 12 months. This means that the 13th month of BSNL FTTH subscription would be totally free to the users.

OnePlus Is Refraining From Mentioning IP68 Rating for OnePlus 9 Pro Due to This Reason Posted: 09 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT OnePlus, the popular enthusiast brand had launched the OnePlus 9 Pro earlier in 2021, and, the device, much like its predecessor, the OnePlus 8 Pro featured water resistance with an IP68 rating. The company is refraining from mentioning that the handset has an IP rating, with the only mention on the website being a mention within the fine print, which is quite different from what was the case with the OnePlus 8 Pro. The co-founder of OnePlus, Pete Lau explained why this was so, stating that it was one of the few product advantages that OnePlus as a company has done well but does not wish to talk about. Why Does Lau Stress on IP Ratings? This might have you wondering as to why this is, considering how important an IP rating might be. Lau has mentioned that the IP certification takes place under very specific conditions which are different from those that are experienced by the users. He added that considering that the actual use environment and conditions of users were very different, it was impossible to withstand the test according to laboratory standards every time. Lau also replied to a user who said that they had immersed their handset in the water several times without any issue, informing the user that this was not recommended and that they should take good care of their phone. Whilst this might seem odd, for lack of a better word, the OnePlus co-founder is not wrong when he notes that the lab testing conditions are different from real-world situations. One such case was Sony’s water resistance support page back that was released in 2015 providing more clarity as to how IP testing was conducted. The page added that the phone was placed gently in the testing container and taken out in the same manner. It is not known however as to whether this is still the case for current IP tests, but it is no secret that many people are less than gentle with their devices in the first place. This listing did suggest that water resistance testing needed to be more rigorous in order to reflect the real-world conditions and usage. Also, OnePlus is not the only manufacturer to refrain from marketing their phones' water resistance. Sony had emphasized water resistance in the early 2010s, with marketing images showcasing the phone being used underwater, this would however be followed by distancing from the same in the next few years.

SIA-India Seeks Satellite Spectrum Certainty, Access to USO Fund, Level-Playing Field Ground Posted: 09 Jul 2021 07:14 AM PDT The Satcom Industry Association (SIA-India) has sought satellite spectrum certainty, access to the Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund, level-playing field and consumer-friendly regulations to provide unhindered connectivity across the country. The association made these submissions at a high-level meeting with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which was presided by TRAI Chairman PD Waghela, TRAI Secretary N Raghunandan and other senior officials. Anil Prakash, Director General, SIA-India said that the satcom industry has the power to bring connectivity to areas where there are no mobile networks. According to Prakash, the satcom industry can revolutionise digital connectivity in India. SIA-India stressed that the SatCom industry needs "light-touch regulations" that will aid in ease of doing business. The sector requires direct engagement and open market access, allowing competition to drive down prices and a minimal government hands-on approach. The sector is reeling under limitations in acquiring foreign capacity by national service providers, which is both expensive and unsustainable in the long term, it said. In terms of taxation, the industry is hard hit with many layers of taxes adding up to almost 50% at various levels, including GST, revenue share, multiple charges by Department Of Telecommunications (DoT) and Department of Space (DoS) and withholding tax among others. Spectrum Issue On the spectrum issue, SIA-India has sought spectrum certainty. It also stated that the Ka-band 27.5-29.5 GHz band has not been identified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for International Mobile Telecommunications, including 5G. This band was excluded at WRC-19 in recognition of the extensive use of the band by satellites operators and that billions of dollars have been invested in over 100+ Ka-band satellites to serve India and the Asia-Pacific region. SIA-India has also pointed out that a percentage of USO funds are available to mobile network operators for expanding connectivity into rural markets. The satellite communications industry has been serving this need for vital connectivity to rural and remote areas, but yet to get access to USO funds. SIA-India said the regulator has taken "cognisance" of the issues and also assured it would address the same.

Reliance Jio Is the Fastest Speed Provider, Vodafone Idea Top in Uploads Posted: 09 Jul 2021 06:43 AM PDT Reliance has been on a streak of topping the download speed charts for the last few months. On the back of hefty investment in network infrastructure, the Mukesh Ambani led telecom company has climbed to the top of the ranks when it comes to downloading speeds. The story has played out consistently month over month, where we have seen, Reliance Jio rank as the highest player when it comes to downloading speeds. Not only this, but the same has stayed in the case of Vodafone Idea, which has been topping the speed charts in the case of upload speeds. Vodafone Idea Offered the Best Upload Speeds As per the data published by the sector regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Reliance Jio's speeds increased by a bit and showed an average download speed of 21.9 Mbps. Although this is a marginal increase for the telecom operator itself, this figure is still out of reach for the other telecom companies like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea as the second runnerup in this chart is Vodafone Idea which only has speeds of 6.5 Mbps in the download segment. Whereas in the upload segment, Vodafone Idea has a speed of 6.2 Mbps. When it comes to Bharti Airtel, the telecom company has been dragging behind a little bit in this department despite its good offerings on the prepaid front. The Sunil Bharti Mittal led telecom company bragged of 5 Mbps speed on the download front. Even in the upload front, Bharti Airtel eluded the top spot as the second position was taken by Reliance Jio with 4.8 Mbps speed. Given the data, it seems like, with a few more months on its hand, a little reluctance on Vodafone Idea's part, Reliance Jio might surpass the telco in becoming the champion of speeds by providing both the highest upload and download speeds. As usual, BSNL again was missing from the charts as it did not factor in the rankings due to its selective 4G rollout.

ZEE5 Set to Gain Traction From Original Content Posted: 09 Jul 2021 06:18 AM PDT ZEE5 and Sun NXT, the over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms run by ZEE Entertainment Enterprises and Sun TV are "expected" to drive up the subscription revenues for the respective companies, say analysts. In the first quarter results of the current financial year, multiple analysts expect the broadcasters including ZEE Entertainment Enterprises and Sun TV to record a "sequential dip" in advertising revenues. However, the analysts say the broadcasters are set to witness a "sequential growth" in subscription revenues on the "back of OTT revenues momentum," with TV subscriptions remaining "largely flat" on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis. OTT Platforms Set to Drive Up Sun TV, ZEE Subscription Revenues ICICI Direct on Thursday said in a report that Sun TV in its first-quarter results is "expected" to report a 3.5% increase in its subscription revenues on a QoQ basis. However, the retail broker and financial product distributor in India expects the broadcaster to report a "flattish" subscription revenues on a year-over-year (YoY) basis in its first quarter of its current financial year. The firm said that the Sun TV subscriptions revenues will largely be "driven" by its streaming platform Sun NXT. Further, ICICI Direct said that the ZEE5 performance and the viewership trend are a "key monitorable" for ZEE Entertainment Enterprises in its first-quarter results. "Reported subscription growth is expected at ~3.3% YoY (up 2.5% QoQ), largely owing to OTT revenue traction," ICICI Direct said in its report on Thursday. In late May, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises reported its 2021 fourth-quarter results, with its chief financial officer, Rohit Gupta, highlighting that the ZEE5 platform recorded Rs 110 crore in revenues during the quarter. It was also said that the ZEE5 platform for the month of March recorded 61 lakhs daily active users (DAU) while its global monthly active users (MAU) were at 7.26 crore. Meanwhile, the Sun TV management in mid-June said in its fourth-quarter earnings call that the Sun NXT platform recorded a 40% to 50% increase in its MAU over the past six months. The company said that its subscription revenues in its quarter ended March 31, 2021, hit Rs 428.12 crore. However, the Sun TV management said that it would not offer "granular details for Sun NXT" as it is largely "riding on the content which has been created by Sun TV." Rival Streaming Platforms "key risks" for ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Says Analyst In early July, Ashika Stock Broking in a report highlighted ZEE Entertainment Enterprises plans to produce "more original content" while also ramping up its movie production business. The flagship company of Ashika, a diversified financial services group, said that the move will enable the company to "gain traction for its ZEE5 business" and also "gain significant market share in its broadcasting business." "ZEE has been quick to deploy its OTT platform and content with a large number of consumers spending increasingly greater time on OTT," Ashika Stock Broking said in its report. "The management has been agile in responding to changing trends is a positive sign." The firm also highlighted that ZEE Entertainment Enterprises is working on enhancing the "technology base for ZEE5" and that the platform will "continue to premier movies going ahead apart from originals." In late May, Punit Goenka, the managing director of ZEE Entertainment Enterprises said that the company has been "behind the curve" and that it will be working on enhancing user experience. "We have drawn up a technology and product roadmap, in order to upgrade this digital platform to the next level," Goenka said in the fourth-quarter earnings call. "I believe ZEE5 will certainly see an all-round improvement in performance over the next few quarters." Ashika Stock Broking said that it has a "positive review" on ZEE Entertainment Enterprises due to its "recovery in advertisement revenue and company's focus on OTT." However, the firm in its report also said that the rival streaming platforms are among the "key risks" for ZEE Entertainment Enterprises. "Competition from digital video streaming platforms could hurt the revenue growth," Ashika Stock Broking said in its report.

Microsoft Will Offer Just One Major Update Each Year for Windows 11 Posted: 09 Jul 2021 05:42 AM PDT Microsoft had recently announced its latest version of Windows, Windows 11, with the intention to launch the same on a global scale later this year. This led to quite a bit of hype and excitement, since most users had been stuck using Windows 10 for quite some time, and, from the leaked ISO build that users were experiencing prior to the launch, users were gaining higher hopes for what to expect from the next best version of Windows. Today, Microsoft has revealed some interesting information in regards to the update cycle of its new operating system or OS version prior to the official rollout later this year. What Do We Know About the Update Cycle of  Windows 11 As per an IndianExpress report, the tech giant that is based out of America has promised that the new Windows 11 operating system will be getting one new version update each year. In comparison to Windows 10, this is notable as it is down from the two major software releases that the company had been rolling out each year for Windows 10. This means that Windows 11 will be getting updates a bit less frequently when compared to the current OS version on most laptops, but this could also result in a fewer number of bugs and issues post update. The new Windows 11 updates are also rumoured to arrive alongside the new Windows 10 updates in the fall of each year. Microsoft has added that it will be supporting each version of Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Pro Education, Windows 11 Pro for Workstations and Windows 10 Home for 2 years or 24 months post the initial release. However, after this two year period is over, users will have to upgrade to continue receiving more security updates, whilst devices running Windows 11 Enterprise, Windows 11 Education, and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise will come with 36 months of support. This is a bit interesting, as Microsoft will also continue to support Windows 10 for now with the promise of offering support for Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Pro Education, Windows 10 Pro for Workstations and Windows 10 Home for an additional 18 months. In case you missed it, the Windows 11 update has been dubbed the next generation of Windows from Microsoft, with the primary focus of offering a redesign, complete with a fresh boot screen and start-up sound, to the centrally-located Start menu and widgets. This is a big step forward and will help take on macOS, Apple’s Windows alternative.

After Social Media Companies, News Broadcaster Association Opposes New IT Rules Posted: 09 Jul 2021 04:13 AM PDT The News Broadcasters Association (NBA), which is the body comprising of all the current affairs and news broadcasters and channel owners in the country, has vehemently opposed the new IT rules which were put out by the IT ministry a few weeks back. While Twitter has mostly been resisting compliance with the rules and has been in passive defiance of the new laws, NBA has taken a more proactive approach by filing a writ petition in the Kerala High Court challenging the new rules. NBA Files Petition in Kerala HC As per the NBA, the new set of laws give unrestricted, unreasonable power to the executive to dabble with the media. In the petition filed with the Kerala HC, the petitioner noted that the new laws are violative of sections of the IT Act 200 and also ultra vires to Article 14, which is the basis for the right to equality in the country as per the Constitution of India. Not only this, the petitioner went on to write that it also infringes upon Article 19(1)(g), which grants freedom to the people to freely practice any profession. As per the news broadcasters association, the New IT Rules give "unfettered" access to the executive to regulate the content of digital news media. Digital Media Companies Unhappy With New IT Rules Adding to its argument of opposing the new IT rules, the petition also noted that even in the IT rules, the "content" and its guidelines had not been defined well, which points to the new laws again violative of the parent act itself. Not only this, but as per the interpretation of the center, the digital news media outlets have been equated as been the same as the "intermediaries". It is worth noting that the NBA is a high profile body that consists of a total of 78 media outlets/broadcasters, including the top 25 current affairs or new media companies. As for the center, the government has responded by reaching out to the Supreme Court, saying that it wants all petitions against the new IT rules to be transferred to the SC. As we speak, the big social media company Twitter also seems to be reluctant about complying with these new rules.

Samsung Could Reintroduce Vapour Chamber Cooling With Galaxy S22 Posted: 09 Jul 2021 03:55 AM PDT Korean giant Samsung has never been shy when it comes to taking a detour, even when it comes to its flagships, as it was one of the first handset makers to launch a device with a 108MP primary sensor. Even its foldable series, which was subjected to critique due to build issues with the first-generation Fold, later became known for its advancement. Now, it seems that Samsung might reintroduce vapour chamber based cooling for its 2022 series smartphones, a technology that the latest and greatest S-series of devices, the Galaxy S21 series, lacked. According to Digitimes, with the basis of quoting supply chain sources, suppliers seem to be gearing up for Samsung's vapour chamber development as the deployment of technologies such as 5G begins rapidly increasing and chipsets growing faster than ever. In case you were wondering, Samsung had previously employed the use of the vapour chamber in devices such as the  Galaxy S10 Plus. The company at the time had claimed that it improved both the phone's efficiency and performance. However, this tool has failed to appear on every Samsung flagship device launched after the S10 Plus. Previous teardowns have suggested that not all Galaxy S20 and Note 20 devices featured the technology, with the Galaxy S21 series opting to ditch the vapour chamber concept entirely. What Exactly is a Vapour Chamber? To clarify, a vapour chamber is a cooling solution that allows for greater heat dissipation on devices like PCs, smartphones and gaming or performance-focused laptops. For laptops, they consist of a vacuum-sealed metal canister that is faltenned, with a little bit of liquid inside. When it is heated, the liquid converts to gas, cools and subsequently condenses, and then travels back to the heat source through a secondary channel. Overall, this process, when combined with the chamber's larger surface area, allows for heat to dissipate faster than a chunk of solid metal or a smaller heat pipe. When it comes to Samsung, the benefit of using a vapour chamber is but obvious, as cooler smartphones work better and do not put pressure on the battery. When this is coupled with better performance for the SoC, as it would allow for longer running without too much of effort, something that can aid gaming, benchmark tests and intensive tasks, the decision to include the same is a no-brainer. There are certain caveats, such as the need to occupy a greater amount of space in the device shell which could be used for tools like larger batteries, more elements or better antennas, but for users who prioritise these things, a larger device might be a smarter buy. All this having been said, I do not expect Samsung to launch this tech just yet, but the report does hint at the chances of a vapour chamber on the Samsung Galaxy S22.

BSNL 4G Networks Needed, Can’t Wait Anymore: Opinion Posted: 09 Jul 2021 02:20 AM PDT Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has seen enough delays and has waited enough for the rollout of its 4G networks. The state-run telco has been interfered with multiple times whenever it has tried to go ahead with launching the 4G networks. Thus, this is high time for the Indian government to extend its support to the telco or just let it die. One thing that's become absolutely clear is that once 5G arrives in India, BSNL would be even farther behind the private operators. Just how shameful it would be to see that the state-run telco is still operating 3G networks while the others have upgraded to 5G. BSNL 4G Tender Should be Pushed Fast The government must ensure that whatever has happened shouldn't happen again with BSNL. The telco must go ahead with its 4G tenders without facing any more delays from any group or body. BSNL has already proposed a hybrid 4G tender which is a clever way of keeping both the government happy and run the business in an optimum manner. Without 4G, the telco is as good as dead. Even with 4G, it has a mere chance of survival if it doesn't keep 5G in mind. With the new use cases that 5G networks will have, BSNL will have a solid chance of increasing its revenues if it can upgrade to 5G fast. Thus, BSNL's sole focus shouldn't only be at 4G; but to get equipment for the 4G networks that will allow an easy shift to the 5G NSA (non-standalone). This will allow the state-run telecom operator to bank on not only 4G revenues but 5G as well. Users will soon shift from the telco's 3G networks to other operator's 4G and 5G networks because of the increasing demand for faster internet. Thus BSNL needs to move aggressively fast. There's no time for the telco to sit around and wait for things anymore. It is already too late. Without 4G and 5G in the next 3 to 4 years, BSNL might just go out of the market, or it will have to be privatised. If the telco fails, it will need to be privatised or else all its resources, networks; investments would have meant nothing. BSNL Broadband Business a Strong Prospect for the Company If BSNL ever fells short of money to an extent where it needs to close shop, the telco can do what Vodafone Idea (Vi) is trying to do. It can sell and lease back its broadband business. This would mean that the telco will get the cash it requires to expand the network aggressively and not go out of the market. But this should be the last resort for the company. Its broadband business is already very big in the country, and the fiber plans that BSNL provides are very competitive to the likes of JioFiber, Airtel Xstream Fiber, and You Broadband. However, it's not enough to keep the telco going. I really hope that BSNL can get out of its problems very soon because it wouldn't be good for anyone to see the telco going out of business.

OnePlus to Rollout ColorOS for OnePlus 8 Series Posted: 09 Jul 2021 01:46 AM PDT OnePlus had recently announced that it was merging its resources with Oppo. Later, it was also announced that the OxygenOS of OnePlus would be merged with Oppo's ColorOS. It is worth noting that both the companies have already been sharing resources internally for years now; thus it wouldn't be too new for them. However, it will be very strange for the market to initially perceive that OnePlus has merged with Oppo. Now, as reported by Gizmochina, OnePlus is working on rolling out the ColorOS stable update for the OnePlus 8 series devices. Note that this update will be rolled out for the users living in China. OnePlus 8 Series in China Will Get ColorOS Stable Update OnePlus has plans of rolling out the ColorOS stable update for the OnePlus 8 series devices in China in 2022. For the unaware, OnePlus had already started the Early Access program for ColorOS 11 for the OnePlus 8 series. Now, in an official announcement in the OnePlus Community (China), the company has said that it will be rolling out the stable ColorOS updates for the OnePlus 8 series. What's interesting here is that OnePlus started the Early Access program for ColorOS 11, which is already out for the Oppo devices. Since Oppo is currently working on the ColorOS 12 based on Android 12, we expect OnePlus to roll out ColorOS 12 for the OnePlus 8 series devices instead of the older generation OS. Another thing that's worth the wait is just how will OnePlus smartphones will perform under the ColorOS. This might change the way people look at OnePlus devices forever. Now whether this is a good move or a bad move, only the updates and time will tell. One thing that OnePlus as a brand has achieved is excelling with its products. Hopefully, this move from the Chinese smartphone maker is also in the right direction.

5G Spectrum Auctions in India to be Delayed Further Posted: 09 Jul 2021 01:23 AM PDT Everyone in the Indian telecom industry is waiting for the 5G spectrum auctions to take place. The auctions have been delayed enough, but it looks like they will be delayed even further. The Indian Navy, which holds 100 MHz of the 5G spectrum does not want to vacate it anytime soon. This comes via a Business Standard report which mentions that the Indian Navy doesn't want to vacate its 100 MHz of airwaves in the 3.3 GHz – 3.4 GHz band. A Department of Telecommunications (DoT) official aware of the matter told the publication that the Indian Navy isn't ready to vacate the 5G spectrum that it holds for the auctions. Until and unless the DoT can clear things up with the Indian Navy, it can't seek consultation on the matter from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). 5G Spectrum Auctions Supposed to Happen After Trials Over The Indian telecom operators including Vodafone Idea (Vi), Bharti Airtel, and Reliance Jio have started testing their 5G solutions and networks with the help of European vendors. All the operators are using airwaves assigned by the DoT strictly for the purpose of trials. The 5G auctions were supposed to take place once the Indian operators completed their 5G trials. However, if the Indian Navy isn't ready to vacate the necessary airwaves, it will be hard for the DoT to go ahead with the auctions. All the operators thinking of rolling out 5G services will be dependent on the mid-band airwaves that the Indian Navy currently holds. Because of this unfortunate development, the government's plan of holding the 5G auctions early in 2022 might go down the water. Another delay in the 5G spectrum auctions will mean delayed rollout of 5G networks as well. Hopefully, the DoT can work out things with the Indian Navy and the auctions can take place at the desired time by the government.

Samsung Just Increased Price of Galaxy F02s, Galaxy M02s, and Galaxy A12 Posted: 09 Jul 2021 01:06 AM PDT Samsung has just increased the price of three of its budget of affordable smartphones in the Indian market. The three devices which have received the price hike are – Galaxy F02s, Galaxy M02s, and Galaxy A12. All the variants of all three devices have become expensive. First reported by Gadgets360, Samsung has chosen to increase the price of all the devices by Rs 500 which is now also visible on the website of the company. Let's take a look at the new prices of the devices. Samsung Galaxy F02s New Price The Samsung Galaxy F02s is available in two variants. The first variant with 3GB+32GB was launched for Rs 8,999 and the second variant with 4GB+64GB was launched for Rs 9,999. After the price hike, the new price of the devices has become Rs 9,499 and Rs 10,499, respectively. Samsung Galaxy M02s New Price The Samsung Galaxy M02s also sells in two variants in India. The first variant with 3GB+32GB was launched for Rs 8,999 and the second variant with 4GB+64GB was launched for Rs 9,999. Post the price hike, the base variant of the device is available for Rs 9,499 and the second variant is available for Rs 10,499. Samsung Galaxy A12 New Price The Samsung Galaxy A12 is also available in two variants in the Indian market. The base variant is priced at Rs 12,999 (4GB+64GB) and the superior variant is priced at Rs 13,999 (4GB+128GB). With the effect of price, the base variant now sells for Rs 13,499 and the superior variant sells for Rs 14,499. Samsung has increased the price of these smartphones because of the increase in the cost of production and shipment of the devices. It has become hard for electronics companies to source major components for their products because of the pandemic. Even Redmi has increased the price of its popular smartphones including the Redmi Note 10 and the Redmi Note 10 Pro.

RCom Lenders Worried About Getting Money Back as DoT Might Not Renew Telecom License Posted: 09 Jul 2021 12:38 AM PDT Reliance Communications has been the centre of attraction in the Indian telecom space since the company announced its financial position and bankruptcy. The situation has become worse for the RCom since the DoT has rejected the plea of renewing the telecom license for another 20 years. In the latest development, the resolution professional for Reliance Communications has stated to the bankruptcy court that the insolvency process will be ruined if the telecom watchdog will terminate the license due to unpaid statutory dues. As reported by ET Telecom, if the license of RCom will be cancelled, the company will have to surrender its spectrum, which is the most valued asset. Also, the 53 lenders will hit the wall in their recovery path if the spectrum is sold. RCom Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process Will Fall Apart Deloitte, the resolution professional for RCom, reached out to NCLT and stated that DoT is unlikely to renew the license of Reliance Communications, which is scheduled to expire on July 27. Ravi Kadam, a Senior Advocate representing the resolution professional, marked that in the absence of a telecom license, the entire corporate insolvency resolution process will fall apart. RCom has to Pay Rs 26,000 Crore AGR Dues At the moment, the only thing which can save RCom lenders from hitting rock bottom is the payment of AGR dues. DoT has asked Reliance Communications to clear its massive Rs 26,000 crore AGR dues for the renewal of the telecom license. Under the IBC proceedings, the asset reconstruction firm UVARCL was expected to pick up the spectrum for Rs 12,760 crores spread over 12 years with Rs 5 crore upfront payment. The said amount is a massive part of the Rs 23,000 crore, which is being considered from the sale of assets in RCom and its units, which are Reliance Infratel and Reliance Telecom. The resolution plans of Reliance Infratel and Reliance Telecom are still to receive clearance by NCLT. The spectrum sale, which the lenders were expecting to pay away their share of investment, is standalone facing legal issues with DoT because of the unpaid statutory dues.

WhatsApp Working to Enhance Photo Sharing for Users Posted: 09 Jul 2021 12:26 AM PDT WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned messaging service has been under some scrutiny in 2021, owing to some security and privacy-related concerns from the consumers. When this did surface and consumers started moving to alternatives such as Signal and Telegram, the messaging service had to clarify the issues and concerns and took out full-page ads to show its stance in regards to consumer privacy. All of these issues never did cause any feature related issues for the platform, with the service constantly adding newer features and bug fixes so as to ensure ease of use and a feature-rich experience for the user. One such feature that WhatsApp is working on might allow users decided as to whether or not the application should compress a certain image. In today’s day and age, sharing images on messaging apps and, at times on Twitter leads to a loss of quality. The only current way to share high-quality pictures is to share it as a document-like file rather than a base image, and, due to this, the recipient of the image might lose out on the quality of the image. What Does the Feature Do? According toWABetaInfo, WhatsApp is soon going to be adding photo upload quality settings within a future beta version on the Android app. This specific feature will allow users to choose whether or not they want to send images in the best available quality or data saver modes. Out of these options, the latter will lead to a compression in order to save data for users who might be using mobile plans allowing for a reduction of sending time if the user is running on a slower network. In contrast, the Best Quality mode will allow for the user to share images that retain their original high-res quality. This might seem like a small feature that might not be useful for most, but as users who regularly share images or notes, it is a much-appreciated feature, since as of now users like us have to go into the link mode and share the specific image as a file rather than just dropping it from the gallery. Do note that it remains unclear as to whether the user will be able to toggle between the available settings for a single image each time a user wishes to share an image. The Auto option is also not explained properly. WABetaInfo further notes that this feature is currently in development and should appear as part of a future beta build. There is also a similar mode for videos, which might result in a double debut for the features.

5G in India Will be Majorly Based on O-RAN Posted: 08 Jul 2021 11:59 PM PDT Even though 5G networks are quite far from the Indian market, the telecom operators have started testing their 5G solutions to ensure that a faster rollout of the next-generation networks is possible. 5G in India will majorly be based on Open-Radio Access Network (O-RAN). For the unaware, O-RAN will enable the operators to source their network components (hardware and software) from different companies. Without O-RAN, the operators need to depend on purchasing everything from single vendors which has helped companies such as Nokia and Ericsson deploy their solutions around the world. According to a BusinessLine report, Rajen Vagadia, VP and President of Qualcomm India and SAARC, India's 5G networks will be majorly based on O-RAN. Even though O-RAN technology is still under development and will take a little time before it reaches the market, Vagadia believes that a huge chunk of the Indian 5G networks will be based on O-RAN. Indians Won't Have to Depend on Chinese Companies for 5G Vagadia said that Indians won't have to depend on Chinese companies for 5G anymore. In fact, even if there are political tensions with some other nation, the operators can deploy different components of a network from different companies with the help of O-RAN. This will help the operators in excluding the companies from the countries that are not India's friends anymore. As per Vagadia, O-RAN will be very compelling for the Indian operators because it will be less costly and would also allow more flexibility in terms of operations. One of the major statements from Vagadia came related to the 5Gi. For the unaware, the 5Gi is the 5G standard that India has developed and it lacks global standards. Vagadia said that for the 5Gi to be successful, it will require 'standardisation' which is what some people in the industry believe as well.

BSNL VPN Services Starting at Rs 390 Available Across India Posted: 08 Jul 2021 11:14 PM PDT BSNL has launched a new service for its customers wherein they would be able to enjoy VPN services with very easily affordable monthly costs. As per the advert of BSNL, this service is mainly for corporates and companies who find the need for Virtual Private Networks. The thing to note here is that the VPN service of BSNL will only be applicable on the 3G networks exclusively which is something BSNL has highlighted. This might be purely due to technical reasons as the deployment of a BSNL might further reduce the speeds on the network, and since BSNL has a sporadic 4G coverage in India, the 3G network is what BSNL is relying on for this VPN-enabled service. Pricing of BSNL VPNo3G Services When it comes to the pricing of the VPNo3G service by BSNL, the public telco has remarked that it will start retailing at a Fixed Monthly Cost (FMC) of Rs 390. The strong point about the BSNL VPN service is that it is available across India without any exception from Kashmir right down to the South of India. Also, it is worth noting that in its infographic, that BSNL has shared the company has noted that there will be no minimum speed promise unlike its FTTH plans as the speed would depend on the "best effort basis". The customers will have multiple options to choose from starting at Rs 390, and Rs 450 for 1GB data and speed reduced to 80 Kbps thereafter, right up to Rs 2,000 where the consumers can enjoy up to 37GB of data in FUP. About VPN The corporate customers of BSNL can also avail the static IP service with a Rs 1,500 fee. For the unawares, we would like to add that the BSNL VPNo3G is a service that will create a Virtual Private Network for use. A VPN basically creates a private network on a bigger public network which makes the connected devices function as if they are connected on a single LAN connection. This also means increased, security and privacy. The corporate customers of BSNL who would appreciate reliable service, more security and privacy on their networks will find this BSNL offering suitable.

Mi 11 Lite vs Redmi Note 10 Pro: Which Is the Best Mid-Range All Rounder Posted: 08 Jul 2021 10:30 PM PDT Redmi is popular as Xiaomi’s sub-brand that caters to the affordable smartphone seeking crowd, but, from time to time, even Xiaomi decides to make some changes and launch mid-rangers that can take the fight not only to certain other budget brands but at times even to Redmi’s smartphone portfolio. In this context, the Mi 11 Lite is one such product that can take the fight to Redmi’s popular Note 10 Pro that was launched a couple of months ago and retails for around Rs 16,000 in contrast to the Rs 21,999. So, which one is the better of the two and provides better value, read on to find out. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite vs Redmi Note 10 Pro: Design and Display In terms of what the design has to offer, the Mi 11 Lite is the product that you should opt for without batting an eye. The device offers a thinner and lighter build than the Redmi Note 10 Pro and comes with a rather attractive back panel. The Redmi Note 10 Pro does have a glass back protected by Gorilla Glass 5, so if you are a bit of a klutz, maybe consider going for the Redmi option. Both devices do offer IP53 certification for dust and splash resistance. When it comes to the display, the Redmi Note 10 Pro offers a higher refresh rate panel, at 6.67-inches with FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate support, whilst the Mi 11 Lite comes with a  6.55-inch Super AMOLED panel. In terms of display quality, the Mi 11 Lite is one of the cheapest handsets to offer one billion colours via the Full HD+ panel. There is an HDR10 certification and a refresh rate of 90Hz, which should be more than enough. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite vs Redmi Note 10 Pro: Performance and Software Performance is not that separated, as both the Mi 11 Lite and Note 10 Pro offer the same processor, which is a Snapdragon 732G with up to 128GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. Performance is a bit too similar for our liking, as both have the same expansion medium of a MicroSD slot as well but, both of them seem to lose out on 5G. In terms of software, the devices run on MIUI 12 on top of Android 11. Connectivity options include Wi-FI 802.11 a/b/n/ac, GPS and Bluetooth 5.1. Battery life is a bit of a pickle since, in favour of the lighter build, the Mi 11 Lite opts for a 4250 mAh battery with 33W charging, in contrast to the Redmi Note 10 Pro’s 5020 mAh battery with the same 33W fast charger in the box. Here it is a matter of what appeals to you more, a lighter build or better battery life. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite vs Redmi Note 10 Pro: Cameras The Redmi Note 10 Pro makes use of a 64MP primary sensor that is coupled with an 8MP ultra-wide sensor and two additional sensors for depth and macro, 2MP and 5MP, respectively. The selfie snapper is a 16MP shooter. In comparison, the Mi 11 Lite has a triple-rear camera setup with a primary 64MP sensor coupled with an 8MP ultra-wide snapper and a 5MP macro sensor, with the same 16MP selfie snapper. When it comes to the pricing, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite starts from Rs 21,999 in India, whilst the Redmi Note 10 Pro is priced at Rs 15,999. The Redmi offering has better value and a bigger battery, whilst the Mi 11 Lite offers a thinner and lighter build coupled with a brighter and better display. For a value for money consumer, the Redmi Note 10 Pro might be appealing but, for users who prefer form over function, the Mi 11 Lite might be a bit more appealing.

Telecom Ministry Gets New Head, Here are the Challenges That Lay Ahead for Him Posted: 08 Jul 2021 08:00 PM PDT On Thursday, news of the new cabinet reshuffle filled the newspapers and the internet, with one of the most powerful offices in the country being handed over to relatively lesser-known people. Among these is also Ashwini Vaishnav, a 1994 batch IAS officer who has taken the reins of the telecom ministry from the previous office-bearer, Ravi Shankar Prasad. Vaishnav joins the office at a time when a lot of responsibilities happen to be looming on him. These include a lot of hurdles that the telecom industry happens to be facing. Here are some of the reeling issues which will take the headspace of the newly appointed telecom minister. Relief to the Ailing Telecom Companies The first and foremost thing that the telecom minister will have to do is provide relief to the ailing telecom companies; the headliner in this list happens to be Vodafone Idea. The telecom minister is likely to decide on some of the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the sector regulator who will make suggestions on how the industry can be brought back to fair pricing. The ideation will probably involve some decision-making and brainstorming on the part of the minister with regard to floor pricing. Whatever be the case, the issue of Vodafone Idea is something that must be dealt with priority because the current unsustainable prices of data are a ticking time bomb for the company. Revival of Public Telecom Companies The next issue which the Wharton-grad cum present telecom minister will have to face is the revival of BSNL and MTNL. The two public telecom companies have been facing a deteriorating wave of finances and quality of service since the last half of the decade. The accelerated pace of 4G propagation in the country has put these two companies on back footing. The second most burdensome responsibility on the shoulders of the telecom minister would be this. To breathe back life into these companies, ensure their survival for strategic importance and maintain the four-company structure of the telecom business as it remains indispensable for competitive and pricing reasons. The rollout of 5G and Other Developments The other issues that the minister will handle will include looking into the rollout of the 5G spectrum and ensuring trials and upcoming auctions. At the helm of DoT, he will be responsible for taking a cumulative decision on the pricing of the spectrum, which can make or break the future of the telecom business in India and also of the 5G network. The next in line would be the job of ensuring the smooth rollout of highly talked about schemes like PM-WANI to change the face of the public Wi-Fi business. Looking at the credentials which Ashwini Vaishnaw seems to be bearing, it seems as though the telecom ministry happens to be in the right hands. Now it depends on the collective decision-making of the office-bearers and the top management of the companies as to how the industry is steered. Regardless of the fact which leads the telecom department, the fact remains that there are numerous problems plaguing the sector which require an immediate panacea.

Google Pixel 6 Series of Devices Might Offer 5 Years of Software Support, As Per Leakster Posted: 08 Jul 2021 07:53 PM PDT In the month of May, it was revealed that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro might be on their way, courtesy of Front Page Tech (FPT). This came after Google saw a decent amount of success with the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4a. Now, it seems that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro might be closer to a proper reveal, as Front Page Tech has leaked a lot of information in regards to the Pixel 6 series of devices. In case you missed it, it was reported back in May that Google would be letting go of the typical XL branding in favour of the Pro moniker for the higher variant of the Pixel device. Today, a trusted source of Jon Prosser has revealed everything we need to know about the next best product from Google. Prior to starting the entire specification, it will interest you to know that both devices, as in the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro might feature Google’s custom chipset, offer Wi-Fi 6E, 5G. What Do We Know About the Pixel 6 Series of Devices? Beginning with the Google Pixel 6, codenamed Oriel, it might feature a 6.4-inch AMOLED panel, sporting a punch-hole to the front that houses an 8MP selfie snapper. To the rear, the device has a 50MP primary sensor, coupled with a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. The battery on the handset is a 4614 mAh unit with the processor in use being Google’s own. The device may offer two storage variants, namely 8+128GB and 8+256GB and run Android 12 out of the box. As for the Google Pixel 6 Pro, it might make use of a 6.71-inch P-OLED panel with a 12MP front snapper on top. Rear cameras include a 50MP primary sensor coupled with a 48MP telephoto sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide snapper. The battery might be a 5000 mAh unit, with the same Google chipset in use. Storage options will include 12GB of RAM with three different storage options, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. The device will also boot Android 12 out of the box. The most important thing to note is that Google seems to be committing to at least 5 years of software updates for both handsets, which is big news considering how Apple usually offers 5 years of software support, signalling Google’s renewed plans to take on the best of the best with the best of Android. In terms of when we could see the device, Prosser mentioned that a finalized release date has not been revealed as of now, but the device might launch sometime in October of 2021.

JioFiber Gets Serious Competition from This Plan of Alliance Broadband Posted: 08 Jul 2021 06:32 PM PDT JioFiber has become very famous throughout India because of its cheap plans and the benefits they come with. Even though the internet service provider (ISP) came to the scene pretty late, it has changed the market completely. JioFiber offers some of the best internet broadband plans in the country. But then there is Alliance Broadband, an ISP operating out of Kolkata that too provides equally good plans as JioFiber. But Alliance Broadband is not a very big name throughout the country because it is still a regional provider (a company that offers services in select regions of the country). Regardless, in the regions where Alliance Broadband is providing its services, JioFiber is getting tough competition from the company. Let's take a look at this one plan from Alliance Broadband that is giving Jio a head-on challenge. Alliance Broadband Rs 1,000 Plan Gives JioFiber's Rs 999 Plan a Straight Challenge Before we move ahead, note that both the pricing of the plans is almost the same, and the speed they offer is the same as well – 150 Mbps. With JioFiber, the benefits of the Rs 999 plan are quite simple – 150 Mbps speed, unlimited data (3.3TB or 3,300GB), free voice calling connection, and over-the-top (OTT) benefits. The OTT benefits include Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar VIP, ZEE5, SonyLIV, ShemarooMe, Voot Select, Voot Kids, Discovery+, Hoichoi, JioCinema, LionsgatePlay, JioSaavn, and ALTBalaji. Moving on to the Alliance Broadband Rs 1,000 plan, users get 150 Mbps speed, truly unlimited data without any fair usage policy (FUP) limits. Users get multiple OTT benefits with this plan as well – ZEE5, Sony LIV, Hungama, Hoichoi, and AddaTimes. However, at the end of the day, the plan from JioFiber stays ahead of what Alliance Broadband is offering to its users. JioFiber's Plan Takes a Lead from Alliance Broadband's Plan Here First of all, JioFiber's plan allows users to redeem a free Jio Set-Top Box (STB), which Alliance Broadband doesn't offer. Further, the number of OTT benefits offered by JioFiber's plan is more. Then, even though JioFiber doesn't offer truly unlimited data to its users, the company is giving 3.3TB for one month, which is more than sufficient for a majority of the users. So Alliance Broadband's truly unlimited data offering is only marginally advantageous for the end-user. Note that none of the plans mentioned above has priced mentioned with GST included. So there will be that cost extra. Also, the plan that I have mentioned of Alliance Broadband is only available for users in Kolkata.

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