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• Starter Broadband Plans from Jio, BSNL, ACT and More That You Must Check Out
• OnePlus Releases OxygenOS 12 Open Beta Update for OnePlus 8 Series users
• COAI Appreciates Himachal Pradesh Government for Issuing Clarification for Charges of OFC Rollout
• Airtel to Get 4.7% Stake in Indus Towers from Vodafone UK to Help Vi
• India’s 6G Technology Implementation Strategy Under ITU Deliberation
• Apple AR/VR Headset Could be Equipped with M1 Chipsets and OLED Display
• Samsung Galaxy A03 Budget Smartphone Launched in India Starting at Rs 10,499
• Asus 8Z Launch Date Announced for India, What to Know
• 5G Smartphone Market Maturing, Is It the Right Time to Buy One
• Qualcomm Global Smartphone SoC Shipment Grew Most in Q4 2021: Counterpoint Research
• Mobile Towers Radiation Not Harmful at All
• MTNL 100 Mbps Broadband Plans Under Rs 1000
• Reliance Jio Is Offering Plans that Airtel and Vi Don’t
• PM Office Wants 5G Rollout by August 15, 2022: DoT to TRAI
• Vodafone Successfully Raises Rs 1443 Crore by Selling Stake in Indus Towers
• Airtel vs Jio vs Vi: Check the Best 28 Days Plans

Starter Broadband Plans from Jio, BSNL, ACT and More That You Must Check Out Posted: 25 Feb 2022 05:37 PM PST Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country not only high-speed high-end broadband plans but also offer affordable plans for its users which also provides good connectivity speed. These starter or base plans are suitable for first-time users as these plans come with a reasonable price mark and offer ample data speed as well. Mentioned below are starter broadband plans offered by multiple ISPs such as Jio, BSNL, ACT and more along with the pack details. JioFiber Base 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 the 30 Mbps plan from JioFiber, customers can get access to smooth and seamless internet across multiple devices. It is to be noted that the price of the plan is exclusive of GST. BSNL The base plan offered by the state-owned operator BSNL used to be the 'Fibre Basic' plan which offers an internet speed of 30 Mbps at a cost of Rs 449. The mentioned price is exclusive of GST and the plan comes with a FUP limit of 3300GB or 3.3TB. However, the telco has recently introduced a new broadband plan called "Fiber Entry". Using its Bharat Fiber connection, the telco offers a Fiber Entry plan which provides 20 Mbps speed at a cost of Rs 329 per month. The data limit on the plan is 1000GB beyond which the speed is reduced to 2 Mbps. ACT's Affordable Offer The Internet Service Provider based in Bengaluru provides a 40 Mbps unlimited data plan called 'ACT Basic.' The plan usually costs Rs 549 for a month, but the ISP is providing a unique offer for its customers, wherein the 'ACT Basic' plan is available for a price of Rs 470 per month for a duration of 6 months. In addition to this, the FUP data limit levied on the broadband plans is 500GB post which the internet works at speed of 512 Kbps. Connect Broadband Connect Broadband is a popular company that provides FTTH connections in a few of the northern states of India such as Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. The company provides budget plans with ample internet speed and the most basic 40 Mbps plan from the ISP comes with a price tag of Rs 499 per month and offers fully unlimited data along with completely unlimited Local and STD calls. Airtel Broadband Airtel with its Xstream Fiber connection offers 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. Excitel Broadband Excitel might be the most unique ISP in the list as it provides broadband connectivity only with 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps or 300 Mbps of internet speed. Therefore, the 100 Mbps plan offered by the telco is its starter or base plan. The Fiber First from Excitel provides users with a 100 Mbps plan for a month at Rs 699. Users can also get the plan for 3 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months for Rs 565, Rs 508, Rs 490, Rs 424 and Rs 399 per month respectively. However, the 9-month plan is available for only new subscribers to the service. Moreover, the plans from Excitel are truly unlimited and no FUP data limit is levied upon.

OnePlus Releases OxygenOS 12 Open Beta Update for OnePlus 8 Series users Posted: 25 Feb 2022 07:13 AM PST OnePlus had recently released its latest operating software Oxygen OS 12 Open Beta update for the OnePlus 9R users outside of China. Now, the company has made the latest Open Beta update for the Android 12 based OxygenOS 12 for the users of the OnePlus 8 series. The devices that have received the update include are the OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, and the OnePlus 8T. Here are the updates introduced by the brand and how to get them on your device. How to Get the Update Getting the OxygenOS 12 Open Beta update on your OnePlus device is quite easy and does not require any registration. All users need to do is go to the settings on their phone and click on the system tab after which they have to select systems update. Further, by clicking on the top-right icon, all you need to do is a select local upgrade. The brand has, however, warned that some third-party apps may not function properly and the clock might be missing the dial display when the AOD feature is on. This is quite normal as it is an open beta update meaning it's still under testing. New Updates Introduced The new update comes with optimized desktop icons with improved textures. Users also get the dark mode which now supports three adjustable levels, resulting in a more personalized and comfortable user experience. The new update on the software also brings the brand's Work-Life Balance feature which allows you to effortlessly switch between Work and Life mode via quick settings. WLB 2.0 has also been introduced which gives the option to easily switch between life and work mode based on specific locations, Wi-Fi network, and time, also bringing customized App notification profiles according to the personalization. Users also get new handy controls for their gallery app on the devices. Gallery now allows you to switch between different layouts with a two-finger pinch gesture, intelligently recognizing the best-quality pictures, and cropping the thumbnail based on the content, making the gallery layout more pleasing. More details on the new open beta update for Oxygen12 OS have been made available on the company's website and the OnePlus 8 series users can also get the update itself from the site.

COAI Appreciates Himachal Pradesh Government for Issuing Clarification for Charges of OFC Rollout Posted: 25 Feb 2022 06:25 AM PST The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the Indian non-governmental industry body of telecom operators of India has appreciated the efforts of the Himachal Pradesh government for providing clarification regarding the charges for laying of Aerial OFC and Underground OFC. According to the industry body, the confusion related to charges was hindering the roll-out of digital infrastructure by increasing the overall cost of deployment of Telecom Optical Fiber cable across the state and the policy issued by the state comes as a solution for it. Clarification will Fasten the Roll Out Process As per the Himachal Pradesh Right of Way Policy, 2021 (HPROW-21), the local authorities should levy a non-refundable fee of Rs 1000 per kilometre to meet administrative expenses. The policy also states that no other charges shall be levied on the licensee except for the restoration charges and relevant administrative charges prescribed. The issue was created as the local municipalities were charging higher prices ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,700 across multiple areas. The Director-General of COAI, Lt. Gen. Dr SP Kochhar said in a statement that the RoW charges charged by various Municipal Corporations and Local Bodies were in contradiction with the Himachal Pradesh Right of Way Policy, 2021 (HPROW-21). He added that these activities hamper the planning and roll-outs of telecom infrastructure in the state, defying the industry to fulfil its commitment of providing world-class connectivity. He further thanked the State Government of Himachal Pradesh for issuing clarification and easing the process of laying out OFCs across the state. One cannot deny the need for the telecom industry in today's time. Telecom services is a public utility and are crucial in providing a robust network of mobile towers to boost connectivity and improve the overall socio-economic development of the country. To make the country more digitally advanced, it is necessary to develop a robust and secure state-of-the-art telecommunication network providing seamless coverage. Telecom services were a boon during the unprecedented events that took place with the widespread pandemic and the country going into lockdown. It is necessary to have a sturdy telecom industry with a robust network of mobile towers ensuring enhanced connectivity and bridging the gap of the digital divide in the country.

Airtel to Get 4.7% Stake in Indus Towers from Vodafone UK to Help Vi Posted: 25 Feb 2022 05:24 AM PST Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator is looking to get a 4.7% stake in Indus Towers from Vodafone UK's share to help India's Vodafone Idea (Vi). The telco said that it has entered into a strategic agreement with Vodafone UK to buy 4.7% equity interest in Indus Towers. Airtel has however put a principal condition that the amount it pays shall be used by Vodafone UK to be infused as fresh equity in Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL). Further, Airtel has asked Vodafone UK to clear VIL's outstanding dues with the said payment. Airtel Supports Three Private Player Market, Says Will Get Shares at Attractive Price Bharti Airtel issued a statement saying it supports the government's desire to have three private player market which is also in the best interest of Indus Towers. However, this is not charity for Airtel. The telco would be getting the shares of Indus Towers from Vodafone UK at an attractive price with a significant discount which is typically available for such large block transactions. The acquisition will only take place by Bharti Airtel when the confirmation from Vodafone UK arrives that it will use the proceeds from the stake sale to infuse in Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) as fresh equity. Indus Towers is also a profitable buy for Bharti Airtel. In helping Vodafone Idea, Airtel is also helping Indus Towers which is expected to do more business as the 5G rollout takes place. This will enable Airtel in earning rich dividends from the biggest mobile tower company in India. Bharti Airtel already has a significant stake in Indus Towers and if this acquisition goes through, the telco's position would further solidify. The response from Vodafone Group UK should come positive for these demands as the British telecom giant was only looking to sell a stake to Airtel for helping Vi. Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) will be able to get some fresh equity at last if the deal goes through.

India’s 6G Technology Implementation Strategy Under ITU Deliberation Posted: 25 Feb 2022 05:14 AM PST The UN-backed forum, International Telecommunication Union or ITU has been considering India's vision and views on implementing technologies for sixth-generation or 6G and might even make a decision on it by mid-2022. The views proposed by the national standard body, if get accepted, would help India lead the path of ground-breaking 6G technology. India Could Enable the Ground-breaking 6G Technology TSDSI which is an industry-led not for profit organization recognized by the Department of telecommunications or DoT as the National Telecom Standards Development Organization (SDO) last year submitted a vision document and suggestions to the forum responsible for enabling the sixth-gen technologies – ITU. According to a statement from Satish Jamadagni who is vice chairman at TSDSI and head at Jio standards, TSDSI has been deliberating on 6G in working groups and has been able to consolidate the vision from India as well as the set of technologies that will act as an enabler. He further added that the complete vision of the country on enabling 6G and what it should be has been incorporated in the ITU documents. He informed that ITU is most likely going to give a verdict based on its views by the July of 2022 as a part of International Mobile Telecommunications or IMT-2030 requirements. On the other hand, the Geneva-based union is targeting 2030 for deliberating on 6G after which 3GPP or the third-generation partnership project can work on creating standards. India's standards body TSDSI has commenced deliberating on 6G from the starting of 2020 and has planned a comprehensive strategy that includes the research being done in India itself to support the technologies required for enabling 6G while being in a harmony with the global standard bodies. TSDSI with the support of private telecom operators, technology vendors and chipset makers aim at enabling the next-gen technology that can help bridge the digital divide in the country as well as form a ubiquitous mobile connected society. It is to be noted that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has recently created a 6G technology innovation group which is dedicated to creating a plan of action for Research and Development (R&D) and also for the technology. This innovation group is also a source through which DoT is asking for stakeholders and partners to identify technologies that are under development in India and can become a part of 6G. These will be further pushed for R&D grants.

Apple AR/VR Headset Could be Equipped with M1 Chipsets and OLED Display Posted: 25 Feb 2022 04:26 AM PST One of the most anticipated devices from Apple in 2022 is the upcoming mixed reality headset and reports have been emerging in the past providing intel on the device. It is also being speculated that the tech giant is also developing the operating system for the headset itself. Now in a new development, a new report provides intel on the display and the processing unit on the device, Let's find out more. Details on the Apple's Headset There have been several sources suggesting that Apple has entered the second round of pre-production tests on the AR headset. It is being speculated the company is planning to use its M1 chipsets in the headset as well as reports suggest that the device will come with an OLED display. This falls in line with the statement from the known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who stated that Apple is working to make its AR/VR headset equivalent to that of a Mac and the processing unit of the device will give it an edge over other headsets available in the market. The headset was earlier expected to arrive at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) conference in June, however, the development of the headset is facing challenges including and related to overheating, cameras and software and hence might result in the announcement of the product by Apple in late 2022 and the actual device might be available for purchase in 2023. Furthermore, according to a recent report, the wearable has been in the works since 2015 and was earlier planned to be launched in 2021 with availability for purchase in 2022. The upcoming mixed reality headset has been codenamed N301 and it is rumoured that Apple will be replacing its iPhones with wearable in a decade's time. The last major product that shifted the winds was Apple Watch which was revealed in 2015. Since then, there have been some other notable devices as well such as Apple HomePod and AirTags tracker. The mixed reality headset is expected to be just a step towards the company's rumoured N421 AR glasses which we might witness in the coming years.

Samsung Galaxy A03 Budget Smartphone Launched in India Starting at Rs 10,499 Posted: 25 Feb 2022 02:57 AM PST Samsung has launched its new budget smartphone the Samsung Galaxy A03 in India on February 25, Friday. The latest affordable addition to the Galaxy A series was previously launched in Vietnam in November 2021. There have been a few rumours about the device in the past and most of them have actually turned out to be true. Galaxy A03 has been launched with dual cameras, a Unisoc chipset and more features. Mentioned below are the prices and specification details for the new Samsung Galaxy A03. Samsung Galaxy A03 Specs Samsung Galaxy A03 has been launched with a 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V notch TFT LCD panel with a resolution of 720×1,600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. The device is powered by a UNISOC T606 octa-core processor and comes with two storage variants in India. The storage options on the device will include a variant with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage and another with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Talking about the camera specifications, Galaxy A03 arrives with a dual rear camera setup headlined by a 48MP primary camera along with a secondary 2MP depth sensor. The front of the device features a 5MP selfie camera. The smartphone is backed by a 5000mAh battery with support for standard charging specs and the company claims that the device could last a day on a single charge. Moreover, Galaxy A03 operates on Android 11 and comes with dual nano SIM slots. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/ A-GPS, Micro-USB, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sensors on board include an accelerometer, ambient light, and proximity sensor. Price Details for Samsung Galaxy A03 The newly launched Galaxy A03 is a budget offering from the company and comes in two storage options. The 3GB RAM + 32GB internal storage variant has been priced at Rs 10,499 whereas the 4GB RAM + 64GB internal storage variant comes at a price tag of Rs 11,999. The device has been launched in Black, Blue, and Red colour options and will be available for purchase via Samsung's website as well as offline and online retail stores.

Asus 8Z Launch Date Announced for India, What to Know Posted: 25 Feb 2022 02:17 AM PST Asus has just announced the launch date of Asus 8Z for the Indian market. It will be the latest smartphone from the company, which might take the limelight a little away from the Asus ROG Phone 5S and ROG Phone 5S Pro. The launch date of Asus 8Z for the Indian market is slated on February 28, 2022. Earlier, the company was supposed to bring this device to India in August of 2021. However, because of the global pandemic, everything slowed down, and the device couldn't be launched in the country. Asus to Deliver Unparalleled Performance With this Smartphone Asus has said that this compact smartphone will be able to deliver an unparalleled experience to the users. It will be available for purchase online on Flipkart. The teaser rolled out by the company doesn't give much details about the smartphone. However, since the global variant of the Asus Zenfone 8 is already out, there's isn't much left for wondering. The Asus Zenfone 8 might come in India with the same global 5.9-inch Samsung AMOLED display with support for a maximum of 1100nits of brightness and 120Hz of refresh rate. The display comes protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus and HDR10+ certification. The smartphone might further sport the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC coupled with up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. The smartphone comes with a 4000mAh battery along with support for 30W fast-charging. There could be a dual-camera setup at the rear with a 64MP Sony IMX686 primary sensor along with a 12MP Sony IMX363 secondary sensor. On the front, there is a 12MP Sony IMX663 sensor for selfies and video calling. The price of the device could be around Rs 50000 as it was launched for EUR 599 in the international market. It will be a competition for the OnePlus 9RT and iQOO 9 series, which launched recently.

5G Smartphone Market Maturing, Is It the Right Time to Buy One Posted: 25 Feb 2022 01:01 AM PST 5G smartphone market in India and across the globe is maturing. While some countries already have live 5G networks, India is all set to get it in the second half of 2022. Every year, the number of 5G smartphones being launched in India is increasing. People who are not frequent smartphone buyers want to go for devices that are secure for the future. Thus, such people would be looking to get a 5G smartphone to ensure that they don't have to upgrade again when 5G networks become a part of their life. So, is it really the right time for them to do so? Let's find out. 5G Network Rollout Date in India 5G networks might become a part of India by August 15, 2022. At least, that's what the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) wants. In a letter to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), DoT has written that PMO wants the recommendations for the spectrum auctions to be expedited so that a timely rollout of 5G networks can be ensured. DoT has previously said that 13 cities of the country will get to see 5G networks initially. However, it is worth noting that all the 13 cities of India is referred to by the DoT might not get 5G networks all in the same day. So here's what you should think if you are buying a 5G device right now. Firstly, an average consumer won't have any need for ultra-high mobile speeds that 5G would enable. Strong 4G networks are sufficient for consumer use of mobile networks. Second, no one knows about the price difference between 5G and 4G plans for the consumers. It might happen that 5G plans are so expensive that they are just not meant for your pocket. Third, 5G might not even come to the city you are living in for the next few years. Fourth, would you rather overpay for a 5G device or get a value buy with a 4G device.? Fifth, do you rely on mobile data a lot for your work or entertainment, or is it a fiber broadband connection? More and more can be said and questioned along the same lines. The point is not everyone needs a 5G device right now. But at the same time, there's no big harm in getting a 5G device, or if you have already got one, don't panic; you didn’t make a blunder. 5G smartphones can still provide a good value to the users if they are in the mid-range or flagship category.

Qualcomm Global Smartphone SoC Shipment Grew Most in Q4 2021: Counterpoint Research Posted: 25 Feb 2022 12:12 AM PST Qualcomm saw the best growth in smartphone AP (application processor)/SoC (system on chip) chipset shipments globally in Q4 2021. MediaTek is still the leader in the higher number of shipments, but its market share in shipments declined. Qualcomm, on the other hand, posted an 18% QoQ and 33% YoY growth in global smartphone SoC shipment despite the shortage of components and foundry capacity, said research analyst Parv Sharma. Sharma said Qualcomm was able to prioritise high-end smartphone Snapdragon sales, which come with higher profitability and less impact on shortages than mid-end or low-end mobile phones. According to Sharma, Qualcomm captured a 76% share in the 5G baseband shipments driven by Apple's iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 and premium Android portfolio. Qualcomm is set to benefit further from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen1 mobile platform, which has already started shipping with many flagship smartphones across the globe. More smartphones ahead in the year will sport the Snapdragon 8 Gen1, which should help Qualcomm further in growing shipment share in the 5G chipset segment. MediaTek Still the Leader in Overall Smartphone SoC Shipment Globally, MediaTek still was the leader in the overall smartphone SoC shipment during Q4 2021. Its shipment share was 33% compared to Qualcomm's share of 30%. On a YoY basis, MediaTek's global smartphone SoC chipset share fell from 37% to 33%. While at the same time, Qualcomm's market share increased from 23% in Q4 2020 to 30% in Q4 2021. Dale Gai, Research Director, said MediaTek's smartphone SoC volumes declined in Q4 2021 because of the high shipments in the early quarters as the Chinese smartphone OEMs went ahead with inventor corrections. Gai noted that many customers of MediaTek had built chipset inventories in advance to be prepared against any chipset shortage that may occur in the future due to the pandemic situation. However, that took a correction in the last quarter as the effects of the pandemic subsided.

Mobile Towers Radiation Not Harmful at All Posted: 24 Feb 2022 11:28 PM PST There has been a significant rise in the spread of misinformation about radiation from mobile towers being a threat to the health of living organisms. Especially with 5G around the corner, a lot of people believe that radiations that 5G networks will cause are very bad for the health of everyone. These beliefs are quite false and are nothing but misinformation. Recently, a webinar on EMF Radiation was conducted where Dr Vivek Tandon, Associate Professor, AIIMS, said that cell towers emit low-powered non-ionising radiations which have negligible impact on humankind. Radiations from Cell Towers Complete Safe Rakesh Kumar Dubey, Advisor, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Karnataka, said that there has been a significant rise in misinformation related to health concerns posed by mobile towers. Dubey said that radiations that originate from cell towers are completely safe for everyone. SK Verma, DDG Compliance, DoT India, said that the telecom department monitors the EMF emission levels from mobile towers across India and ensures that every field unit complies with the norms. The more and more telecom space is growing, the fear is rising amongst many Indians about the radiation caused by mobile towers because of the misinformation. In 2021, these concerns were also raised around the launch of 5G services in the country. Many Indians believed that 5G would be very harmful to the environment and all living organisms because of the radiation. But even that was misinformation being spread at the best. However, there's no reason to worry about anything. The cell towers emit EMF at levels which is not harmful to human beings at all. With 5G about to launch soon, India is all set to get more mobile towers and small cells or microsites set up at large numbers across the country. There are already countries such as the United States and more that have live 5G networks. None of these countries has faced any additional health problems due to 5G.

MTNL 100 Mbps Broadband Plans Under Rs 1000 Posted: 24 Feb 2022 10:26 PM PST Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) offers multiple 100 Mbps broadband plans to users under Rs 1000 per month. These plans are available for users living in the Mumbai circle. The difference between all of these plans would be in the amount of data that users get with them. Let's take a look at all the 100 Mbps broadband plans under Rs 1,000 per month from MTNL Mumbai. MTNL 100 Mbps Broadband Plans Under Rs 1000 in Mumbai There are three such plans which come for Rs 600, Rs 800, and Rs 1000. With all of these plans, users will get 100 Mbps internet speed. With the Rs 600 plan, users get 500GB of data along with 150 voice calls. With the Rs 800 plan, while the speed remains the same, the data and voice call benefits bump up. The Rs 800 plan comes with 900GB of data and 200 voice calls. Lastly, with the Rs 1000 plan, users get 1400GB of data and 300 voice calls. These plans offer symmetrical download and upload speeds. Post the consumption of fair-usage-policy (FUP) data, the internet speed for the users will drop to 2 Mbps. Note that these are not all the 100 Mbps plans offered by the company. Users can get more options if they are ready to spend more. There's also a Rs 1200, Rs 1500, Rs 2000, and Rs 3999 plan which offers 100 Mbps speeds and comes with 1900GB, 2700GB, 3900GB, and 6600GB of monthly FUP data. The Rs 2000 and Rs 3999 plans offer users unlimited voice calling while the Rs 1200 and Rs 1500 plans offer 500 calls voice calls each. MTNL's sister company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is also offering a 100 Mbps plan to the users for Rs 749 with 1000GB of high-speed data. There's also a Rs 799 plan that offers 100 Mbps speed with 3300GB of monthly FUP data.

Reliance Jio Is Offering Plans that Airtel and Vi Don’t Posted: 24 Feb 2022 09:18 PM PST Reliance Jio, India's number one telecom operator, is offering prepaid plans to the users that Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) aren't. These plans were recently introduced by the telco and offer a major over-the-top (OTT) benefit to the users. To be precise, there are two prepaid plans that we are talking about and both of these plans bundled an OTT benefit that none of the telcos in the country is offering. What's Really Unique About Reliance Jio Plans that We Are Talking About Reliance Jio is offering users two prepaid plans that come with the benefit of Disney+ Hotstar Premium. This benefit is not offered by any other telco in the country. While Airtel and Vi also offer Disney+ Hotstar, none of them bundle the 'Premium' subscription of the platform, which is worth Rs 1499 per year. All of the telcos until now had only offered Disney+ Hotstar Mobile subscription, which comes for Rs 499. But Jio has become the first telco in the country to bundle the 'Premium' subscription of Disney+ Hotstar with its plans. Let's check out which plans are we talking about. Reliance Jio Disney+ Hotstar Premium Plans So there are two plans which will bundle Disney+ Hotstar Premium benefits for the users. These plans will cost Rs 1499 and Rs 4199. With the Rs 1499 plan, users will get 84 days of service validity with 2GB of daily data, 100 SMS/day, unlimited calling, Jio Apps, and Disney+ Hotstar Premium. With the Rs 4199 plan, users get 365 days of service validity with 3GB of daily data, 100 SMS/day, unlimited calling, Jio Apps, and Disney+ Hotstar Premium. Activating the Disney+ Hotstar Premium subscription is also a very easy process. Just go to the MyJio app, get the unique coupon code, and enter in the Disney+ Hotstar account by signing in with your Jio mobile number. This should take care of things.

PM Office Wants 5G Rollout by August 15, 2022: DoT to TRAI Posted: 24 Feb 2022 08:12 PM PST The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has written to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) asking the regulatory body to submit recommendations for 5G spectrum auctions before March-end. This is to ensure that the wish of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) of launching 5G networks by August 15, 2022, is successful. The DoT has asked the TRAI to expedite the matter and provide the recommendations at the earliest. DoT Also Provided Information Regarding Additional Spectrum Available in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, and 1800 MHz bands for Auctions The DoT told TRAI that a certain quantum of spectrum in the 900 MHz which was reserved for use by the government at certain locations, spread across 6 LSAs, including Haryana, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, is now available for auction. Thus, the spectrum availability in the 900 MHz band has increased. Further, in 5 LSAs spread across Orissa, Kerala, Mumbai, Haryana, and Kolkata, the government is letting go of a certain quantum of spectrum in the 900 MHz band. Due to LTE coming and the role of CDMA networks going out of style, the present 1.23 MHz (paired) channel plan for the 800 MHz spectrum band can be revised to 1.25 MHz (paired). The current inter-operator guard band of 0.3 MHz can also be removed as it now serves no purpose. Currently, due to the 1.23 MHz channel plan, only 14 spectrum blocks in the 800 MHz frequency band are available. But with the revision to the 1.25 MHz channel plan, 16 spectrum blocks can be made available in the 800 MHz band. Reliance Jio Agrees With the Move, But Airtel and Vi Don't Reliance Jio agrees with the recommendation of DoT about revising the channel plan of the 800 MHz bands from 1.23 MHz to 1.25 MHz and making available 16 spectrum blocks in the 800 MHz band. However, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) don't agree with this as it can pose a potential problem of interference from downlink (higher power) of 800 MHz bands (869-889 MHz) to uplink (lower power) of 900 MHz band (890-915 MHz) if 16 spectrum blocks are made available, and the band gap is reduced between 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands. Airtel and Vi have demanded a guard band of 1.6 MHz. Both the operators have said that 15 spectrum blocks should be available in the 800 MHz band instead of 16.

Vodafone Successfully Raises Rs 1443 Crore by Selling Stake in Indus Towers Posted: 24 Feb 2022 07:24 PM PST Vodafone Group Plc, a major British telco was eyeing to sell a 2.4% stake in the Indian tower company, Indus Towers through a block deal. The move was successful and the telco has raised Rs 1443 crore by selling 63.3 million shares at Rs 226.84 a share. Vodafone's stake in Indus Towers has come down from 28.1% to 25.7%. The investors who purchased the stake were unnamed. According to an ET Telecom report, Vodafone Group is also planning to sell a 4.7% stake in Indus Towers to Bharti Airtel. It is worth noting that Bharti Airtel is already a major stakeholder in the tower company. Thus, if it is a deal that Airtel likes, the telco might be interested in buying the stake on offer from Vodafone Group. Vodafone Group Further Interested to Sell Balance Stake Vodafone Group is also looking to sell the remaining stake in Indus Towers to multiple interested parties. The British telco's aim is to utilise the funds that are raised via the stake sale in boosting the balance sheet of Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL). VIL has been struggling to raise funds for years now. But soon enough, if the plans of Vodafone Group are successful, Vi would get some relief. It is worth noting that even if the Vodafone Group is successful in its plans, it won't be able to inject more than Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 crore in Vi. This is because the telco has to use a chunk of proceeds to settle the outstanding receivables with Indus Towers. However, Vi won't mind any amount of money coming its way as long as it is more than zero. There are no announcements from the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) on this front which is a little disappointing. With time, it will be clear how much money Vi will actually get from its current largest promoter, Vodafone Group Plc.

Airtel vs Jio vs Vi: Check the Best 28 Days Plans Posted: 24 Feb 2022 05:38 PM PST All three leading telecom service providers offer a variety of prepaid plans for their subscribers. The plans offered by these telcos range all the way from high priced data-intensive plans to cheaper options and from long validity plans to packs that have shorter validity periods. However, the majority of the Indian population opt for budget prepaid plans with monthly billing cycles. Consequently, the 28-day validity plans are highly popular in the country as telcos do not offer 30-day plans. Mentioned below are the prepaid plans with 28 days validity along with the pack details offered by Jio, Airtel and Vi. Reliance Jio Jio offers a few plans with 28 days validity but one of its most common plans comes at the cost of Rs 299 and offers 2GB of data per day for 28 days. Users also get unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day with this plan. For users interested in a little lesser data, Rs 239 plan might be very suitable as it offers the same benefits as above but instead of 2GB, it offers 1.5GB of data per day. The same plan offering 1GB of data per day comes at the cost of Rs 209 with the same benefits Jio also provides a Rs 499 plan that offers 2GB data per day for 28 days and comes with access to the Disney+ Hotstar OTT platform along with unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS/ day. For users looking for a little higher data offers, Rs 601 plan from Jio comes offering 3GB of data per day for 28 days and also offers an additional 6GB of data. It is to be noted that all these plans come with a subscription to a few Jio Applications. Bharti Airtel Bharti Airtel offers plans with similar data benefits as well. Users can get 1GB, 1.5GB, 2GB and 3GB of data per day at the cost of Rs 265, Rs 299, Rs 359 and Rs 599 for a validity period of 28 days. All these plans also offer subscriptions to the mobile edition of Amazon Prime Video and the Rs 599 plan also offers access to Disney+ Hotstar. Users also get unlimited voice calls along with 100 SMS per day with these plans. Airtel also offers a Rs 449 plan that comes for a validity period of 28 days and the same benefits as above but provides 2.5GB of data per day. Moreover, users looking for an affordable plan, Airtel offers a Rs 179 plan that comes with a total of 2GB of data along with unlimited voice calls and a 300 SMS limit for 28 days. Vodafone Idea (Vi) With a subscription to the services offered by Vi, users can get 1GB, 1.5GB, 2GB, 2.5Gb and 3GB data a day plans at the cost of Rs 269, Rs 299, Rs 359, Rs 409 and Rs 475 for a validity period of 28 days. All these plans come featuring unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day. Vi also offers an additional 3GB a day plan that offers yearlong access to Disney+ Hotstar and comes at a price tag of Rs 501 with the same benefits as above. Moreover, additional benefits on these plans include the "Binge All Night" feature which allows users to use unlimited internet from 12 midnight to 6 am. Users can also take over their unused data from Monday to Friday to Saturday and Sunday which is called the "Weekend Roll Over" benefit. In addition to this, users also get 2GB of data backup every month at no extra cost.

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