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BSNL Planning to Rake in Rs 1200 Crore through Land Sale

Posted: 05 Nov 2021 11:57 AM PDT

BSNL 4G Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is planning to rake in roughly Rs 1200 crore through the land sale. The development comes through a TOI report saying that BSNL is gearing to monetise around 54.62 acres of land very soon in Chennai. The estimated value of the land on sale is Rs 1250 crore. As per the publication, the sale should complete by the next year. The state-run telco has properties in both residential and commercial hotspots of Chennai. BSNL is looking to sell land in areas including Flower Bazaar, P V Cherian Crescent Road off Ethiraj Salai in Egmore, Royapettah, Triplicane, and Vyasarpadi. BSNL will be selling both land and buildings that are not in use. The state-run telco saw a few of its staff quarters in Chennai getting vacant after a large number of employees last year opted for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS).

BSNL Can Use the Money for 4G Rollout

While the approximate value (Rs 1200 crore) that is expected to come through the sale of the land assets won't create a big difference for BSNL, it will still be better than nothing. The telco can use the money for 4G rollout in the Tamil Nadu and Chennai circle. The expected time frame for the process to be complete for sale is next year. That will be the year when we might see BSNL getting aggressive with 4G while all the other operators are rolling out 5G networks. These properties should see high interest from the builders’ community. Multiple land parcels on sale from BSNL could be turned into residential property. BSNL will take up all the money that it can since rolling out 4G networks across India won't be cheap. The telco has already asked for help from the Department of Telecommunications in regards to capex requirements for 4G. While BSNL is EBITDA positive, the telco will require a lot of money for providing blanket 4G coverage.

Google Maps Reaches a Milestone of 10 Billion Downloads

Posted: 05 Nov 2021 08:13 AM PDT

There are quite a few mapping services that are available for free and match the accuracy level and features offered by Google Maps. Irrespective of the mobile OS you are using, Google Maps is one of the best services that you need to have. As per a report by Android Police, recently, it has joined the elite club of apps that have reached a milestone of 10 billion downloads including Google Play Services and YouTube.

Google Maps Service Downloads

If you wonder that Google Maps is pre-installed with Google Mobile Services and could have increased the number of downloads, then you need to know that it will not be accounted for the downloads on the Play Store. Also, it is the default mapping service on Android. Despite these, the 10 billion downloads is a whopping figure. Notably, the Android Go-powered smartphones and similar devices with low-end hardware offer Maps Go, which is a progressive web app that uses relatively less resources. To put in simple words, Maps Go is up to 100 times smaller than the heavier Maps app. The toned-down version of Google Maps app just surpassed 500 million downloads on the Play Store. Since its debut, Google Maps has greatly evolved over the past few years. It received many new features including Live AR navigation, real-time public transit data, a dedicated dark theme, and eco-friendly routing options among a ton of other features and improvements. All these aspects help users to move from point A to point B at the fastest possible time. This is the most everyday use that is offered by the Maps app. Besides these, the other advantage to download and use Google Maps is that it is free to download, which is an added layer of icing on the cake. Eventually, it is one of the most preferred navigation apps out there for users. If you start using Google Maps, then you will know that there are a few tips and tricks that you will pick up as you use the app. Eventually, you will get to know how to reach your destination at the earliest and without getting indulged in routes that are congested.

Android 12L to be Compatible with Google Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL

Posted: 05 Nov 2021 06:43 AM PDT

Google Pixel 3a Earlier, Google had announced the launch of Android 12L which would become the latest operating system specially designed to be compatible with large screen devices such as tablets, foldable smartphones, rollable smartphones, and ChromeOS-powered devices. Even though it will be designed to be compatible with such devices, the devices which are compatible with Android 12 OS currently will see Android 12L as an incremental upgrade. However, what's center of attraction is the fact that a couple of devices namely Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL have been added to the list of devices that will feature Android 12L beta despite these devices being at the end of their update cycles.

Android 12L-Beta All Set to be Released

The list was released on the official page of Android 12L and features all the other devices including Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL that will have access to Android 12L beta. It is to be kept in mind that both these devices have reached the end of their product cycles. May 2022 will be the last time these smartphones will receive their respective security patch updates. The end of the product cycle means that these devices will not receive regular updates in the future. Therefore, this news comes in as a sigh of relief for the users of Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL as they will have access to Android 12L beta. As of now, December 2021 will see the release of the first beta release of the operating software. The final build of the OS has been scheduled to release in the first quarter of 2022. The update features for the devices that will be shifting to Android 12L from Android 12 might include optimisation in notifications, quick setting, lock screen, and home screen to a rather unconventional display. With the new update, Google Play will also inform the users whether the apps are in-sync for large screen devices. Along with Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL, various other devices have made the list as well including Google Pixel 6 Pro, Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 5a 5G, Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 4a 5G, Google Pixel 4a, and Google Pixel 4.

Apple iPad Mini With 120Hz ProMotion Display Likely On Cards

Posted: 05 Nov 2021 05:17 AM PDT

Apple iPad Mini A couple of months back, the Cupertino tech giant Apple unveiled the new iPad Mini featuring an 8.3-inch display. As soon as it was released, some users of the device complained about the ‘jelly scrolling’ issue. Notably, with this issue, the right of the display runs relatively faster than the left in the portrait mode. Regarding this, the company stated that it is common for LCD displays including as the screens refresh line-by-line. However, now it looks like the company could be working on a new variant of the iPad Mini that might fix the ‘jelly scrolling’ issue on the tablet.

Apple iPad Mini With 120Hz Display

As per the latest speculation from a well-known tipster @FronTron, Apple is speculated to be working on a refreshed iPad Mini model. The device is tipped to arrive with a ProMotion display instead of the existing model that has a 60Hz display. For now, the company has been using the same display that it used in the iPad Pro models since the year 2017. Also, the iPhone 13 Pro models launched this year feature a ProMotion display. Notably, the ProMotion display features a variable refresh rate wherein the same can drop up to 10Hz when the content that is being displayed does not require a high refresh rate. This means that the system can detect all activities automatically and apply the refresh rate that is apt to help save the battery life of the device. If the ongoing reports are to be believed, then the Apple iPad Mini in the working could use an 8.3-inch display. This display is tipped to be under testing and could be manufactured by the South Korean tech giant Samsung. Notably, this is just speculation and there is no official confirmation regarding the same. Apple is yet to confirm when it will launch the refreshed variant of the iPad Mini 6. We can expect to know further details regarding the same from here. As the launches for this year are over, we can expect further details to be shared by leaks and reports by early next year. Until then, this report has to be taken with a grain of salt.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Display and Camera Specs Hinted

Posted: 05 Nov 2021 04:26 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S22 The next-generation flagship series from the South Korean tech giant – Samsung Galaxy S22 series is circulating in rumours and speculations of late. The lineup is likely to comprise three models – Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra. As usual, the Ultra variant is speculated to be the high-end model in the series. Now, a fresh report has revealed some details regarding the upcoming smartphone. The latest information sheds light on the display and primary camera sensor of the high-end model of Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Leak

As per the latest leak by the tipster IceUniverse via Twitter, there is 100 percent confirmation that Samsung will bring improvements to the 108MP camera sensor on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. For those who are unaware, the flagship smartphone is speculated to feature a 108MP primary camera sensor along with either ISOCELL HM4 or ISOCELL HM5 sensors that were newly launched. While it is yet to be officially revealed which sensor will be used, the previous generation ISOCELL HM3 sensor is already a year old. In another tweet, the tipster suggested the display to be used by the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Apparently, the upcoming Samsung smartphone is said to make use of a curved display as seen on the Galaxy Note 10+. To say in simple words, the display appears to be flatter than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. However, it implies that the Galaxy S22 Ultra is tipped to have a relatively more curved display than the previous generation model. Unfortunately, the tipster has not shared any further information about the Galaxy S22 Ultra. However, we have previously come across several other details regarding the smartphone on cards. The device is expected to arrive with the upcoming Exynos 2200 SoC featuring the RDNA 2 graphics and will go official in early 2022. One of the previous reports has suggested that the Galaxy S22 Ultra could arrive with an OLED display. It could deliver a peak brightness that is touted to be higher than any other smartphone from the company ever. As per the same, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy smartphone is likely to deliver a peak brightness of 1800 nits.

Alexa Update to Allow Seamless Music Experience between Multiple Devices

Posted: 05 Nov 2021 03:40 AM PDT

Alexa Voice Assistant With Alexa's latest updates, users will now have the ability to shift their favourite music, radio shows, and podcasts between different Echo devices. Amazon's new update on Alexa will also enable users to pause audio on one device and then resume it on another. This feature won’t be limited only to Echo speakers as users will have the same access with Echo Buds truly wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds, and Echo Auto hands-free in-car system as well. The new update on Alexa will also allow the users to have access to TikTok videos on their Fire TV devices.

An Easy-to-Use Update

Moving audio from one device to another device is quite simple. All users need to do is say "Alexa, pause" on the current and device and then ask the voice assistant to play it on another device by saying "Alexa, resume music here." The same goes for radio shows and podcasts as well. Users can simply say "Alexa, resume radio here" to move the radio program or "Alexa, resume podcast here" to move the podcast to another device. The feature also allows the users to take the music to different places such as bedroom, living room, or kitchen by simply saying "Alexa, move my music to the living room" for instance. If the user wants to move a song from the Echo speakers to Echo Buds, all they need to do is say is "Alexa, move my music here" after they connect their Echo Buds to the mobile devices. In order to move the audio to the Echo Auto from Echo Speakers, users will have to say "Alexa, pause" to pause it on the speakers and then say "Alexa, resume my music here" in their car to shift music on the go. With this update, Alexa has also partnered up with Netflix and users can simply ask the voice assistant "Alexa, play (movie/show name) on Netflix" to watch movies and show on Netflix using their Fire devices. Users can also enjoy any random show on Netflix by simply saying "Alexa, play something on Netflix." Amazon with this update has also announced access to the official TikTok app on the Fire Tv which will allow users to stream the app by simply saying "Alexa, play TikTok." However, this feature remains restricted to US and Canada for now.

Connect Broadband Offering Referral Benefits for 3 Months

Posted: 05 Nov 2021 02:07 AM PDT

Connect Broadband Connect Broadband, a regional internet service provider (ISP) is offering a discount benefit for three months to users. Note that it is not just the person who has referred, but also the person who has accepted the referral is going to earn the benefit. As mentioned above, the benefit offered by the company for every successful referral is for three months. First of all, users can share their referrals with the Connect app and website. On its website, the company has mentioned that if the referral is successful, then both the parties included will earn the benefits. The benefit offered is a 15% discount on the monthly bill for three months. It is not that big of a deal, but 15% savings on a high-end plan for three months is still quite something. The Connect Mobile app is available on both Android's Google Play Store and Apple's App Store. There are a lot of things that you can do with the mobile app of Connect, including bill payments, checking loyalty points status, online points redemption, and more.

Connect Broadband Offers Multiple High-Speed Internet Plans

First of all, broadband services from Connect are only available in select states including Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir. The company is known for offering unlimited data broadband plans with over-the-top (OTT) benefits and more. All of the unlimited data broadband plans from the company come with a 3.3TB fair-usage-policy (FUP) limit. There are multiple plans to choose from including the 40 Mbps, 60 Mbps, and 100 Mbps plans. Connect offers these high-speed plans in multiple configurations and varied benefits at different prices. There are some broadband plans offered by the company which also come with a free anti-virus key. The most affordable broadband plan from the company costs Rs 499 and offers 40 Mbps speed with 3.3TB data, just like the offering from Airtel Xstream Fiber.

Should You Spend More on Fiber Broadband or 4G Mobile Services?

Posted: 05 Nov 2021 12:31 AM PDT

Broadband There are a lot of people who are struggling with getting a seamless internet experience across the country. If you are also working from home, then you might already have a fiber broadband connection. But there are many who still haven't experienced broadband services. One reason is that it can feel quite heavy on the pockets. Mobile bills in India have reduced significantly as even with a Rs 500 prepaid plan, you can get almost three months of service. But that's not the case with broadband plans. So, if you are someone who is confused as well, read ahead.

Fiber Broadband Service Pros and Cons

There are a lot more pros of fiber broadband service than cons. A fiber broadband connection can provide internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps to the users. That too, the owner of the connection can decide how many devices will be connected to the Wi-Fi network to save it from congestion. Further, with almost every high-end broadband plan, users get over-the-top (OTT) benefits. Some of the internet service providers (ISPs) also offer unlimited voice calling services as well. Users don't even have to worry about the data they get, as almost every fiber broadband plan comes with unlimited data. There is a fair usage policy (FUP) restriction on some plans, but that's still enough. But then there's one big limitation of the fiber broadband service, and it is that its coverage is restricted to a very small area. If you are moving a lot from your home, a fiber broadband connection might not help you enough.

4G Mobile Services

The thing with 4G mobile services is that they can be accessed from almost anywhere if there is a network present. But the data offered is fairly limited. Further, if you are someone who needs a reliable internet connection, 4G data might not be the best bet because of high network congestion scenarios in India. At the end of the day, it depends on person to person. If you are someone who is going to stay inside his/her home, then fiber broadband connection is a good bet. But if you are someone who moves a lot, spending more on a 4G plan with more data is a better choice.

This Might be the Best Time to Get BSNL Broadband Connection

Posted: 04 Nov 2021 11:27 PM PDT

BSNL Broadband Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is going all out with its broadband offers for the customers. The state-run telco is already the number one Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) service provider in the country. BSNL has been adding over one lakh monthly broadband connections every month. Now, to boost its broadband service further, the state-run telco has come out with an amazing offer for the newcomers. This offer will give the new customers an amazing benefit through which they can test out BSNL's broadband service.

BSNL Offering Up to Rs 500 Discount in the First Month to Users

BSNL is offering up to Rs 500 discount to its new customers. The offer was first reported by Kerala Telecom. Customers going for a new BSNL broadband connection will be eligible to get a 90% discount of up to Rs 500 on their first month's charge across all the broadband plans and the circles in the country. This offer is only there for a period of 90 days as it is a promotional offer. Through this offer, BSNL aims to add more new customers to its broadband subscriber base. The company is calling it the 'Diwali Dhamaka Offer 2021', and it will be only there from November 1, 2019, to January 29, 2022. If you want a new broadband connection from BSNL, you can book it directly sitting at your home from the company's website. So if you have thought about purchasing a new broadband connection, this might be the best time to do it because BSNL is providing a great offer to the customers. It is worth noting that BSNL recently regularised multiple broadband plans. These plans will now be available for long-term validities. One of the best broadband plans you can get from BSNL Bharat Fibre today is the 'Fibre Premium' plan which offers 200 Mbps download speeds and a free over-the-top (OTT) benefit of Disney+ Hotstar Premium.

Bharti Airtel Strategic Approach Towards Increasing ARPU

Posted: 04 Nov 2021 10:23 PM PDT

Bharti Airtel Bharti Airtel has been in the Indian Telecom market for a long time now. The telco has seen the worst and the best of being in a competitive market such as India. It has survived every scenario and come out thriving because of the strategic approach it has towards everything it does. Today, one of the biggest aims for Bharti Airtel is increasing its average revenue per user (ARPU). Now that doesn't happen in a day. It takes time, and the telco can't aggressively hike tariffs if the other operators are silent about it. However, Airtel has a solid strategy when it comes to increasing ARPU.

Bharti Airtel Aiming to Convert Over 100 Million Feature Phone Users to Airtel Black Customers

As said above, nothing gets done in a day. Everything takes time, and it is the focus on the process that helps companies win in the long run. Bharti Airtel has over 100 million feature phone users in its subscriber base. The telco is currently trying to upgrade them to 4G. Airtel recently announced a 4G smartphone offer which includes a cashback of Rs 6,000. In the recent earnings call, Gopal Vittal, CEO of Bharti Airtel, said that the smartphone offer is seeing high interest among users. This is a positive sign for the company as the offer might convert some of its feature phone users to 4G device owners. Just the conversion of feature phone users to prepaid data customers would affect the telco's ARPU by a huge margin positively. The next step would be to push these users to purchase postpaid services. Postpaid services are looked at as more a premium network service. While that is not entirely true, the companies try to portray that only. If Bharti Airtel is successful in converting 4G prepaid users to 4G postpaid users, it would again affect the telco's ARPU positively. But the ultimate service that Airtel has for increasing ARPU is Airtel Black. Airtel Black has multiple services inside it. But to be an Airtel Black customer, one needs to have a postpaid connection from the company. If more and more people onboarded to Airtel Black service, it would increase the telco's ARPU by a large number. This is Airtel's long-term play with the current smartphone offer and the Airtel Black service. Airtel will also be able to increase its ARPU with the help of highly-priced 5G services. While that is something still yet to arrive, it will definitely have a positive impact on the telco's ARPU. Gopal Vittal has already said that Airtel's ARPU goal for the long-term is Rs 300 and for the short-term is Rs 200.

India Ensuring It Takes Lead in 6G

Posted: 04 Nov 2021 08:47 PM PDT

India 6G India is yet to see the rollout of live commercial 5G networks. However, the government has already started focusing on 6G as well. According to an ET Telecom report, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has formed a new forum or committee that will focus on 6G. The forum will be headed by the telecom secretary K Rajaraman. The job of this forum will be to create a roadmap for pre-standardisation, research & development (R&D), development of products and applications, and more for 6G technology.

India Should Take Lead With 6G Space, Create IPR, Says DoT

A memorandum from the DoT said that India should take the lead with 6G and create Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), standardise, run pilots, create regulations, test the technology and then supply it at a global scale as well. This is an ambitious project from the government and one that will take a lot of time to see any success. 6G is far and might only arrive by the end of this decade. At present, India is eyeing to rollout 5G networks. Some of the multinational companies (MNCs), including LG, Huawei, and Samsung, have already started working on the 6G technology. It will be one step above 5G and will completely change society and the way it communicates. Even 5G will bring a lot of changes in the way people interact with daily technologies and gadgets. The telcos are currently in the testing phase with 5G. The spectrum auctions for 5G airwaves is expected to take place during the last quarter of FY22 (January – March 2022). This is certainly a good move from the government. It will ensure that India is already ahead of multiple major nations when it comes to 6G testing and network rollout. One of the best things would be if India could manufacture and standardise 6G products before any other nation. It will definitely be a big win and would boost India's economy.

Satellite Broadband in India Is Not for Everyone, Know Why

Posted: 04 Nov 2021 06:38 PM PDT

Satellite broadband Satellite broadband is not for everyone who wants to use internet services. Looking at the global services, there's no doubt that it will be very expensive to consume for an average user. Satellite broadband internet would be able to reach parts of India where the terrestrial networks can't. But we are not talking about urban cities here. Almost every major city has blanket 4G network coverage provided by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Reliance Jio. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) primarily has 3G networks in most parts of the country. The point is, people living in urban cities are well covered with terrestrial networks and so there's no urgent need for a new more expensive connectivity medium in the short or medium term. For high-speed and stable internet access, users can go for Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) services. There are many private internet service providers (ISPs) in India providing FTTH services. Almost every state either has a regional broadband internet service provider or there is Jio, Airtel, BSNL present. Satellite broadband internet will come, but it won't make a lot of noise for an average urban city consumer who has access to the internet at a very affordable cost. Even people living in the rural areas will accept less data with their internet plan overpaying an exorbitant cost for satellite broadband.

Starlink Broadband Pre-Booking a Prime Example

Starlink has been selling the pre-booking to users for $99 or roughly Rs 7,500 in India. Note that this is not even the final cost. This is just for pre-booking. The company has said that it is subsidising the service for Indian users, but it still won't be very affordable. Users would also need to purchase monthly plans from the company which is not going to be affordable either. Overall, if you could get a 1 Gbps internet plan for approximately Rs 4,000 from most of the major ISPs in the country, why would you pay lots more for satellite broadband and then also get a lesser speed? Well, one can always be fancy and get an expensive satellite broadband connection regardless of where he/she is living. But it still won't be worth the experience because the latency will be higher than what a fiber line connection can give you.

What Role Will Satcom Companies Play Then?

Well, of course, everything is useful if planned correctly. Satcom companies can partner up with the telecom operators to help them expand their network coverage to remote regions in India. Satcom companies can help terrestrial network service providers with reaching out to rural areas faster at much lesser costs. OneWeb has already announced that it is going to partner with one of the telecom operators in every country it provides services in. In India, it could be Airtel. Starlink is also considering partnering up with Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea (Vi), and more companies to help them expand the reach of their network services. Satcom companies will play a major role in the rollout of 5G. It will also help majorly in keeping the Internet-of-Things (Io) products connected. Satellite broadband networks will help in keeping the 5G networks less congested at all times. Of all of the relevant use cases and the costs involved in consuming satellite broadband services, there's one thing clear — it doesn't make sense for an average consumer with basic internet needs living in an urban city to pay more for satellite internet. While it will be something new to experience, the costs involved just make it severely unaffordable and uninteresting for a majority of people in the country.

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