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• iPhone 15 Displays Might Not be Supplied by Samsung, but BOE
• Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz Smartwatch All Set For an Indian Launch – Price and Specifications
• Oppo Watch Free Launch Impending as Wearable Spotted on Oppo India Website
• Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV Review: Brilliant and Affordable
• Vi Witnessed a Downfall in 4G Customer Base Due to Tariff Hikes and SIM Consolidation
• MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC Better Than Snapdragon 8 Gen1 and Exynos 2200 as per Geekbench 5 Results
• Google Pixel 6a Could Arrive at Google I/O 2022 Along With Pixel Watch
• Indian Govt Should Not Change Custom Duties for Electronics Urges Avneet Singh Marwah
• India to See Indigenous 5G Mobile Network in 6 to 9 Months: Devusinh Chauhan, MoS for Communications
• You Broadband 350 Mbps Plan Available for Rs 1750
• 5G on High Frequencies a Challenge to be Delivered Inside Buildings Says TRAI
• BSNL 4G Prepaid Plan That Other Telcos Should Also Offer
• India to Gear Up for 5G With 8 Lakh New Mobile Towers

iPhone 15 Displays Might Not be Supplied by Samsung, but BOE Posted: 24 Jan 2022 08:39 AM PST Apple might shift from Samsung to BOE for the iPhone 15 series OLED LTPO display panels. The iPhone 13 series display panels are supplied by BOE only. The higher end-models or the Pro models on the iPhone 13 series run on display panels supplied by Samsung. The higher-end models of the iPhone 13 series, which are the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max, make use of the OLED LTPO display panel from Samsung, which can support refresh rate up to 120Hz. Now, according to a report from The Elec, BOE might become the supplier of OLED LTPO displays for the iPhone 15 series 'Pro' devices. BOE is currently looking to expand the manufacturing to produce and supply OLED LTPO displays, which support up to 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung and LG Will Still Expected to be Supplier of Displays to Apple for Base iPhone 15 Models While the higher-end "Pro" models of the iPhone 15 series might be supplied by BOE, Samsung and LG will still be supplying displays to Apple for the lower-end iPhones. There's still a long-time for the iPhone 15 series to launch. For this year, the iPhone 14 series is expected to arrive during this September and is expected to feature four iPhone models again. The iPhone 14 series might consist — iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. With the iPhone 14 series, Apple is again expected to make a big change to the design of the iPhones. For the first time since the arrival of the iPhone X series, Apple might get rid of the notch and introduce a punch-hole cutout in all the iPhone 14 series models. It is high anticipation that Apple will make the design changes, but there's nothing fixed when it comes to Apple. So, stay tuned for all the leaks and rumours that might stir up in the coming days.

Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz Smartwatch All Set For an Indian Launch – Price and Specifications Posted: 24 Jan 2022 07:17 AM PST The Indian consumer electronics manufacturer Noise is all set to launch its Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz smartwatch in India next week which has been suggested by a recent listing on Amazon. The company has also recently launched its Noise Colorfit Caliber and ColorFit Ultra 2 in India. Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz will be a budget smartwatch and the listing on Amazon reveals specifications and price details of the device. It is expected that the device will be launched on February 2 in India. Mentioned below are the specification and price details of the upcoming Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz. Specification Details for Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz According to the Amazon listing, Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz will come with a 1.69-inch (240×280 pixels) TFT LCD display with thick bezels and a thicker chin. The wearable will also feature more than 100 watch faces for users to choose from. The smartwatch will also have support for Bluetooth calling along with Google Assistant and Siri voice assistant support. Also, the smartwatch from Noise will supposedly allow the users to play two inbuilt games on the device. Just like most of the available smartwatches in the market, the latest smartwatch from Noise will also feature multiple fitness tracking modes such as sleep monitor, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring, and heart rate monitoring. In addition to this, the wearable offers nine sports modes comprising running, walking, cycling, yoga, and more. The device comes with Bluetooth v5.0 connectivity and offers compatibility to smartphones running at least Android 4 or iOS 8. The device is also IP67 rated for dust and water resistance. The smartwatch is backed by a 230mAh which is claimed to run for seven days on a single charge and the wearable can be charged completely in two hours. Price and Availability According to the listing, the all-new Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz will be available at a price tag of Rs 4,999 but will have an introductory offer of Rs 2,999. The launch date has not been confirmed officially by the company but the Amazon listing suggests a launch of Noise ColorFit Icon Buzz in India on February 2, 2022, at 2 pm IST. The colour options on the device include – Jet Black, Midnight Gold, Olive Green, and Silver Grey.

Oppo Watch Free Launch Impending as Wearable Spotted on Oppo India Website Posted: 24 Jan 2022 06:39 AM PST The Chinese consumer electronics company Oppo is gearing up to launch its Oppo Watch Free in India. Although the company has not announced an official launch date for the wearable, it has featured the Oppo Watch Free on the Oppo India website which suggests that the launch of the device is on the horizon. Earlier, in September of 2021, Oppo had revealed the smartwatch in China in two distinct colour options. The smartwatch from Oppo came with amazing features that included health and fitness trackers. Initially reported by MySmartPrice, Oppo Watch Free has been listed on Oppo's India website with an image of the wearable. However, no details regarding the launch, specifications or price of the device have been provided yet by the company. Although it is being speculated that the company could launch its Oppo Watch Free in India along with the Oppo Reno 7 series of smartphones. Rumours and leaks suggest that Reno 7 lineup will be released in India on February 4. Specifications and Price Details for Oppo Watch Free As mentioned above, the Oppo Watch Free was launched in China back in September of 2021, and as far as the display of the device is considered, it featured a 1.64-inch (280×456 pixels) AMOLED touchscreen with DCI-P3 colour gamut, 326ppi pixel density, and 2.5D curved glass. Oppo Watch Free also comes with support for more than 100 watch faces. In addition to this, the wearable comes with access to more than 100 sports modes and features a heart rate monitor and a blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitor. The upcoming smartwatch from Oppo also has other preloaded health tracking features which include sleep monitoring, snoring monitoring, daily activity, and sedentary reminders. The Oppo Watch Free comes with Bluetooth v5.0 connectivity and has a 5ATM certification for water resistance. Additionally, the wearable also features an e-sports mode which allows users to receive all the notifications on their smartwatch while playing a game on the smartphone. The device is backed by a 230mAh battery which is claimed to offer 14 days of battery life while being used in light battery life mode. The device can be completely charged in 75 minutes. The Oppo Watch Free was launched in China at a price tag of CNY 549 which amounts to somewhere around Rs 6,200. There was also an NFC version of the device that came at a price of CNY 599 which is somewhere about Rs 6,800. It is expected that the devices could arrive in Indian markets at a similar price range. The colour options on the device included – Quick Sand Gold and Silent Night Black.

Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV Review: Brilliant and Affordable Posted: 24 Jan 2022 05:29 AM PST Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV launched back in 2021 in India, near October end. If you have been looking to get your hands on an affordable Smart TV that is also powerful and delivers a seamless content viewing experience, the Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UDH Android TV is a good option to go with. I have been using this Smart TV for more than a month now, and I have loved everything about it. Here's a detailed review of the features and experience of this affordable premium quality product from Kodak. Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV Review: Body and Design The Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV has a very sleek body and a very modern design. The bezels on the three sides (top, right, and left) are really thin, and at the bottom, there is a little thick chin with the Kodak branding on the centre. The company offers both stand and wall mount materials to hold the TV. I have been using the TV stand, which was easy to fit manually without any help. There's an instruction manual inside, but anyone with any basic sense about things can add things up and fit the nails in place with the stand. Kodak also packs nails and other necessary items to lock the stand with the TV. There are multiple ports behind the TV for external connectivity as well. If you place the TV on a wall mount, it might become hard for you to reach out to those ports, and there's very little space. Even though it is a 43-inch or a 108 cm sized TV, it is light and very easy to carry. Regardless of where you put it, be it the drawing-room, master bedroom, guest bedroom, or in your entertainment area, it will be a perfect fit. Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV Review: Display, Sound and Overall Performance This is by far one of the best Kodak Smart TVs I have experienced when it comes to performance. The display is just excellent. I have seen plenty of movies, TV shows, even cricket, and by changing different viewing modes this Smart TV supports; I have been able to get the best experience out of anything I am watching. The experience isn't just good because the display is good, but also because the sound output is just exceptionally excellent. Sometimes I like to just put on songs and do my work, and the kind of sound the Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV can deliver, it is more than enough to use YouTube and play my favourite songs. One of the best things this Smart TV has done for me and can potentially do for you as well as remove the need for a Bluetooth speaker in your room. I downloaded the Spotify application and played my favourite songs whenever I felt like it. Note that it is an Android TV, and unlike most of the affordable Smart TVs which run on Android OS, this one is pretty fast and delivers a seamless experience. It is currently running on Android TV 10 platform and allows me to access all my favourite applications from the Play Store. Most of the over-the-top (OTT) apps that I use for streaming came loaded, and a few I downloaded by connecting the Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV with my home's Wi-Fi network. Be it Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, or more; I can switch between the apps pretty fast. This Smart TV does a pretty good job of storing the already opened apps in the background for faster access. It comes with a built-in Chromecast which will allow you to stream the content on your smartphone directly onto your TV. Just the amount of applications you get at your disposal with Google's Play Store. There are even games that you can download and play directly on your TV for having fun. Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV Review: Remote Without a good remote, the TV watching experience will just deteriorate for any person. But I have to commend Kodak on delivering such a stylish remote with the Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV. It is light, as it should be and comes with four dedicated buttons for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Google Play. There's a very subtle Kodak branding on the chin of the remote, which doesn't look bad at all. There's a white circular plastic pad that covers buttons and an "Ok" or "Select" button at the centre of the circular pad, which looks really beautiful. The remote also comes with a Google Assistant button through which you can open any app just with voice command for easier content discovery. Two of the buttons that I have used a lot on this remote are the 'Home' and 'back' buttons. With the back button, I can go back to the main screen of the application or the home by clicking it multiple times. However, if I directly need to go to the main dashboard, I can just click on the 'Home' button. The back of the remote has a very beautiful textural design which gives you a strong grip and also makes the remote more elegant to look at. Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV Review: Price and Conclusion The Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV is available in India for a price of Rs 27,999 on Flipkart. There are also bank offers through which you can get an additional discount of up to Rs 1,500. The company offers a 1-year warranty on the TV and six months of warranty on the accessories. The Kodak CA PRO 43-inch UHD Android TV is a perfect option if you are going to purchase a Smart TV for Rs 30,000. It is not only affordable but also brings the best of Android TV along with a great viewing experience. This particular Smart TV series can be identified with the model tag – 43CAPRO5022.

Vi Witnessed a Downfall in 4G Customer Base Due to Tariff Hikes and SIM Consolidation Posted: 24 Jan 2022 04:58 AM PST India's private telecom operator Vodafone Idea has witnessed a downfall in the growth rate of its 4G subscriber base. However, the company doesn't really seem to be concerned about the slowing subscriber growth as the Managing Director of the Vodafone Idea Ravinder Takkar thinks that the reason behind some of the subscribers leaving the service is because of the recent tariff hikes and SIM consolidation. To recall Vodafone Idea or Vi had opted for tariff hikes along with other telcos back in November of 2021. The Current Scenario According to a report from ET Telecom, Ravinder Takkar was addressing an investor call after the company's fiscal third-quarter earnings. He stated that there are no concerns regarding the 4G customer addition pace and the tariff hikes imposed in November along with SIM consolidation has resulted in a drop in the number of subscribers. It is to be noted that there was a 5.8 million downfall in Vi's paying customer base in December end the quarter. The telco as of now has about 247.2 million customer base and has also witnessed a 0.8 million growth in its 4G subscriber base. However, in sequential comparison with the July-September quarter, there has been a decline of 0.9 million in telco's data subscribers during the December end quarter. As mentioned above, Vi had implemented tariff hikes back in November and the second consecutive quarter of revenue growth can be credited to multiple tariff mediations made in the last few months. Although there has been a falloff in the overall subscriber base due to the implantation of new tariff plans. According to a tech analyst, the MD of Vi said during the call that merging of the SIM is going to influence the telco for a few more quarters. He added that the withdrawal of added benefits such as weekend rollovers and additional data are the reasons behind a drop in data usage. However, he also said that the 4G subscriber base of Vi has remained resilient all thanks to the superior data and voice experience offered by Vi GIGAnet. Vi happens to be India's only loss-making telecom operator and the net loss for the fiscal third quarter of the telco has expanded to Rs 7234.1 crore from Rs 7,144.6 crore in the last three months. The increase in the net losses can be credited to the company's operating and interest expenses.

MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC Better Than Snapdragon 8 Gen1 and Exynos 2200 as per Geekbench 5 Results Posted: 24 Jan 2022 03:04 AM PST The semiconductor manufacturer based in Taiwan MediaTek launched its first true flagship chipset – MediaTek Dimensity 9000 which was designed to go head-to-head with one of the leading chipset manufacturer Qualcomm's latest and most powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen1 chipset in terms of performance. However, no one would have expected that the flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC could actually be better than Snapdragon 8 Gen1 in terms of performance and that too by a considerable margin. Test Results on Geekbench 5 The well-known industry insider, Ice Universe via its Twitter account shared the results of the Geekbench 5 benchmark scores for multiple latest and most powerful smartphone processors and the results were quite astounding. The much-awaited Snapdragon 8 Gen1 which was released recently by the American semiconductor manufacturer only happen to beat its own predecessor along with the latest Exynos 2200 chipsets produced by Samsung. While on the other hand, taking everyone by surprise, MediaTek Dimensity 9000 totally dominated the single-core and multi-core tests together with Apple's A15 chipsets. Talking about the scores, Snapdragon 8 Gen1 was able to score 3752 and 1231 in multi-core and single-core tests respectively which was only a tad bit better than its previous version – Snapdragon 888 chipset. On the other hand, the latest from MediaTek – MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC was able to achieve scores of 4410 and 1278 in multi-core and single-core tests respectively which happens to be very close to the test results of A15 chipsets. A15 chipsets on the other hand were able to achieve scores of 4885 in multi-core and 1750 in single-core tests. The fact that Qualcomm's every newer version of chipset brings in at least 15% higher performance makes one wonder the problem Snapdragon 8 Gen1 might have. There have been multiple reports of the heating issues occurring during the benchmark tests and throttling in Qualcomm's latest and it could have been a constituting factor to the low score achieved by the chipset. However, it could also be that MediaTek chipsets have shown simply better performance and if that's the case then MediaTek Dimensity 9000 could very well be the top product in the Android smartphone market.

Google Pixel 6a Could Arrive at Google I/O 2022 Along With Pixel Watch Posted: 24 Jan 2022 02:06 AM PST New reports have emerged about the Google Pixel 6a which suggest that the smartphone might be launched earlier than its predecessor versions. Google Pixel 6a is an upcoming mid-ranging smartphone and a renowned tipster has shared a launch timeline for the device. In separate news, another tipster has speculated that Google might also launch Google Pixel Watch during the same period. Multiple reports have surfaced over the web in the past few months providing some intel on the device. These reports have shared information on the expected design of the device as well as some key specifications. Details on Google Pixel 6a The report comes in from tipster Max Jambor who says that the Google Pixel 6a launch is expected to be held in May 2022. Although the precise date of launch of the device is unknown as of now. However, if the rumours of the launch timeline suggested by Max Jambor is true, then we can witness an earlier launch of Google Pixel 6a as compared to its predecessor models – Pixel 4a and Pixel 5a 5G. To recall, Pixel 4a was launched in India in October of 2020 while it was released globally in August of 2020. On the other hand, Pixel 5a 5G had a global release in August of 2021. The company didn't release the device in India. However, both the previous versions witnessed a global release due to the delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Google Pixel 3a was released in May of 2019 which is similar to the expected launch timeline of Google Pixel 6a. Moreover, it is being speculated that the upcoming smartphone could be released during Google I/O 2022. As far as the specifications of the device are considered, Google Pixel 6a is expected to feature the Google Tensor GS101 chipset which was also used in Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. In addition to this, it is also rumoured that the smartphone could feature a 12.2MP Sony IMX363 sensor in its dual rear camera setup. Previous Renders of the device have shown that Google Pixel 6a could have a hole-punch cut-out for the selfie camera and a dual-rear camera setup. Google Pixel Watch Separately, known tipster Jon Prosser has tweeted that the company may launch its Google Pixel Watch on May 26. He also shared a rendered image for the Google Pixel Watch which shows that the wearable will be available in Blue, Grey, and orange strap colour options. Not much is known about this upcoming smartwatch from Google.

Indian Govt Should Not Change Custom Duties for Electronics Urges Avneet Singh Marwah Posted: 24 Jan 2022 01:01 AM PST The Indian government should not change the existing custom duties, urged Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO, Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd, Kodak brand licensee. Talking about the upcoming union budget for FY2022-23, Marwah said the products should not exceed the 18% tax slab right now to encourage consumerism and improve market sentiments. A stable GST tax slab is required to boost the country's MSME and manufacturing sector. Marwah said that India could become the world's third-largest market for televisions with an estimated growth of 15% in the market size, which will increase the number of units shipped annually to 16 million. Government Should Consider Lowering Tax Rates By lowering tax rates for popular electronics, the government will motivate more customers to opt for new gadgets. "Government should consider lowering the tax rate on consumer electronics as this will encourage consumers to buy higher ASP products. This will also help in digital India, as consumers will opt for more tech products," said Marwah. Higher average selling price (ASP) products with lower tax rates would motivate consumers to get the latest technology with enhanced communication features which will help India in achieving its digital vision. Marwah congratulated the Indian government for introducing a $10 billion PLI scheme for the semiconductor chips and display panels. With the PLI scheme, the Indian government is bringing manufacturing within the country, creating more jobs and reducing components prices for the local device assemblers and manufacturers. Marwah further requested the Finance Minister for having a timeline for these projects as they should not be limited till the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as this could be a big positive for the electronics sector. Sea freight has increased ten times in the recent past, but along with that, the timeline for deliveries and movements has also increased by two times, noted Marwah. This is happening because of a big syndicate in the sector which is resulting in a huge loss to the economy. Thus, Marwah has also requested the government to take strict measures to control the same.

India to See Indigenous 5G Mobile Network in 6 to 9 Months: Devusinh Chauhan, MoS for Communications Posted: 24 Jan 2022 12:20 AM PST India is not just moving towards indigenous 4G with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), but also indigenous 5G. The Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision of PM Modi has completely changed the outlook of the telecom manufacturing industry, said Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications. "In another 6 to 9 months, we will have indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured 5G mobile network in our country," said Chauhan in a virtual event organised by the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA). Government Working to Ensure Issues Related to RoW Get Resolved Soon The issues related to the Right of Way (RoW) rules have been plaguing the telecom industry for a long-time. For a successful future of the telecom sector, these issues need to be resolved, and RoW permissions need to be cleared fast so that digital connectivity can reach the most backward parts of the country as well. "Government has been and will be taking several initiatives to address several issues pertaining to RoW and protection of telecom installations," Chauhan added. Fiberisation is one area where India needs to focus heavily. The MoS for Communications said that as part of the government's National Broadband Mission, a total of 5 million km of cumulative fiberisation is required by 2024. Another exciting area for India to develop the digital infrastructure is the deployment of small outdoor cells. "Deploying small cells for network densification offers another exciting opportunity. Outdoor small cell deployment in India is expected to reach 475,000–550,000 by 2025," said Chauhan. The small cells will help the telcos in delivering fast 5G as well as 4G networks with better coverage and fewer worries of network interruptions. Chauhan said that his ministry is working towards achieving the goal of PM Modi to provide fiber in six lakh villages of India. During the same event, TRAI Chairman, P D Vaghela said that India would see an addition of over 8 lakh new mobile towers in the next two years.

You Broadband 350 Mbps Plan Available for Rs 1750 Posted: 23 Jan 2022 11:33 PM PST If you are looking for a high-speed broadband plan, You Broadband can be a decent choice for you. The fiber broadband subsidiary of Vodafone Idea is offering its 350 Mbps broadband plan for only Rs 1750. This plan comes with unlimited data and is also available in different validity configurations. With long-term validity plans, You Broadband offers customers additional days of service. It is non-traditional of a company to offer a 350 Mbps broadband plan; thus, You Broadband also offers a 300 Mbps speed plan to round off the speed figure. Here's everything you should know. You Broadband 350 Mbps and 300 Mbps Plan Details As mentioned above, the 350 Mbps speed plan from You Broadband is available for Rs 1750. With taxes, the total price of the plan would stand at Rs 2065 per month. Further, users can go for the quarterly, six-months, and twelve months plans. With the quarterly plan, You Broadband offers five days of additional service for free. Likewise, with the six-month and twelve months plans, users get ten days and 15 days of additional service without any extra cost from the company. The quarterly, six-months, and twelve months plans would cost users Rs 6195, Rs 12,390, and Rs 24,780, respectively. Note that the price mentioned here also includes taxes. The data offered is 3.5TB per month. If you want a router and modem from the company, it would involve paying extra as a security deposit. The 300 Mbps speed plan is available for Rs 2006 per month (taxes included). Likewise, the three months, six months, and twelve months plans are available for Rs 6018, Rs 12036, and Rs 24072, respectively. The data offered with this plan is also 3.5TB. The extra deposit that customers will have to make for the router and modem is Rs 1999. It is a one-time refundable deposit. There are more plans offered by the company that comes with 3.5TB of data.

5G on High Frequencies a Challenge to be Delivered Inside Buildings Says TRAI Posted: 23 Jan 2022 10:36 PM PST 5G networks would bring high-spectrum frequencies into play. It would be the first time where the government will be auctioning 3.3 GHz – 3.6 GHz and mmWave spectrum bands to the telcos. But the thing with a high-frequency spectrum is that the airwaves can get disturbed very easily. While there are issues with delivering 4G networks in some buildings, it isn't hard to assume that with 5G, it will become even more challenging to provide coverage inside buildings. Especially when the networks can be jammed or interrupted by walls, trees, and more. According to a PTI report, P D Vaghela, Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), during a virtual event organised by the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA), said delivering 5G coverage inside the buildings is going to be difficult as the signals will be transmitted on high frequencies which cover very small distances. TRAI Has Prepared a Consultation Paper to Allow Relevant Stakeholders Get Access to Buildings for 5G Ensuring that digital infrastructure is ready inside the buildings before the rollout of 5G networks is vital for the telcos. The telecom regulatory is currently in the process of coming out with a consultation paper that will talk about getting telecom operators, infrastructure providers, and other players access to the buildings in a non-discriminative manner for building the digital infra. TRAI has already prepared the consultation paper and will release it soon for the stakeholders to seek their recommendations. Vaghela said that there would come a time when the states would push for digital connectivity more than the revenues. In fact, to further boost the infrastructure for 5G, India is planning to add 8 lakh new mobile towers in the next two years. Along with that, the fiberisation of the towers is expected to boost significantly in the same time period. A proper infrastructure and fiber backhaul is required for the telcos to be successful with 5G.

BSNL 4G Prepaid Plan That Other Telcos Should Also Offer Posted: 23 Jan 2022 09:17 PM PST Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is the most affordable option for prepaid mobile customers in India right now. This is because the state-run telco is the only operator who didn't implement prepaid tariff hikes, unlike its private rivals, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi). There's a prepaid plan that BSNL offers to customers that none of the private operators does. This is a plan that every telco should offer in the country, not at the same price as BSNL's, but a plan like this would do wonders. Here's the plan that we are talking about. BSNL 4G Prepaid Plan That Jio, Airtel, and Vi Should Also Provide to Customers BSNL offers customers a Rs 398 prepaid plan. This is not a new offering from the company. However, it is the kind of plan that none of the private telcos offers. For the unaware, the Rs 398 prepaid plan offers customers truly unlimited data without any fair-usage-policy (FUP) limit on data consumption along with truly unlimited voice calling and 100 SMS/day. The total validity of this plan is 30 days. Vodafone Idea does offer a postpaid plan like this for Rs 699. But such a prepaid plan for 30 days or 28 days from the private telcos at the Rs 500 price point would do wonders for select people. It would reduce the need for fiber broadband for many. Not saying that 4G networks are as reliable as fiber broadband connections when it comes to speed and network congestion, but it would make for a good plan. Further, it would also allow the telcos in boosting their average revenue per user (ARPU) figure as it would not be a cheap plan. While BSNL's plan at Rs 398 looks like a good option, the lack of 4G networks just takes away the sweetness of the data benefits. The state-run telco is currently working on rolling out 4G networks throughout the nation.

India to Gear Up for 5G With 8 Lakh New Mobile Towers Posted: 23 Jan 2022 08:56 PM PST India is expected to get 5G networks in 13 select cities by August 15, 2022. While the date likely looks impossible from the speed at which developments are taking place right now, to enhance the role that 5G networks in the county, India is reportedly going to add 8 lakh new mobile towers in the next two years. According to a TNN report, the Indian government is looking to give an aggressive push to the telecom sector by adding these many new towers, which are more than double the current strength. Further, the report mentions that three out of these four towers will be connected through the optical fiber to increase data-carrying capacity. Fiberisation is something that India needs desperately in order for 5G to be successful. Indian Government Wants 70% of the Towers to be Fiberised by the End of March 2024 Currently, 34% of the mobile towers in India are fiberised. Along with the tower density, the Indian government wants 70% of the towers to be fiberised by the end of FY24. The tower density is also expected to go up from the current 0.4/1000 population to 1/1000 population by the end of March 2024. The government wants to set up a National Fibre Authority (NFA) just like the other regulatory authorities. A boom in infrastructure is very necessary for India to roll out 5G in an efficient manner. It will also boost the 4G services of the telecom operators and help them provide better coverage to users living across the country. But there are a lot of challenges for building the telecom infrastructure, which starts with the Right of Way (RoW) rules and permissions. Many states have misaligned RoW rules from that of the Indian Telegraphy RoW rules 2016. Further, the permissions need to be fast-tracked to ensure the infrastructure can be developed and set up aggressively by the telcos.

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