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• OneWeb Plans to Partner With Telcos Around the Globe
• Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) Review In 2021: Decent Mid-Ranger
• Apple MacBook Pro With New Generation Silicon Chips Expected to Launch By November
• HBO Max India Launch Uncertain, Subscriber Growth Expected from Lower ARPU Regions
• Smartphones With MediaTek Dimensity 2000 To Arrive In Early 2022
• WhatsApp Working on Android to iOS Chat Transfer, Cable Might Be Needed
• Bharti Airtel, Vi Will Not Get Relief Measures Anytime Soon
• Broadband With Leased Line Works This Way
• Vodafone Idea Stops Offering Major Benefit In Two Circles
• Oppo Enco Buds Could Be Perfect Affordable TWS Earphones
• Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel Might Get Good News Soon
• Apple Confirms Event for September 14, 2021
• Tata Sky, Airtel, Unhappy With DD FreeDish as Their Channels Are Being Offered for Free
• Airtel Xstream Mobile Pack Offers 15GB of Data
• Reliance Jio Plan That Offers 1095GB Data and Has No Competition
• Vodafone Idea Expects Government to Step In and Support The Telecom Sector

OneWeb Plans to Partner With Telcos Around the Globe Posted: 08 Sep 2021 12:20 PM PDT OneWeb has plans of partnering up with telecom companies around the world. The satellite broadband company has already partnered with AT&T, a US telecom operator and will help the company in improving its services for the business customers. With the help of OneWeb, AT&T will be able to serve its business customers in the rural and remote regions of the country better. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, in a virtual global satellite event being held in the US, said, OneWeb doesn't plan to compete with the telecom operators; instead, the company wants to collaborate with them. OneWeb Aims to Partner With at Least 135 Telcos According to an ET Telecom report, Mittal said that OneWeb plans to partner with at least one telco in the 135 odd markets across the globe and help them offer better services to their customers. The company has targeted to provide global satellite broadband coverage by mid-2022. This is the same time frame when the company intends to start providing services in India. Mittal had previously also said that OneWeb is coming to India focused on the Business-to-Consumers (B2C) segment; instead, the company would partner with the telcos and help them expand reach and coverage with their networks. Mittal said that OneWeb has already taken the approval for providing satellite broadband services in 12 to 13 countries. This is the challenge that each of the satcom companies will face in the coming days. Providing global coverage doesn't mean a company is all set to provide services. It is only the first step. The companies also have to look at getting necessary regulatory approvals, and this is what Elon Musk has also iterated. But entering the market being focused on the B2B segment is actually a clever way to do business. OneWeb will be able to cut big deals and invest in its infrastructure in a more uniform manner to support the telcos.

Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) Review In 2021: Decent Mid-Ranger Posted: 08 Sep 2021 08:54 AM PDT Kodak offers a range of Smart TVs in India. We recently decided to take one of its older models, namely 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM), launched last year and review it to see if it would fit consumers' homes' in 2021. Since it is a mid-range Smart TV, there are a lot of things that it doesn't have, but then, it does come with some pretty useful features, which many would appreciate. If you are thinking of purchasing a Smart TV under Rs 30,000, read the complete review of Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM). Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) Review: Body, Design, Display and Installation Kodak isn't one of the biggest and most attractive Smart TV brands in the country. But it has done well to survive and actually be able to make some impact. The Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) has a very beautiful and sleek design. It would look really good both on the table or on the wall. The bezels are not the thinnest, but they are standard thick only for a mid-range Smart TV. The stands are very stylish as well and can support the weight of the TV really comfortably. From behind as well, the Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) is really thin, which just adds to the experience of watching anything on it. The Kodak branding is at the bottom, and the users can comfortably ignore it since the bezel isn't too big. The power light is at the right bottom, and it is red when the Smart TV is switched off from the remote but is connected to the power source. There are two USB and three HDMI ports at the back. There is also an audio jack on the TV. The ports were sufficient for me because I hadn't connected any speaker system such as a Home Theatre system. The weight of the Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) is very light, and it is actually comfy to hold up despite its large size. Even being inexperienced, I could easily understand how to install the bottom stands and place the TV well on the table. The installation was easy, and setting up the TV was easy as well. Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) Review: Remote One of the best things about Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) is its remote. It is really stylish and retains the minimalistic look that the other Smart TV remotes have. There are only 17 buttons on the remote (including the circular layout, which has four directions for commands). Accessing the satellite TV and switching back to the Android dashboard can be done through a single click of a button. The remote also has some hotkeys of OTT platforms, including 'SonyLIV', 'YouTube', and 'Amazon Prime Video', which saved me a lot of time since I am an avid YouTube user. The Google Assistant button is also pretty convenient to have on the remote. The Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) was very responsive to all the buttons that I clicked while testing it. Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) Review: System UI, Performance and Features The Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) runs on Android TV 9 platform. It has more than 5,000 apps that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. It is powered by an Amlogic quad-core processor coupled with up to 8GB of internal storage and 1GB of RAM. Loading apps was a quick experience on the Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM). Despite the fact that it has only 1GB of RAM, I was quickly steering from multiple apps all at the same time. The Android dashboard is very easy to navigate through because of the remote, and it also lets you access the applications very conveniently. The pre-loaded apps in the Smart TV are – Amazon Prime Video, Sony Liv, Disney+Hotstar, Youtube, Zee5, Google Music. You can also download other apps from the Google Play Store as per your wish and delete them as well. The Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) can support video in the following formats – MP4, MPEG, MPG, MKV, AVI, FLV, ASF. Connecting to the Wi-Fi and adding my Google ID was a very easy experience, given the fact that this was my first Android TV experience. As per the company, it consumes 100 watts of energy and the minimum power supply required is AC 100 – 240 V, 50 – 60 Hz. I have used the TV for hours without any issues. Watching a cricket match was especially fun because of all the large visuals that I was able to see after switching from a 32-inch TV. When Smart TV is left alone switched on for quite some time, the screensaver automatically comes, and it is a treat to watch because it keeps on changing every time. It also has an inbuilt Chromecast which is not of very big use for me since I don't cast my phone's screen into the TV a lot, but it might be useful for many who do. Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) Review: Display And Audio The Smart TV comes with a 43-inch (108 CM) UHD 4K display. The display can support HDR content and has a contrast ratio of 500000:1 (Dynamic). The refresh rate supported by the TV is 60Hz. It has an IPS panel with 3840×2160 pixels resolution (UHD) support. Watching anything of high quality on this TV is a treat. You can even adjust the colours and everything related to the display through in-system settings. The Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) will make for a perfect Smart TV if you want to watch any over-the-top (OTT) content on it. The Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) can support a maximum of 400nits brightness which is decent but not the best. In terms of audio, the Smart TV can support the following audio formats – MP3, AAC, ASF, WMA, and it comes with 2 audio channels with 24W speakers. The sound experience was excellent and crisp. There are multiple sound modes that this Kodak Smart TV can support, including the Standard, Music, Movie, Game, and more. I often let the music play from YouTube and go inside the kitchen, and the audio experience was just fine. Just for perspective, the kitchen is approximately 15 meters away from the Smart TV. Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) Review: Price and Conclusion The Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM) is available for a price of Rs 26,999 on both Reliance Digital and Amazon. For this price, you aren't signing up for a bad deal at all. But the thing is, there are many alternatives at this price range that you can consider as well. These include Smart TVs from big consumer electronics brands such as OnePlus and Xiaomi. The thing is, while I am satisfied with the Kodak 43UHDX7XPRO (108 CM), I am not entirely happy. There are a few areas where this Smart TV could be better even though it launched a long-time ago. I couldn't download and run apps such as Netflix, which is a big no-no for me. Watching satellite TV from Airtel Digital TV was a decent experience. The display is good, the sound is good, so you will enjoy watching OTT content on this one.

Apple MacBook Pro With New Generation Silicon Chips Expected to Launch By November Posted: 08 Sep 2021 08:06 AM PDT The mini-LED suppliers of the Cupertino tech giant Apple have stated that the upcoming MacBook Pro equipped with mini-LED could be launched on time without any delay. It could be launched some in October or November as per its usual pattern despite the shortages in chip. Earlier speculations hinted that there will be a delay in the launch of the next-generation MacBooks due to the shortage in the Apple M1X chipset. Now, the chip suppliers of Apple are stated to be back on schedule, thereby causing no delay in the launch of the Apple MacBook Pro. Apparently, the new MacBooks are slated to be launched on time this year. The suppliers are preparing to supply four million units of the same this year, claimed DigiTimes. As per sources in the industry, the shipments for LEDs and related components to Apple assembly partners associated with MacBook Pro models are scheduled as expected. Apple MacBook Pro With Mini-LED As per a fresh report from IANS, the upcoming MacBook models are said to use mini-LED panels. This is said to catalyse supplier investment and take the entire industry towards the adoption of the new type of display technology. This year, the company is expected to unveil the redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. These new models are expected to feature next-generation, advanced Apple silicon chips. Also, these are speculated to come without the Touch Bar and mark the return of the MagSafe magnetic power cable. On the whole, there will be a revamped design with a SD card slot and an HDMI port. The well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple is actively looking forward for additional suppliers for the key Mini LED components. If it its mini-LED notebooks get positive feedback, other notebook makers and suppliers will inevitably adopt the new technology. Besides these, Apple is develop a lighter and thinner variant of the MacBook Air, which will feature thinner bezels than those on the current generation models. Furthermore, word is that the Apple MacBook Air meant for 2021 might feature a 13-inch mini-LED display, which will be a major upgrade over the display seen on the existing MacBook Air model.

HBO Max India Launch Uncertain, Subscriber Growth Expected from Lower ARPU Regions Posted: 08 Sep 2021 07:27 AM PDT WarnerMedia, a leading media and entertainment company regularly conducts market research with its users to "test a wide range of possible offers and price points" for its services, says its spokesperson. In response to a query sent by TelecomTalk, a WarnerMedia spokesperson said that the reports suggesting a potential launch of HBO Max in India "do not reflect any current plans." HBO Max, a streaming service run by WarnerMedia, is currently available in the United States and select territories across Latin American and the Caribbean. HBO Max India Plans Under Evaluation OnlyTech, a telecom focused site on Tuesday said that the market research firm, Nepa conducted a pre-launch survey for HBO Max highlighting potential price points for the streaming service. The publication highlighted three monthly plans priced at Rs 69, Rs 139 and Rs 329, with special schemes for users purchasing yearly subscriptions. "We routinely conduct market research with consumers in countries around the world that test a wide range of possible offers and price points for our services," WarnerMedia spokesperson told TelecomTalk. "Those being reported that suggest a future launch of HBO Max in India are amongst many being tested and evaluated and do not reflect any current plans." While it is still possible for WarnerMedia to roll out HBO Max in India at a later date, it has to be noted that the company started its global expansion only in June, 2021. The streaming service was initially launched in the United States in May, 2020. However, the company announced that HBO Max will be available in 39 territories across Latin America and the Caribbean region including Argentina, Barbados and Jamaica only in late June, 2021. Crucially, WarnerMedia on Wednesday announced that HBO Max will be available in six European countries including Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Andorra from October 26, 2021. The company also said that more European countries including Bulgaria, Croatia and Czech Republic will receive access to HBO Max in 2022. HBO Max is currently home to over 13,000 hours of content including Friends, the Harry Potter saga and the Game of Thrones. The streaming service hosts content from HBO, Warner Bros., DC, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies. In India, the HBO content including Game of Thrones is already available on Disney+ Hotstar, the streaming service run by the Walt Disney Company. WarnerMedia Focused on Latin America for Now In its second quarter earnings call, Pascal Desroches, chief financial officer at AT&T, the company currently behind WarnerMedia, said that HBO and HBO Max global user base crossed over 6.7 crores. Desroches in the earnings call in late July said that the company has over 4.7 crores HBO Max and HBO users in the US. "HBO Max continues to exceed our expectation," Desroches said. "Having surpassed the lower end of our global subscriber target six months ahead of plan, we are now raising our expectations to 70 million to 73 million global subscribers by the end of the year." Desroches said that the HBO Max expansion to the Latin American and Caribbean markets "sets us up for additional customer growth" as "addressable market expands" for the company. "We’re seeing good momentum, especially in our Latin American markets," Desroches said. "We expect most of our subscriber growth for the remainder of the year to be from lower ARPU subscribers in that region." Crucially, the chief financial officer at AT&T said that the HBO Max average revenue per user (ARPU) in the US was a "little less than" US$12, which roughly translates to Rs 882. "To lean into HBO Max fast start in Latin America, we may push back our launch in some European markets until early 2022," Desroches said. In comparison, streaming giant Netflix finished its second quarter with over 20.9 crores paid users, with its ARPU for US and Canada at US$14.54, roughly translating to Rs 1069. Further, Disney+ finished its second quarter with over 11.6 crores users, with its overall ARPU including India and other global regions at US$4.16, roughly translating to Rs 305.

Smartphones With MediaTek Dimensity 2000 To Arrive In Early 2022 Posted: 08 Sep 2021 06:32 AM PDT We are at that time of the year when most brands have unveiled their flagship devices and talks regarding the next-generation models have started surfacing online. A few days back, it was speculated that the upcoming Dimensity 2000 series processors will be based on the latest 4nm process node from the Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC. Now, it is reported that the smartphones that will use these high-end chips from MediaTek will see the light of the day in early 2022. MediaTek Dimenisty 2000 Powered Smartphones The information comes from a Weibo-based tipster via GizChina. The same tipster had previously claimed that the 4nm process-based Dimensity 2000 chipset will be made by TSMC. Now, he further added that the chip-making giant has distributed some samples of these chips from MediaTek to its partners for internal testing purposes. From this, we can infer that the first smartphones that will use the new MediaTek Dimensity 2000 series of chipsets could be launched in the market in early 2022. These smartphones are expected to be powerful and flagship offerings that will compete against the likes of the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 898-powered devices. MediaTek Dimensity 2000: What To Expect? For the uninitiated, the MediaTek Dimensity 2000 chip is said to feature the new ARM V9 architecture alongside the new Cortex X2 core. Previous reports have hinted that the performance of the new chipset can be compared to that of the upcoming flagship – the Snapdragon 898 or Snapdragon 895 processors, also to be announced around the same time. Both MediaTek Dimensity 2000 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 898 or 895 processors are said to bring performance improvements alongside relatively lower power consumption. There will be additional enhancements that we can get to know as well. Talking about the pricing, the MediaTek Dimensity 2000 chipsets are likely to cost relatively more than its predecessors. As a result, the upcoming smartphones powered by the new, powerful chips could be priced around 3000 yuan or nearly Rs 34,000. This is quite higher and it is justified as the new chip is believed to be priced at a premium. More details will be known when the new MediaTek chipsets are unveiled or there is some clarity in the form of an official confirmation from the company or brands that will use these Dimensity 2000 chipsets.

WhatsApp Working on Android to iOS Chat Transfer, Cable Might Be Needed Posted: 08 Sep 2021 05:53 AM PDT Recently, WhatsApp announced that users will be able to transfer their chat history between and Android and iOS devices. The ability to migrate chat history from Android to iOS and vice versa was something that many users are missing to date. But it was rolled out recently with a few catches as follows. Firstly, the ability was rolled out with the Samsung flagship foldable smartphones in the Galaxy Z series that went official last month. Now, this feature is being rolled out to more Samsung devices and Android users with offerings from other brands need to wait to get this ability to move their chat history. While the ability to transfer chat history between Android and iOS was restricted to Beta users, it has started making its way to everyone, but with a catch. Well, it needs users to have a Lightning to USB-C cable to migrate their chat history. It is not possible to transfer the chats wirelessly between the two operating systems. Move WhatsApp Chat History From Android To iOS After announcing the ability to move chats from iOS to Android, now WhatsApp is working the other way round. This will let Android users migrate their chat history to iOS. This development was spotted with the Android Beta version 2.21.19.1 of WhatsApp. This new beta version of the instant messaging app has been submitted to the Google Play Store Beta Program revealing the interesting development. While the procedure is not clear, it will probably need a Lightning to USB Type-C cable as in the other option. Apart from this, it is confirmed that users will need to 'Move to iOS app' that has to be installed in their Android smartphone to complete the process, notes WABetaInfo. We can expect further details to be revealed in the coming days or with the next beta updates. It would be great to see the ability to move WhatsApp chats from Android to iOS devices not being restricted to Samsung smartphones. Maybe, all Android smartphones running a specific Android version and above should get this ability. For more details, we need to wait for a future update from WhatsApp.

Bharti Airtel, Vi Will Not Get Relief Measures Anytime Soon Posted: 08 Sep 2021 05:19 AM PDT The federal cabinet of India did not take up proposals for providing financial relief to telecom operators that are cash-strapped, stated a government source. Previously, the cabinet was expected to decide regarding the relief package for the telecom industry today as it will help all wireless carriers, especially Vodafone India, which is struggling of late. However, the same did not happen today, and there is no information regarding why the discussion did not take place. Bharti Airtel, Vi Faced Disappointment The shares of Bharti Airtel dropped to 0.2 per cent while that of Vodafone India took a plunge to 1.2 per cent. Eventually, the cabinet was expected to take measures to support the telecom industry. In the hopes of getting help from the government, both stocks rallied on Tuesday. In 2016, when Reliance Jio Infocomm, led by tycoon billionaire Mukesh Ambani, entered the Indian telecom sector with free voice and aggressively priced data plans. As Jio thrived, it pushed several competitors out of the industry and the ones that are remaining are only a few. Among the rivals, the British telco Vodafone operating in the country joined hands with the homegrown Idea Cellular, thereby forming Vodafone Idea. Besides this, a Supreme Court ruling came up last year forcing carriers such as Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel to give in to the government's demand for dues. Following the same, Vodafone Idea paid Rs 75.54 billion to the government in regulatory filings show and telecom dues. However, the merged telecom entity still owes as much as Rs 500 billion. On the other hand, Bharti Airtel stated that it paid dues that are estimated to be Rs 180 billion. However, the government's figures hint that the telecom entity owes 259.76 billion to the government, and it is unpaid. For those who are not aware, Vodafone, with a net debt worth Rs 1.91 trillion, was previously praised for its concerns about if it will stay floated sans any government help. Notably, Bharti Airtel's non-executive chairman stopped stepped down from his position last month. He was a billionaire non-executive chairman of the group.

Broadband With Leased Line Works This Way Posted: 08 Sep 2021 03:19 AM PDT A leased cable is nothing but a dedicated, fixed bandwidth data link. It enables companies to provide a high-quality and secure internet connection with uptime. upload and download speed, and durability guarantees. Get to know how the leased line broadband works and its advantages from here. How Does Leased Line Broadband Work? Broadband with leased line operates by transmitting light waves through a pure fibre optic cable. The data that is transmitted will travel at the speed of light. Such a line is uncontentious, thereby being the online line that is committed only to you and no one else is actually using it. These leased lines use most equipment available for fibre-optic broadband. A leased fibre optic line works by transmitting light signals through a fibre optic cable. At either end, there will be equipment on the lookout for light. It will reflect binary 0s and 1s depending on whether the light is turned on or off. This will send the respective data down the fiber optic cable. Advantages Of Broadband With Leased Line Below are the advantages of using an internet leased line. Defined, Uncontended Bandwidth: With a leased line broadband connection, you can get the certainty of constant speeds and contention. Various promises share the same cable in many ways for internet links, thereby resulting in high latency rates and low speed. Notably, the speed will depend on the number of people using the broadband connection at a given time. Not Much Network Maintenance: Any company that plans to grow, its number of processes and users will also increase. An internet leased line will an exceptional choice in this situation as it is flexible, thereby ensuring low latency, more uptime and low jitter. If companies want to update their bandwidth and speed, they need to just upgrade their schedule as per their needs. Symmetric speeds: Symmetric speeds and fixed bandwidth are offered by the internet leased line. Businesses can access similar download and upload speeds to manage their work conveniently. Broadband links achieve asymmetric bandwidth enabling faster downloads than uploads. Having said that, if your business wants to grow, then you can opt for internet leased lines to support its needs.

Vodafone Idea Stops Offering Major Benefit In Two Circles Posted: 08 Sep 2021 01:35 AM PDT Vodafone Idea (Vi), the third-largest telecom operator in India has stopped offering a major prepaid benefit to the users of two telecom circles. The company hasn't issued an official notice for the same but the changes are apparent on its website. The benefit was the 'double data' which is currently available in all the telecom circles in India except for the users in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A total of three plans from Vodafone Idea offer users the benefit of double data. But the double data benefit is not being offered by Vi in the two above mentioned circles anymore. Let's check out the updated plans after the change from the company. Vodafone Idea Double Data Plans Not Available In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Anymore Vi used to offer three double data plans in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. These plans used to come for Rs 299, Rs 449, and Rs 699. Instead of offering 4GB of daily data, these plans will now offer 2GB of daily data. The change is already in effect and can be seen by going on the website of Vodafone Idea. All of these plans continue to offer the other benefits they used to. Users get unlimited voice calling with 100 SMS/day. There are free over-the-top (OTT) benefits offered with all the three above mentioned plans. The OTT benefits include a free subscription to ZEE5 Premium and Vi Movies & TV. Further, users still get the 'Weekend Data Rollover' and 'Binge All Night' offers from the company. There's no surety on whether the company further intends to remove the double data benefit from other circles soon as well. This might be in line with the tariff hikes that Vodafone Idea is planning. With lesser data from these plans, users might be compelled to buy more 4G data vouchers from the company. Note that the ZEE5 Premium benefit offered with all three plans come for 1 year.

Oppo Enco Buds Could Be Perfect Affordable TWS Earphones Posted: 08 Sep 2021 12:00 AM PDT Oppo has just launched the Oppo Enco Buds in India. These are super affordable, truly wireless stereo (TWS) earphones coming from a trustworthy tech brand. What's interesting about these TWS earphones isn't just the price they come at, but also the features they are offering. Some of the noteworthy features of Oppo Enco Buds announced by the company are 24-hour battery back, intelligent call noise-cancellation technology, and more. Let's take a look at the complete specifications and price of the Oppo Enco Buds in India. Oppo Enco Buds Specifications/Features In India The Oppo Enco Buds will offer users high-quality concert-like audio, and their unique design will help you wear them comfortable without any fear of the buds dropping off. The Oppo Enco Buds are rated IP54 resistant, which means they are water and dust resistant. The charging case has a 400mAh battery which can ensure the performance of the Enco Buds for up to 24 hours. The Enco Buds themselves have a 40mAh battery which can offer up to 6 hours of non-stop music playback to the users. For connectivity, the Oppo Enco Buds support Bluetooth 5.2, and the users can make voice calls or listen to music wearing it being 10 metres away from their smartphone. To ensure a good gaming experience, the Enco Buds come with a super-low 80ms-latency Game Mode which can be activated by the users just by triple tapping on the earbuds. The Enco Buds further pack AAC codecs which use high-definition audio transmission protocol for crisper sound. The AI-based call noise cancelling feature will ensure that the voice calls of the users stay a seamless experience. The Oppo Enco Buds support auto-connection, which mean if they are already paired with your smartphone, you won't need to manually connect them in the future again and again. As soon as you open the case, they will connect with your smartphone, provided Bluetooth is switched on. Oppo Enco Buds Price In India Oppo Enco Buds will go on the first sale in India on September 14, 2021, and will be exclusively available on Flipkart. The company has priced the Oppo Enco Buds at Rs 1,999 in India, but they will be available for a special price of Rs 1,799 between September 14 and September 16, 2021.

Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel Might Get Good News Soon Posted: 07 Sep 2021 11:18 PM PDT Vodafone Idea (Vi) and Bharti Airtel might get very good news super soon. Both the telcos have been waiting to hear about the relief package from the government. It is fair to say Vodafone Idea has been on its edge over the arrival of the relief package, while Bharti Airtel would be fine regardless of it came or not. Airtel will manage to raise capital, but the same can't be said for Vodafone Idea, which is still struggling to find a new investor. The relief package that will come is expected to push the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) payments of the telcos by four years. On top of this, the spectrum usage charges (SUC) are also expected to be cut down. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has proposed both the moratorium on AGR payments by four years and a reduction in the percentage of SUC that operators pay today. Government Might Just Buy a Stake In Vodafone Idea According to an ET Telecom report, post the AGR payments are deferred, and the SUC is reduced, which in turn would allow Vodafone Idea to improve the operational profitability, the government might take a small stake in the company in case Vi is still struggling with the dues that it owes to the government. The relief package is still something that the government and the finance ministry is deliberating over. The question that DoT and the finance minister is finding the answer for is whether the two decisions, including AGR payment deferment for four years and SUC reductions, should be announced at the same time or at different stages. The publication's report mentions that the discussions have already reached the final stage, and the government might come out with the announcement as early as this week. Bharti Airtel isn't expected to take the benefit of the moratorium of AGR payments because its payouts are quite less than Vodafone Idea, and the telco is going to raise cash soon with some profits in the bank. The reason why Airtel might avoid taking the AGR payment deferment benefit is that it will have some 'interest' factor involved.

Apple Confirms Event for September 14, 2021 Posted: 07 Sep 2021 10:56 PM PDT Apple has confirmed an event for September 14, 2021. This event is highly expected to unveil the iPhone 13 series. Apple has been religiously launching the new iPhone series in September for years. Just apart from last year, which due to delays resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Apple has always launched a new smartphone series in September every year. Since Apple has confirmed a new event for September 14, 2021, it can be highly anticipated that it is for the new iPhone series. Keep in mind that iPhone 13 is just a speculated name for now. Apple to Not Expected to Make Major Design Change In iPhones According to a Reuters report, the company has confirmed the new event for September 14, 2021. Apple isn't expected to make major changes to its iPhone 13 series as compared to the iPhone 12 series. The company is expected to bring high-refresh-rate LTPO displays along with a bigger battery and a better camera. But the overall design of the iPhones might stay the same. Further, Apple might go ahead with the same strategy of launching four smartphones in the series, which will include iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Again, nothing has been confirmed by the company yet, and all of this is mere speculation. If launched in September, iPhone 13 series might be available in the market as early as October of this year. Apple is also expected to launch other products in the event, including the new Apple Watch 7 series. Multiple reports online suggest that the new Apple Watch series might come with a limited launch stock and only be available in a greater capacity after some time. This might be due to the production and manufacturing limitations that the companies are facing because of the pandemic and the snags in the supply chain. It will be interesting to see the pricing of the iPhone 13 series since Apple is expected to price the devices a little higher because of the rising cost in manufacturing.

Tata Sky, Airtel, Unhappy With DD FreeDish as Their Channels Are Being Offered for Free Posted: 07 Sep 2021 10:42 PM PDT Direct-to-home (DTH) giants Airtel Digital TV and Tata Sky along with several cable operators are annoyed with leading broadcasters such as ZEE, Sony Pictures Networks India, Star & Disney India and Viacom18. The reason is that the broadcasters are placing some of their pay channels on DD FreeDish, which is the Prasar Bharati-owned free-to-air (FTA) platform. Tata Sky, Airtel Digital TV Concern The DPOs (Distribution Platform Operators), which is a combined term for both DTH and cable operators are miffed as the broadcasters are charging subscribers for these channels while these are actually free on FreeDish. As per Harit Nagpal, the MD & CEO of Tata Sky, there are 20 channels for now that are part of the pay bouquets of the above-mentioned broadcasters. These channels are priced between `0.10 to `5 per month. If any subscriber wants these channels, they must pay for these, but the FreeDish users can enjoy these for free. He cites that there is no level playing field. Furthermore, Nagpal added that Airtel Digital TV and Tata Sky have written this issue to TRAI, thereby raising their concerns with these broadcasters, but in vain. As per the current regulatory framework for this sector, the broadcasters should publish the MRP of their bouquets and channels and should not bundle pay channels with free-to-air channels. Broadcasters Use Gap In Policy Also, broadcasters cannot have discriminatory costs as they enter into interconnect agreements with the DPOs that are registered with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. These broadcasters are using a loophole as the platform is beyond the ambit of tariff regulations framed by TRAI. Regarding this concern, a senior lawyer who wishes to be anonymous stated that the pricing of slots on DD FreeDish appears to undo the efforts taken towards creating a level playing field among DPOs. With this, the broadcasters have a chance to exploit the gap in the policy by placing pay channels along with FTA channels. For the uninitiated, Prasar Bharati-owned DD FreeDish is an FTA DTH service sans a monthly subscription fee. Consumers have to make a one-time investment for dish and Set-Top boxes. It is estimated that DD FreeDish has over 40 million subscribers, which is over 25 per cent of total TV households in the country.

Airtel Xstream Mobile Pack Offers 15GB of Data Posted: 07 Sep 2021 08:55 PM PDT Bharti Airtel offers users an 'Airtel Xstream' subscription included in the Airtel Thanks benefits with most of its plan. Airtel Xstream is an over-the-top (OTT) platform owned by Bharti Airtel that offers users the ability to watch TV shows and movies on the go. Now, the company is offering an 'Airtel Xstream Mobile Pack' to the users. This pack will offer users 15GB of data along with 30 days of access to any one of the channels that are available with the Xstream Mobile Pack. Airtel Xstream Mobile Pack Allow Users to Stream In Multiple Languages Since India is a diverse country, different parts of the nation want to consume content in different languages. Airtel Xstream allows users to stream content in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, and English. The platform has also partnered with other OTT content distributors such as EpicON, Shorts TV, Eros Now and Mubi to bring users something to watch from different genres and categories. This way, users don't need to go to different platforms for searching content; they can get all their favourite shows and movies inside the Airtel Xstream App. Note that 'Airtel Xstream Mobile Pack' might only be available for iOS users currently since it is not visible on Android. Airtel Xstream users can also download their favourite content on their smartphones. The download quality can be changed by the users to save data accordingly. Subscription to multiple OTT platforms including Ultra, Mubi, Eros Now, Hoichoi, Shorts TV, Divo, Shemaroo, EpicON, Dollywood Play, Nammaflix, and more can be purchased within the application. The cost of the Airtel Xstream Mobile Pack is unknown at the moment as the company hasn't mentioned it on its website, and also the app details don't say anything. It should soon be available for users across the nation for both iOS and Android users. More details about the plan should come soon.

Reliance Jio Plan That Offers 1095GB Data and Has No Competition Posted: 07 Sep 2021 06:37 PM PDT Reliance Jio offers a plethora of options to choose from to its prepaid users. The telco is known for offering the most affordable plans to users in India. Reliance Jio keeps on introducing new prepaid plans looking at the market demand. The telco recently launched a new prepaid plan for the long-term, which has absolutely no competition in the market. This plan that I am talking about comes with a ton of data, 1095GB in total, to be precise. Note that none of the other plans in the market rival this plan from Jio, and that is why it enjoys special attention from the consumers who are looking for such a plan. Reliance Jio Recently Launched Plan Has No Competition Reliance Jio is offering its users a long-term 3GB daily data plan. This plan comes with a validity of 365 days and offers users unlimited voice calling and 100 SMS/day. Since it comes with 3GB of daily data, the total amount of data offered with this plan is 1095GB. The company doesn't bundle in any major over-the-top (OTT) benefit, which is a bummer, and also, there's no bonus data. However, users get a complimentary subscription to a suite of Jio applications which includes JioCloud, JioSecurity, JioNews, JioCinema, and JioTV. This is all the plan offers to the users. What's really stupendous to see here is that Jio identified a gap in the market and served it. It is probable that other telcos also thought about offering such a plan but found no merit in it. The cost of this plan is Rs 3,499. So it is quite expensive, but then users can also get value out of the huge sum of data they receive from the company. Neither Bharti Airtel nor Vodafone Idea (Vi) offers users any such plan today. Even Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) doesn't offer such a plan. It could have been a more appealing plan if the telco had managed to reduce the price a little even further and added an OTT benefit. Regardless, if there's someone in the market who is looking for a yearly 3GB daily data plan, he/she will only be left with Reliance Jio to choose from. No other telco is offering a Rs 3,000+ plan with 3GB of daily data for one year. However, it would be healthy and refreshing to see even Vi and Airtel jumping into the picture with their respective 3GB daily data offerings for one year.

Vodafone Idea Expects Government to Step In and Support The Telecom Sector Posted: 07 Sep 2021 01:28 PM PDT Beleaguered telecom operator Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL), which provides services under the 'Vi' brand, expects the government to step in and support the sector. Vodafone Idea Chairman, Himanshu Kapania, said in a letter to shareholders that the company is hopeful for the government to provide some sort of relief. Kapania further added that Vodafone Idea is hopeful that government will support its aim to make a reasonable return on the massive investments it has made. Debt-laden Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) is hopeful of the industry getting government support to tide over the present crisis, even as the telecom operator continues to focus on 4G services. Kapania, who took over as Chairman following the resignation of Aditya Birla group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla from VIL's board in August 2021, did not specify the nature of support the industry was expecting from the government. The industry, reeling under high debt, had earlier sought financial reforms from the government, including a slashing of levies, doubling the tenure of auctioned spectrum holdings, and a 7-10 year moratorium for spectrum payments. VIL, which was formed after the merger of Vodafone India with Idea on August 31, 2018, has a subscriber base of 255.7 million (on VLR) with a subscriber market share of 25.7% as of March 31, 2021. The company had achieved a 65% run-rate basis as of FY21-end under its cost optimisation exercise undertaken earlier to achieve Rs 4,000 crore of annualised savings. As of March 31, 2021, VIL had a consolidated net debt of Rs 1.79-lakh crore, an increase from Rs 1.16-lakh crore recorded in the previous year. The company has a deferred payment of Rs 60,960-crore Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues, which has to be paid in 10 instalments starting March 2022. Challenging FY21 For Vodafone Idea The company's primary focus in FY21 was focused on network investments to ensure a superior customer experience. It had expanded its 4G population coverage to over 1 billion and has been focusing on a digital-first approach. "While the operating challenges remain, increasing digital penetration, which has got a further boost during the pandemic, remains a massive opportunity for telecom industry especially when the pricing revives in future. Increasing content consumption, especially through video and social media usage, is driving strong demand for high-speed internet," Kapania said.

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