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WhatsApp Payments Lets You Send Stickers With Your Money
Spectra, Airtel, BSNL, Excitel Best Broadband Plans for You
Mobile Recharges Via PhonePe Will be More Expensive Now
Jio and Other Operators Might Increase Price of Select Plans
Airtel Has Better Active Subscribers Percentage than Jio, Vi
Vodafone Idea May Get Cash-Flow Relief of Up to Rs 60,000 Crore
Airtel Black Most Affordable Plan You Should Know About
TRAI Warns TV Broadcasters, Won’t Shy Away from Taking Action

WhatsApp Payments Lets You Send Stickers With Your Money

Posted: 23 Oct 2021 08:20 AM PDT

The popular instant messaging platform, WhatsApp introduced the Payments feature in India recently after a long wait. Now, the company intends to push its users towards using the app's capability to send and receive payments by introducing new features for it. In one such move, WhatsApp Payments has received a range of stickers that will make it more exciting for users who make payments via the messaging app.

WhatsApp Payments Receives Stickers Support

The latest update that brings the in-app stickers support to WhatsApp Payments is specific only to its users in India. As a result, the feature comprises only Indian-themed Payments stickers. The company notes that these new illustrations have been created on several cultural expressions specific to the country indicating money exchange. For this feature, WhatsApp has joined hands with five Indian illustrators and launched a new pack of Payments stickers exclusively for its Indian users. These stickers have been released in five packs and depict the various experiences related to money and payments in the Indian culture. WhatsApp users can get these stickers under the Payments section while they try to send money to a contact. To use a sticker within WhatsApp Payments, users need to just select the desired sticker while they attempt to transfer funds. The recipient will receive both the money and the selected sticker.

How To Send Stickers With Payments

To send stickers while making payments on WhatsApp, you need to first open the contact's chat window and click on the Rupee icon between the attachment and camera icons in the input bar. Now, key in the amount you want to transfer to the contact. Here, you will be given an option to add a note to the transaction. With this option, you can select the sticker you want by clicking on the Stickers option beside the Emojis icon. Now, click on Next and Send the payment. Prior to this, WhatsApp Payments got the QR code scanning capability that lets users make payments to over 20 million stores across India. It is possible to scan codes via the Camera icon in Composer. Also, WhatsApp is likely reward users for making payments soon.

Spectra, Airtel, BSNL, Excitel Best Broadband Plans for You

Posted: 23 Oct 2021 05:45 AM PDT

The internet service providers in the country are seeing increased traction and have added several million new subscribers during the pandemic. With the necessity of the internet in today's era, everyone is opting for broadband plans that provide multiple benefits and reliable connectivity. Having said that, the state-run telco BSNL and Airtel are gaining traction for offering reliable connections with bundled benefits. Here, we have curated a list of the best broadband plans from Spectra, Airtel, BSNL, and Excitel.

Spectra AirMesh Lite Broadband Plan

Spectra offers a slew of broadband plans under the AirMesh plans with the notable plan being AirMesh Lite. This broadband plan priced at Rs 999 per month comes with benefits such as 250 Mbps speed, Rs 1,000 installation cost, and an 18 percent GST, which accounts for Rs 360. Eventually, the overall cost of this plan with the same upload and download speed is Rs 4,359.

BSNL Bharat Fibre Premium Broadband Plan

The BSNL Bharat Fibre Premium broadband plan priced at Rs 999 per month offers a data speed of 200 Mbps with an FUP limit of 3300GB data. On exhausting this limit, the speed will drop down to 2 Mbps. The other benefits of this plan include unlimited downloads, unlimited calling to any network and complimentary access to Disney+ Hotstar Premium. This plan is available on quarterly, half-yearly and annual subscriptions as well.

Airtel Broadband Standard Plan

The Standard plan offered by Airtel Broadband is priced at Rs 799 per month. The plan offers up to 100 Mbps internet speed and unlimited internet benefits. Also, there is unlimited calling for both local and STD calls. Besides these, users who subscribe to this Airtel broadband plan will get Airtel Thanks benefits which include Shaw Academy and Wynk Music subscription for free. Subscribers can also choose to get the Xstream DTH box with one-month HD pack with this plan. FUP data offered with this plan is 3.3TB.

Excitel Monthly Plan For Gamers

The Excitel Fibre First broadband plan for gamers is priced at Rs 899 for a month. This plan offers a whopping 300 Mbps speed and the cost per month will drop with a prolonged subscription. For instance, when you opt for the annual subscription, the plan will cost Rs 499 per month. Excitel broadband plans require a refundable security deposit of Rs 2,000. There is no FUP limit on this plan.

Mobile Recharges Via PhonePe Will be More Expensive Now

Posted: 23 Oct 2021 03:47 AM PDT

There are a ton of third-party applications and online wallets that allow users to recharge with prepaid/postpaid plans as per their convenience. One of the most popular applications among them in India is PhonePe. Now onwards, users who are recharging their SIMs using the PhonePe application will have to pay more. PhonePe will be taking a small processing fee from the customers on every transaction they make through the application. Thus, the mobile recharges will also require users to shell out some extra money. This is a strange development and one which makes PhonePe the first UPI based application in India that will be charging a processing fee on transactions.

PhonePe Will Now Take This Much Extra Money from Users on Mobile Recharges

According to a PTI report, users going with PhonePe will not be charged anything if their recharge amount or plan is under Rs 50. However, people who are recharging with plans between Rs 50 and Rs 100 will be charged Rs 1 extra. Further, the customers who are going with recharge plans above Rs 100 will have to shell out Rs 2 extra as a processing fee to PhonePe. PhonePe will start charging a processing fee for transactions made through credit cards. While PhonePe is many users' first option, there are other applications you can go with if you don't want to pay the extra processing fee. Apps such as Google Pay, Paytm, and more are there to help you with recharging your phone number directly. Further, you can also directly use your mobile operator's dedicated application for mobile recharges and pay via net banking or UPI. This is surely an interesting development. We might see other companies and applications going the same route as of PhonePe to charge a couple of extra rupees for making transactions above a certain limit. The best thing for the users to do now would be to use the mobile operator's dedicated phone application.

Jio and Other Operators Might Increase Price of Select Plans

Posted: 23 Oct 2021 02:11 AM PDT

Reliance Jio and its competitors including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) are going to increase the price of select prepaid plans in the country. All of these plans will have one thing in common – the over-the-top (OTT) benefit of Amazon Prime Video. If you are wondering why the telecom operators will be increasing the price of these plans, understand that it is because of Amazon's recent announcement.

Amazon Said It Will Increase Price of Prime Subscription

Amazon recently mentioned on its India website that it will be increasing the price of Prime subscription for users across India. The company hasn't mentioned an exact date for it, but it will happen soon. After the price revision, the yearly plan will be available at Rs 1,499 (currently Rs 999), the monthly plan will be available at Rs 179 (currently Rs 129), and the quarterly plan will be available at Rs 459 (currently Rs 329). The company hasn't mentioned the reason behind the price revision, but it will be implemented soon. Amazon said that users who have received their Amazon Prime subscription through prepaid or even postpaid plans from their operators will also be affected. It is worth noting that a few of these operators also offer Amazon Prime subscription with broadband or TV services. There is no clarity on what will happen to these customers and how will the new changes look like, but it will be clear soon enough. Amazon Prime's subscription includes access to multiple products of Amazon such as Amazon Music, Amazon Audibles, Amazon Prime Video, and more. Amazon Prime is a very popular service in India. One of the biggest benefits of being an Amazon Prime customer is that it allows users to get their orders faster and users also get early access to sales. There has been no comment from either of the operators yet and it will be worth looking at the price of the new plans.

Airtel Has Better Active Subscribers Percentage than Jio, Vi

Posted: 23 Oct 2021 12:18 AM PDT

Bharti Airtel, the second-largest telecom operator in India, might have a lower number of total active subscribers than Jio, but it has always had a higher percentage of active subscribers. Even though Jio has more active subscribers than Airtel, the difference is marginal. As per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report, Reliance Jio had 350.63 million active subscribers at the end of August 2021, while Bharti Airtel had 346.84 million active subscribers. So the difference is roughly 4 million subscribers. What's interesting to note here is that for Bharti Airtel, 346.84 million subscribers is 97.92% of its total subscriber base. For Jio, 350.63 million active subscribers are is 79% of its total subscriber base. So even with a larger subscriber base, Jio has no real big advantage over Airtel. But there's one thing that works out for Reliance Jio, and that is its complete subscriber base is made of 4G users. As for Airtel's subscriber base, there are 2G users as well.

Airtel Also Has More Active Subscribers Than Vodafone Idea

Vodafone Idea had 236.49 million active subscribers at the end of August 2021. This is 87.24% of the telco's total subscriber base. While this figure is not as good as Airtel's numbers, Vi will be happy with the fact that it is not as bad as Jio's, at least. Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio both have plenty of room to grow in the active subscribers’ area. Because the more subscribers are active, the more are the earnings regardless of how the ARPU. Further, with an increase in ARPU, the telcos would want more people to pay. Even though Reliance Jio has less number of active subscribers than Airtel, it earns more because all are 4G customers. Vodafone Idea's subscriber base also has millions of 2G customers. Hopefully, this changes as early as possible for the telco as it wants to maximise its revenues.

Vodafone Idea May Get Cash-Flow Relief of Up to Rs 60,000 Crore

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 10:06 PM PDT

Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea (Vi) may get a cash-flow relief of up to Rs 60,000 crore by opting for the four-year spectrum payment moratorium. The telco has already communicated its decision of accepting the spectrum payment moratorium to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Vi also has the option until October 29, 2021, to decide whether it wants the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues moratorium as well for the next four years. Further, the telco has to communicate to the government in 90 days whether or not it wants to convert its interest that accrues because of the deferred payments into equity for the government.

Ind-Ra Believes Telcos to Get Medium-Term Liquidity Buffer

As per an ET Telecom report, Ind-Ra has said that the relief package from the government will provide the telco with a medium-term liquidity buffer. But the analyst also noted that it won't impact the actual liability that has to be paid by the operators. Ind-Ra believes that because Vodafone Idea has already accepted the four-year spectrum payment moratorium option, it can get a cash-flow relief of up to Rs 60,000 crore. One of the best things that the new reforms have done for the telecom sector is the redefining of the AGR dues. Now the telcos won't have to pay AGR dues on the non-telecom revenues. The government and the telcos had a long battle to address this issue only where the Supreme Court had ruled in favour of the government. Ind-Ra said that the telecom sector is now showing signs of continuous improvements and the telcos might see their average revenue per user (ARPU) rising without any tariff hikes at all. But there's no doubt that the telcos will go for a tariff hike in the next two quarters. The operators are increasing their subscriber market share as fast as possible.

Airtel Black Most Affordable Plan You Should Know About

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 06:42 PM PDT

A few months back, Bharti Airtel introduced India with a new bundled service called 'Airtel Black'. In simple words, Airtel Black is a service model where Airtel combines multiple services that it provides, including Direct-to-Home (DTH), broadband, and postpaid mobile, into a single plan for the users. This saves users a lot of time into buying multiple services and also allows them to pay for everything under a single bill. Now, one of the benefits of Airtel Black service is that users can take and combine any of the above services with a plan of their choice as long as they are already using or plan on buying a new postpaid subscription from the company. Today, we will take a look at the most affordable Airtel Black plan that you can purchase.

Airtel Black Rs 998 Plan

Airtel Black service offers a Rs 998 plan to the users. This is an entry-level plan curated by Bharti Airtel itself. So if you don't want to go through the hassle of curating an Airtel Black plan, you can go with this entry-level plan from Bharti Airtel. Note that this plan doesn't bundle all the services, including DTH, broadband, and postpaid. This plan comes with a postpaid and a DTH connection from the company. The postpaid connection offered by this plan includes one primary connection and an add-on connection. The data offered by the postpaid connection is 105GB. Further, users get unlimited voice calling from the company. Note that the postpaid connections can either be new or existing numbers. With the DTH connection, users get the option of adding channels worth up to Rs 350. Bharti Airtel offers users an Airtel Xstream Box to the users with this plan without any additional costs. Users are also entitled to receive free benefits of Amazon Prime Video and the Airtel Xstream app for one year. The company is promising a free month or 30 days of free service to users who are adding any other service to their existing subscription. This means that if you are already a postpaid user of Bharti Airtel, you can add either broadband or DTH service under Airtel Black for yourself and get it for one month without paying anything. Bharti Airtel also offers Airtel Black customers a seamless customer experience with a dedicated relationship team reducing the IVR wait times significantly. You can keep customising the plan as per your needs and even discontinue Airtel Black service anytime you want.

TRAI Warns TV Broadcasters, Won’t Shy Away from Taking Action

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 01:36 PM PDT

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has warned the broadcasters saying that it will take action if necessary in the interest of consumers and the sector. The regulator on Friday said that some of the broadcasters are "exploiting" the freedom they have got for a-la-carte pricing of the TV channels. According to a PTI report, TRAI said that some leading broadcasters are taking advantage and of the new rules and have increased the prices of popular channels or channels, which is driving traffic. These channels are largely the sports and general entertainment channels (GEC). TRAI avoided calling out the names of the DTH operators.

TRAI Says NTO 2.0 Is Being Blamed Unnecessarily and Wrongly

The regulator has said that the new tariff order (NTO 2.0) and broadcast regulations are being blamed for the impending price increase. TRAI said that a misleading campaign has been running to blame the NTO 2.0 for the price increase. As per TRAI, it is being publicised that people who go for the top sports or the GEC channels will have to pay Rs 100 extra. But this is not true. TRAI said that it is "a fictional pretension". The regulator has clarified that NTO 2.0 doesn't put forth any condition where the prices of the subscription are increased. In a statement, TRAI has said that it recognises some of the prices are unsustainable because they are not driven by the demand or are market-determined prices. Thus, the regulator finds these prices against the interest of the consumers. According to the regulator, the NTO 2.0 has already benefitted the customers a lot, and it is not meant to increase prices. The broadcasters are just using it as a tool to drive prices up. TRAI has said that the channel pricing has remained under the prescribed ceiling for 15 years since 2004. The regulator has also clarified that some price modifications have been done after passing a part of the benefits to consumers as well.

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