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- Ericsson Helps APT Bring First 5G NSA MOCN in Taiwan
- Vodafone Idea Has Discontinued Rs 49 Prepaid Plan In Most of India
- India Ready for 5G, Affordable Spectrum Needed: Ericsson India
- Best Smartphones for Watching Netflix Under Rs 25,000
- Airtel, Jio Expected to Initially Focus on Enterprise Business With 5G
- Premium Smartwatches to Buy in 2021
- Vodafone Idea Lender Eye For Additional Guarantees on Existing Loans
- Vodafone Idea Has Paid License Fee
- WhatsApp Increasing Disappearing Messages Time Limit to 90 Days
- New Spacecom Policy Might Contribute to Satellite Broadband Boom In India
- BSNL Union Seeks Telecom Minister’s Intervention to Upgrade Existing Infrastructure to Provide 4G
- Here Is When Galaxy M52 5G, Galaxy F42 5G Might Come to India
- COAI Wants DoT to Increase Tenure of Leased Spectrum
- Vodafone Idea 4G Subscribers Rise, Might Help With Revenues
| Ericsson Helps APT Bring First 5G NSA MOCN in Taiwan Posted: 19 Aug 2021 11:45 AM PDT  Ericsson has helped Asia Pacific Telecom (APT) in coming out with Taiwan's first 5G non-standalone (NSA) Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN). The telco and Ericsson have done this with shared spectrum. It is worth noting that in a mere period of six months, Asia Pacific Telecom (APT) has been able to come out with Taiwan's first 5G NSA MOCN. It has been largely possible because of Ericsson, one of the finest telecom gear vendors across the world. For the unaware, earlier this year, Ericsson had won the contract of APT for deploying the 5G NSA MOCN and modernising its island-wide 4G LTE networks. APT Will Offer 5G MOCN Services With Shared Spectrum With FETLast year, APT had announced a collaboration with FET for offering 5G services to users living in Taiwan with the help of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band with MOCN. Leveraging MOCN, the two core networks from the telcos can share the same bandwidth and RAN technology in 5G. The main benefit of going ahead with the shared network structure is to bring the technology faster to the people of Taiwan and also offer nationwide coverage without much hassle. The throughout being delivered is also high, and the subscriber experience is significantly enhanced. The APT 5G NSA MOCN has already gone live in August 2021. Ericsson has replaced the current Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment of APT with its 5G read RAN solutions. With the help of Ericsson's intelligent 5G solution, APT can operate both 4G and 5G networks dynamically. Ericsson Taiwan President, Chafic Nassif, said that the company's partnership with APT has allowed it to deliver the first 5G NSA in the MOCN structure in Taiwan. Nassif further said that with the launch of the 5G MOCN, Ericsson is better able to maximise the effectiveness of the existing network infrastructure of the telco along with increasing 5G availability across Taiwan. |
| Vodafone Idea Has Discontinued Rs 49 Prepaid Plan In Most of India Posted: 19 Aug 2021 08:19 AM PDT  Vodafone Idea (Vi) has discontinued its Rs 49 prepaid plan in most parts of India. The telco mostly follows in the footsteps of Bharti Airtel when it comes to offering prepaid plans. Much like Airtel, Vi has now discontinued the Rs 49 prepaid plan in most parts of the country and now the users will have to go for the Rs 79 plan at least. Firstly noted by the Financial Express, Vodafone Idea has reduced the number of telecom circles the company is offering its Rs 49 prepaid plan in. Let's check out the benefits that the Rs 49 and Rs 79 plan offers to the customers. Vodafone Idea Rs 49 and Rs 79 Prepaid PlansVodafone Idea (Vi) offers 100MB of data with a talktime of Rs 38 along for 14 days. There are no SMS benefits included. In comparison, the Rs 79 prepaid plan offers 200MB of data, Rs 64 worth of talktime for 28 days, but again, no SMS benefits. So the users will almost get double benefits with the Rs 79 plan when compared with the Rs 49 plan. Note that the plan is still offered in select telecom circles including Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. This is an indirect tariff hike from the company. Yes, the users are getting more benefits as well, but now they will also have to spend more even if they don't want to. Since Airtel has also removed its Rs 49 plan, users have got no other option but to recharge with the Rs 79 plan of either Airtel or Vodafone Idea. This will marginally help Vodafone Idea (Vi) in improving its average revenue per user (ARPU) which will also positively affect its total revenues. This will be a little disappointing for the customers who used to recharge with the base plans under Rs 50 offered by Airtel and Vodafone Idea. But the telcos will be happy by looking at the standard plans that each of them are offering. |
| India Ready for 5G, Affordable Spectrum Needed: Ericsson India Posted: 19 Aug 2021 07:22 AM PDT  India is gearing up for the launch of 5G networks in the first half of 2022. The telecom operators are already testing their 5G solutions in partnership with global vendors, including Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung. Mr Nitin Bansal, Head of Ericsson India and Head of Network Solutions Ericsson South East Asia, Oceania & India, said consumers in India are ready to pay up to 50% more for 5G if they get bundled service from the operators. Mr Bansal shared further insights with TelecomTalk on whether India is ready for 5G or not and what kind of investments are necessary for the successful rollout of 5G networks. Q1. How Prepared Is India for 5G Connectivity?Ericsson believes India is completely ready for 5G, and that is why an affordable 5G spectrum needs to be made available to the telecom operators. Looking at the 'long-term benefits' that 5G technology will bring to India, it needs to be looked at as critical infrastructure and the foundation on which the Digital India vision can be realised. From a technology readiness perspective, we are completely ready to roll out 5G in India, having deployed it across 93+ live networks across the globe. For the unaware, the Ericsson Radio System hardware has been 5G-ready since 2015, allowing telecom service providers (TSPs) to upgrade to 5G with a remote software installation reducing their costs. As India gets ready to embark on its 5G journey, Ericsson is committed to working with its partners, customers, and the academic community to design as well as curate India-specific use-cases to create the perfect ecosystem for 5G in India. From a consumer standpoint also, there is a major interest for 5G in India, and more importantly, the consumers are willing to pay a premium for the new capabilities that 5G brings. Our recent consumer lab study 'Five ways to a better 5G' states that at least 40 million smartphone users in India could adopt the 5G technology in the first year of the launch and Indian users are willing to pay as much as 50% more for 5G plans, provided they are bundled with new services. The latest Ericsson Mobility Report reveals that 5G will represent around 26% of mobile subscriptions in India at the end of 2026, estimated at about 330 million subscriptions which is a substantial figure.Q2. Why Do Operators Need to Introduce 5G?The pandemic has accentuated the importance of faster and reliable connectivity for life and work to continue uninterrupted thus, leading to the discussion around the 5G rollout gaining momentum. India is one telecommunications market that is currently the world's second-largest and has continued to register strong growth over the years. The market is witnessing strong data growth, and 5G is needed to cater to this demand. 5G is a platform for innovation, and because of its socio-economic multiplier effect, it will serve as the critical infrastructure that will open new possibilities for consumers and industries alike thus, leading to new revenue streams for operators. While 5G services at present primarily address consumer use cases like enhanced mobile broadband, 5G network capabilities are expected to go far beyond previous generations of mobile communications with lower latency, high reliability, higher capacity, and security. With 26% of mobile subscriptions in India expected to be 5G at the end of 2026, estimated at about 330 million subscriptions (EMR June 2021), India has huge potential for 5G technology. In the initial stage of introduction, 5G will help communication service providers (CSPs) manage the growing data needs of consumers more efficiently. More than 70% of consumers expect 5G to provide a better performance, such as faster speed, better reliability and lower latency, according to the Ericsson Consumer Lab study (2021). That will enable consumer offerings around gaming, video and AR and VR. As per an Ericsson ConsumerLab study called '5G for Business: a 2030 market compass study', it is estimated that the addressable industry digitalisation market for service providers could grow to about USD 700 billion by the end of 2030. The projected value of the 5G-enabled digitalisation revenues in India being approximately USD 17 billion by 2030.Q3. What Are Some 5G Use-Cases We Will See for the Indian Consumer?Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and fixed wireless access (FWA) are anticipated to be the early use-cases for 5G in India. These proposals will contribute to addressing the concern of the limited fixed broadband penetration levels in India and enhance the data experience while on the move. India is the region with an average monthly usage per smartphone of around 15GB (as of 2020). This is expected to grow to 40GB per Smartphone per month by 2026. 5G, in the initial stage, when it is introduced, will help CSPs manage the rising data needs of consumers more efficiently. According to an Ericsson economic study of enhanced mobile broadband, evolution to 5G networks will enable 10 times lower cost per gigabyte than current 4G.Q4. Do You Think Investments in 5G Are Critical for the Indian Economy?5G will facilitate innovative services for consumers, enterprises, and industry, including large-scale IoT, use cases thus, presenting more revenue opportunities for the Indian service providers. With characteristics such as high speeds, low latency, and reliability, 5G will particularly benefit healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, energy/utilities sectors in India. Hence, investment in 5G is critical to unlock the next level of growth for the country.Q5. How Is Ericsson Supporting Indian Operators in 5G Deployments?Along with our partners here in India, Ericsson has been working on 5G for several years in the labs and in advanced outdoor field trials. Working with Indian telecom operators as well as the academia community, we have been testing and developing various 5G use cases relevant for India. In 2019, we collaborated with Qualcomm successfully at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) to show India's first-ever live 5G video call using spectrum in the 28 GHz band. Ericsson also demonstrated the reliability, speed, and low latency of 5G through India's first-ever 5G-powered Connected Music performance during the opening ceremony of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2019. We continue to work closely and engage with all Indian operators on their network evolution plans. Just last year, one of our long term partners, Bharti Airtel, extended its partnership with Ericsson for the deployment of 5G-ready radio, 5G Core and transport solutions. In January 2021, Ericsson and Bharti Airtel partnered to demonstrate 5G on a live network in Hyderabad. By leveraging Ericsson's dynamic spectrum sharing technology, the operator gave India its first taste of 5G over a commercial network. In June this year, we partnered with Bharti Airtel once again to demonstrate enhanced speeds of over 1 GBPS at a live 5G network at the Cyber Hub, Gurgaon, using Bharti's 3500 MHz trial spectrum. Furthermore, Ericsson's Radio System hardware has been 5G-ready since 2015. This allows operators to upgrade to 5G with a remote software installation.Q6. What Are Ericsson’s Plans in the 5G Space? What Are Some Recent Milestones Ericsson Has Achieved?Our 5G plans and strategy are based on increased investments in R&D for technology development, and cost leadership has continued to bear fruit, as it is evident from our results in the second quarter of 2021. With a strong 5G product portfolio and cost structure, Ericsson is well-positioned to take advantage of the continued market momentum. In fact, at a global level, there is already a great momentum in demand for 5G, with lead markets moving forward swiftly, creating many opportunities for our core business to grow. As per the Ericsson Mobility Report released recently, there will be around 580 million 5G subscriptions by the end of 2021 and by 2026, the number is forecasted to reach 3.5 billion. To that end, we are continuing to invest in further strengthening our portfolio and expanding our global footprint. Ericsson is a market leader in live 5G networks; we were the first ones to deploy commercial live networks across five continents. Customers from all across the globe have chosen us as their 5G partner. As of now, we have 143 commercial 5G agreements and 93 live 5G networks globally. With our 5G portfolio in place, customers can deploy 5G networks in all main frequency bands and utilize their valuable spectrum assets fast and in the most efficient way. With proven performance results, we enable our customers to stay ahead with 5G technology. Ericsson has reinforced its global technology leadership with recognitions like: 1. Ericsson has been ranked the highest in the 5G network infrastructure market by Frost & Sullivan's latest Frost Radar™, by leveraging its current leadership in the 4G network infrastructure market 2. Ericsson has been named a Leader in Gartner's 2021 Magic Quadrant for 5G Network Infrastructure for Communications Service Providers (CSPs) Some of the other milestones include: 1. In February 2021, In Ericsson's lab in Kista, Stockholm, with a technical specification comprising 8 component carriers (8CC) aggregating 800MHz of millimetre wave spectrum, Ericsson engineers achieved delivery rates of 4.3Gbps – the fastest 5G speed to date. The landmark was achieved during interoperability testing using commercial solutions. 2. In March 2021, World Economic Forum (WEF) identified Ericsson's USA 5G Smart Factory in Lewisville, Texas as a Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) pioneer. The forum has awarded the site with its prestigious "Global Lighthouse" designation. 3. In April 2021, Ericsson achieved another 5G technical milestone, further accelerating 5G with single user multiple input multiple output (SU-MIMO) by delivering a single user uplink data rate of 315 megabits per second (Mbps), 15-20 times faster than today's typical uplink speed. |
| Best Smartphones for Watching Netflix Under Rs 25,000 Posted: 19 Aug 2021 06:07 AM PDT  Netflix is a household brand that lets users stream content of excellent quality. It has an immense collection of movies, TV shows and web series that you can enjoy in both Full HD and 4K resolution. Of late, Netflix is also shifting to support for HDR aka High Dynamic Range content. To enjoy the content offered by this streaming platform without comprising the quality, you need to use a good smartphone. Also, there should be a high refresh rate of 90 Hz or 120 Hz for a smooth video playback experience. Of late, the smartphone market is getting advanced constantly with the arrival of a plethora of offerings across price segments. If you are looking forward to get a smartphone that can stream quality content on Netflix, then here are some best smartphones for watching Netflix under Rs 25,000. OnePlus Nord CE 5GOnePlus Nord CE 5G bestows a 6.43-inch FHD+ Fluid AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 90 Hz. The screen has a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, which results in a pixel density of 410 ppi and an aspect ratio of 20:9. Notably, the entry-level variant of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G features 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage space and is priced at Rs 22,999.Redmi Note 10 Pro MaxRedmi Note 10 Pro Max is yet another smartphone you should consider buying if you are a Netflix fan. It flaunts a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz. This screen has a touch sampling rate of 240 Hz, up to 1200 nits of brightness, and support for HDR10+. The aspect ratio of this panel is 20:9 and its resolution is 2400 x 1080 pixels. The Redmi smartphone is priced from Rs 18,999 onwards.Motorola G60Yet another affordable smartphone for Netflix fans is the Motorola G60. Its display specifications include a 6.8-inch display with a FHD+ resolution of 2460 x 1080 pixels and a fast refresh rate of 120 Hz. Notably, the screen has support for HDR10 as well. Moto G60 is priced starting from Rs 17,999 in the country. |
| Airtel, Jio Expected to Initially Focus on Enterprise Business With 5G Posted: 19 Aug 2021 05:06 AM PDT  Everyone's waiting for the arrival of 5G in India. The only operators which are expected to launch the 5G networks in the coming months are Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Both of them along with Vodafone Idea have already started testing 5G network solutions in different parts of India. But initially, the 5G networks won't be focused on the consumers, instead, the telcos will keep their focus on enterprise customers. It is true that 5G speeds won't be required by customers in general for a lot of things. A good capacity and a strong 4G+ network in India would suffice for the users in India. As for the use cases of 5G, it is evident that it would be used majorly for the Internet-of-Things (IoT) products and many other things by businesses/enterprises. Need of Solid Budget 5G Smartphones for Consumer BusinessOne of the primary reasons why the operators won't focus too much on the consumer business with the 5G networks is the lack of solid budget 5G smartphones in the Indian market. Either the customers need to purchase high-end flagships or they have to settle for an underperforming budget 5G smartphone. Further, only a handful number of users own 5G smartphones in India. This number is expected to increase with time as more and more good entry-level 5G smartphones are available. Thus, the operators would stick with 4G when it comes to retail consumers and focus on the enterprise customers to deliver 5G services. According to an ET Telecom report, Deloitte, one of the major analyst companies in India said that operators will earn most of their 5G revenues from the enterprise customers initially and the retail revenues would only grow once the mass adoption of 5G smartphones is completed. This will take at least 2 years from today as more and more people will be shifting to 5G phones in the time frame. |
| Premium Smartwatches to Buy in 2021 Posted: 19 Aug 2021 03:23 AM PDT  The demand for smartwatches has recently skyrocketed in the Indian market. The best feature of the latest smartwatches is fitness tracking as well as normal watch functioning. There are an array of benefits that smartwatches provide that are bound to elevate the quality of your life. For instance, users can monitor their heart rate and sleep quality to make necessary amendments for longer life. In this article, we will look at the premium smartwatches that you can buy in 2021. Apple Watch Series 3Apple has developed an extensive range of smartwatches to grab the lucrative market segment. The Apple Watch Series 3 comes in two sizes which are 38mm and 42mm. Also, users to get choose from cellular and non-cellular options. The smartwatch is equipped with a heart rate monitor, GPS and other fitness features.Fossil Gen 5Fossil is known for making durable and premium smartwatches that are packed with an array of features. The Fossil Gen 5 comes with a stainless steel coating that gives a rustic and raw feeling to the smartwatch. The features of the smartwatch include GPS for distance and tracking, a heart rate monitor and a microphone for voice calls. The circular fit of the smartwatch makes it one of the best looking smartwatches on the list that can effectively integrate with Android or iPhone.Oppo WatchThe Oppo Watch comes with a stainless steel frame and a 1.91-inch AMOLED display. The smartwatch is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 (28nm). Also, the smartwatch comes with multiple features like gyro, heart rate sensor, barometer and more. The Oppo Watch comes to life through a 430 mAh battery, and it is available in multiple colours like Black, Glossy Gold, Pink Gold and Silver Mist.Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 comes in two sizes which are 40mm and 44mm. The circular design of the smartwatch helps it blend better when compared to square-shaped smartwatches. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 comes with different fitness modes, a heart rate monitor and support for 4G LTE.Fitbit Versa 2Fitbit Versa 2 is said to last 5 days on a single charge. The smartwatch comes with built-in Amazon Alexa and sleep tracking features. Not only this, but users can also track their oxygen levels. Fitbit also offers training programs if the users opt for a subscription service. Since the smartwatch offers a 5 days battery life, it comes in handy for users who remain outdoor for long period. |
| Vodafone Idea Lender Eye For Additional Guarantees on Existing Loans Posted: 19 Aug 2021 01:54 AM PDT  Vodafone Idea lenders have come out of the shell and asked the financially distressed telco to offer additional collateral and security on existing services. Not only this, but the lenders have also asked for higher interest on loans. Since Vodafone Idea's debt is much higher than the cash reserve, even concerned banks are considering the telco's need for additional bank guarantees. As reported by ET Telecom, the lenders of Vodafone Idea are stressed from the recent downgrade rating of the telco. Nearly all the lenders are seeking the highest interest rates along with top-up on margin money and security against services. Vodafone Idea has Bagged Nearly Rs 25,000 Crore from Public Sector BanksThe cash-strapped telco recently moved to the Supreme Court and revealed that it has outstanding utilised facilities of about Rs 47,000 crores from banks, non-banking financial, mutual funds above its arrears to the DoT. The outstanding amount also includes Rs 25,000 crore from public sector banks. Vodafone Idea is already turning to its lenders to provide additional bank guarantees worth Rs 980 crores to avail moratorium on spectrum payment. Back in June, Vodafone Idea moved to DoT, asking for an extension on the moratorium period. It is also speculated that the relief package on which the government is working will include a moratorium on payment. Lenders, on the other side, have stated that converting debt into equity is one of the options which would aid them. In case you are not aware, the State Bank of India has an exposure of around Rs 11,000 crore to the telco.Capital Raise or Government Relief Package is Crucial For Vodafone IdeaVodafone Idea has been working extensively towards getting Rs 25,000 crore from funding projects. However, the deals are still floating, and no official agreement has been made to date. Recently CARE Ratings downgraded the telco to B-minus and kept it under credit watch with negative implications. Motilal Oswal issued a note and marked that a capital raise round or government relief package will be two major events that will provide immediate liquid support to the financially distressed telco, which has a whopping debt of nearly Rs 1.9 lakh crore. |
| Vodafone Idea Has Paid License Fee Posted: 19 Aug 2021 12:08 AM PDT  Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) spokesperson has confirmed that the company has paid the License Fee (LF) which was due for the first quarter of FY22. Several online reports that went live Thursday morning claimed that Vodafone Idea had fallen short of paying its LF dues for Q1 FY22. But the information was wrong since a spokesperson from the company has said that Vi has completely paid its LF dues for the concerned quarter. But this doesn't mean the company's financials are very good. Vodafone Idea Still In Need of an Outside InvestorThe company is still talking to potential investors. The government has asked Vi promoters including the Vodafone Group Plc and the Aditya Birla Group to share their plans for the company for the next two years. Before the relief package is offered to the industry, the government wants the promoters to show some intent and commitment by infusing further capital in the company. It is worth noting that the promoters have already said no to this. Directly and indirectly, on multiple occasions, the promoters of Vi have refused to add any further capital to the company. Instead, they are ready to sell their stake to outside investors and get diluted. It is a good thing that Vi has managed to pay its LF dues for the first quarter and not increase its debt with interest any further. But the telco still has to climb a mountain in terms of clearing its debt and Vi's cash crunch won't help. Vodafone Idea can't just focus on debt and paying back to the government. The telco also needs to invest in its networks and with most of its cash going towards the payment of dues, it would be difficult for Vi to do so. Further, lenders wouldn't be too excited to offer any more debt to Vi given the kind of risk that involves. |
| WhatsApp Increasing Disappearing Messages Time Limit to 90 Days Posted: 18 Aug 2021 11:48 PM PDT  The Facebook-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature, which is an extension to the disappearing messaging feature. Initially, WhatsApp let users send a disappearing message with a time limit of 7 days. Now, it looks like the messaging platform has increased the time limit for the message expiry to as many as 90 days. If you choose the disappearing messages feature, then the messages that have been read will be there in the chatbox for 90 days. This feature has been rolled out to the users alongside the View Once message that brings the same feature for the photos and videos shared via the platform. WhatsApp Extends Disappearing Messages Time LimitAs per a fresh report by WABetaInfo, the tracker site that updates the latest changes brought to WhatsApp, this new option for the disappearing messages feature is under development. While it was spotted earlier with version 2.21.9.6, the same has been rolled out as a part of version number 2.21.17.16. Going by the screenshot shared by the report, WhatsApp's new disappearing messages feature will give you a slew of time limit options such as 7 days, 90 days, 24 hours and the option to turn the feature off. Currently, there is not much information about the feature and we can get to know further details with the rollout of the same in the stable version. Disappearing messages are useful for both individual and group chats. In personal chats, you can turn the disappearing messages feature on or off based on your preferences. In groups, admins control this feature. Notably, it is important to turn off the toggle prior to using the feature as it will not be turned on by default. For those wondering why you need the disappearing feature turned on, it comes useful in conversations that need not last forever. It can be a store address, shopping life or usual forwards that you get in groups or individual conversations. You can access these as long as you want them and then remove them automatically after a specified time limit. |
| New Spacecom Policy Might Contribute to Satellite Broadband Boom In India Posted: 18 Aug 2021 11:34 PM PDT  The Indian government is gearing up to notify the highly-anticipated new Spacecom policy, which will highlight the crucial role of LEO (low-earth orbit) satellite system operators in boosting broadband coverage, especially in rural areas. This comes while Bharti-backed OneWeb and SpaceX of Elon Musk are prepping to launch their high-speed satellite broadband services in the country in 2022. New Spacecom PolicyAs per DDG (satellite) in DoT, R Shakya, at a satcom webinar, the Department of Space (DoS) will notify the new Spacecom policy soon after it has concluded the activities relevant to its formulation. Only administrative approval is awaited. He also added that the policy will highlight the significant role of non-geostationary satellite systems such as LEOs and MEOs in the country. This will enable regulations around ways to use the new-age satellite constellations without replicating existing telecoms network infrastructure, notes ET Telecom. The Spacecom policy is believed to result in 100% FDI through the automatic route in the satcoms space. Though the industry is wary of the Department of Space (DoS) current role as a licensor, satellite operator and market regulatory, it is claimed to cause a conflict of interest with private satcom service providers and satellite builders. Hopefully, the new policy will address this concern.Permits For LEO OperationsIn a separate move, Shakya and DoT are seeking the views of TRAI on issuing the regulatory-specific permits for operators of the LEO constellation, especially as many satellite service companies are not eager to get pan-India permits as they eye to offer satellite broadband connectivity only to select regions. The DoT official stated that DoT will soon send a reference to TRAI to seek suggestions on how to create an enabling regulatory environment to develop new satellite technologies such as LEO constellations and explore a region-specific licensing framework.Satellite Broadband Boom In IndiaTalking about satellite broadband connectivity in India, the latest spacecom policy developments come at the time when SpaceX, OneWeb, Tata-Telesat, and Amazon combine to enter the nascent fast satellite broadband segment in the country. This helps leverage their respective LEO constellations. As per industry experts, Indian is seen as a key emerging satellite internet market with a $1 billion annual revenue opportunity. As 75 per cent of the rural regions in the country do not have access to broadband connectivity, these regions lack cellular or fiber connectivity as well. Eventually, LEO satellite systems are considered viable alternatives to broadband despite being expensive. |
| BSNL Union Seeks Telecom Minister’s Intervention to Upgrade Existing Infrastructure to Provide 4G Posted: 18 Aug 2021 10:55 PM PDT  The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) has sought telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's intervention to help it roll out 4G services, much needed for the state-owned firm's revival. According to the union, the tender route for procuring 4G equipment and rolling out the services will take a minimum of three years, by when other operators would have launched 5G services. This will result in BSNL being pushed out from the mobile market itself. BSNL Wants Government to Approve 4G Upgradation ProposalThe union wants the minister to direct the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and board members from DoT to approve BSNL's proposal to upgrade existing equipment to launch 4G services. "This will be the only decision that can revive BSNL," it said in a letter to the Minister of Communications. The proposal to launch 4G by upgradation of the existing network was proposed by the BSNL management in December 2019. However, it is learnt that it was objected to by the board members from the government (DoT), the owner of the company, and was dumped, it alleged. The BSNL management had once again proposed the upgradation of the existing equipment of about 18,500 base transceiver stations (BTS) supplied by Nokia, with an estimated cost of Rs 550 crore. The management committee of the BSNL board approved it on July 1, 2021. However, the BSNL board (including two government nominees) did not approve it at the meeting on July 23, 2021, it said. "The role of the DoT and its board members on this matter is really unfortunate and deplorable. We really fear that such actions will only help the private operators," the letter said. "When the Union Cabinet, under the leadership of the Prime Minister has taken the decision for BSNL’s revival by launching 4G services, why the directors from the DoT, are sitting on it?," AUAB wondered, adding this was derailing the entire revival package. The AUAB is clearly frustrated from the regular interruptions made by the DoT and the government officials and it feels like the union is signalling that the government only wants to help the private operators. |
| Here Is When Galaxy M52 5G, Galaxy F42 5G Might Come to India Posted: 18 Aug 2021 09:58 PM PDT  Samsung Galaxy M52 5G, Galaxy F42 5G Specifications (Expected)The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is expected to come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC coupled with up to 6GB of RAM. It is expected to run on Android 11 out of the box. Further, as per other leaks, the device might pack a 4,860mAh battery which is decent. The device is expected to feature a quad-camera setup at the rear, where the primary sensor is a 64MP lens paired with a 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, 5MP macro sensor, and a 5MP depth sensor. The Galaxy F42 5G was also spotted in Geekbench recently. Going by the listing, it can be expected that the device will come powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC coupled with up to 6GB of RAM. The Galaxy F42 5G is also expected to come running on Android 11 out of the box. The device is expected to be a rebranded version of Galaxy A22 5G. As for the Galaxy M52 5G, it can be expected that the smartphone will be a rebranded version of the Galaxy A52s 5G launched in the UK. |
| COAI Wants DoT to Increase Tenure of Leased Spectrum Posted: 18 Aug 2021 09:06 PM PDT  The Cellular Operator Association of India (COAI) has asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to increase the tenure of the leased spectrum from 20 years to 40 years. Further, the industry body wants DoT to increase the moratorium period on spectrum payments to be increased to 10 years from the current 2 years. COAI has requested DoT to include these demands in the relief package it comes out with in the near future. If the DoT includes these points in the relief package, it will be a major boost for the industry. It will help with getting more new investors on board and further expand the confidence of the lenders in the telcos. As per a Financial Express report, the COAI has requested the DoT and Finance Ministry to come out with a relief package for the telecom industry. What Will Relief Package for the Telecom Industry Include?There are many reports saying that the relief package for the telecom industry would include things such as redefining the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues and excluding the non-telecom revenues from the final amount. Further, the spectrum usage charges (SUC), license fees (LF), and bank guarantees (BG) might be reduced. COAI wants the government to reduce the interest rate on all outstanding deferred payment liabilities for getting spectrum to be reduced to 4% or even lesser. The industry body has requested the government to keep the same low interest rate for all future auctions as well. There's no word on when the DoT and the Finance Ministry will come out with the relief package for the sector, but there's one thing for sure, whenever a relief package is introduced, a flurry of new investors would jump in the sector. The telcos have also requested the sector regulator to complete the consultation paper on the floor price for the industry. A floor price might be a necessary evil right now. |
| Vodafone Idea 4G Subscribers Rise, Might Help With Revenues Posted: 18 Aug 2021 06:31 PM PDT  Vodafone Idea has been working non-stop in coming out with better offers for its 4G customers and the telco has succeeded in doing that by a long margin. The plans that Vodafone Idea offers to its customers are unparalleled by any other operator in the market. It is very true that offers such as 'Binge All Night' and 'Weekend Data Rollover' are the best that any operator is offering and it might have helped Vi in adding new customers. To be precise, new 4G customers. There is no denying that Vodafone Idea has lost subscribers in a bunch in the last few years. But its 4G users have risen in number over the last year. Vodafone Idea 4G Subscriber Base Rose Last YearYes, the telco's overall subscribers declined from 279.8 million in Q1 FY21 to 255.4 million in Q1 FY22. But at the same time, Vodafone Idea's 4G subscribers grew from 104.6 million in Q1 FY21 to 112.9 million in Q1 FY22. For those of you who don't understand. Vodafone Idea's (Vi) subscriber base is made up of 2G, 3G and 4G subscribers. So while the telco's total subscriber base declined, its 4G users rose in number. If there's any positive that Vi and its investors would want to take from the report, this would be right at the top of the list. Not only this, but Vi actually invested a ton on its network and its 4G coverage in terms of population and the numbers grew from 990 million in Q1 FY21 to 1,007 million in Q1 FY22. But the sad part is, the telco's revenues are still stuck. Vi's average revenue per user (ARPU) was quite low and I might know the reason.Vodafone Idea High Paying Customers Might Be Leaving the NetworkI could be wrong, but I am going to take a wild but educated guess here. If Vi has added new 4G subscribers and its overall subscriber base has declined, it should mean that there is a higher percentage of 4G users in the total subscriber pool of the telco. In an ideal scenario, if there are more 4G subscribers than the 2G/3G subscribers, it means that the telco's ARPU should go up. But interestingly, Vi's ARPU (blended) has dropped from Rs 114 in Q1 FY21 to Rs 104 in Q1 FY22. Now it is worth noting that the telco added new subscribers for consecutive months which are February and March. So these 4G subscribers might have joined the company very recently. Still, that should have converted into an increased ARPU which did not happen. This could mean one thing – the high paying customers of the telco are leaving the network. Maybe the offers aren't just good enough for them. Or Maybe, Vodafone Idea high paying subscribers are leaving the network because of Airtel and Jio offering superior coverage. There could be 'n' number of reasons but if the telco's high ARPU customers leave the network, things won't end well. But there's also a silver lining in the figures shared by the company.Vodafone Idea Rise in 4G Subscribers Can Help Company Earn MoreThe tariff hikes have already started in a subtle way by the operators and it might almost be the time when Vodafone Idea would go all in. The telco has been waiting for Airtel and Jio to be ready to do that as well. With more 4G subscribers, the telco stands a chance to earn more revenues as the tariffs go up. But at the same time, Vi would desperately try to retain its users and hopefully add some new ones. If Vi can add more 4G subscribers and go with the tariff hike and get a relief package from the government; it might set things straight for the company in the coming years. But again, this is just an opinion, and there's frankly no reason why not to put your hopes up for a company that's been battling out the storm for so long. |
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