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Airtel Digital TV Revenues Jump 6% YoY in September Quarter
BSNL Worthy Prepaid Plans Under Rs 300
Samsung Galaxy A13 4G Production Might Have Started in India
Bharti Airtel Retracts Additional Data Offer from Prepaid Plans
Infinix Note 11S May Soon Arrive in India, Hints CEO
Samsung Galaxy Note Likely to Be Discontinued
Mavenir Offers 4G Open RAN Small Cell for Outdoor Deployments Ideal for Remote Locations
Xiaomi 12 Might be Launched Along with Xiaomi 12X on December 12
Vodafone Idea Showed Good Recovery in Urban Markets
What Are the Best Pocket Friendly Broadband Plans in India?

Airtel Digital TV Revenues Jump 6% YoY in September Quarter

Posted: 27 Nov 2021 09:36 PM PST

Airtel Digital TV, the Direct-to-Home (DTH) arm of Bharti Airtel, has reported a 6% growth in quarterly revenues for the quarter ending September FY22. Airtel Digital TV reported total revenues to be Rs 797.9 crore, which is 6% higher compared to Rs 954.8 crore in the same quarter last year. During the previous quarter (ending June), Airtel Digital TV had reported revenues to be Rs 809.5 crore. So while the September quarter saw revenue growth for Airtel on a yearly basis, it was in the negative on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis.

Airtel Digital TV EBITDA Down 1% YoY in September Quarter

According to an Exchange4media report, the earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the DTH operator fell by 1% YoY basis in the September quarter to Rs 531.4 crore (last year, it was Rs 535.1 crore). Even compared to the previous quarter's EBITDA of Rs 542.1 crore, this quarter was in the negative. The earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell to Rs 220.4 crore this September quarter compared to Rs 294.5 crore in the same quarter last year. As for the previous quarter (ending June), Airtel Digital TV had an EBIT of Rs 269.9 crore. In the September quarter, Airtel Digital TV incurred a capital expenditure of Rs 257.9 crore. The customer base saw positive growth over the last year. Airtel Digital TV had 18 million subscribers at the end of Q2 FY22 compared to 17.4 million users at the end of Q2 FY21. Bharti Airtel offers DTH services PAN-India and is also offering users a recently launched service called 'Airtel Black'. With Airtel Black, not only DTH, but the company will even bundle postpaid mobile and fiber broadband services for the users. Airtel Digital TV currently offers 667 channels to the users, which include 85 HD channels. The DTH operator offers a range of Set-Top Boxes (STBs). You can check them out by going to the company's website.

BSNL Worthy Prepaid Plans Under Rs 300

Posted: 27 Nov 2021 05:39 PM PST

The government-owned telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) provides a variety of prepaid plans for its customers to choose from. The telecom giant provides plans at various different price tags so that it can have a larger user base. The offers provided by BSNL are both cost-effective and sometimes high priced but with better benefits. In this article, however, we are going to have a look at some of the prepaid plans provided by BSNL that cost less than Rs 300 and are yet quite effective.

The Prepaid Plans Under Rs 300

The first and foremost plan that should make the list is the STV_49 by BSNL, which comes with a validity period of 24 days. This cheap plan provides 100 minutes of calling and charges 45 paise per minute beyond the set limit. Users can also get access to a total of 2GB of data along with 100 minutes of calling at just Rs 49. The second very attractive plan from BSNL is its STV_118. The plan comes at the cost of Rs 118 and provides unlimited calling for a validity period of 26 days. Moreover, the pack offers 500MB of data every day till the end of the pack validity. The speed gets reduced to 40 kbps once the daily data limit is reached. The next plan from BSNL that makes this list is the Voice_135. This pack from BSNL is strictly a voice calling plan and offers no data. Users get access to 1440 minutes of on-net/off-net calling with this plan at the price of Rs 135. The fourth plan that is worth mentioning is a month-long plan from BSNL and is called STV_147. The STV_147 plan comes with a validity period of 30 days and provides an unlimited calling feature to its users. Additionally, the plan also offers 10GB of total data and free access to BSNL Tunes at the cost of Rs 147. The next plan on the list is definitely worth mentioning as it provides a lot of benefits at the cost of Rs 247. With the STV_247 plan from BSNL, alongside unlimited calling options and 100 SMS every day, users also get a total of 50GB of high-speed data, beyond which users also get data at a speed of 80 Kbps. The plan also offers access to BSNL Tunes and a subscription to Eros Now. Lastly, just under Rs 300, BSNL offers a plan called STV_298. This plan comes with a validity of 56 calendar days and offers unlimited voice calling at Rs 298. Moreover, users also get 1GB of data every day and unlimited data at 40 Kbps after the set limit. The user also gets access to 100 SMS every day and a 56-day subscription to Eros Now entertainment platform.

Samsung Galaxy A13 4G Production Might Have Started in India

Posted: 27 Nov 2021 06:15 AM PST

The recent reports suggest that new leaks about the specification of the upcoming handset from Samsung – the Samsung Galaxy A13 4G have surfaced over the internet. The new device from Samsung is speculated to have a quadruple-camera setup and might feature a plastic body. It is also rumoured that the company has already started its manufacturing at Samsung's facility in India, however, no official announcement has been made by the smartphone giant itself. The Samsung Galaxy A13 4G is said to be in production alongside its 5G variant which is also expected to arrive soon.

The Details Available on the Device

According to a report from 91mobiles, if the rumours are to be believed the smartphone's production is on the go at the company's facility in the Greater Noida factory. The device is speculated to have a plastic body along with a glossy finish. Coming to the specifications of the device, it is expected that Samsung Galaxy A13 4G will have a quadruple-camera setup at the back which might be vertically aligned and will feature a USB Type-C port. The other hardware specs of the smartphone include a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio output. Moreover, the handset might feature the speaker grille at the bottom and the power button and volume rocker will be situated on the right side of the device. Rumours were also spread earlier which if to be believed, the device will be available in blue, black, white, and orange colour options. More information on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A13 4G is yet to surface. It is also speculated that the Samsung Galaxy A13 4G will have the model number SMA135F while it was reported earlier that the 5G variant of the device could have the model number SM-A136B model number. The 5G variant of the device will make it the first 5G budget device launched by Samsung. Although no information has been provided by the makers, it is anticipated that the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G will be launched somewhere around the end of the year. Earlier, the Galaxy A13 5G was spotted on the Bluetooth SIG certification website and it was leaked that the device will have a MediaTek 700 SoC as its processor.

Bharti Airtel Retracts Additional Data Offer from Prepaid Plans

Posted: 27 Nov 2021 04:00 AM PST

In the recent development of events, Airtel has decided to take back some of the data benefits it was offering as an additional benefit along with some of its prepaid plans. The telecom giant said that the move will be helpful in avoiding any confusion that customers might have while comparing and choosing the plan for themselves. As reported earlier Airtel has also increased the prices of its plans by around 20% – 25% which includes tariffed voice and data top-ups. The new prices have come into effect from November 26.

The Retracted Plan from Airtel

Airtel has been offering customers an additional 500MB of data on selected plans as promotional coupons. However, in a response to an email inquiry, an Airtel official informed that it is quite in practice for telecom companies to provide promotional coupons or added benefits exclusively through their apps. He further told that these offers stand withdrawn currently as it may create confusion in the minds of customers while comparing certain plans. The 500 MB plan offer was quite simple for users to access. All they needed to do was download the Airtel Thanks application and access the 500MB additional data whenever they needed to. The plans that included this promotional coupon were Rs 719, Rs 299, Rs 265, and Rs 839 – offering unlimited voice calling and 100 SMS/day. This offer was first provided by Airtel on its Rs 249 plan which later became the existing Rs 299 plan. Moreover, while announcing the surge in its tariffs, the telco giant had informed that the company needs to get its Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) to at least Rs 200 for now and Rs 300 later in order to have a reasonable return on capital and maintain the entity's financial health going forward. A statement from Airtel said that they are looking to maintain this level of ARPU which will further allow them to make investments in networks and spectrum. Additionally, this would also enable Airtel to execute their 5G services in the country. Airtel has also said that the recent tariff hike is their first step towards their plan and termed it as 'rebalancing' tariffs.

Infinix Note 11S May Soon Arrive in India, Hints CEO

Posted: 27 Nov 2021 12:46 AM PST

The CEO of Infinix has just teased the launch of Infinix Note 11S in the Indian markets and is going to be the company's next budget smartphone. The device was initially launched in Thailand and its India release has been teased by the CEO Anish Kapoor via a tweet. The smartphone maker is also getting ready to launch its first 5G device called Infinix Zero 5G. Information on the device has been provided by sources on its specifications and design.

Specifications of the Devices

The Chief Executive Officer of Infinix Anish Kapoor recently shared a tweet that hinted towards the India launch of Infinix Note 11S. He posted images of retail boxes of Infinix 11 and Infinix 11S on his Twitter and added a caption that said there's something special coming soon for all those interested in gaming. The device has been promoted by the company as a gaming smartphone and it carries a Monster Game Kit. The handset witnessed its Thailand launch in the month of November and reportedly runs on Android 11. The handset features a 6.95-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,460 pixels) IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The device is powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 SoC, paired with 8GB of RAM. The device has 128GB of storage space that is expandable via an SD card. The camera module of the device features a triple rear camera setup which contains a 50MP main camera along with two 2MP snappers. The front of the device has a 16MP selfie camera. The Note 11S also comes with a face unlock feature along with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The smartphone is backed by a 5000mAh battery and supports a 33W fast charge technology.

Infinix Zero 5G

On the other hand, as mentioned above details of the first 5G smartphone from Infinix have been shared by a tipster. He has shared through a YouTube video that the device will have the model number X6815 and will be called Infinix Zero 5G. No information has been shared by the company officially, however, the renders suggest that the device will have a hole-punch display and will feature three rear cameras with two LED flash units and a selfie camera. The handset may also come with a MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC.

Samsung Galaxy Note Likely to Be Discontinued

Posted: 26 Nov 2021 11:26 PM PST

Samsung unveiled the last Note series smartphone – the Galaxy Note 20 in August last year. Since then, the company has not unveiled any device in this series. It looks like the company has ended up not making these devices as it did not launch a sequel to the device in 2021. While the worldwide chipset shortage was cited to be the reason, the company is reportedly not making the Note series devices.

Samsung Likely Discontinues Note Smartphones

A fresh report by ET News, a South Korean publication, Samsung has likely put an end to the ongoing rumours regarding the Galaxy Note devices. The report notes that the company will no longer make new Galaxy Note smartphones and there is no such device slated to be launched in 2022. Apparently, this means that the flagship series from Samsung will comprise the Galaxy S22 series and the foldable devices – Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. Furthermore, the report claims that the South Korean tech giant is all set to halt the production of the latest model in the series – the Galaxy Note 20 this year. This might come as a shock to those who use the device as it is just a year old and the device has a strong presence in the market this year as well. To be precise, Samsung has sold nearly 3.2 million units of the Galaxy Note 20 series comprising the standard Note 20 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. However, this might not be sufficient for Samsung to retain the Note devices given that it is a smartphone with a big screen or a phablet that lost its uniqueness in the market crowded by large-screen smartphones.

What Holds For Fans Of S Pen?

If you are an S Pen aficionado, then the Galaxy Note lineup's discontinuation might make you miss the stylus, but fret not, as the other devices – the Ultra model in the Galaxy S series and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will support the stylus. While the upcoming Galaxy S22 Ultra will have a slot to house the stylus similar to the Note devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will not have the same and you need to use a case that will house it as in the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Mavenir Offers 4G Open RAN Small Cell for Outdoor Deployments Ideal for Remote Locations

Posted: 26 Nov 2021 10:49 PM PST

The network software provider Mavenir has announced the commercial availability of its 4G Open RAN small cell for outdoor deployments. The solution expands the MAVair radio and access portfolio of small cells. The solution had already been tested and deployed in commercial operation with a Tier 1 European communication service provider.

Solution ideal for rural and remote locations

Mavenir's outdoor small cell (O410) addresses the requirement for outdoor small cells supporting both distributed and centralized Open RAN architectures. It is built on modular hardware architecture and a cloud-native software platform and is highly scalable for various requirements. The outdoor small cell supports both Split 2 and S1 interfaces and can be configured remotely for complete deployment flexibility and upgradability. It primarily benefits areas where coverage and capacity from the CSPs macro are unavailable, economically non-viable, or face zoning issues. Ideal deployments include rural and remote locations, sites constrained by size, power, backhaul, and planning restrictions. The solution is a plug-and-play model, with zero-touch provisioning and installation, powered with Power over Ethernet (PoE), and offers interfaces with the same Open RAN CU as the macro network and common management with macro. With the release of the 4G outdoor small cell, Mavenir now has a complete offering of multi-G (2G/3G/4G/5G), software upgradable, Open RAN-based small cells enabling communication service providers to enhance their network capacity and coverage beyond in-building use cases. According to Aniruddho Basu, Mavenir's SVP and GM of Emerging Business, the solution is a testament to Mavenir's capability of delivering products in an agile fashion that integrate and work seamlessly with other network components deployed by communication service providers. The new 4G outdoor small cell is the precursor for an entirely new line of 4G and 5G Open RAN-based small cell products with integrated DU and Multi RAT radio access solutions in general. It is a state-of-the-art way of building networks that ensures interoperability, vendor competition, element security and reduced operating costs across the RAN. The solutions are easy to deploy, fully automated, scalable and adaptable. Mavenir focuses on building a single, software-based automated network that runs on any cloud. The company has a client base across 120 countries, accelerating software network transformation for 250+ communications service providers.

Xiaomi 12 Might be Launched Along with Xiaomi 12X on December 12

Posted: 26 Nov 2021 09:25 PM PST

There have been several reports of leaked details on the upcoming flagship device from Chinese smartphone giant – Xiaomi 12. Although any official announcement is yet to be made by Xiaomi the recently leaked information suggests that the latest device from the makers will be unveiled on December 12, 2021. It was heavily rumored in the past that Xiaomi 12 could operate on Snapdragon 898 which is the latest chipset from Qualcomm yet to be launched. Moreover, it is expected that the makers will launch the Xiaomi 12X handset along with Xiaomi 12.

Expected Specifications of Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12X

December 12 could be an appropriate date for the launch of the device keeping in mind the fact that it aligns with shopping festivals in China around mid-December. Qualcomm is still to launch its upcoming powerful chipset Snapdragon 898. The Xiaomi 12, according to the reports, will operate on Snapdragon SM8450 which is expected to be Snapdragon 898. It was also previously reported that Xiaomi 12 could feature a 50MP rear camera and more rumored details have emerged about the same. Sources suggest that the device will feature a 50MP Samsung GN5 primary camera, however, there's a slight chance of the device featuring a 200MP snapper. Along with the primary camera, three additional 48MP cameras are expected to feature on the device with 2x, 5x, and 10x zoom capacities. The Xiaomi 12 could also feature an in-display fingerprint scanner. On the other hand, Xiaomi 12X could be the other device being launched by the manufacturers alongside Xiaomi 12 on December 12. The 12X model is expected to feature a 6.28-inch (1,080×2,400 pixels) OLED display. The handset is expected to run on Snapdragon 870 SoC and is being considered as a sequel to Mi 11X. The camera setup on the device is speculated to consist of a 50MP camera, along with a 20MP selfie camera at the front. The device will be backed by a 5000mAh battery and is expected to support 33W wireless charging and 67W wired charging. If the reports are true and Snapdragon 898 will indeed be featured in the smartphone, the introduction of Qualcomm processors on such a large scale comes as good news for those who are fans of the processor. The Snapdragon processors have always been better than its major competitor Exynos chip variants when it comes to overall performance, battery life, or thermal control.

Vodafone Idea Showed Good Recovery in Urban Markets

Posted: 26 Nov 2021 07:32 PM PST

Vodafone Idea (Vi) was able to recover in the urban markets in the September quarter, due to which the telco's revenue market share (RMS) steadied. According to an ET Telecom report citing TRAI data collated by ICICI Securities, Vi had reported a steady RMS of 18.6% in Q2 FY22. The analyst said that Vi showed good recovery in all the metro and A circles (except Andhra Pradesh). The rise in revenues followed after the telco had removed its base prepaid plan of Rs 49, leaving users no option but to recharge with the Rs 79 plan at least to get voice calling services.

Vodafone Idea Tariff Hike Might Help Further

The prepaid tariff hike has raised concerns for a higher than usual subscriber churn rate for Vodafone Idea. However, if the telco can retain users and start adding new ones soon, its revenue market share should rise further. Along with the RMS, Vi is likely to see its average revenue per user (ARPU) rising further. Vodafone Idea needs to go aggressive in expanding the network coverage. The telco didn't have a strong cash flow over the last few years and has lost millions of customers due to the inability to invest in networks. With the relief package in place and possible fundraise from the promoters and outside investors, the telco might soon be in a position to invest in 4G networks. Vodafone Idea might be able to increase its ARPU with tariff hikes, but if the telco keeps losing subscribers, its RMS will lower in the medium-term. It is unclear as to when Reliance Jio will move ahead with the tariff hikes. The later Jio announces prepaid tariff hike, the faster Vodafone Idea, as well as Airtel's customers, will port out to Jio. Looking at the current prepaid tariffs offered by Airtel/Vi and Jio, there's a stark difference where Jio's plans look more appealing.

What Are the Best Pocket Friendly Broadband Plans in India?

Posted: 26 Nov 2021 05:37 PM PST

The need for the internet is on the rise with each passing day. The Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country have been focusing on providing plans that are suitable for people with different needs. Even though the ISPs provide data plans that can provide up to 1 Gbps of internet speed, they can be very costly. Moreover, there are people such as students or individuals who want to go for some pocket-friendly options when it comes to broadband connections. In this article, we are going to have a look at some of the plans provided by ISPs that are both efficient and effective.

The Cheapest Plan from Airtel

Airtel has revamped its plans and the service provided by them to attract users in an already very competitive market. With Airtel Xstream Fiber, the users are in for a better, enhanced and faster daily broadband connection experience as it provides a Fiber optic internet connection. Airtel allows one of the fastest broadband connections and users can get access to the 'Basic' pack which provides 40 Mbps of internet speed at a monthly cost of Rs 499 exclusive of taxes. Users get 3.3TB or 3300GB of monthly fair-usage-policy (FUP) data with this plan. Airtel also provides 'Airtel Thanks Benefits' with its broadband plans which in this case includes a subscription to Wynk Music and Shaw Academy.

JioFiber's 30 Mbps Plan

JioFiber provides a 30 Mbps internet speed data plan at the price of Rs 399 per month. The FUP limit set on this plan is 3300Gb or 3.3TB. Using a 30 Mbps plan from JioFiber, customers can get access to smooth and seamless internet across multiple devices. Along with high-speed internet, users also get a symmetrical download and upload speed from the provider. This is rather one of the cheaper plans from the ISP and hence it doesn't include subscriptions to any OTT platform like the higher-priced plans from JioFiber, however, it is one of the better options when users are looking for cost-effective plans.

Two Low-Priced Packs from BSNL

The government-owned telecommunications company BSNL under Bharat Fibre Broadband provides exciting plans for its users who want pocket-friendly options. The 'Fibre Basic' and 'Fibre Basic Plus' plans from BSNL provide 30 Mbps and 60 Mbps of internet speed respectively. The Fibre Basic plan comes at a price of Rs 449 per month whereas the Fibre Basic Plus costs users Rs 599 a month. Both these prices are exclusive of GST and both these plans come with a FUP limit of 3300GB or 3.3TB. Beyond the data limit, users can enjoy an internet speed of 2 Mbps and both these plans also offer a 90% discount of up to Rs 500 on rent on the first bill.

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