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US Might Replace Chinese 5G Technology Being Used in Brazil

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 09:47 AM PDT

5G 5G has been dubbed to be one of, if not the most important and change inducing advancement in networking in the last couple of years, with developed areas such as the US and UK being quite ecstatic about 5G and the changes that this new generation of networking brought with it. Following this, Huawei was, at least initially contacted to provide 5G services in the US, but, there were some reservations regarding Huawei, following which the company was essentially removed from multiple partnerships, one of the key ones, which affected the company in more ways than one is the termination with GMS or Google Services. Ever since then, there have been concerns regarding Huawei and, today, US National Security Advisor, Mr Jake Sullivan discussed plans of building 5G networks in Brazil via Amercian tech.

What Did the US Minister Have to Say?

He tweeted that as the hemisphere’s two largest democracies, the United States and Brazil have a stake in each other’s success. Together the countries can promote their shared security and prosperity and advance in their ambitious climate goals, as well as combat the current COVID-19 pandemic. During his high-level trip to the country of Brazil, yesterday, Sullivan met Brazilian President Mr Jair Bolsonaro, amongst other senior officials in a bid to discuss vaccine supplies, cooperation in areas of cybersecurity, telecommunications, Amazon’s deforestation and the prospect of Brazil being a NATO partner. In relation to this, the US Embassy in Brazil had mentioned that on Thursday, the Security Advisor of the US, Jake Sullivan had discussed with Fabio Faria issues related to cybersecurity and guaranteed that all the Brazilians would be able to benefit from the 5G network. The two officials also talked about Open RAN technologies, which, for those of you unaware is a US-based tool meant for the construction of wireless technologies such as 5G, and the introduction of the same in the Brazilian space, as per Sputnik. Brazil’s communications minister, who met Sullivan stated that they mostly discussed 5G and that both countries would be working together to elaborate solutions regarding Open RAN This move comes at a time when Huawei has been listed in a list comprising of restricted companies, essentially banning the Chinese company from getting access to both hardware and software from the United States of America. Sputnik further reported that switching cooperation with China on 5G could and most probably might make way for Brazil to NATO global partnership as using communications suppliers labelled unreliable in Washington would not aid cooperation between Brazil and US in areas of defence and security.

Most Expensive Broadband Plans in India

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 09:03 AM PDT

Broadband Plans Broadband service providers have curated ample plans that meet the expectations of normal and avid internet users. Since the demand for internet connections have increased in the recent period, broadband service providers have developed a range of premium plans that are packed with high-speed internet and other benefits. In this article, we will list all the premium and expensive plans from renowned service providers like Airtel Xstream Fiber, JioFiber, Spectra and ACT.

JioFiber Rs 8499 Broadband Plan

JioFiber is known for its exclusive benefits and high-speed internet plans. The highest broadband plan of JioFiber is available for Rs 8499, excluding GST. Under the plan, users will get 1Gbps internet speed. The FUP limit of the broadband plan is 6600GB. Once the FUP limit is over, the internet speed will be reduced. Users will also get free voice calling benefits. Additional benefits of the broadband plan include free trials and subscription to Netflix (premium), Amazon Prime Video, Disney+Hotstar VIP, Zee5, Hoichoi and many more. The validity of the broadband plan is 30 days.

ACT GIGA Rs 5999 Broadband Plan

ACT GIGA is the most expensive broadband plan offered that retails for Rs 5999. Under the plan, users get 1000 Mbps internet speed up to 5500GB. Once the data limit is over, the internet speed will be reduced to 5 Mbps. Additional benefits of the plan include one month free trial of Zee5, EpicOn. Not only this, but users can get a SonyLiv subscription for just Rs 299 per month.

Spectra Rs 2499 Airmesh Infinity

Specta Airmesh Infinity is the most demanded broadband plan that offers 1 Gbps internet speed. Spectra provides an enterprise-grade router that holds power to provide strong signals for up to 100 sq. meters with a multi-router option. The broadband plan is available for Rs 2499 excluding GST. Users also have to submit a refundable security amount of Rs 4,000.

Airtel Xstream Rs 3999 VIP Broadband Plan

Airtel broadband plans directly compete with plans rolled out by competitors. The expensive broadband plan is dubbed the VIP plan, and it is available for Rs 3999 excluding GST. Under the plan, users get 1 Gbps internet speed. The FUP limit of the broadband plan is 3300GB. Once users have exhausted the FUP limit, the internet speed will be reduced. Users also get unlimited local/ STD calling benefits. Additional benefits of the Airtel Xstream VIP broadband plan includes a subscription to Disney+Hotstar, Amazon Prime, Wynk Music and Airtel Xstream.

Reasons You Should Consider to Upgrade Your Broadband Plan

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 08:03 AM PDT

Broadband Upgrade The Fibre to the Home broadband offering is something that has penetrated the broadband market in recent years. Since the last few years, many companies in India have started offering massive speeds which go in the range of 100 Mbps to even 1 Gbps. While a connection of 1 Gbps might be overkill for a normal household, but a lot of homes having a broadband connection with speeds of 100 to 200 Mbps is certainly not unheard of. Unfortunately, while the habits of the consumers, and the digital ecosystems have drastically evolved, there are a lot of broadband subscribers who are still stuck up on their old plans which offer subpar speed or insufficient data. If you have been having thoughts about changing your broadband plans and more specifically upgrading it, and you are someone who is on the edge about doing it, then read ahead to find out the answer to your questions.

Streaming Services

In the last few years, the number of streaming services has grown by multifold. There is Amazon Prime, and Netflix, and Disney+ Hotstar as the three big names, but besides these, there are other services like MX Player, EROS NOW, ALT Balaji, and more. Depending on the family members, the streaming needs also differ from age to age and even interests. This means that at any given time, there might be a few people streaming content all day long at your home. This streaming requires a lot of data and high bandwidth to ensure good quality on all devices.

Smart Home Devices and Stable Connection

With the upgrades of devices having LTE, Wi-Fi calling, and with the pandemic on the loose, the needs of video calling with multiple people at once, applications like Houseparty which help you stream and chat at the same time have also shot up bandwidth demand. There is also a proliferation of smart devices with people's lighting connections, refrigerators, and other devices being connected to the internet at all times. Such a smart home requires a high bandwidth device as well. Lastly, if you are someone who would want a simple uninterrupted connection that is stable during your work and entertainment, a plan up-gradation is something that you should consider.

BSNL Broadband Offering Google Nest Mini on Online Payment

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 07:20 AM PDT

BSNL Google Nest Mini The frenzy of offers that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is offering on its broadband plans and new broadband customers has lost count. The telecom operator is growing in leaps and bounds on the broadband front, as proven by the 11 lakh customer addition made by BSNL on the wired broadband front. In a new promotional scheme by BSNL, the new broadband customers or the existing broadband customers who make their bill payments from the online portal of BSNL will be eligible for getting a Google Nest Mini Device. The offer will be based on a lucky draw meaning that 10 customers will be selected at random who will get the Google Nest Mini device.

BSNL Customers Eligible for Google Home Mini

The new offer has been launched by the BSNL Telangana circle. To recall, BSNL had launched the online payment portal for its broadband subscribers a few weeks back. Under this new payment portal, BSNL subscribers of all kinds, whether they are on the DSL line, FTTH, or Air Fibre, would be able to make payments for their bills in advance with credit cards, debit cards or other payments option. Now, to urge the customers to adapt to the online payment ecosystem in a more robust manner, BSNL has launched this offer for its subscribers.

BSNL Google Nest Mini Offer Conditions

For the broadband customers of BSNL who are interested in this offer, you should note that the Google Nest Mini lucky draw offer is only available for the month of August. Also, you will have to make the bill payment before the due date. In case you make the payment on a later date, beyond the due date of the bill, then you will not be eligible for the Google Nest Mini offer. It is also worth noting that the price of the Google Nest Mini device on the market is Rs 4,999, and BSNL is also offering other plans where the Google Nest Mini and Google Nest Hub will be available to the subscribers at a discounted rate.

Huawei’s Latest Patent Reveals New Take on Rollable Phone Concept

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 06:45 AM PDT

Huawei Rollable smartphones have long been considered by multiple brands, with a couple of them still working on a rollable handset. One key player was LG, but post its exit from the smartphone business, it seemed that the idea started to fade away, with Oppo being the leader as of now. Today, a report detailed the chances of Huawei returning to the foldable space and, if the company does intend to try and showcase a rollable handset, Oppo could face some major competition from its fellow Chinese brand. The new patent that was spotted on Friday hints at the company working on a rollable handset complete with certain features that make it a bit different from what LG and Oppo showcased.

Huawei’s Latest Patent Is Quite Interesting!

The patent spotted initially by LetsGoDigital was initially filed back in January of 2021, but was published this month. It shows a design similar to a previous patent seen in April, but it comes with a few new concept listings. The rollable handset from Huawei will supposedly make use of a large OLED screen that is made of plastic, wrapping around the front that covers a part of the rear of the device the portion left towards the rear packs adequate space for a camera array, which could be interesting, considering Huawei’s history with great optics. Do note that the most interesting thing here is the rollable system, wherein the screen is pulled around the handset’s edge. When a user wishes for more display, it slides around the back alongside a motorised system. This is quite interesting since Huawei’s main priority is to reduce creases, which is being handled by adding magnets in the rolling mechanism, which should also lock the screen to a specific place. The display settings are divided as well, into three different sizes. The device sports a 6.5-inch display out of the box, but it can be extended to up to 11-inches, which is impressive, considering that a user can carry a tablet-sized display in their pocket without any hassles since most devices are similar in size to the unrolled version of the rollable phone. There are certain concerns over durability and the concept’s nature, but, it seems to be an interesting take on foldables. Considering how Huawei is yet to finish on its plans from 2020, this could be just a listing that is tackled in 2022, if not later.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, Z Fold 3 Now Up for Pre-Orders in India

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 05:47 AM PDT

Samsung Unpacked Samsung will be launching the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 during its August 11 Unpacked event, with the company officially starting pre-orders for the devices from today in the country of India. Pre-bookings for the foldable devices from Samsung can be done via the Samsung India site and the Samsung Shop application, wherein users are required to pay Rs 2,000 to purchase the VIP pass necessary to pre-book the handsets. As mentioned above, for those of you unaware, Samsung will be launching the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3, Galaxy Watch Active 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 during the Unpacked Event.

What Do We Know About the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3

There are certain benefits to pre-booking the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3, as buyers who do so will get a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag NFC tracker free of charge, with this period likely running up till August 11, 7:30 PM, when Samsung will officially launch the device, rendering pre-orders closed. In terms of what is expected, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 will supposedly feature a 7.6-inch foldable display coated with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The outer panel meanwhile will supposedly feature a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display, with a 10MP selfie snapper to the top for the outer display. Inside, there will be a 4MP under-display camera present beneath the foldable display present in the interior, with the optics being handled by a 12MP triple camera array. Performance-wise, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 will most likely make use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, coupled with up to 12GB memory and 512GB storage. The device is also tipped to make use of a 4,400mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. In stark contrast, the Z Flip 3, which is the alternative take on a foldable in 2021 will make use of a 6.7-inch display, with a 12MP dual-camera setup on the outside. The device will also make use of the Snapdragon 888 SoC, with at least 8GB of RAM. To add to the smartphones, the Galaxy Watch that is expected to be launched alongside these products could offer some new features and possibly showcase the latest Watch OS from the company made in collaboration with Google’s Wear OS that has been paired with Samsung’s Tizen. Pricing wise, the foldable could be priced pretty differently, with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 possibly being priced around the Rs 1.3 Lakh barrier in India, whilst the Galaxy Z Flip 3 could cost around Rs 90,000.

Airtel Xstream Fiber Set for Hyper-Growth, Airtel Eyes 2000 Cities

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 05:35 AM PDT

airtel-xstream-fiber-hyper-growth-2000-cities Bharti Airtel, the second largest wireless operator in India delivered healthy growth "beyond expectations" in its first quarter of the current financial year, say multiple analysts. The operator on Tuesday reported its first quarter results with Airtel recording Rs 26,854 crore in quarterly revenue, translating to an 21.2% year-over-year (YoY) increase on "comparable basis." Airtel recorded Rs 284 crore in consolidated net income while the average revenue per user (ARPU), a key financial metric, hit Rs 146 in its first quarter of the current financial year. The operator highlighted that its ARPU in its prior year quarter was at Rs 138 "on comparable basis" and Rs 145 in its previous quarter.

Bharti Airtel Delivered "Robust Performance Across Segments"

Axis Securities in a report on Thursday said that Airtel was "aided by strong 4G momentum" as the operator's 4G user base increased by over 50 lakhs on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis. The Axis Bank subsidiary highlighted that the Airtel 4G user base at 18.4 crores translating to 57% of its overall user base. Similarly, Motilal Oswal, an Indian diversified financial services firm in a report on Wednesday highlighted that Airtel recorded "steady earnings despite lockdown." The firm said the "superior execution quality" by Airtel is "reflected in its strong performance over the last four quarters," with the operator recording 30% earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) YoY growth. Motilal Oswal said that the operator recorded the growth "despite no tariff hikes" while also posting "consistent" user growth and gains in revenue market share. "While the street has expressed concerns about the timelines of a potential tariff hike, we believe strong earnings growth is achievable even without a tariff hike," Motilal Oswal said in its report on Wednesday. It has to be noted that Airtel revised its corporate and retail postpaid plans in late July, with the minimum plans for corporate users now priced at Rs 299, up from Rs 199. Further, the operator also tweaked its retail postpaid plans with the price of its Rs 249 add-on pack increased to Rs 299. ICICI Securities, a subsidiary of ICICI Bank on Wednesday said that the revisions to the postpaid plans will enable Airtel to record "strong" performance in its upcoming quarters. "Next two quarters will also have strong earnings print from the recent tariff hikes and normalisation of recharge cycle in mobile," ICICI Securities said in a report on Wednesday. However, the firm said that Airtel had "all segments firing" in its first quarter including payments bank and home services, with the operator recording 71% YoY increase in its payments bank active users. ICICI Securities highlighted that the home broadband user base also increased by 37% YoY for the operator while its revenue increased 13% YoY. In its quarterly report, Airtel highlighted that its broadband services are available in 387 cities across India including the cities where its services are provided in partnerships with local cable operators. Airtel said that it "accelerated" its partnerships with local cable operators (LCO) in non-wired cities as its LCO model is now live in 301 cities across the country. "Airtel continues to make good progress through innovative propositions and providing differential experiences to accelerate its business growth," Axis Securities said in its report on Thursday. The firm highlighted that the operator recorded "robust performance across segments" with its businesses in India such as Home along with Direct-to-Home recording "strong growth."

Airtel Xstream Fiber Set to be Available Across 2000 Cities

In its first quarter earnings call, Gopal Vittal, chief executive officer at Bharti Airtel said that the operator witnessed "continued growth in demand for high quality broadband triggered" by online education, work-from-home and entertainment users. Vittal said that the demand for high speed broadband aided the operator to add 285,000 new users in its first quarter with its overall broadband user base has now touched 33.5 lakhs. "I believe fiber-to-the-home is a very large opportunity and we will continue to step up investments to take our network to over 2000 towns across India," Vittal said in the first quarter earnings call. Bharti Airtel CEO also said that the operator has been witnessing the "temporary disconnections made by small businesses and commercial offices" reactivating their connections. According to the Telecom Subscription Data for the period ended May 31, 2021, as released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Airtel is the second largest wired broadband operator in India. The Trai data highlights that the operator had over 32 lakh wired broadband users while the state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited retained its top spot with over 60 lakh users. Dolat Capital on Wednesday said that the operator continued to record wired broadband user additions post its tariff revisions in its second quarter of its previous financial year. The financial firm engaged in the trading markets said that the home broadband services of Airtel is at the "cusp of hyper-growth." "Bharti witnessed a healthy subscriber addition in Home broadband business with drop in ARPU," Dolat Capital said in a report on Wednesday. "However, it envisages no further dilution in ARPU with healthy mix of customers across plans with Rs 799 being most attractive plan."

Tata Sky and Dish TV Set-Top Boxes Compared Across HD and Android Variants

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 04:34 AM PDT

Tata Sky In case you want to change your Direct-to-Home (DTH) connection, or you are someone who simply wants to resort to a new DTH connection, then besides the monthly subscription which is mostly common across all DTH operators, the price and feature of the STB is something that will decide the quality of your connection. The kind of features you will be able to experience alongside your DTH connection and the price that you will pay upfront will be decided by the STB that you go for. Now in the DTH segment, there are two major players, Dish TV and Tata Sky which are most popular among the subscribers. Here we compare the two STBs by both companies.

Tata Sky and Dish TV HD Set-Top Box

Right off the bat, speaking of prices of both the Set-Top Boxes, while the Tata Sky Set-Top Box is available for Rs 1,499, the DishNXT HD Set-Top Box is available for Rs 1,590. This means that Tata Sky subscribers will get the benefit of saving Rs 90 upfront on the STB purchase. However, the difference that you must keep in mind between both the STBs is that the Tata Sky Set-Top Box only comes with one year warranty, whereas, the Dish TV STB comes with a lifetime warranty. Also, while the Tata Sky STB does not bundle any subscription, the DishNXT HD Set-Top Box is offering one month subscription along with the purchase and Rs 2,000 worth of coupons from Coupon Duniya.

Tata Sky and Dish TV Android Set-Top Box

When it comes to the Android Set-Top Box which offers OTT content besides the normal DTH content, then the subscribers would be better off with the Tata Sky Binge+ Set-Top Box which is available for Rs 2,499. On the other hand, the dishSMRT Hub comes for Rs 3,999 for new subscribers and Rs 2,499 for existing subscribers of Dish TV. The Tata Sky Binge+ Set-Top Box also bundles one month of free subscription of Amazon Prime and other apps like EROS NOW, Shemaroo, and more.

Removal of Retrospective Taxation Big Win for Vodafone Plc, Might Help Vi

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 03:20 AM PDT

Retrospective Taxation Vodafone Idea The investment environment in India has been put to question a lot of time given the tax laws of the country. However, on Friday one of the major question marks for the investors thinking upon India as their next investment destination evaporated in thin air as the bill passed in Lok Sabha put an end to the practice of retrospective taxation. For the unaware, the retrospective taxation law meant that companies could be taxed for their dealings in the past and this draconian and exploitative law was brought forth in the UPA II regime in India. At the time of Arun Jaitley’s Finance Ministership, he had promised of revoking this law in order to lighten up the investors' moods and to boost the Ease of Doing Business in India, which has been high on the agenda of the present government.

Vodafone Plc Wins Over Arbitration

Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International, a leading global public policy think tank has also remarked saying that this is a "golden letter day" in the history of India and has also added that this move will help India in gaining more investment from companies and would help strengthen the image of the country as a possible investment location. One of the major cases which pertained to retrospective taxation was related to Vodafone Plc. A total of 17 cases were filed by the Indian Government at the time, out of which Vodafone Plc's case was a major one in limelight. Recently, Vodafone Plc won the international arbitration on the matter, which had held up a tax demand of over $3 billion USD over the company.

Indian Govt Lost Arbitration to Cairn Energy

Now it remains to be seen, whether this would free up the worries of Vodafone Plc a little more, or even enough to pump some cash into the ailing Indian telecom business, Vodafone Idea Ltd, in which it has a 45% share. In another more recent arbitration ruling, Cairn Energy won the case against the Indian government which has ruled the centre to pay $1.2 billion-plus interest and $22.38 million towards arbitration and legal costs to Cairn. Mehta finally added that this move is a "fresh call to the global investors" that India is open for business with a favourable tax environment for businesses.

Noise ColorFit Pro 3 Assist Smartwatch, Buds VS103 TWS Earbuds Launched

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 02:37 AM PDT

Noise, which is best known for its affordable smartwatches and audible products has launched two new offerings in India. The talk is about the Noise ColorFit Pro 3 Assist smartwatch and the Noise Buds VS103 TWS earbuds. The latest smartphone comes with Alexa in-built for voice commands and SpO2 monitoring among other goodies. The TWS earbuds features a stem-style design and have an IPX5 rating.

Noise ColorFit Pro 3 Assist Smartwatch Specifications

The Noise ColorFit Pro 3 Assist smartwatch has been launched with a rectangular dial and sports a 1.55-inch TFT LCD display with a resolution of 320 x 360 pixels. There is a button at the right to navigate through the UI and it can carry out multiple tasks. This Noise smartwatch comes with features such as sleep tracking, stress monitoring, blood oxygen level monitoring and 14 sports modes. A 3,000mAh battery keeps the lights turned on and is touted to offer up to 10 days of battery life on a single charge. The Noise ColorFit Pro 3 Assist uses Bluetooth 5.0 LE for connectivity. It can be paired with smartphones via the NoiseFit Assist Pro app. This companion app offers additional tracking capabilities and detailed health insights as well. Noise

Noise Buds VS103 Specifications

The Noise Buds VS103 TWS earbuds flaunts a stem-style design, 10mm drivers and IPX5 rating. This pair of TWS earbuds has touch controls to control the music playback and answer calls. With the HyperSync technology, it can be easily paired with an already paired device by simply opening the case. In terms of battery life, the earbuds can last up to 4.5 hours on a single charge while the overall battery life of the cash is 4x times, which is 18 hours. Also, the Noise TWS earbuds case has a USB Type-C port for charging.

Noise Smartwatch, TWS Earbuds Price

The Noise ColorFit Pro 3 Assist has been launched in Black, Grey, Green, Blue and Pink colour options. It is priced at Rs 3,999 as an introductory offer. On the other hand, the Noise Buds VS103 earbuds come in Black and White colour options. It is priced at Rs 1,499 as an introductory offer. Both the smartwatch and TWS earbuds are up for sale via the official Noise website and Amazon India.

Vodafone Idea Awaits a Lifeline, But Who Will Come to Beleaguered Operator’s Rescue?

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 01:16 AM PDT

Vodafone Idea Telecom operator Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) is the eye of the storm, yet again, this time following the resignation of industrialist and billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla from the debt-laden company's board. On Wednesday, Birla, the chairman of business conglomerate Aditya Birla Group, had stepped down as non-executive chairman and non-executive director of VIL, a move that did not go well with the investors. While the company named non-executive director and telecom veteran Himanshu Kapania as non-executive chairman, the markets read it as a signal that the businessman was distancing himself from the beleaguered mobile service provider. This resulted in its shares plunging by 24.54 per cent to its 52-week-low of Rs 4.55 during early trading on the BSE. Later, the shares closed down 1.49 per cent at Rs 5.94 on the main BSE bourse on Thursday.

Troubles Galore

The recent troubles for VIL, which is weighed down by debt of Rs 1.8-lakh-crore debt, started with a series of events, and Birla's resignation is the latest one in the chain. Earlier on June 7, 2021, Birla had offered to hand over Aditya Birla Group's entire stake in the company to any public sector or domestic financial entity to keep the firm afloat. In case of government declining support, the company's operations would be driven to "an irretrievable point of collapse", Birla said in a letter. This evokes a sense of deja vu. Earlier in 2019, there were reports that the beleaguered airline Jet Airways had also sought for a similar bailout, but the government turned Nelson's eye. However, there were promises of providing bank funding for the embattled carrier, which also didn't materialise. Birla had taken over as non-executive chairman of Vodafone Idea in August 2018 after the company he helmed – Vodafone India – entered into a $23-billion merger deal with Idea Cellular. The non-executive chairman's resignation came immediately after UK-based Vodafone Group Plc's Chief Executive Officer Nick Read reiterated the parent company's stance of not infusing further capital in VIL, which now operates under the brand name 'Vi'. It was during an analyst call Read stated that the Indian operator is passing through a difficult time, but the parent would not infuse any additional equity. Vodafone Group holds a 44.39% stake and Aditya Birla Group a 27.66% stake in the merged entity, VIL, and the remaining is held by institutional investors (foreign and domestic) and the general public. Troubles were brewing for the operator after it failed to raise funds, secure reliefs from the government and the Supreme Court ruling against its application for re-computation of adjusted gross revenues. The company owes about $6.74 billion over the next 10 years to the government for spectrum usage and licence fees, and a re-calculation of those dues were not permitted by the apex court.

Helping Hand Need

According to media reports, investors in VIL are ready to part with their stake in VIL to bankers or to state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) for free. In case of a merger with BSNL, the company's dues would be put on hold as it the merged company would become a government entity, and in case if the stake is taken over by lenders, they would have to further infuse money to keep the company afloat. While such a proposal is yet to reach BSNL or its parent, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), a bailout package is the need of the hour to save the firm and its nearly 10,000 employees. Further, it is also required to ward off the evils of duopoly (with two private operators remaining – Reliance Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel – in case of VIL downing shutters) that could lead to a cartelisation, which could, in turn, derail India's telecom revolution.

Xiaomi Moves Ahead of Samsung, Apple Globally

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 01:00 AM PDT

Global Smartphone Sales The race to grab the top spot in the global smartphone market has been dominated by the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi. For the first time, Xiaomi has surpassed Samsung to emerge as the leading smartphone vendor in the globe during June 2021. It is quite evident that Xiaomi has been extensively working in the segment to elevate its position and brand value in different markets. In India, Xiaomi is already the leading smartphone manufacturer in the Indian market. Even though Xiaomi has surpassed Samsung globally in the June quarter, it still sits behind Samsung if the entire quarter is taken into consideration.

Xiaomi has Almost Sold 800 Million Smartphones Since its Inception in 2011

As per the report rolled out by Counterpoint, Xiaomi sales increased 26 % month on month in June 2021. Not only this but, Xiaomi comfortably bagged the second spot globally for Q2 2021 in terms of sales. Since its inception, Xiaomi has sold over 800 million smartphones. Currently, Xioami leads the global smartphone sales chart with a market share of 17.1%, where Samsung and Apple hold 15.7 % and 14.3 % market share, respectively. It is also expected that Xioami will eye to retain the top spot in the global smartphone sales. The smartphone manufacturer is also planning to launch new devices to cover the untapped customer's segment.

Xiaomi Reaped Benefits from Huawei's Demise

The demise of Huawei turned out to be a game-changer for Xiaomi. Tarun Pathak, who is the research director at Counterpoint, stated that Xiaomi has been pushing to fill the gaps created by the demise of Huawei. The smartphone manufacturer has been aggressively expanding in Huawei and Honor's primary markets like China, Europe, Middle East and Africa. The supply constraints of Samsung due to the Covid-19 outrage in Vietnam also aided Xiaomi. To grab the market, Xiaomi launched the Mi 11 Series along with the flagship device Mi 11 Ultra. It is also expected that if the situation does not improve for Samsung in Vietnam, the production cycle of the South Korean entity will be affected, and Xiaomi will continue to gain share from the brand. It is also expected that Samsung will not launch any Note smartphones this year. This opens the doors for Xioami to launch premium smartphones.

Lenders Of Vodafone Idea To Swap Debt for Equity

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 12:42 AM PDT

Vodafone Idea Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi), the debt-laden telco is hitting the headlines almost every other day. The lenders are eying to swap their debt for equity, thereby resulting in significant dilution of the company's promotors – Aditya Birla Group (ABG) and Vodafone Group Plc, reports the Business Standard. The report citing a banking source noted that both promotors have agreed to dilute their shares in the company. Notably, ABG holds a 27.66% stake in Vi while Vodafone holds a 44.39 per cent stake.

Vodafone Idea Makes Loss

The telco merger of ABG's Idea Cellular and the Indian unit of the UK's Vodafone Group was formed in August 2018. Now, it is eyeing a shortfall of Rs 23,500 or $3.1 billion in cash flows in the financial year 2022-23. In March-end, the company had a cash balance of Rs 250 crore. Also, it is on the attempt of raising Rs 25,000 crore over the past ten months though it was not successful. On Thursday, the shares of the telco hit another 52-week low though it recovered in the day ending at Rs 5.94, which is a 1.49 % low on the BSE.

Kumar Mangalam Birla Resigns From Vi

In the meantime, Kumar Mangalam Birla wrote that he will hand over the group's stake in Vi to any domestic financial or public sector institution that can keep the company afloat. He wrote to the government highlighting that telco needs immediate government support without which it might be driven to a "point of irretrievable collapse". As of now, the government has not responded to his letter dated early June and he resigned from the position of non-executive chairman and director of Vi a few days back. Himanshu Kapania, the former MD of erstwhile Idea Cellular has replaced him now.

Government Relief Package for Telcos

Meanwhile, the government is working on a relief package aimed at the telcos, which might also benefit Vodafone Idea. This package might include reduction of bank guarantees, surrender of the spectrum, reducing levies such as spectrum usage charges and license fees. Also, it will redefine AGR to exclusive non-telecom aspects. Also, Ravinder Takkar, the Vi MD sent an internal communication to its 9,500 employees, assuring that ABG and Birla will provide support to the telco.

Best Wi-Fi Routers to Buy In India Under Rs 5,000

Posted: 06 Aug 2021 12:22 AM PDT

Best Wi-Fi Routers To Buy In India Under Rs 5,000 Routers have become inevitable as there is a surge in the use of wireless internet of late in India. During the pandemic, the trends such as online education, remote working, and streaming OTT content have leapfrogged, bringing in a need for wireless internet at homes. Eventually, there is a need for low-priced routers, and the search for the best router in the affordable price segment has increased. If you want to buy a new router or upgrade your existing one, then here is a list of some of the best routers under Rs 5,000 that you can buy in India right now. These routers listed below are suitable for both home and office and for requirements such as video streaming and gaming.

1. TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Cable Router

TP-Link is one of the best brands that might come to your mind while thinking about Wi-Fi routers. The TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Cable Router provides up to 30Mbps of 2.4GHz and 433Mbps of 5GHz internet speed. With strong external antennas, it delivers a long range. There is a parental control feature in this router to make the internet safe for the kids.

2. Netgear R6850 AC2000 Dual Band Gigabit Wall Mount Router

The Netgear R6850 AC2000 Dual Band Gigabit Wall Mount Router is suitable for office and home use. There are three external antennas to provide a long Wi-Fi range. This dual-band router offers up to 2000Mbps internet speed, thereby assuring zero lag while streaming videos and gaming.

3. Tenda AC10 1200Mbps Wireless Smart Dual-Band WiFi Router

Tenda AC10 1200Mbps Wireless Smart Dual-Band WiFi Router is a dual-band router that offers great coverage. It offers internet speeds of up to 600Mbps and 1300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and on the 5GHz band, respectively. With parental control, the Tenda router helps parents block their kids access harmful content on the internet.

4. D-Link DIR-841 – AC1200 MU-MIMO Wi-Fi Gigabit Router

Lastly, we have the D-Link DIR-841 – AC1200 MU-MIMO Wi-Fi Gigabit Router, which offers a stable internet connection. It makes sure there is no dead zone in your home or office. The notable features include guest mode, parental control, and IPV6, which is the recent Internet Protocol version. Before you make a buying decision, go through the features of each of these routers and choose one based on your requirement.

Bharti Airtel to Gain the Most Out of Vodafone Idea

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 11:22 PM PDT

Bharti Airtel Bharti Airtel's stock has risen in the last couple of days. The reason primarily being the downfall of the Vodafone Idea (Vi). Vi's shares have fallen very rapidly for consecutive days, and fearing a further fall, the investors have flocked towards Bharti Airtel and Reliance Industries Limited's stocks. Bharti Airtel's stock gained as much as 8% nearing its record high price. Investors are particularly happy and positive about the future of Bharti Airtel in India. Analysts have predicted that Vodafone Idea customers will largely be moving towards the networks of Bharti Airtel.

Bharti Airtel ARPU Rise, Tariff Hike, and Future Plans a Big Factor

Bharti Airtel is a good company for long-term investors since the rise in its stock price came even when there's no tariff hike and no relief provided for the sector. The telco even has adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues to pay to the government. The company's stock should see a major upward trend in the coming months, with tariff hikes kicking in, average revenue per user (ARPU) going upwards, and 5G services coming into the fold. But the biggest advantage for Bharti Airtel would be the exit of Vodafone Idea. Vi's 2G customers will flock to the network of Bharti Airtel, and it would create a buzz of new low ARPU customers for the telco. With Jio's 4G networks, there's an entry-barrier of low-end 4G smartphones, which the telco is looking to resolve by launching the JioPhone Next on September 10, 2021, in India. With Bharti Airtel, even Reliance Jio will gain new subscribers from the downfall of Vodafone Idea.

Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel Might Have Excellent Q2 FY22

The Q2 of FY22 might be really excellent for both Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Many subscribers of Vodafone Idea will be worried about the telco's exit based on the ongoing market news. This would result in subscribers porting their phone number from the network of Vodafone Idea to Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel's networks. Both the operators have been deploying additional spectrum and working relentlessly to ensure that their networks become strong enough to capacitate a large number of users without getting congested. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel investors will be very happy since they are benefitting from the fall of Vodafone Idea. However, it won't be very good for the sector in the long term if Vodafone Idea has to exit and the market is majorly left with Jio and Airtel while BSNL keeps surviving at the rear. Hopefully, a relief package from the government will set things in order for the sector.

DoT Did Not Award Work to CSS Wi-Fi Chaupal Services

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 10:41 PM PDT

The setting up of an optical fibre network all over India under the BharatNet initiative via the public-private partnership (PPP) model is projected to offer a growth opportunity to the private infrastructure sector. This approach encourages the adoption of similar models in other sectors as well. Now, the Parliament was informed that the telecom department has not directly awarded any work under the BharatNet initiative to CSS Wi-Fi Chaupal Services India. Devusinh Chauhan, the Minister of state for communications wrote a reply to the Rajya Sabha regarding the same, notes PTI.

BharatNet Phase-1 Maintenance

In his reply, he noted that the CSC eGovernance Services India Limited (CSC-SPV) has been awarded the BharatNet phase-1 project's maintenance work. To be specific, the maintenance project of the BharatNet Phase-1 involves the operation and maintenance of the optical fibre cable network and the fire-line maintenance of both the supporting infrastructure and equipment. Notably, CSC-SPV comes under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY). The Chairman of this special purpose vehicle is the MeitY Secretary.

No Tender, Clears DoT

The minister was also asked a question if there was a tender while issuing the BharatNet project contract under DoT (Department of Telecommunications) to private parties or CSC-SPV via CSC Wi-Fi Chaupal Services India Private Limited. He replied that the DoT did not award any work under the BharatNet project directly to CSC Wi-Fi Chaupal Services India Private Limited. The CSC-SPV has been assigned for the provisioning of Wi-Fi Services in nearly 1.10 lakh gram panchayats. Of these gram panchayats that have been assigned, CSC-SPV will also provide fibre to the home (FTTH) service connections to 5 Government Institutions per gram panchayat in nearly 77,000-gram panchayats, said the minister. Furthermore, Chauhan added that the CSC-SPV engages the vendors depending on the open expression of interest. The BharatNet phase-1 project has helped the government connect over 1 lakh village panchayats so that they get the benefit of a high-speed broadband network. Notably, the BharathNet implementation via PPP is segmented into nine packages across 16 states and the tenders for the same were floated by BBNL (Bharat Broadband Network Limited) in July.

Vodafone Idea Unlikely to File Bankruptcy

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 10:05 PM PDT

Vodafone Idea It's all become about Vodafone Idea in the last few days. Everyone's talking about the telco taking guesses at its future. Many believe that the company doesn't have any future at all, while some are rooting for it to ensure that a healthy balance in the telecom industry is maintained. One of the biggest worries for the investors is the telco heading towards a possible bankruptcy due to not having enough cash in the account. But as per an ET Telecom report, one of the senior executives of the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) has said that Vodafone Idea won't file for voluntary bankruptcy.

ABG Counting on Government for Vodafone Idea's Future

The ABG is counting on the Indian government for the future of the Vodafone Idea. The group's executives blame that the industry doesn't have a 'level playing field' and said that the company's fate is now in the hands of the government. A top official from the group said that 'herculean efforts' have been made to bring the company on track to success; thus, filing for a voluntary bankruptcy just won't make any sense. Further, since it is not a management error, a voluntary bankruptcy won't even be fair in the first place. Ravinder Takkar, Managing Director of Vodafone Idea, had assured on Thursday that Kumar Mangalam Birla would continue to support the telco even after stepping down as the non-executive chairman. There's one thing absolutely clear; Vi needs the help of the government in the form of a relief package. In addition to that, the telco should get very aggressive with its network services. This will help it in adding more subscribers in the short and medium-term. It is highly unlikely that Vodafone Idea will get any investor or funding any time soon. The telco desperately needs the help of the government since its promoters are unwilling to put any cash in the company.

Google to Launch Pixel 5a on This Date, Check Price

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 10:00 PM PDT

Google Pixel 5a Google recently unveiled the Google Pixel 6 series smartphones. But it is not everything that Google is going to launch in the coming days. The search engine giant might also launch the Pixel 5a later this month. According to a report from Gizmochina, Google Pixel 5a might launch on August 26 in the US. While there's zero probability of the Pixel 6 series smartphones to launch in India, the Pixel 5a just might make it. The company is already selling the Pixel 4a in India for Rs 29,999 for the 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage variant. Thus, there's a great chance that the Pixel 5a might come to India as well.

Google Pixel 5a Might Run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Series Chipset

The Google Pixel 5a might run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC coupled with up to 6GB of RAM. Google might not bring a 256GB variant of the device in India to ensure that it stays in the medium pricing range only. Reportedly, the smartphone might launch on August 26, 2021, and might be priced at $450 (approximately Rs 33,369.75) which seems to be in line with Google's target price for the Indian market. The Pixel 5a is expected to pack a 6.4-inch FHD+ display powered by a 4,650mAh battery. Further, the smartphone is expected to come with a 3.5mm headphone jack with IP67 certification for being dust and water-resistant. In the camera department, the Pixel 5a is expected to come with the same camera setup as that of the Pixel 5. There should be a dual-camera sensor at the rear with a 12.2MP primary sensor and a 16MP ultra-wide-angle sensor. But this could also go sideways for the Indian Pixel fans since Google might not release the Pixel 5a in the Indian market given the weak response to the Pixel 4a that is also selling in the mid-range category.

Vodafone Idea Gear Vendors Worried

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 08:48 PM PDT

Vodafone Idea Vodafone Idea (Vi) has a very bad financial standing with a ton of debt on its shoulders. The company is looking to make good on its promises to the customers and investors. However, the equipment or gear vendors who have supplied Vi with products are worried about recovering their money. The telco has many dues to clear to the government and other bodies. Since its profits are also dipping and the subscriber count is dropping, the vendors have become jittery and are worrying if they will get their money back. Companies including Nokia, Ericsson, ZTE, and Huawei have supplied Vi with network equipment over the last few years.

Vendors Don't Seek Immediate Payments But Are Worried Nonetheless

As per an ET Telecom report, the telecom vendors aren't looking for immediate payments from the telco. Instead, they are closely monitoring the market situation so that they can keep track of the telco's future. According to some earlier reports, to reduce their exposure, vendors had started working in limited quantity with Vodafone Idea. This allowed the vendors to first recover the money they were owed and then supply for another order. Even Vi liked the arrangement as it didn't have to pile on more debt. But still, there's a lot of money that Vi needs to pay to the vendors. One of the top executives of a European vendor told the publication that Vi has never come around to pay the complete dues and it still owes hundreds of crores to the vendor. Even though the vendors had limited their exposure to Vodafone Idea after the Supreme Court (SC) judgment for paying the statutory dues, the total exposure that all the vendors have with Vodafone Idea is still about $200 million. The telco's not going anywhere so the vendors' won't be worried a lot. However, there's also one thing, Vi won't be able to clear all these dues any time soon.

Twitter Spaces Will Now Get the Option to Add Two Co-Hosts

Posted: 05 Aug 2021 07:54 PM PDT

Twitter Spaces During the pandemic, people were restricted to their homes, with social interaction dropping to a bare minimum. Amidst these troubled times, applications like Clubhouse seemed to provide a platform for strangers to talk about interesting topics, without requiring too much of the internet. Twitter seemed to have taken note of the success being enjoyed by Clubhouse and released its own take on the same, dubbed Twitter Spaces, where Twitter users can drop their opinions or views on the topics selected by the host. The feature, at launch, was not quite peachy and was subsequently given multiple fixes. Some of these were key in making Twitter Spaces a platform worth using and, today, Twitter added another important feature to the same.

Twitter Spaces Are Getting Co-Hosts!

The micro-blogging giant on Friday announced that it was updating Spaces to allow hosts to keep up to two co-hosts for the social audio room, which would make it easier for the hosts of the chat to help and manage the conversations, which, at times, get out of hand. In terms of how this feature works, co-hosts are invited by the host and when they join in, they have the same moderation and managing privileges that are with the main host, some of them being the ability to speak to and invite other members, remove people from the rooms and pin desired tweets. There are certain limitations since only the main host or original host can invite or remove co-hosts, meaning one co-host cannot invite another one, and they are also not given permission to end the room. To add to this, the co-host feature also increases the number of participants that can talk at one time in a Space, with one host, two co-hots and up to ten speakers allowed, hiked from the previous ten-speaker limit that was set at launch. The official Twitter Spaces handle broke this news by saying that it would now be easier to manage a Space, with hosts having two co-host invites that can be sent to users, with further mentions of the increased attendance and the abilities that a co-host might have, all of which were discussed above. In terms of usability, this is quite a welcome move, as it is being rolled out as of now and can aid the host keep the Space under control, especially if there is a large discussion at hand. The improvements also hint at increased importance for the feature, which, seems to be a sign of Twitter’s hopes for the social audio feature.

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