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Vodafone Idea and BSNL Merger Should Get Green Flag

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 11:50 AM PDT

Vodafone Idea Vodafone Idea is one company that stands on the plank with a big question over its survival. Burdened by dues which it has to pay on Adjusted Gross Revenue, spectrum allocation and other operational expenses, the company stands amidst financial ruins. Late at night on Wednesday, the billionaire, Kumar Mangalam Birla, also tendered his resignation from Vodafone Idea. Not only this, but the company's market cap has been taking a beating from its public shareholders on the market as well. However, is there an end to Vi's problems, or is it simply headed to the graveyard of other companies which lost the telecom battle? It seems that Kumar Mangalam Birla himself might have given the answer before he left his seat at the table.

Birla's Plan at Work

Birla, a few weeks back in a letter to Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba wrote that he is willing to sell his stake to a public or private entity to save the company. If the government agrees to this, then Vodafone Idea's troubles might evaporate in thin air. The company, which is owned 27% by Aditya Birla Group with around a 44% stake by the British Vodafone Plc, will be handled by the government partially then. A synergy between the public telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Vodafone Idea would not only be financially healthy for Vi but also for the public telco as well.

Vodafone Idea's Fundraising Plans Have Failed

While Vodafone Idea is ailing for some cash infusion, and all its plans of fundraising, which it floated last year in September, have failed, BSNL has its own troubles of a missing 4G network. The public telecom company has not yet received airwaves that would help it in launching the fourth generation network for its subscribers. This also remains the reason why BSNL is losing subscribers at a rapid rate on the prepaid front. Vodafone Idea is on a similar boat, but it has exactly what BSNL needs, that is, a 4G network. While BSNL can take on the dues of Vodafone Idea, which are to the tune of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for the AGR issue, Vodafone Idea would be able to provide it with a ready 4G network which BSNL can then claim as its own.

Just What the Other Needs

This move is likely to fasten up the BSNL 4G network availability by quite a margin. Besides, the worries of Vodafone Idea are likely to melt away since the AGR issue, which is a battle of its own in the courtrooms and has repeatedly been petitioned against, will come under the government's worries. Hence, it seems that in this case, BSNL and Vodafone Idea have what the other needs, and if the merger of these two companies goes through then, they would fit together like jigsaw pieces, at least in the context of the Indian telecom industry. It remains to be seen what are the forces that stop this from happenings, as there seem to be plenty. But, for the sake of maintaining the three-player industry structure, it is imperative for Vodafone Idea to stay in the game, as its absence would lead to a dangerous duopoly between Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.

Nextra and BSNL Bharat Fibre 200 Mbps Internet Plan Detailed

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 09:32 AM PDT

Nextra Broadband service providers have rolled out various plans for subscribers that come with internet data benefits and subscriptions to OTT platforms. Two of the most infamous service providers in India are Nextra Broadband and BSNL Bharat Fibre. The broadband plans offered by the government-owned entity competes directly with the substantial broadband players in the market. Even though Nextra is offering internet services in Delhi and connected regions, it has plans to expand to new states and regions in the coming period. In this article, we will compare the 200 Mbps plan offered by Nextra and BSNL Bharat Fibre.

Nextra Elite 200 Mbps Broadband Plan

Nextra has differentiated its broadband offerings into two plans which are the offer plan and entertainment plan. All the broadband plans that are packed with OTT benefits fall under the entertainment category. The Elite 200 Mbps broadband plan offers a broadband speed of 200 Mbps. Even though the company has mentioned unlimited broadband data, the FUP limit of the Elite broadband plan is 1000GB. Once the FUP limit is over, the internet speed will be reduced. Talking about the pricing and OTT benefits, if users opt for a 6-month subscription, they will have to pay Rs 1019 per month. Nextra will offer a subscription to Disney+Hotstar VIP. However, if users will opt for an annual subscription, they will have to pay Rs 959 per month. Users opting for an annual subscription will get a Disney+Hostar subscription as well as Amazon Prime Video.

BSNL Bharat Fibre Premium 200 Mbps Broadband Plan

BSNL Bharat Fibre has curated extensive broadband plans with ample benefits. The Fibre Premium plan offers 200 Mbps internet speed. The FUP limit of the broadband plan is 3300GB. Once the FUP limit is reached, the internet speed will be reduced to 2 Mbps. Apart from internet benefits, users who are opting for the Fibre Premium broadband plan will also get unlimited local and ISD calling benefits on any benefits. Since all the major broadband service providers offer OTT benefits packed broadband plans, BSNL Bharat Fibre also offers OTT benefits. Users who will opt for the Fibre Premium broadband plan will get a Disney Hotstar Premium pack for free. Talking about the pricing, the BSNL Bharat Fibre Premium plan is available for Rs 999 per month. If we compare the broadband plans, the FUP limit of the BSNL Bharat Fibre Premium broadband plan makes it a lucrative choice for avid internet users. However, the pricing benefits in annual subscription and extra OTT benefits of the Nextra Elite broadband plan gives tough competition to the BSNL Bharat Fibre Premium broadband plan. Since both plans offer the same internet speed, users can opt for the broadband plan, which would cater to their internet needs.

Bharti Airtel ARPU Rise Sets Good Precedent for the Industry

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 08:35 AM PDT

Bharti Airtel Bharti Airtel followed with its quarterly earnings report filing a few days back. Not only this, but the Bharti Airtel CEO, Gopal Vittal, also shared his thoughts on the performance of the company and said things about the future plans of Bharti Airtel. Two major telecom companies of India, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, have come out with their quarterly figures now. Being the first quarter of the new financial year 2022, these numbers are crucial and set the tone for the rest of the year. Also, they urge us to compare the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) of both the companies and what has worked for them and what has not.

Reliance Jio and Airtel Comparison

While Reliance Jio has averaged an ARPU of Rs 138 and has managed to only register a rise of Rs 0.2, Bharti Airtel has grown by leaps and bounds and has managed to surpass the figure of Rs 140, only to have its ARPU at Rs 146. Now, we have already talked at length about how Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel differ in their strategies. Bharti Airtel has always had eyes on a higher ARPU, and it thinks that it can prioritise adding subscribers at a slow pace while maintaining the overall paying quality of its subscribers. As such, it has high-paying subscribers and an active subscriber base which is more than that of Reliance Jio.

Moves That Led to Airtel's High ARPU

This is the peculiar thing about the two telecom companies, Reliance Jio boasts of having more than 400 million subscribers, but still, it has fewer active subscribers than Bharti Airtel. Most of the subscribers of Reliance Jio have come from the JioPhone category indicating that they have a higher tendency of paying less with the more affordable plans and might also go bust from the network. On the other hand, Bharti Airtel has made a stride on the opposite end of the spectrum by removing its low-paying prepaid plan of Rs 49 and starting its portfolio from Rs 79. Not only this, the corporate plans of Bharti Airtel now start at Rs 299, which is a solid Rs 100 above the previous figure.

Bharti Airtel's Bold Moves Pay Off

After making these changes, Bharti Airtel has certainly noticed a small churn in subscriber count, but even then, it retains the top active subscriber position. Most noteworthy of all, the telecom company has a lead in ARPU, which remains the most sought-after figure in the industry and the teller of the financial health of the telecom companies. The steps taken by Bharti Airtel surely indicate a step in the progressive direction. Since a unilateral tariff hike is feared in the industry, in such an environment, Bharti Airtel's move comes as a bold step, and its success sets a good precedent for others to follow, that a slight increase in tariff or the removal of low paying plans will lead to increase in the ARPU and hence in the overall finances of the company. These are the kind of steps that ailing telcos like Vodafone Idea can resort to in the end.

Vodafone, Cairn Won’t Be Budged By Indian Govt for Taxes Anymore

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 08:02 AM PDT

Vodafone Companies like Vodafone Group Plc of the UK and Cairn won't be disturbed by the Indian government for clearing back taxes. In simple words, ‘back taxes' refer to the taxes that a company has avoided paying on a certain transaction. According to a PTI report, the Indian government has proposed a new bill in the Lok Sabha, which will withdraw tax demands on all the indirect tax transfers made on Indian assets prior to May 28, 2012.

Vodafone Group Plc Will be Very Happy With Indian Government

Vodafone Group Plc, a UK based company, will be benefiting a lot from the decision. Until now, the Indian government had been persistent about getting all the amount that was due from the Vodafone Group and Cairn. In fact, the government was challenging the decision made by the international arbitration tribunal where the tribunal had overturned the government's demand of Rs 22,100 crore from the Vodafone Group in back taxes. India had moved to a senior court in Singapore for clearing out this matter, and the hearing was due in September. However, in an interesting turn of events, India's Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has introduced 'The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021' in the Lok Sabha, which looks to withdraw all the tax demands from the government made for indirect transfer of Indian assets before May 28, 2012. In fact, the bill proposes to refund any such amount that a company has already paid but without interest. It is worth noting that this doesn't benefit Vodafone Idea, the Indian Telecom firm, in any manner. The back taxes relief is for the Vodafone Group Plc of the UK, which has the largest promoter stake in Vodafone Idea (Vi). Vodafone Idea still has to pay its complete dues to the government, and the Vodafone Group Plc has made it very clear that it doesn't want to infuse any more capital into the company.

Samsung Galaxy M32 5G Support Page Now Live, Launch Imminent

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 06:14 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy M32 5G Samsung seems to be gearing up for the launch of a new 5G handset in India, which, as per reports, could be the 5G variant of the Galaxy M32, which is a budget handset. For those of you unaware, the 4G variant of the budget M-series handset was launched under Rs 15,000 in India. The 5G variant, as per multiple different tips, could be priced under Rs 20,000 to take on a similar budget 5G handsets from the likes of Redmi and Realme. Today, the support page of the device went live on the Samsung India website. This does not reveal much about the device but is an indication of a launch sometime soon, and, thanks to the previous spotting on various different certification sites, we know exactly what to expect from the upcoming Samsung handset.

Samsung Galaxy M32 5G Leaked Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy M32 5G listing reveals very less but does list out the model number, which is SM-M326B. The listing suggests, as mentioned above, that the handset could launch soon, after a recent trip to the BIS or Bureau of Indian Standards website. The listings have revealed that the Samsung device will sport a MediaTek Dimensity 720 SoC for performance, with a 6GB RAM variant, at least as per the variant listed on Geekbench, but the device could just launch with a 4G and 8GB variant. The device will run Android 11 out of the box and offer One UI 3.0 on top. Do note that other specifications remain unknown, but going by the 4G model, it could feature some similarities. Another point to note is that Samsung recently launched the Galaxy A32 5G in other markets, and the M32 5G could very well be a rebrand of the same, as the A-series device too makes use of a Dimensiry 720 SoC. For those of you wondering, the Galaxy A32 5G comes with a  6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V display with a TFT panel. Optics wise the device makes use of a 48MP quad-camera setup with an 8MP ultra-wide lens, 5MP macro lens and 2MP depth sensor aiding the main 48MP sensor from the smartphone giant. A 13MP front snapper will handle selfie duties. Finally, the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G sports a 5ooo mAh battery with 18W charging support, but going by past models, if the M32 5G does become a rebrand, one change could be the battery upped from 5000 mAh to at least 6000 mAh, if not more.

BSNL Rs 201 Prepaid Plan Launched In More Circles With 90 Days Validity

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 04:57 AM PDT

BSNL Prepaid Rs 201 plan Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is launching new plans after new plans for its prepaid subscribers. Out of all the telecom operators out there including the likes of Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Reliance Jio, BSNL is offering the most range and choices for its prepaid plans. Just a few days back we saw the launch of new prepaid plans in the Punjab region, which included lots of new plans for prepaid subscribers. Now, BSNL is topping it off by launching a bunch of new plans for the subscribers of BSNL prepaid in the Rajasthan circle as well. It's worth noting that some of the plans that have been launched are for GP II or beyond GP II, which means that the inactive subscribers of BSNL who are not currently using its services can make use of these attractive prepaid plans to make a come back onto BSNL services.

Rs 201 Prepaid Plan by BSNL

The first plan in the list of new BSNL Rajasthan prepaid plans includes the Rs 201 prepaid plan. You should note that all the plans being listed here apply only for GP II and GP II beyond customers, so you should ensure that you belong to this category of customers before proceeding to recharge. The Rs 201 prepaid plan from BSNL comes with 90 days validity. In the entire validity of 90 days, the subscribers get the benefit of 6GB data and along with it, they also get 300 min local or STD calling.

Rs 187 STV and Rs 1,499 STV by BSNL

Another plan which has been launched with the above mentioned on includes the Rs 187 STV, which is available for Rs 139 currently. This means that customers will get a discount of Rs 48 on this prepaid plan by BSNL. As for the benefits of this plan, the subscribers get 2GB of data per day and unlimited local and STD calling for the entire validity period of 28 days. Along with this, the subscribers also get 100 SMS per day benefit. Next up is the Rs 1,499 STV by BSNL, this STV is available at a discount for Rs 1,199 and it offers 24GB of data for the entire validity period. As for the validity, the subscribers get 365 days of usage and additional benefits include 100 SMS per day.

Samsung Galaxy F62 Price Now Starts at Rs 17,999

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 04:07 AM PDT

galaxy f62 Samsung is one of the biggest names when it comes to Indian smartphone sales. The company launches phones right on from the budget segment to the premium segment. One of the notable launches from Samsung this year has been the Samsung Galaxy F62. The phone that comes with a unique finish, a small punch hole notch on the top and packs an Exynos processor along with a massive 7,000mAh battery had made its debut with a price tag of Rs 23,999. However, if you are interested in buying this phone given its impressive specs, then this might be the right time for you since the price of the phone has dropped by a massive Rs 6,000 for a limited time period.

Samsung Galaxy F62 Specifications and Details

The Samsung Galaxy F62 packs a 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1080×2400) Super AMOLED Plus Infinity-O Display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. On the inside, the phone is powered by an Exynos 9825 SoC which has an octa-core setup, much like the other Samsung phones available in India. This chipset is paired with 8GB of RAM, lending it some good performance. On the optics section, the phone boasts of a 64MP Sony IMX682 which acts as the primary shooter paired up with a 12MP secondary sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens of 123-degree field-of-view. The quad-camera setup also includes a 5MP macro shooter and a 5MP depth sensor. On the front side, the Samsung Galaxy F62 boasts of a 32MP camera sensor. 4K recording is supported by both front and rear cameras. The internal memory storage of the phone is 128GB which is expandable up to 1TB. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, and a USB Type-C port along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the software front, the phone has One UI 3.1 based on Android 11.

Samsung Galaxy F62 Pricing

The price of the Samsung Galaxy F62 6GB variant starts at Rs 17,999, whereas, the 8GB variant is available for grabs at Rs 19,999. The interested buyers can also avail an ICICI discount of Rs 2,500 or a Rs 1,000 discount on Flipkart. However, you should note that the new price drop is only applicable till August 15.

UK Firm Giving Away Stake in Vodafone Idea Freely to BSNL

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 03:05 AM PDT

Vodafone Plc Vodafone Idea Vodafone Plc is the another owner of the financially weak telco, Vodafone Idea, apart from Aditya Birla Group. While the latter owns a 27.66% stake in the company, the UK-based group owns 45% in the company. As per the latest reports on the matter, Vodafone Plc has said that it would offer its stake to the lenders who are willing or to the public telecom company, BSNL, for free if they take over the company. The lenders have said on this issue that if BSNL takes over the entity then, the dues owed by Vodafone Idea would be a book entry. The lenders would also probably be converting their debt into equity in the process.

Vodafone Idea Shares Slide Amidst New Development

The matter comes to highlight from Business Standard and reported by ET Telecom. To recall, just a few months back Kumar Mangalam Birla, who stepped from the non-executive chairman seat of Vodafone Idea just a few hours back, had written to the Cabinet Secretary about his willingness of offer the ABG owned stake to the public telecom company. This hinted the first streak of weakness in the company's financials from the shareholders’ side. On the other hand, Vodafone Plc has also said that it won't be infusing any more capital into the company. On Thursday, after the resignation of Birla, the shares of Vodafone Idea slipped more than 20%.

Firms Recommend Merger of BSNL and Vodafone Idea

Another financial firm, Deutsche Bank has already remarked that the government should back Vodafone Idea by quickly merging it with BSNL and recapitalising it. Speaking about the troubles that Vodafone Idea is facing, the telco owes Rs 96,270 crore in spectrum payment dues and Rs 58,254 crore in AGR liabilities. Out of this, a little north of Rs 7,500 crore has been paid by the company already. A move that could have helped Vodafone Idea was the bringing of a floor pricing regime, the news of which has already been dismissed twice thus hinting that there would be no relief on the tariff front from the government. However, as per more reports on the matter, Vodafone Idea might receive a package from the government tailor-made for the entire industry consisting of redefined AGR to exclude non-telecom items and to change or let go of SUC and other levies.

Airtel Launches Office Internet Service With Security Features and Plans Starting at Rs 999

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 02:28 AM PDT

airtel office internet service rs999 Airtel's Business arm is one of its most prominent businesses in the entire array of services that it offers. On the same lines today, Bharti Airtel has announced the launch of its 'Airtel Office Internet' which is a unified enterprise-level solution for the emerging digital connectivity needs of small businesses, SOHOs, and early stage tech start-ups. The new service has been launched in partnership with Google Cloud and Cisco. Bharti Airtel has noted that because of the pandemic, the digital connectivity needs have skyrocketed and the startups and businesses need more digital productivity tools more and more. Thus, the new offering will help the businesses in serving their customers in a better way, and it will fulfill the needs of high-speed data connectivity, conferencing, and more as a unified solution with one plan and one bill.

Airtel Office Internet Offers a Range of Features

The Airtel Office Internet service will offer FTTH broadband connection to the business entities, with up to 1 Gbps speed and local/STD calling. There will be add-on services like Static IPs and parallel ringing and the plans of Airtel Office Internet will start at Rs 999. Detailing the other features of the Airtel Office Internet, Bharti Airtel has said that it would come with enterprise-grade security from Cisco and Kaspersky to block malicious and unwanted domains, viruses, crypto-lockers, and attacks. In addition to that, the users of Airtel Office Internet will get Complimentary Google Workspace licenses that will help them to use Gmail for all professional email communication. Along with Gmail, they will also get other tools at their disposal from Google as well.

Bharti Airtel Partners Up With Cisco and Google Cloud

Bharti Airtel is also bundling Airtel BlueJeans license for unlimited and secure conferencing with HD quality for the Airtel Office Internet subscribers. There will also be a self-serve portal for Airtel Office Internet users in which they will be able to manage all their services in a single place. Ajay Chitkara, Director & CEO – Airtel Business said that pandemic has accelerated the process of digitalisation of business, and Airtel Office Internet will help the businesses in scaling multiple relationships and fulfill their internet needs. Daisy Chittilapilly, President, Cisco India & SAARC also remarked that their partnership with Airtel Business is based on the shared vision of cybersecurity and providing enterprise-grade security to the customers of Airtel Office Internet.

Tata Communications Reports 15% Profit In Q1 2021-22

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 01:51 AM PDT

Tata Communications On Wednesday, Tata Communications posted its Q1 2021-22. In the quarterly report, the company has reported a jump of about 15% in consolidated profit, accounting for Rs 296.11 crores in the quarter that ended June 2021. In comparison, in the same quarter last year, the profit of the company was Rs 257.8 crores. In a statement, A S Lakshminarayanan, the Tata Communications Managing Director and CEO, expressed content as the company delivered a robust performance and gendered profit despite the challenging quarter that was impacted by the second wave of the pandemic. He added that the global markets are gradually opening up, and Tata Communications is witnessing greenshoots of demand recovery.

Tata Communications Profit In 2021

In the reported quarter that ended June 2021, Tata Communications' consolidated revenue dropped by 7 per cent accounting for Rs. 4,103 crores. In comparison, in the same period last year, the consolidated revenue was Rs 4,403 crore. Also, data business revenue dropped by 2.2% on a year-on-year basis accounting for Rs 3,104 crores. The stated from the executive added that the data business continues to be impacted by the slowdown due to COVID-19. Enterprise decisions have witnessed a slow down due to the macroeconomic headwinds resulting in a relatively long lead time for successful deals. Also, the service delivery was impacted by lockdowns caused by the second wave of the pandemic. Furthermore, Tata Communications' digital platforms, as well as a services business, were impacted by the moderation of collaboration traffic. This was at its peak in the quarter that ended June 2020. Eventually, the revenue of the segment dropped by 12.8 per cent on a year-on-year basis. While there has been a drop in the consolidated revenue and data business revenue in the recently concluded quarter as compared to the same period last year, the increase in profit by 15% shows early signs of recovery. Also, it is evident that there is an uptake of usage-based services in regions where the economies have opened up despite the COVID-19 pandemic crisis still clinging on across the world.

Realme GT 5G and Realme GT Master Edition to Launch in India on August 18

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 01:48 AM PDT

Realme 5G Smartphones Realme is gearing up to launch an array of smartphones in the Indian market. Earlier, we reported that the Realme 8s and Realme 8i is scheduled to launch in the Indian market soon. Now Realme India and Europe CEO Madhav Seth has confirmed the Realme GT 5G and Realme GT Master Edition in India on August 18. In case you are not aware, the Realme GT 5G has already been launched in China, and it is expected that the specifications of the Indian variant will be similar. Madhav Seth has also hinted at the price of Realme GT 5G. The renowned Realme GT Series includes Realme GT Neo, Realme GT Neo Flash Edition, Realme GT Master Edition and the Realme GT Master Explorer Edition.

Realme GT 5G: Specifications

Since Realme GT 5G has already been launched in China, the key specifications and features of the smartphone are available on the internet. Even Seth has revealed that the specifications of the Indian variant will be similar to the global variant. The global variant of Realme GT 5G features a 6.43-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the veil, the Realme GT 5G is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset along with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. The 5G device features a triple rear camera setup with a 64MP primary camera. Towards the front, the device features a 16MP selfie camera. The smartphone packs a 4500 mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging.

Realme GT 5G: Expected Price in India

The Realme GT 5G will be available in the same colour variants launched in the global market. The 5G smartphone is available in Blue, Silver, and Racing Yellow( vegan leather finish) colour options. Talking about the price, Madhav Seth has revealed that the smartphone will be priced above Rs 30,000. It is expected that the Realme GT 5G will be priced between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000 range. It is still in the darkness whether the Realme GT Master Edition or the Realme GT Explorer Master Edition will be launched in the Indian market. In the Chinese market, the Realme GT 5G starts from CYN 2,799 (around Rs 31,400)

Now You Can Scan QR Code to Recharge or Pay for DishTV and D2H Services

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 12:52 AM PDT

Dish TV Dish TV India Limited, one of the leading DTH operators in the country has announced a new QR Scan feature. With the 'Scan QR and Pay' for the D2H and 'Scan To Pay' for Dish TV subscribers, easy payments are possible from anywhere using UPI, net banking or wallet services. This new feature is a part of the company's digital-first strategy intending to provide self-help options to consumers that will add on to their convenience.

Scan QR Code For Recharge And Bill Payments

It provides customers with a hassle-free single-click payment experience and lets them recharge their accounts or pay their bills by just scanning a QR code. The QR code will be available on the company's websites – www.dishtv.in and www.d2h.com. The payment can be made via any wallet or UPI service. Currently, UPI is the easiest and the safest way to make digital payments as it requires multi-factor authentication wherein users verify themselves before making the payment. With the latest 'Scan To Pay’ & 'Scan QR and Pay' function, subscribers of Dish TV and D2H services can make payments in just three simple and easy steps. Step 1: Enter the registered mobile number or telephone number or customer ID or VC to generate a QR code. Step 2: Scan the QR code with any wallet or UPI app or bank apps that provide the UPI QR code scan feature. Step 3: Authorize the payment by providing the 4-digit or 6-digit security code. That's it! Subscribers will receive a payment confirmation on successfully verifying the payment. The website will immediately show that the recharge or bill payment has been completed. This latest Scan QR feature lets users save time and does not require them to follow tedious steps. What's interesting is that subscribers can also make payments using just the screenshot of the generated QR code, which adds more convenience. Notably, users opting for the D2H and DishTV Scan QR code feature for making payments can choose their favourite app to make the payments. There is a wide range of options available for them to choose from.

Qualcomm Might Be Working on Next Gen Wear 5100 Chip

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 12:19 AM PDT

Snapdragon Wear 5100 The latest evidence on Thursday suggested that Qualcomm might be working on its next smartwatch chip, which could possibly come with the Snapdragon Wear 5100 moniker. This comes via XDA Developers who recently went through the new code that has been published to Qualcomm’s Code Aura Development wiki and whilst doing so, the publication found some details that might be worth taking a look at. A specific branch of code that has been tagged as "LAW.UM.2.0-00700-SW5100.0" has showcased two interesting bits of information. First of all the "LAW" wording that is present in the title hints at Linux Android Wear, as per XDA.

What Do We Know About the Supposed Snapdragon Wear 5100 Chip?

To add to this, the SW5100 wording might just be a version of the Snapdragon Wear 5100 moniker. Both of them added to suggest that the new code could be related to the new smartwatch SoC from the chipmaker Qualcomm. XDA has also discovered further evidence that hints at the platform being based on an 11nm process complete with four Arm Cortex-A73 cores, which could result in improved efficiency and better power over the previous-gen Snapdragon Wear 4100 chip on offer now, which comes with four Cortex-A53 cores based on the 12nm process, which themselves built on the rather large 28nm design of the Wear 3100 chipset. Do note that there is no hint or indication of Qualcomm launching a new chipset, but, if it is launched soon, it could be a notable change for the company, since there was a gap of two years between releases, given as to how Qualcomm seemed to prioritise smartphone chipsets and SoCs over wearable SoCs. As of now, there are only a couple of smartwatches and wearables that make use of the Snapdragon Wear 4100 Chip, one of them being the Ticwatch E3, which packs with it great battery life and improved performance. Multiple devices running this SoC will be upgraded to Wear OS 3, so it makes no sense for most brands to adapt to a fresh SoC. However, considering how Google and Samsung are trying their best to improve Wear OS with strategic partnerships, hints of which might be seen during the August 11 Unpacked event that could see the launch of a couple of Samsung smartwatches, this might be a good time for a new and efficient SoC.

OneWeb Receives Licence to Provide Satellite Broadband Services in India in 2022

Posted: 04 Aug 2021 11:55 PM PDT

Oneweb OneWeb backed by Bharti Airtel has reportedly got a license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to provide global mobile personal communication by satellite or very small aperture terminal services in India. It was just reported by CNBC-Awaaz while citing sources that this license has been given for 20 years. With this, the company plans to offer satellite broadband services by May 2022 in India, claims ET Telecom. OneWeb is a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, co-owned by the UK government and Bharti group. The satcom company is in plans to compete against the likes of Starlink from Elon Musk and Project Kuiper from Amazon that operate in the nascent satellite broadband segment. Back in June this year, OneWeb reportedly applied for a GMPCS (global mobile personal communication by satellite) license.

Satellite Bandwidth For Remote Regions

Previously, Sunil Mittal, the chairman of Bharti Enterprises said that the satcom company OneWeb would operate on a B2B model in the country. It was stated that the company will offer its satellite broadband to telcos to enable them to provide cellular backhaul in the country's remote regions. Also, it aims to provide satellite bandwidth to the armed forces that are camped in the Himalayas. Notably, the bandwidth capacity will be offered to shipping agencies, the forest department and the railways. Back in July, it was reported that the telecom department's decision-making body – DCC (Digital Communications Commission) has accepted the suggestion of TRAI to let VSAT operators offer satellite-based cellular backhaul to telcos. This will ensure uninterrupted mobile broadband connectivity in remote regions. With this decision, telcos including Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel will use satellite capacity of existing VSAT license holders including Hughes Communications, BSNL, Nelco and others to provide 4G/5G and Wi-Fi broadband services in remote regions. These are regions that have a meagre number of terrestrial microwave links, mobile towers or fibre networks.

Internet From Space Services In India

This move is significant for newcomers such as OneWeb and Starlink as these operators can prepare to start high-speed internet services from space in India in 2022 with their LEO satellite constellations. Already, OneWeb has identified land to build two satellite in-country ground stations. One is located in the North while the other is in the South and both will be operational by February or March 2022.

Xiaomi Mi LED 4C 32-Inch HD Ready TV Launched in India for Rs 15,999

Posted: 04 Aug 2021 11:22 PM PDT

Mi LED TV Xiaomi India on Thursday silently launched the Mi LED Smart TV 32-inch with an HD Ready screen. This TV has been launched for the introductory pricing of Rs 15,999 which hints at an upcoming price hike, as has been the case with certain Xiaomi products in recent times, such as the Redmi Note 10. The Mi LED Smart TV 4C 32-inch will be available in Indis starting August 5 at 12 PM, meaning that if you wish to get the TV, you can do so today via Mi.com or Flipkart during the latter’s Big Savings Day Sale, which itself commences today, offering multiple products at discounted rates. It seems that with this HD Ready smart TV, the company intends to take on the likes of Samsung, GCL, LG and Realme, all of whom offer TVs with similar specifications and pricing, with this TV running Android TV OS with PatchWall on top and Chromecast support built-in for the TV.

Mi LED TV 4C 32-inch Specifications, Features

Specification wise, the standout feature for the Mi LED Smart TV 4C 32-inch is the supposed audio performance, with the TV sporting 10W x 2 Stereo Speakers, which, in the words of the company can offer an amazing audio experience, which should aid your content consumption needs. The TV is powered by a 64-bit quad-core processor that is paired with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of Internal Storage and, to the consumer’s benefit, despite the price reduction, the TV comes with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support as is the norm, but it also comes with multiple ports. Xiaomi is known for bringing the content-first experience which is also kept in mind for the Mi LED Smart TV 4C 32-inch model, as PatchWall brings with it 25 applications such as Netflix, Disney+Hotstar, Zee5, AltBalaji, SonyLIV, Jio Cinema, SUNNXT, Kutuk, HoiChoi, EPICON and Amazon’s Prime Video. Much like the expensive Mi TV models, the new Mi LED Smart TV 4C 32-inch comes with universal search, live TV and search, smart content recommendations, user centre and a dedicated kids mode. The Mi LED Smart TV 4C 32-inch also comes with a minimal remote in the box that has hotkeys for apps such as Netflix, Prime Video and support for Google Assistant. Overall, the TV seems to be a solid budget TV for users who might want to jump onto the Android TV hype and enjoy OTT content instead of paying for a cable connection without having to splurge a lot of cash.

Indian Railways Drops Project To Provide Wi-Fi Services In Train

Posted: 04 Aug 2021 11:10 PM PDT

Indian Railways Wi-Fi The Indian government has been bullish in providing Wi-Fi in trains and railway stations in recent years. After providing Wi-Fi connectivity in the railway stations across India, the government announced that it would provide free Wi-Fi in trains operating across the country. This ambitious project was announced in 2019 by the former Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. Back then, it was announced that the Centre is planning to provide Wi-Fi within trains in four and a half years. There are many challenges in the same as it requires investment for the towers and equipment to be fitted both outside and within the trains. It also required investors from abroad.

In-Train Wi-Fi Service Dropped

Two years post this announcement; this project has been dropped by the Indian Railways. As per a PTI report, the railways has dropped the project to provide internet connection in trains as it was not cost-effective. This was confirmed by the government in the Parliament on Wednesday. In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Railway Minister, cleared the clouds on this matter. The reply said that the pilot project provided a Wi-Fi internet facility in the Howrah Rajdhani Express train via satellite communication technology. During the pilot project, it was seen that the technology required intensive capital with recurring costs such as bandwidth charges, eventually making it not cost-effective. Also, the available internet bandwidth provided to the passengers on the train was inadequate. Apparently, the government had to be dropped. As of now, suitable, cost-effective technology for the Wi-Fi internet services in trains is unavailable, the Railway Minister added.

RailTel Network

Currently, the Indian Railways has provided a Wi-Fi internet facility at more than 6,000 railway stations on a self-sustainable basis. This service is provided by the RailTel network, which is a public sector undertaking (PSU) operated under the Ministry of Railways. Wi-Fi services by RailTel were provided under Railwire, which is its broadband distribution model. Prior to this, Google's Station program debuted in 2016 at the Mumbai Central railway station and added its 400th station in Dibrugarh in Assam in 2018.

Google Has News for Pixel Lovers In India

Posted: 04 Aug 2021 10:47 PM PDT

Google Pixel Google has decided not to bring the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro to India. Just a few days back the company unveiled the smartphones and confirmed their launch for the fall season of 2021. Much recently, Google came out with a list confirming the countries which will see the Pixel 6 series devices coming to their market. Unfortunately, as per a Gizmochina report, India is not on the list. The smartphone will make it to only select countries and Indian Pixel fans will just have to purchase the device from the international markets if they want one. This news is not surprising though.

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro Not Launching in India Not Surprising

Google isn't going to be launching the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro in India but it isn't the least bit surprising. The company has already made it clear that it sees India as a super price-sensitive market and will only bring smartphones that are in the mid-range category to the Indian market. This is a fair strategy from Google but there's no denying that there might be many in India who want to get their hands on the flagship Pixel smartphones. According to the list from Google, the Pixel 6 series smartphones will only be available in select international markets – Japan, France, the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Taiwan. The smartphone might make it to one or a few more markets if Google decides that. The key specifications related to smartphones are still in the dark. There's one major thing that's been confirmed though, the Google Pixel 6 series will be powered by Google Tensor which will enhance the smartphones' speech recognition ability, machine learning capabilities, and much more. It is worth noting that Google didn't bring the Google Pixel 4 and 5 series flagship smartphones to India in the past. Thus, this move is quite expected from Google.

Vodafone Idea Stock Plummets Massively In Early Session

Posted: 04 Aug 2021 09:57 PM PDT

Vodafone Idea Vodafone Idea's (Vi) troubles just don't seem to end. The private operator's shares have been falling continuously for consecutive days. In the early market session today, Vodafone Idea's shares have fallen by more than 20%. Yesterday, we had reported that VI's stock had dipped by 16% in the noon session. But today, they have fallen even further, and that is not good news for the telco's investors. The stock had closed at Rs 6 yesterday and opened very low at Rs 5.40 in the morning today. Vi's shares have already touched Rs 4.55 (lowest) today. To understand the trend of the stock, Vi's shares closed at Rs 7.40 on Tuesday, opened at Rs 7.15 on Wednesday, closed at Rs 6 on Wednesday, and opened at Rs 5.40 on Thursday. The daily trend would suggest that the stock's value is going down rapidly.

Vodafone Idea Stock Down Reason

There are multiple reasons why the stock of Vodafone Idea is down. The first and foremost is the news that Kumar Mangalam Birla is willing to give his promoter stake in Vi to the government. Second is the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues decision by the Supreme Court (SC). The third is losing subscribers in consecutive months. Fourth is reporting thousands of crores in losses. Fifth is not being able to find an investor who is willing to drive the company ahead. These are a few of the major reasons why Vodafone Idea's stock is going down on a daily. As of the time of this writing, Vodafone Idea's share has gone up 5%, and today's dip has reduced to 15%. Regardless, this is fatal news for the investors of the company, and hopefully, a relief package from the government will be able to set things right for the telco. Everyone in the industry is rooting for Vodafone Idea to jump back up so that the balance can be restored and the duopoly between Jio and Airtel can be avoided.

Vivo Quietly Launches New Smartphone in India With 5000mAh Battery

Posted: 04 Aug 2021 09:24 PM PDT

Vivo y12G Vivo has quietly launched the Vivo Y12G smartphone in India. The company has listed the device on its website and it is already on open sale. The Vivo Y12G comes with a massive 5,000mAh battery and a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. It is a smartphone for the affordable category and comes in a single variant only. Let's take a look at all the specifications and price of the smartphone.

Vivo Y12G Specifications in India

Vivo Y12G comes with a 6.51-inch Halo FullView display. It has a tear-drop notch at the top center housing the selfie camera. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 SoC coupled with up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There is a dual-camera setup at the rear with a 13MP primary lens and a 2MP depth sensor. The front has an 8MP selfie sensor. Also, there's an LED flash at the rear. The smartphone's internal storage can be increased up to 256GB with the help of a microSD card. Vivo Y12G packs a massive 5,000mAh battery along with 10W standard charging. It is a 4G capable smartphone that comes with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for additional security. The smartphone further supports face unlock and runs on FuntouchOS 11 based on Android 11 out of the box. Let's take a look at the pricing of the Vivo Y12G.

Vivo Y12G Price in India

The Vivo Y12G has launched in a single variant in India. The smartphone comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and a massive 5,000mAh battery. It is available in a single variant with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage for Rs 10,990. The pricing does seem off but there must be a good reason for Vivo to go ahead with it. It comes in two colour variants – Glacier Blue and Phantom Black. The smartphone is already available on the company's Indian website for users to purchase.

Bharti Airtel Ready to Monetise Stake in Airtel Payments Bank: Vittal

Posted: 04 Aug 2021 08:43 PM PDT

Bharti Airtel Bharti Airtel is ready to go ahead with monetising stake in its online banking arm – Airtel Payments Bank if such a situation arrives. It will be the telco's way to arrange for resources in case it needs it. Neither of the operators got any relief from the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues decision made by the Supreme Court. While it is more devastating for Vodafone Idea, even Bharti Airtel can face the financial heat because of the decision by SC if the telco's profits dip even further.

Gopal Vittal Hoping for Government to Aid Vodafone Idea and the Sector

Vodafone Idea has been under great financial stress for quite some time now. The telco hasn't seen profits in years, and if things continue the same way, it can be catastrophic for the company in the short term. According to an ET Telecom report, speaking at the first quarter's earnings call, Gopal Vittal, CEO of Bharti Airtel, said the government should come out with a relief package for the telecom sector as soon as possible. He expressed that there should be at least 3 operators in the industry at all times. Without naming Vodafone Idea directly, Vittal said that India's current structure of three private players and one state-run telco is very important to maintain. This will only happen if Vodafone Idea is able to secure an investor or sees continuous high average revenue per user (ARPU) customer addition to see some profits in its books. Vi needs a steady cash flow to meet its liabilities and expenses, all in the short term. Time and again, Airtel has expressed that it wants the current market structure to sustain, and it would not be good if Vi had to go out because of the financial issues. The government is indeed working on a relief package, and something solid should come out very soon.

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