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COAI Asks DoT to Redefine AGR, Remove Bank Guarantees
Airtel Office Internet Has Plans Ranging from Rs 499 to Rs 9,999: Check Benefits
Vodafone Idea 4G User Additions Evoke Mixed Response from Analysts
Amazfit Bip U Pro Review: Quite an Interesting Smartwatch
Relief to Telcos Will Not be a Temporary Step But Good for the Industry in Long Term
Google Pixel 6 Major Revelation By Android Head
Bharti Airtel Stock Dips Despite Good Results In Noon Session
Vodafone Idea Subscribers Joining Airtel, Jio: Jefferies
Samsung Galaxy M32 5G Comes At Surprising Price
WhatsApp Might Allow Users to React to Messages Soon
Telecom Sector PLI Scheme Companies Almost Confirmed
Bharti Airtel Releases a Sigh of Relief

COAI Asks DoT to Redefine AGR, Remove Bank Guarantees

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 12:02 PM PDT

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has asked the government to completely remove the system of bank guarantees (BGs) for the telcos. Further, the industry body has asked for redefining the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues. Both have become issues for the industry, particularly Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. AGR Dues

Through a tweet, SP Kochhar, Director General, COAI, said that the AGR definition should only include telecom revenues. In another tweet, Kocchar requested the government to dispense the requirement of bank guarantees immediately and also asked that all existing bank guarantees should be removed as well. COAI

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea to Benefit Most Out of COAI Requests

The request from COAI looks very timely for the operators. Bharti Airtel was recently threatened by the government to pay the AGR dues of Videocon. In case Airtel didn't pay the dues, the government said it would have no other option left but to invoke bank guarantees. However, the Supreme Court asked the government not to go ahead with the move so that Airtel can take up the matter with Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). Further, last year, during the AGR dues case hearing, the telcos and the DoT were seen fighting on the definition of the AGR. The (Department of Telecommunications) DoT had included everything from telecom and non-telecom revenues when calculating AGR. But the telcos opposed this and said that dues should only be liable on the telecom revenues and thus wanted the definition of the AGR to be changed. Both the requests from COAI just portrays the delicate and desperate situation the telecom industry of India is in. There's hardly any chance that these requests will be entertained by the government. The SC is also not very kind towards the operators when it comes to AGR dues. The apex court has denied the request of the telcos for the rectification of errors in the AGR dues.

Airtel Office Internet Has Plans Ranging from Rs 499 to Rs 9,999: Check Benefits

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 08:23 AM PDT

Bharti Airtel has been one company that has been vigilant when it comes to new offerings in the industry. The telecom operator-led by Sunil Bharti Mittal has been making quite a lot of progress and especially so in the B2B front. While other telcos like Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio have opened their shops to the consumers, Bharti Airtel has been increasingly focusing on its Business offerings, under Airtel Business. Airtel Office Internet (AOI) is another such addition in the roster of services being offered by Bharti Airtel. Only a few days back, we had seen the news of Airtel Payments Bank becoming profitable after 55 months of launch. Bharti Airtel's new offering comes with lots of benefits and might be another feather in the cap for the telco.

Airtel Office Internet Plans Benefit

The thing that separated Airtel Office Internet from the generic broadband plans being offered by Bharti Airtel is the fact that these plans have been tailor-made for enterprises and businesses. Under Airtel Xstream Fiber, the benefits of the Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) plans include OTT content and other entertainment options. However, in the case of Airtel Office Internet, the benefits are more streamlined for businesses and include things like security measures, video conferencing, parallel ringing and more. The highlight of these plans is the addition of Google Workspace tools.

Details About Airtel Office Internet Plans

There are basic plans of Airtel Office Internet as well which start from Rs 499 per month but it does not offer anything more than unlimited data with 40 Mbps speed. The Airtel Office Internet plan of Rs 799 offers 100 Mbps speed and parallel ringing along with DNS Security by Cisco. The AOI plan of Rs 999 offers 200 Mbps speed and it also clubs 2 Kaspersky device security licenses, 2 Airtel Bluejeans licenses, parallel ringing and DNS Security as well. The Google Workspace license and static IP benefit start shipping from the Rs 1,499 Airtel Office Internet plan. Speaking of the Rs 1,499 plan, the business will get 300 Mbps speed with unlimited data and the other benefits will be the same as the Rs 999 plan except for the addition of 2 Google Workspace License and 1 free static IP too.

Airtel Office Internet Plans Above Rs 3,000

The rest of the Rs 3,999, Rs 6,999 and Rs 9,999 Airtel Office Internet plans come with 1 Gbps speed and unlimited data and they ship all the benefits just in different numbers. The most premium AOI plan of Rs 9,999 offers 20 Google Workspace licenses. It's worth noting that Airtel's Bluejeans addition would allow the business owners to do unhindered video calling, screen sharing and other communication over the internet. While the parallel calling feature would allow the subscribers to receive calls on their phone from their business number even while they are away so that they do not miss out on any business during off times. The addition of Cisco DNS security would block malicious and unwanted domains, IP addresses, and cloud applications. The entire range of tools from Google would allow the business to use Gmail as their go-to mail client in addition to other tools from Google.

Vodafone Idea 4G User Additions Evoke Mixed Response from Analysts

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 07:09 AM PDT

Vodafone Idea, the third largest operator in India added 18 lakhs new 4G users in June, with the additions generating mixed responses from the analysts. According to the data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Monday, Vodafone Idea 4G user base touched 12.14 crores in June. In the previous month, the Trai data highlights that the operator had 11.96 crores 4G users, translating to an 18 lakh month-on-month increase. The additions recorded by the third largest operator in India are notable as Vodafone Idea in the previous months recorded a dip in its 4G user base.

Vodafone Idea 4G User Additions "Look Good" Says Analyst

Motilal Oswal Financial Services, an Indian diversified financial services firm, on Tuesday in a note highlighted that the 4G users in India now account for 78% of the total active users in the country. "Additions of 1.8m for VIL (Vodafone Idea) look good after the fall in the preceding two months, but we will remain watchful to see if it is sustainable," Motilal Oswal said in its note. However, ICICI Securities, a subsidiary of ICICI Bank in a note on Monday said that the 4G user additions recorded by Vodafone Idea in June is "disappointing." The firm highlighted that over 1.2 crore users across India submitted requests for mobile number portability (MNP), with the numbers suggesting that Vodafone Idea "may be losing quality customers through the MNP route." It has to be noted that Vodafone Idea recorded its peak 4G user base of 12.36 crores in March, with the operator losing around 40 lakh 4G users in the following two month period. Ravinder Takkar, chief executive officer at Vodafone Idea in the first-quarter earnings call on August 16, 2021, said that moving users to 4G is a "key focus area" for the operator. "We continue to focus on upgrading more customers to 4G plan and devices, which remains a key focus area for us," Takkar said in the first-quarter earnings call. The chief executive officer at Vodafone Idea said that the operator is working with original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and non-banking financial institutions (NBFC) for 4G devices. "We aim to scale up the proportion of high ARPU subscribers through large programs in conjunction with OEMs and NBFCs for 4G device," Takkar said.

More Users Expected to Switch to 4G with "Affordable Smartphones"

Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel also recorded an increase in its 4G user base with the Trai data highlighting that the second largest wireless operator in India added 43 lakh 4G users in June. In the previous month, Airtel witnessed its 4G user base decline by over 14 lakh users. ICICI Securities in its note said that the net 4G user additions on average recorded by Airtel was at 42 lakhs per month in the 10 month period before May, 2021. Further, Reliance Jio continued its user additions in June, with the Trai data highlighting that the largest wireless operator in India added over 55 lakh new users in the month. Motilal Oswal highlighted that the telecom operators across India added 1.17 crores 4G users in June, with the overall 4G user base now at 76.9 crores. In late April, GlobalData, a data and analytics company in a report said that the 4G services in India will "remain the leading technology in terms of subscriptions" in 2025. The firm said that the 2G subscriptions share in India will dip to 3.5% by the end of 2025. Kantipudi Pradeepthi, research analyst, telecoms market data and intelligence at GlobalData, told TelecomTalk that the "affordable smartphones" would further "accelerate the switch to 4G networks." "With the impending launch of the low-cost smartphone, Jio is expecting to trigger the upgradation of India's over 400 million 2G users to 4G network, especially in rural areas where Jio has already been investing in expansion of 4G network coverage," Pradeepthi told TelecomTalk.

Amazfit Bip U Pro Review: Quite an Interesting Smartwatch

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 06:31 AM PDT

Amazfit Bip U Pro has been with for quite some time now. I am someone who likes to run and exercise, so wearing smartwatches is something I have gotten used to now. Amazfit Bip U Pro is a very affordable smartwatch for fitness enthusiasts, and it can help you do multiple activities by providing health data tracking support. It has been in the market for months now, and it has seasoned well, in my view.

Amazfit Bip U Pro Review: Design

The Amazfit Bip U Pro has a square watch head with round edges. There's Amazfit branding at the bottom of the display, and there are sensors at the bottom for tracking your heartbeat and more. Honestly, the smartwatch feels quite nice in the hands. I am not a big fan of the green colour variant that I got, but I can see a market base for this, so there's no harm for the company. The strap is made of high-grade silicone, and it feels very comfy in the hands. The strap adjusting experience is also very convenient given there's a hook kind of mechanism on the slider. Whether your wrist is a little big or a little thin, the Amazfit Bip U Pro will look good in your hands. One of the best things is the smartwatch's weight. It is almost negligible in the sense that you won't even feel it is on your wrist most of the time. This ensures a great experience.

Amazfit Bip U Pro Review: Display

Now, having used the Amazfit GTR 2e (review), this display of the Amazfit Bip U Pro felt like a severe downgrade. But this is very understandable since the GTR 2e is a much more expensive product than the Bip U Pro. I am talking in terms of brightness and colours. But when it comes to response, the Amazfit Bip U Pro's screen is very responsive and doesn't lag. It is big enough to see the time properly, and there are multiple watch faces that can be used. The display of the Amazfit Bip U Pro is quite good when compared with other smartwatches in the same price range. Overall, the display of the smartwatch is something you can definitely live with comfortably.

Amazfit Bip U Pro Review: Sports/Health Features

The Amazfit Bip U Pro has all the standard health features which you will find in a high-end premium smartwatch. You can choose the workout option, and inside, there are a ton of activity modes that can help you. Whether it is rope skipping, free exercise, running, badminton, cricket, or anything else, you can track everything. One of the things about this smartwatch that made a really big difference for me is how accurate its tracking system is. Like I said above, I am someone who runs quite a lot. I took the Amazfit Bip U Pro with me on some runs during different temperatures outside, and it performed very well. The tracking was as accurate as it could be. I knew the distance I was running, and the Bip U Pro at all times reflected the right distance. There are multiple health features in this smartwatch that you will appreciate. There's a heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor, stress sensor, PAI score tracker, and more. There's also a weather app inside, which will reflect the current and upcoming weather on a real-time basis if it is connected with your smartphone. There's Amazon Alexa support as well, so now you can also give your smartwatch smart commands. It is almost accurate in tracking how many steps I take in a day. Sometimes it is a little off when I am not moving my hands much, but that is understandable since the sensor can't pick any movement activity at that point. Another thing that I love both about the Amazfit Bip U Pro and the GTR 2e is the sleep tracking feature. I can't ask for any more accurate sleep tracking from smartwatches. The fact that these watches can even tell the quality of my sleep is astounding.

Amazfit Bip U Pro Review: Battery Life

Another very impressive thing about the Amazfit Bip U Pro is the battery life it comes with. The Amazfit Bip U Pro has very amazing battery life, and it can run for at least two weeks in a single change. With less usage, over 2 weeks, the battery of the smartwatch has dipped from 100% to 60%. This is just something that blows my mind. In comparison, the Amazfit GTR 2e wasn't that good in the battery department. The GTR 2e had a decent battery performance, but not as good as what Bip U Pro comes with.

Amazfit Bip U Pro Review: Price and Conclusion

The Amazfit Bip U Pro is priced at Rs 4,999. It is a very decent smartwatch for the price it is coming for. There are 60+ sports modes, and it is also 5ATM resistant, so you can run in extreme weather as well. The sleep monitoring feature and the larger battery with almost every activity tracking support that I do, has made the Bip U Pro one of my favourites. If you are considering buying this for yourself or even gifting it to someone, you won't regret it. It is one of the best smartwatches in the price range it is selling for. The best part is the software optimisation and the smartphone app experience. The Zepp app through which the smartwatch connects is very good and easy to use. All of your data can be stored in the application for you to go through at all times. Amazfit Bip U Pro

Relief to Telcos Will Not be a Temporary Step But Good for the Industry in Long Term

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 05:35 AM PDT

The telecom companies in India are aching for some relief from any side, whether it from the regulator of the industry, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) or the government, which would come from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). While Vodafone Idea is engrossed in a deep financial trench of its own, Bharti Airtel has AGR dues and spectrum dues to pay, which have been burdened further in the March of this year courtesy of the spectrum auction. However, most of the speculations about the relief in the telecom industry have taken a myopic vision. The relief measures in the telecom industry have been expected to benefit the companies financially and help them stay in the field, aiding their survival. But, what a lot of people have missed out on are the long term effects of any relief measure that might knock on the industry's door.

The AGR Debate

First is the debate of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), which is to be paid by Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel. Reliance Jio remains largely out of this debate and is the only telecom operator which seems to be doing well regardless of the situation. The government has taken a two-frontal stance on the issue while saying that it wants to ensure a "three-player industry" with the survival of Vodafone Idea, whereas mounting constant pressure on the telecom companies to pay AGR dues. The DoT is also contesting Bharti Airtel for AGR dues on the spectrum bought from Videocon in the courtrooms. The DoT, on the other hand, had also demanded the AGR dues on the same spectrum during the insolvency proceedings of the former company. The same was reiterated by the legal counsel of Bharti Airtel during the latest hearing on the matter.

Floor Pricing and Its Effects

The second is the issue of floor pricing. While the sector regulator has remarked in the past that the move of setting a floor pricing for the industry would be against consumer interest, a cursory reading of the TRAI Act, 1997 would tell us that one of the main reasons the act was enacted is for the "regulation of pricing as well". It is also true that a unilateral price hike would tip the balance in favour of more competitive forces, thus forcing the hands of the other telecom operators into an ugly price war. Instead of such a scenario, it is better the telecom sector receives a price hike from the regulator, which is well researched and uniform for all.

The Long Term Effects of Telecom Relief

Lastly, the effect of relief for the telecom industry would not be a marginal help in the telcos' finances, but it would also serve to equip the telcos with enough fuel to take on the challenges of the fifth-generation network technology, which is going to be the driver of the digital revolution in India in the years to come. Not only that, but the pricing equation, which has been disturbed since the coming of Reliance Jio, would be put in the right place so that the consumers do not feel the presence of a large divide when the 5G services are launched, and there can be rapid adoption of the 5G technology.

Google Pixel 6 Major Revelation By Android Head

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 03:58 AM PDT

Google Pixel 6 series is slated to launch ahead this year. The smartphone series has garnered a lot of interest from the market and the Pixel fans can't wait to get their hands on one of the Pixel 6 devices. While multiple things about the smartphone are already confirmed, there are a few things that people are still wondering about. Now, the head of the Android division at Google has revealed a key specification about the smartphone. It is a feature that almost everyone using smartphones today would appreciate.

Google Pixel 6 Will Come With This Feature

As per Hiroshi Lockheimer's tweet, the Google Pixel 6 will come with an in-display fingerprint sensor. On the lock screen, the fingerprint sensor will be placed right under the clock widget. However, the tweet was soon deleted by Lockheimer. But later, it was reposted by the Editor in Chief of XDADevelopers, Mishaal Rahman. The development was first reported by Android Authority. Rahman said that the screen resolution of the Pixel 6 series smartphones will be 1,140 x 3,120 pixels.

Google Pixel 6 Chipset Might Create Performance Differences

The Google Pixel 6 might become the best Pixel device on the planet. This is because of the Google Tensor running inside the smartphone. Just like how Apple's iPhones' are so smooth with in-house SoC and hardware, the same might happen with the Google Pixel 6. There's more for Pixel lovers. If you have ever wondered about getting the Google Pixel 4a or the Google Pixel 5, time might be running out for you. Google has already discontinued the smartphones and said the stock that's on the market is the last of what users can get. The Google Pixel 4a and the Pixel 5 were discontinued post the launch of the Pixel 5a so that the Pixel 5a can get more traction from the market. The Pixel 6 series will be worth the wait.

Bharti Airtel Stock Dips Despite Good Results In Noon Session

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 02:11 AM PDT

Bharti Airtel's stock price has dipped in the afternoon session of the market. Despite good results in June 2021, the stock's price is trading almost 1% down at Rs 614.85. Bharti Airtel's stock opened at Rs 622.35 on Wednesday morning, but it has come down to Rs 614.85 at the time of writing this. The telco's stock also touched Rs 611, which was the lowest for the day. Airtel's opening price of Rs 622.35 was also its highest for the day. At the same time, other telecom stocks, including Vodafone Idea and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), which is the parent of Jio, are trading on the green.

Bharti Airtel Stock Going Down Might Mean People Are Booking Short-Term Profits

All the good news related to the telco had pumped the stock up. This might have led to a number of investors booking short-term profits/gains. Because of this, the stock might have come down today. Regardless of today, analysts have a positive outlook on the growth of Bharti Airtel and believe that its share prices will also cross Rs 800 on the back of Vi's loss. Vodafone Idea's stock is trading at 0.80% in the green, and RIL's stock is trading at 1.22% in the green as of the time of writing this. Vi's current stock price is Rs 6.30, and RIL's stock price is Rs 2,209. There's no saying what has caused the growth spurt for both the telcos. Especially Vi, which is trading higher even when the promoters of the company don't want to infuse any more capital in the company. As for the case of RIL, there can be multiple reasons why its stock is going upwards because the company owns a ton of subsidiaries, including India's number one telecom operator Reliance Jio. The telecom stocks are expected to rally upon the announcement of a relief package from the government.

Vodafone Idea Subscribers Joining Airtel, Jio: Jefferies

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 01:25 AM PDT

Vodafone Idea (Vi) subscribers have started to shift to Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio's networks. While Airtel was already adding a ton of Vi customers, the numbers might be accelerated even more. Looking at the position that Vodafone Idea is currently in, there's a good chance that the rate of subscribers shifting from Vi to Airtel and Jio will increase even further. Looking at the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) data shared by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for June 2021, Jefferies said, Vi customers have already started migrating from Airtel and Jio's networks.

Total of 12.27 Million MNP Requests in June 2021 Recorded

As per the data shared by TRAI, there were 12.27 million MNP requests recorded in the month of June 2021. With this figure, the total number of MNP requests recorded in India reached 605.88 million at the end of June 2021. Jefferies, in a note, said that looking at the delicate situation Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) is in, the market shift of subscribers towards Airtel and Jio networks could be accelerated. Jio's continuous addition of new subscribers is evidence of this. Reliance Jio was the only operator which added new subscribers in both urban and rural India in June 2021. It is worth noting that it was urban India that contributed to the rise of the telecom sector in June 2021.

Vodafone Idea Needs to Invest in Networks Aggressively

Vodafone Idea needs the help of the government's relief package so that it can save some money to invest in its networks aggressively. The telco has already been upgrading its 4G networks throughout the country, and all it needs is a little support from the government. If only Vodafone Idea can invest in its networks and expand coverage, it will become as good as Jio and Airtel in the medium-term. The telco does have the capacity to add millions of more users. All it needs is a break.

Samsung Galaxy M32 5G Comes At Surprising Price

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 12:34 AM PDT

Samsung has just launched the Galaxy M32 5G, and its surprise has us shocked. But before we reveal the price, it is worth noting that it sits below the Galaxy M42 5G, which has also launched in India. The Galaxy M32 5G comes with a quad-camera setup at the rear and packs a 5,000mAh battery. While some of the specifications about the device were already revealed on Amazon, its price was the hot debate in the industry. People were expecting it to be considerably cheaper than the M42 5G, but that is not the case. Here's all you should know.

Samsung Galaxy M32 5G Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy M32 5G comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ TFT Infinity-V display and runs on One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 out of the box. The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 720 SoC coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The internal storage can be expanded up to 1TB. In the camera department, there's a quad-camera setup at the rear where the primary sensor is a 48MP lens paired with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. There's a 13MP sensor at the front for taking selfies. The connectivity options of the smartphone include 5G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and more. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 15W fast charging.

Samsung Galaxy M32 5G Price

The Samsung Galaxy M32 5G comes for a price of Rs 20,999 for the base 6GB+128GB variant, and there's also another 8GB+128GB variant for which the price hasn't been revealed yet. It is worth noting that the Galaxy M42 5G is selling at Rs 21,999 on Amazon for the 6GB+128GB variant. The price difference between the two smartphones is negligible, which begs the question, why would anyone save Rs 1,000 and go for the Galaxy M32 5G instead of the M42 5G.

WhatsApp Might Allow Users to React to Messages Soon

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 10:16 PM PDT

WhatsApp, one of the biggest chat applications in the world, is planning to come out with a new and very interesting feature for the users. The company might soon allow users to react to messages that other people send them. For example, users on Twitter, Instagram, and Messenger can react to the messages they get from other people. In the same way, to make chatting a simpler experience, WhatsApp might soon offer users the ability to react to other people's messages. According to a WABetaInfo report, the feature will be called 'Message Reactions'.

Message Reactions Feature Much Needed

Users don't have to do anything on Instagram or Messenger DMs if they can show what they feel by reacting to the message with a particular emoji. In the same way, WhatsApp, one of the many applications owned by Facebook, can bring this feature into the app and make the chatting experience for the users even more seamless. The message reactions will bring convenience to everyone. Suppose if there is a user who is running the old version of WhatsApp and he/she texts someone running the new version of the application which supports the 'message reaction' feature. In that case, if the user responds with an emoji directly on the message, it will show as another message to the user running the old version of the application. WhatsApp has been making a flurry of changes to its application in the last few months. The company has gotten aggressive when it comes to introducing new features. Just in recent months, WhatsApp has introduced features such as disappearing messages, joining missed group calls, and more. Further, the company is working on introducing a new colour theme for the application, which will work in both light and dark modes. There's no word on when the 'messages reaction' feature will hit the application, but it should be soon enough, given people are already talking about it.

Telecom Sector PLI Scheme Companies Almost Confirmed

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 08:51 PM PDT

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has to come out with a list of names of companies that are going to be a part of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the manufacturing of telecom equipment. The PLI scheme for producing telecom equipment within India has seen a lot of interest from major local and international companies, which include names such as Jabil, Cisco, Nokia, Foxconn, and others. According to a Financial Express report, the government has already completed the process and now the names of the companies will be announced in a couple of weeks.

Telecom Sector PLI Scheme Worth Rs 12,195 Crores

According to the rules of the scheme, the DoT will grant approvals to 10 MSME and 10 non-MSME companies for the scheme. In the non-MSME category, at least three companies selected will be local. There's one thing, though. If the government is left with more budget than estimated, then even a few more companies can be added to the scheme. The benefits will be offered to the companies who have promised to invest bigger amounts. The telecom sector PLI scheme is worth Rs 12,195 crores. The incentives offered to the companies will range between 4% and 7% for different kinds of companies and for different tenures. MSMEs will enjoy the benefit of a 1% higher incentive in the first, second, and third years of the scheme. To be a part of the scheme, the minimum amount that an MSME can commit to the scheme is Rs 10 crore, and the same for a non-MSME company is Rs 100 crore. The PLI scheme for the telecom sector will push the government's vision of 'Make In India' and will further reduce the costs of network deployment for the telcos since they will be able to source equipment locally. Many devices include IoT, CPE, and more, will be manufactured in India under the scheme.

Bharti Airtel Releases a Sigh of Relief

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 06:45 PM PDT

Bharti Airtel must be very happy right now. The telco's performance has improved quite well in June 2021 as compared to May 2021. Make no mistake; no one would have written off the second-largest telecom operator from their books just because it had one bad month. But, the sigh of relief for the telco must have come because of the percentage of active users it has. While it has always been known that Bharti Airtel has more active users than Reliance Jio in terms of percentage, in June 2021, the telco even had more active users than Jio in terms of total numbers.

Bharti Airtel High ARPU to Benefit the Company a Lot

As per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report, Bharti Airtel had 344 million active users in the month of June 2021. In comparison to this, Reliance Jio had 340 million active users. It is worth noting that both the telcos had added an equal number (2.4 million) of new active subscribers in June 2021. Bharti Airtel had lost most than 4.5 million users in May 2021. This might have primarily been because of the nationwide lockdowns because of the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the very same month, Reliance Jio had added 3.5 million users. This had a big impact on the way people saw Bharti Airtel in the short term. I believe Reliance Jio had added new customers on the back of low tariffs and the new JioPhone offer announced in March 2021. But the effect of the JioPhone 2021 offer will subside as months go by. With more active users than Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel will be earning from more people even though its overall subscriber base is smaller than Jio's. Further, Airtel's average revenue per user (ARPU) is also much more than Jio's, which will help the telco in earning big profits. As of June 2021, Bharti Airtel had a total of 352.11 million users, out of which 343.71 million users were active, imputing 97.62% of the telco's subscribers were active. In comparison, Reliance Jio and Vi's networks had 77.94% and 88.43% active subscribers. Regardless, Reliance Jio is not too behind Bharti Airtel. But Airtel enjoys the benefit of high tariffs, and thus its blended ARPU is much more than that of Reliance Jio's. Further, Jio's ARPU should not go very high, given that most of its new users might be the ones going for the JioPhone 2021 offer. Overall, Bharti Airtel must have released a sigh of relief looking at the performance for the month of June 2021.

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