${latestitem Title}

Top Broadband Plans Offering 40 Mbps Speed in India 2021
Google Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5 Are Being Discontinued
Best Budget Wi-Fi Routers to Buy In India Now
Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon to Change Broadband Scenario in India
Airtel Black Is The Right Model for Telecom Companies
iPhone 14 Probably a Better Bet than iPhone 13
Vodafone Idea Can Turn Things Around for Good
Top Two Indian Telecom Operators Revenue Market Share Will Keep Increasing

Top Broadband Plans Offering 40 Mbps Speed in India 2021

Posted: 21 Aug 2021 10:33 AM PDT

High-speed broadband internet is catching up all over India as with the rest of the world. This becomes highly important as people use a lot of media streaming amidst the pandemic while people stay at home. As of now, many broadband service providers operate in the country delivering attractive benefits for users. Especially, with the perks offered by Reliance Jio in this segment, rival operators have come up with numerous offerings that provide notable benefits for users. If you are looking for affordable broadband internet plans in India right now, then you can take a look at a slew of plans offered by a few operators including Airtel Broadband, Connect Broadband and Netplus Broadband with 40 Mbps speed.

Connect Broadband 40 Mbps Plans

Connect Broadband offers three broadband plans with Mbps internet speed. As per the company’s website, it offers a broadband plan priced at Rs 499 per month offering unlimited data and unlimited calling benefits, be it local or STD. Another plan is priced at Rs 666 and bundles unlimited data, unlimited calls, free antivirus and four bundled OTT apps. Lastly, we have the Rs 888 plan bundling unlimited data, unlimited calls, free antivirus and eight bundled OTT apps. All these broadband plans have a FUP of 3300GB post which the speed will drop to 5 Mbps.

Netplus Broadband 40 Mbps Plans

Netplus Broadband offers one broadband plan that provides 40 Mbps internet speed. This broadband plan is priced at Rs 499 per month. It comes with unlimited data and unlimited calling benefits, be it local or STD. There are no other plans from Netplus Broadband offer no other plans with 40 Mbps data speed. Notably, there is no FUP as it offers truly unlimited data.

Airtel Broadband 40 Mbps Plans

One of the reputed broadband service providers is Airtel Broadband. The operator offers a slew of broadband plans including the plan priced at Rs 499. It delivers benefits inclduing unlimited local and STD voice calls and unlimited data alongside free Airtel Xstream subscription, Wynk Music subscriptions and one year of Shaw academy membership. This plan offers data at 40 Mbps speed up to 3333GB and you can still use unlimited data at 1 Mbps.

Google Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5 Are Being Discontinued

Posted: 21 Aug 2021 08:14 AM PDT

Google is discontinuing its Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 devices post the launch of Pixel 5a in the market. It is worth noting that Google is also going to reveal the Pixel 6 series. To ensure that its latest smartphones get the most traction from consumers, the company is discontinuing its legacy smartphones, namely Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5. According to a report from The Verge, the company's online store is currently reflecting 'sold out' status for the two smartphones. A Google's spokesperson had earlier said that the company is expecting to run out of stock for the two smartphones in the US in the coming weeks following the arrival of Pixel 5a 5G. The spokesperson had further said that the two out of stock devices might be available at its partner stores until the supply lasts. If you have been contemplating about getting your hands on the Google Pixel 4a 5G or the Google Pixel 5, now is your chance before they are completely off the market.

Strange to See Google Pixel 5 Being Discontinued

It is a little strange to see that Google is discontinuing the Pixel 5 when it hasn't even launched its successor, the Pixel 6 series. The Pixel 5a 5g can't be called the successor of the Pixel 5 because the Pixel 5a 5G is a budget version of the Pixel 5. The Google Pixel 5a 5G has been launched for a very similar price as that of the Pixel 4a 5G and also has very similar specifications. Thus discontinuing the Pixel 4a 5G makes sense since the company would want the Pixel 5a 5G to sell more. That said, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is currently available only in select markets, and the Indians are still waiting for the smartphone. The Pixel 5a 5G is a decent smartphone, and it is certainly going to stand up to the expectations of the users.

Best Budget Wi-Fi Routers to Buy In India Now

Posted: 21 Aug 2021 05:51 AM PDT

It is highly important to have a good internet connection at your home or workplace as it lets you stay connected with family and friends. However, you need to understand that it is important to have a good Wi-Fi router at your home to ensure significant speed. Of late, most households in the country have more than a smartphone and use video streaming services to meet their entertainment needs. Having said that, a reliable Wi-Fi router is important for an uninterrupted user experience. An efficient router will ensure hassle-free connectivity for users. Without further ado, here we have listed the best Wi-Fi routers within your budget.

TP-Link Archer C20 AC750 Wireless Dual Band Router

TP-Link Archer C20 AC750 wireless dual-band router supports internet speeds of up to 733Mbps. This router caters to the needs of a large majority of internet users in India. It supports dual-band Wi-Fi, thereby letting you switch to the 5 GHz band if you want fast speeds or use the 2 GHz band if you want wider coverage. It has three antennas for adequate network coverage. This TP-Link router strikes a good balance between price and performance.

Tenda N301 Wireless-N300 Router

The Tenda N301 Wireless-N300 Easy Setup Router supports maximum internet speeds of up to 300 Mbps. This budget router features two antennas and ensures uninterrupted network coverage. As it is a budget router, the Tenda offering supports only the 2.4 GHz band, which is adequate for many. Notably, this router is one of the best budget router options out there as it comes with support for most internet service providers in the country, thereby offering the best value for your money.

TP-Link TL-WR841N 300Mbps Wireless Router

The TP-Link TL-WR841N Wi-Fi router is yet another popular budget wireless router. It comes with a dual-antenna design and supports internet speeds of up to 300 Mbps. This router offers a simple setup using the web login option. Alternatively, users can download the TP-Link Tether app and set it up via their smartphones.

Mi Smart Router 4C

The Mi Smart Router 4C offers a lot of features despite its affordable pricing. It supports speeds of up to 300 Mbps and single band 2.4 GHz. There is an app that lets you manage the router's features from your phone. Featuring four antennas, this is one of the good options out there.

Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon to Change Broadband Scenario in India

Posted: 21 Aug 2021 04:19 AM PDT

Though India’s broadband scenario is not comparable with its global counterparts, the scene can see lots of improvements. The wired vs Wireless debate is going to be over soon, as satcom is coming to India at an affordable (not cheap) price. There are several satcom projects are aiming to go global, like Tesla famed Elon Musk backed SpaceX, Bharti Airtel backed OneWeb, Amazon backed Project Kuiper, British start-up Methera Global Communications and early entrants like HughesNet, Iridium, Eutelsat, Viasat, O3b Networks. Even Tata Group-backed Nelco is also in talks with Canadian firm Telesat to create a JV to launch satellite communications services in India & globally in the coming days. Telesat’s Light-speed satellite services may be launched in India by 2024 by a JV between Tata’s Nelco & Telesat. Bharti Airtel has infused 361 million Euros in OneWeb till July 2021, taking its stake to 39%. Other investors in OneWeb are French Eutelsat, Japan’s Softbank & UK Government – each holds a 19.3% stake. UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng shares his excitement as he sees a ‘strong future for this incredible, cutting-edge company and a robust commercial case for investment.’ OneWeb has launched 36 new satellites in May 2021 and the company is working in a war-footing manner to go commercial in mid-2022. In India, they have even obtained a licence of 20 years of satcom operations from DoT. The major boost in the satcom business came after Elon Musk entered into it with Starlink. The satcom ambitions have been propelled by reduced cost to launch a satellite at space (ISRO showed the path). Also, the cost of building a satellite has been cheaper than ever now, as the companies are building a constellation with several numbers of satellites (Starlink will have 3,000 satellites & OneWeb has plans of 648 satellites initially) – that helps to cut the time and price to build a satellite. Early data from Ookla shows Starlink offers quite impressive speed – around 80 Mbps (promised speed up to 300 Mbps) with their LEO satellites. That’s too good compared to the average speed of India’s 4G or fiber broadband. Globally telecom majors are already aware of ‘the threat from space’, though Tesla & SpaceX Starlink owner Elon Musk does not see Starlink as a direct competitor to traditional telecom services. Vodafone & Japanese digicom major Rakuten have been investing in ASG & Science, a company to make tech solutions that would enable smartphones to connect to LEO satellites. India’s satellite space will be very interesting as it might get launched before 5G comes to India. But it is expected that OneWeb or Starlink would not try to disrupt the market.

Airtel Black Is The Right Model for Telecom Companies

Posted: 21 Aug 2021 01:40 AM PDT

Airtel Black was announced by Bharti Airtel a few weeks back. For the unaware, it is a bundled service from the company that brings broadband, mobile postpaid, and Direct-to-Home (DTH) connections under a single bill. This isn't a new concept from the company as users could still choose from One Airtel plans, but as explained by Shashwat Sharma, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer of Bharti Airtel, the Airtel Black plans are a "step above" One Airtel plans. Sharma explained that One Airtel plans could be looked at as 'beta' and the Airtel Black as the final and stable product.

Airtel Black Offers the Convenience to Every Customer

Airtel Black is available for every customer of the company regardless of the region they live in. Note that One Airtel plans were only available in select cities of India. Airtel Black plans are only offered to the users who own a postpaid connection of the company. This is a clever way for Bharti Airtel to ensure that they are maximising their revenues with the customers under Airtel Black. What's interesting is that Airtel could have also allowed the prepaid customers to opt for Airtel Black plans, but the telco hasn't done that. These plans are only reserved for customers who are using a postpaid connection from the company.

Here's why this model is right for telecom companies.

Every telecom company in India offer multiple services apart from just mobile network services. There is broadband and more. These companies can maximise their revenues like Airtel by offering bundled services to the users. Especially with the coming age of 5G, bundled 5G plans would interest a lot of consumers and help the telcos in earning more out of each of their customers. It is worth noting that Airtel is the only operator that offers standalone DTH service, and that is why the bundled service model suits the company really well. But even Vodafone Idea (Vi), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), and Reliance Jio can offer such plans by including the services they already provide. This kind of bundled service also allows users to get the most out of their plans as well as makes it convenient for them to pay bills. For the unaware, the Airtel Black plans all come with a single bill. That bill can pay off multiple mobile connections, a DTH connection, and a broadband bill. So you don't have to worry about paying multiple bills for multiple connections. This is certainly a business model that all the other operators can go ahead with.

iPhone 14 Probably a Better Bet than iPhone 13

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 10:17 PM PDT

iPhone 13 is expected to launch next month, and Apple fans are going berserk. There are multiple upgrades that the iPhone 13 series is expected to feature. There might be a bigger battery with a 25W fast-charging support, 120Hz refresh rate display, and a smaller notch. But if you are a tech fan, you might plan your purchases on tech products accordingly. While there are many already saving money to buy the iPhone 13 that's expected to launch soon; there are many who are saving money for the iPhone 14 series and for very good reasons. Here's why I think the iPhone 14 might be a better bet than the iPhone 13.

iPhone 14 Expected Features That Excite Me

The iPhone 14 series is expected to come with no notch at all. Apple would want to get rid of the ugly notch at the top. While the company is trying to make it small with the iPhone 13 series, it can't totally get rid of it because the under-display tech is not where it is supposed to be. But there's a lot of time till the launch of the iPhone 14 series next year. Thus this is an area where Apple can really hit a home run and change the overall look of the iPhones. Further, the iPhone 14 might feature super-fast charging. It is pretty weird that Apple has not launched a single iPhone with 30W fast-charging support till today. On top of this, the iPhone 14 series might feature the biggest battery on an iPhone ever. Coming back to the things under-display, Apple might also bring in-display fingerprint sensor technology in the iPhone 14 series. This is something I don’t expect the iPhone 13 series to come with, but Apple has enough time to get it right with the iPhone 14 series. There are more things such as a quad-camera setup and a USB Type-C port or a portliness design that might be introduced by Apple with the iPhone 14 series.

Vodafone Idea Can Turn Things Around for Good

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 06:46 PM PDT

Vodafone Idea can turn things around for good. But it will require a lot of help from outside the company. The telco just needs to get a few things right in the next six months, and it can give serious competition to both Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Here's the thing though, Vi might not have the kind of time I think it does. But there's one thing I am sure of – the employees of the company (both in the field and the office) haven't been working relentlessly just to give up on the telco's future. They are working to ensure that the telco survive. If you are thinking about the promoters shying away from contributing more capital wise, it is fairly understandable. There's no investor in the world who would want to risk their money into a company that's not doing great and in a market where the conditions are not favourable. Because let's face it, the Indian telecom market isn't the best from the perspective of the operators as they have to invest high but get a low return because of cheap data pricing. Vodafone Idea can benefit a lot if few things go its way.

Vodafone Idea Counting on Government, Tariff Hikes to Lead the Way

Vodafone Idea has a lot of hopes from the government. The government is said to be working on a relief package for the telecom sector. Vi has high hopes that this relief package will be able to alleviate its pain to a certain extent. Further, the telco further has submitted a review petition at the SC to push for corrections in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues amount. If that goes the telco's way, it would be a major win for the industry as Airtel is also involved in the matter. On top of all this, a tariff hike would be a great thing for the telco. It will majorly help with increasing the average revenue per user (ARPU). A higher ARPU with reduced AGR dues and a relief package at the back would allow the telco to find new investors much easily. There's one more thing that Vi can do but might be a little hesitant. The telco can invest aggressively in its networks. But again, there's no cash, and whatever there is, Vi would want to use it carefully because it also has statutory dues that will start becoming payable starting December of 2021. Vodafone Idea can really turn things around if the telco can focus and bring all of its moves to life. It isn't too late for the telco yet, and no one can or should write off the company from its books.

Top Two Indian Telecom Operators Revenue Market Share Will Keep Increasing

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 12:45 PM PDT

The top two telecom operators in India (Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel) will keep growing their revenue market share (RMS) in the coming future if Vodafone Idea (Vi) can't cope with them in terms of network investments. It is worth noting that because of the weak financials, Vi isn't investing in its networks in full capacity. Because of this, its rivals Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio gain the upper hand in offering better network services to the users. This, in turn, would push the subscribers to recharge more Airtel and Jio plans. As per Jefferies, an analyst firm, Vodafone Idea would keep losing RMS if it can't invest in its networks.

Vodafone Idea Will Get Benefits of Relief Package, But So Will Jio and Airtel

The government is expected to come out with a relief package for the telecom sector very soon. This will help Vodafone Idea to a certain extent. But it will also be beneficial for Jio and Airtel, noted Jefferies. As per the data shared by the analyst, Jio and Airtel command about 72% RMS and have gained 60 basis points (bps) and 120 bps in one year. The operators have RMS levels of 38% (Jio) and 34% (Airtel). At the same time, it is worth noting that Vodafone Idea (Vi) has lost 180 bps that brought down its RMS to 19%. Due to the huge debt that Vi has in its books, the telco can't really make any big and aggressive investment in its network. That is why Vi has been in a search of an investor, which has not brought any positive results for the telco. If Airtel and Jio can keep making continuous investments on their networks and Vi can't because of the cash crunch, it will further lead to a higher market share for the top two Indian telecom operators. Only time will tell if Vi can deliver strong results in network performance and take the lost RMS back from Jio and Airtel.

Search This Blog

TELECOM TARIFF INDIA