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• Netflix ISP Speed Index January 2022 India Update: Airtel, Tata Play in First Rank
• Poco M4 Pro 4G Launched in India, Should You Buy
• Spectra Broadband Two Very Affordable 500 Mbps Plans, Check Benefits
• Google Play Pass Launched in India for Rs 99 Per Month
• Spotify Doubled Premium User Base in India in 2021 While Competing With JioSaavn and More
• Samsung Launches Galaxy Book 2 Series of Laptops at MWC 2022
• HP Commences Manufacturing of Laptops and Other Devices in India
• TSSC, Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University Sign MoU to Drive Employability
• Asus 8z Launched in India: Might Give Jitters to OnePlus, iQoo, and Samsung
• Mavenir to Showcase AWS Cloud-Hosted 5G Core Network Use Cases in MWC 2022
• OnePlus Working on Mystery Device With This MediaTek Chipset
• Starlink, OneWeb, and Other Satcom Players Importance Increases
• BSNL Reducing Price of Prepaid Plans for Mobile App Recharges
• Airtel Investors Approve Google Deal Amongst Other Things
• BSNL, Jio, Airtel, Excitel – Who Offers Better 100 Mbps Plan
• 5G in India Needs E-Band Spectrum for Backhaul: Report
• Redmi K50 Series Storage Options Revealed via TENAA Listing
• Airtel Prepaid Broadband Plans Under Rs 1000 Full of Value
• Wi-Fi 6: Things You Need to Know About the Next Generation Wi-Fi
• Jio vs Airtel Postpaid Plans Under Rs 1000 With OTT Benefits

Netflix ISP Speed Index January 2022 India Update: Airtel, Tata Play in First Rank Posted: 28 Feb 2022 07:36 AM PST Netflix has just updated its list for ISP Speed Index for India. The latest update shows the performance of January 2022. There are some major changes in this list. From nine ISPs (internet service providers) at the top rank in December 2021, only five ISPs remained in the first rank in January 2022. Big names such as Alliance Broadband, Hathway, Excitel Broadband, D-VoIS have slipped to the second rank. Netflix ISP Speed Index for January 2022 Netflix ISP Speed Index measures the prime time Netflix performance on a particular internet service providers network across the globe. Thus, it is not a measure of how the actual network of ISPs is, but only how it performs which users are consuming Netflix content. If you are a Netflix lover living in India, these are the top five ISPs that delivered 3.6 Mbps speed to the users on average while watching Netflix – 7 Star Digital, Tata Play Fiber, Jio Giga Fiber, Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT), and Airtel. On the second rank with delivering 3.4 Mbps speed were eight ISPs, including Alliance Broadband, D-VoIS, Excitel Broadband, Hathway, GTPL, One Broadband, Spectra, and Syscon Infoway. At the third rank were three operators with 3.2 Mbps speed, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Tikona, and You Broadband (Vodafone Idea's fiber broadband subsidiary). At the fourth position with 2.8 Mbps was Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) alone. If you watch Netflix content on a daily using your home's Wi-Fi network, the top two ranked ISPs are your best bet to get a comfortable experience. Netflix keeps updating this list on a monthly basis, and the performance and rank of the ISPs keep on changing. Some of the prominent names which have made a habit of staying at the top rank are Jio Giga Fiber, Tata Play Fiber, Airtel, ACT, and 7 Star Digital. Even Excitel Broadband and Hathway were doing good until December 2021.

Poco M4 Pro 4G Launched in India, Should You Buy Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:11 AM PST The Poco M4 Pro 4G has just launched in India via a virtual event. It is a budget 4G smartphone aimed at giving the maximum value to the users. Since it is a budget device, the chipset loaded can support processing for basic tasks but might not be suitable for heavy gaming. The battery is something that needs to be appreciated as the 5000mAh battery inside the device will ensure that the user has his/her peace of mind of not being forced to charge the device again and again. Let's take a look at the complete specifications and price of the Poco M4 Pro 4G. Poco M4 Pro 4G Specifications in India Poco M4 Pro 4G comes with a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with support for up to 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate. The maximum brightness Poco M4 Pro 4G's display can touch is 1000nits. The device will run on MIUI 13 based on Android 11 out of the box. The Poco M4 Pro 4G is also IP53 certified. It is powered by the MediaTek Helio G96 SoC with up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. Users can boost the RAM up to 11GB if they have additional storage left. The Poco M4 Pro 4G sports a 5000mAh battery with support for 33W MMT fast-charging. Poco says that under Rs 15,000, Poco M4 Pro 4G has the best display in the market. In the camera department, there's a 64MP primary sensor parked with an ultra-wide-angle sensor and a macro sensor. For selfies and video calling, there's a 16MP sensor at the front. Poco M4 Pro 4G Price in India The Poco M4 Pro 4G has launched in India in three colours – Poco Yellow, Power Black, and Cool Blue. There are three storage variants at which the device will be available in: 6GB+64GB = Rs 13,999 6GB+128GB = Rs 15,499 8GB+128GB = Rs 16,999 There are also bank offers from the HDFC Bank which can reduce the total price of the device by up to Rs 1,000. Should You Buy There is absolutely no doubt that the Poco M4 Pro 4G is one of the best smartphones under the Rs 15,000 price point right now. It has a powerful display, comes running on the latest OS version, has stellar cameras, and a big battery with fast charging. While it is hard to say outright whether the device is worth buying or not without reviewing it first; it is a device that is worth some consideration.

Spectra Broadband Two Very Affordable 500 Mbps Plans, Check Benefits Posted: 28 Feb 2022 05:45 AM PST Spectra is one of India's fastest-growing internet service providers that has optical fibre coverage of more than 6,000 km across the country. The fibre broadband from Spectra provides seamless connectivity and symmetrical upload and download speeds even with high-speed plans. The ISP offers multiple broadband plans whether it is for office, home or for any other sector with varied internet speed options. However, in this article, we are going to take a look at the two high-speed 500 Mbps broadband plans offered by Spectra along with the details that are very affordable in comparison to other service providers. The Two 500 Mbps Plans The two 500 Mbps plans from Spectra have been listed as the office plans and come with different price tags as well as distinct data capping. The first broadband plan from Spectra offers 500 Mbps of internet speed at a price tag of Rs 1,599 per month. The total data offered with this plan is 500GB. The plan also comes in quarterly, half-yearly and annual billing cycles. The three-month price for this plan is Rs 4,797, for six months the plan costs Rs 9,594 and for a year the price tag is Rs 19,188. The other 500 Mbps plan from Spectra comes at a price tag of Rs 1,999 per month. The plan offers a total of 750GB data per month. Just as above, this plan as well comes with quarterly, half-yearly and annual billing cycles. For a period of three-months users have to pay Rs 5,997, for six months the cost is Rs 11,994 and the 12-month price is Rs 23,988. Both the mentioned plans from Spectra offer the option to carry over the data, however, data carried over from a particular month is usable for only one additional month. Post the consumption of the set data limits, the speed reduces down to 2 Mbps. Spectra also offers 24×7 customer service support for any of the users' enquiries. The broadband connection from Spectra supports 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for a seamless experience of up to Gigabit. It is to be noted that the mentioned plans from Spectra are based on the city of Bengaluru and the prices might vary depending upon the region.

Google Play Pass Launched in India for Rs 99 Per Month Posted: 28 Feb 2022 05:18 AM PST Google has launched its Google Play Pass in India for its Play Store. The monthly subscription of the Google play Pass will cost Rs 99 a month in India. The Play Pass for the Google Play Store was initially launched in the US in 2019 and has taken about two years to arrive in India. Google Play Pass provides access to multiple games and applications on the play store for a monthly or yearly subscription. The Google Play Pass is currently available for users in about 90 countries who can download the apps and games without ads, in-app purchases, and upfront payments. Features and Pricing of the Google Play Pass Google announced the launch of the Play Pass section on the Play Store on Monday and the subscription will allow access to their premium features. The Play Pass collection will feature apps and games from categories such as sports, puzzles and more as well as action games like Jungle Adventures or Monument Valley. Apps such as Utter, Unit converter and Audio Lab will also be included in the play pass. The company released a statement according to which Play Pass will offer a curated collection of 1000+ titles across 41 categories from developers across 59 countries, including many from India. As far as the pricing is considered, Google has announced three payment plans for India. After the one-month free trial users need to pay Rs 99 per month to continue. The annual subscription to Google Play pass will cost Rs 889 while users can also get a prepaid one-month subscription for Rs 109. With the Google family group, family managers can share their Play Pass subscription with up to five other family members. Furthermore, the pass can be accessed on the Play Store by clicking on the profile icon on the top right of Google Play Store and then selecting the Play Pass option. The games and applications applicable for the Play Pass can be found under the Play Pass tab or by looking for the Play Pass "ticket” when browsing titles on the Play Store.

Spotify Doubled Premium User Base in India in 2021 While Competing With JioSaavn and More Posted: 28 Feb 2022 04:02 AM PST The Swedish audio streaming app Spotify has been able to double its subscriber base in India in 2021. One of the world’s largest music streaming platforms competes with the likes of JioSaavn, Gaana and other applications in India. Moreover, according to a statement from a company's executive, the company registered double paid subscribers in 2021, making India one of the largest markets for the platform. Spotify's Growth in India The platform has been in India for three years and is still looking to invest further. The vice president of markets and subscriber growth for Spotify, Gustav Gyllenhammar, said in a statement that the company sees potential in the hundreds of millions and consumers in India. He stated that India has now entered a sort of "top echelon" of the company's global market. Talking about the statistics, Gyllenhammar informed that about 150,000 playlists are being created in India every day, placing it among the top 20 countries in terms of playlist creation. He stated that Spotify is probably the top audio streaming platform in India and is growing further at a rapid pace. It is to be noted that Spotify doesn't disclose subscriber numbers for individual markets; however, it had about 406 million users at the end of 2021. Check Spotify India Premium Price Spotify in India provides very reasonable price tags for the subscription to its platforms. Not only the price tags are reasonable, but they are also specially curated for a variety of user bases. The cheapest plan from the company is called a 'Mini' plan, and users can get it just for Rs 7 a day. This plan offers up to 30 songs downloaded on one mobile device and ad-free listening to music. The company also offers an individual plan that costs Rs 119 a month; however, as a first-year offer, users can get it for Rs 799 for a one-time payment. This plan offers over 10k song downloads on five devices along with ad-free music streaming. Next is a duo plan which costs Rs 149 per month for two accounts and offers the same benefits as the individual plan. Lastly, Spotify offers a family plan that costs Rs 179 per month for a total of six accounts.

Samsung Launches Galaxy Book 2 Series of Laptops at MWC 2022 Posted: 28 Feb 2022 02:59 AM PST The South Korean tech giant Samsung at its MWC 2022 event on Sunday has launched the latest Samsung Galaxy Book 2 series of laptops. The lineup consists of the Galaxy Book 2 Pro, Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, Galaxy Book 2 360, Galaxy Book 2 Business and Galaxy Book 2. The newly launched series is the part of company's partnership with Intel and Microsoft and the notebooks come with the latest Windows 11. Mentioned below is the price and specification details of the new Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Series. Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro Specs The new Galaxy Book 2 Pro comes with 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display options. The device runs Windows 11 and is powered by the latest Intel Core i7 and Core i5 processors with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 1TB NVMe SSD storage. The device comes with dual stereo 4W speakers with Dolby Atmos, 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1. The 13.3-inch model is backed by a 63Wh battery whereas the 15.6-inch model is backed by a 68Wh battery. Samsung Galaxy Book 2 360 Specs The Galaxy Book 2 360 comes with a 13-inch full-HD+ OLED display with touchscreen support and runs on Windows 11 as well. The device is powered by Intel Core i7 and Core i5 processors as well with up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of onboard storage. The device is backed by a 68Wh battery, with support for 65W charging over a USB Type-C port. Notable features on the laptop include stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1. Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 Specs The Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 model is available in 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED touchscreen display options and runs on Windows 11. Powering the device are the latest Intel Core i7 and Core i5 processors with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 1TB NVMe SSD storage. The device comes with dual stereo 4W speakers with Dolby Atmos, 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1. The 13.3-inch model is backed by a 63Wh battery whereas the 15.6-inch model is backed by a 68Wh battery. Price Details The Galaxy Book 2 Pro has been launched at a price tag of $1,049.99 which is roughly around Rs 78,800. The Galaxy Book 2 360 model has been launched at a price tag of $899.99 which is somewhere around Rs 67,600. The Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 model on the other hand has been priced at $1,249.99 which amounts to nearly Rs 93,900. The company hasn't revealed pricing details for the Galaxy Book 2 Business and Galaxy Book 2.

HP Commences Manufacturing of Laptops and Other Devices in India Posted: 28 Feb 2022 02:07 AM PST US-based computer giant HP has commenced the process of manufacturing laptops in India itself along with desktop towers, mini desktops and display monitors. This move from the manufacturer comes in the light of the government's "Make in India" policy and the recently introduced production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics. HP happens to have the highest market share in India in the segment as it holds about 31.5%. This would make it the first time any computer has expanded its Made-in-India profile. HP Plans to Further Push Local Investment Talking about the expansion of HP's Made-in-India profile, the company has invested with its manufacturing partner Flex at the latter's Chennai facility. The MD of HP in India, Ketan Patel in a statement said that the company is looking to solidify its commitment in India because of the enabling environment of electronics products in the country. He added that HP is investing and widening its locally made product portfolio and will invest further as they begin to expand the local manufacturing. HP has been riding on a constant growth wave in India ever since the beginning of the pandemic which has been more or less the industry trend and it is anticipated that the company's revenues in 2021 are going to be around $ 3 billion. The demand for digital products has been on a high ever since the outbreak because of the online learning and working aspects. This resulted in companies like HP along with its rivals Dell, Lenovo, Apple and more growing in unprecedented times even though they faced the constraints of semiconductor shortage. A recent study from an analyst firm IDC suggests that HP was able to register a sales growth of 59% in 2021 in India and performed strongly in both consumer and commercial markets. Now, HP's move to push its local manufacturing comes at a time when the government has announced schemes such as PLI for IT hardware and a $10 billion investment for semiconductor manufacturing in the country. Ketan Patel informed that it would be the first time HP will be manufacturing products such as HP EliteBooks HP ProBooks and more in India.

TSSC, Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University Sign MoU to Drive Employability Posted: 28 Feb 2022 12:39 AM PST The Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) has just announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU) to collaborate to mutually leverage capabilities around skilled and placement. The MoU will stay in place for three years and will primarily focus on the delivery of futuristic courses to the students of DSEU and other aspirants of Delhi/NCR. It will also include co-certification of DSEU with TSSC for several programs offered under the 'Centre of Excellence' initiative. TSSC students will also get placement support, said a release from the non-profit organisation (NGO). DSEU will act as Train the Trainer (ToT) academy for all the futuristic courses. DSEU is an Ideal Collaborator for TSSC, Says Arvind Bali Arvind Bali, CEO, TSSC, said today's youth is very aspirational, and they want to achieve excellence in all spheres of life. Bali said that this partnership between the two organisations has a lot of potential to create a stir in the skill ecosystem and potentially lead to a long-duration degree (3 years) course on telecom, which will be wholeheartedly welcomed by the industry. Bali further added that DSEU is an ideal collaborator for TSSC in helping with driving the employability of candidates passing out from both organisations. According to the release, TSSC will help and support DSEU in creating and developing the Centre of Excellence (CoE) jointly operated as the "Telecom Centre of Excellence" at DSEU. Multiple CoEs have already been established by TSSC across the nation. Note that the MoU also outlines the joint commitment towards the development of new programs for skill training. All the courses under the program are said to launch in the academic year 2022-23. These courses and all the training along with certification will help the telecom industry in bridging the gap between the present and the future, and more skilled hands will be able to contribute towards the telecom industry of India as well as other international markets.

Asus 8z Launched in India: Might Give Jitters to OnePlus, iQoo, and Samsung Posted: 27 Feb 2022 11:55 PM PST The much-awaited Asus 8z smartphone has been launched in India on February 28. The device was earlier launched by the Taiwanese consumer electronics manufacturer in Europe and Taiwan as the ZenFone 8 in 2021. The smartphone arrives with a comparatively smaller display than the other flagship devices available in the market and features a powerful Qualcomm chipset. The newly launched Asus 8z will compete with the smartphones such as Xiaomi 11T Pro, Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, and the OnePlus 9RT in the Indian market. Let's check out the price and specification details of the smartphone. Asus 8z Specs The all-new Asus 8z comes with a display featuring a 5.9-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels) Samsung E4 AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 120Hz refresh rate. The handset features a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for an added layer of protection. The smartphone runs on Android 11 and is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 888 chipset coupled with up to 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The onboard storage available on the smartphone is 128GB expandable via HDD over NTFS format and not through a microSD card. Talking about the camera module of the device, Asus 8z comes with a dual rear camera setup with a 64MP primary Sony IMX686 sensor with an f/1.8 lens along with a 12MP Sony IMX363 secondary sensor with an f/2.2 ultra-wide lens. The front of the device features a 12MP Sony IMX663 selfie shooter. The smartphone is backed by a 4000mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging as well as Quick Charge 4.0 and Power Delivery support. Connectivity options on the device include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.2, GPS/ A-GPS/ NavIC, NFC, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sensors onboard include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyro, magnetometer, and proximity sensor. The company has also provided an under-display fingerprint sensor. The smartphone comes with support for 11 5G bands for superior and reliable next-gen connectivity. Price Details for Asus 8z The device has been launched in India with a single storage option of 8GB RAM with 128GB of internal storage priced at Rs 42,999. Asus 8z will be available in Horizon Silver and Obsidian Black colour options and will go live on Flipkart starting 12 noon on March 7.

Mavenir to Showcase AWS Cloud-Hosted 5G Core Network Use Cases in MWC 2022 Posted: 27 Feb 2022 11:09 PM PST Mavenir, a global network software provider primarily focused on working with cloud-native software, has announced that it will showcase the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud-hosted 5G core network for various 5G/4G use cases at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022. The company is already working with customers for trials and deployment of its end-to-end solution on AWS. Mavenir to Provide Front-End for Overall Service Management Mavenir said that it would be deploying the cloud-native packet core, messaging, IMS, voice, and orchestration components hosted on AWS. This solution will be utilising Mavenir's Digital Enablement platform as the front-end for overall service management. With the from-end, the customers will get an interface for self-service management. Mavenir is focusing on the ease of placing a network order using the self-service interface leading to the deployment on AWS through this pilot. This will include chaining of multiple network layers, the configuration of network functions, and deployment actions, resulting in reducing the overall service design and deployment times. This pilot will pave the way for communication service providers (CSPs) to automate deployment using end-to-end and pre-integrated solutions on AWS. It reduces the time for setup and integration and also lowers the cost of rapid service trials and network rollout. CSPs looking to leverage public cloud technology with carrier-grade, reliable, and high-performance solutions with on-demand scaling and high security can use this solution. It is a very flexible solution that will enable the operator to be able to pick amongst the available solution components and enhance it with optional integration with on-premise workloads as per their needs. Bejoy Pankajakshan, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, Mavenir, said this partnership would allow Mavenir to help the telcos in lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO) and also facilitate speedy network rollouts. Pankajakshan added that features like slicing would enable operators in extending their offerings to enterprises and industries.

OnePlus Working on Mystery Device With This MediaTek Chipset Posted: 27 Feb 2022 10:24 PM PST OnePlus is working on a mystery device with a MediaTek chipset. The company has already launched the OnePlus 10 Pro for the China market. It will make its way to global markets most likely in March 2022. Now, according to a popular tipster, Digital Chat Station (DCS), the Chinese smartphone maker is working on a new device that might sport MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC. Let's check out the leaked specifications and other details of this mystery OnePlus device. OnePlus Mystery Device With MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC Leaked According to the tipster, the mystery device that OnePlus is working on will come with a 6.7-inch OLED display. If this is true, it might be yet another flagship in the making from OnePlus. The rear camera setup might feature the Sony IMX766 sensor as the main camera. This is the same sensor also there in the OnePlus 9RT and OnePlus 9 devices. The device might come with a 4500mAh battery with support for 120W fast-charging. This mystery smartphone might become the first device from OnePlus to support 120W fast charging. The final moniker of the device has not been confirmed. According to a Gizmochina report, the mystery device might launch as the vanilla OnePlus 10 in China. But this would be strange because if this is the OnePlus 10, then the OnePlus 10 Pro users would feel a little cheated as the device only supports 80W fast-charging. While nothing's confirmed right now, it would be better to hold your horses if you are planning to get the OnePlus 10 Pro first. Users might get a value deal with the OnePlus 10 too. The reviews for the OnePlus 10 Pro are already out in the international market as many tech reviewers got the Chinese variant of the flagship for testing. However, the global variant would definitely arrive with some alterations in the software (OyxgenOS instead of ColorOS in China). It will be interesting to see what OnePlus has in store for its fans.

Starlink, OneWeb, and Other Satcom Players Importance Increases Posted: 27 Feb 2022 09:06 PM PST The satcom industry (satellite communications) is still fairly young and new compared to the terrestrial networks telecom industry. However, in a very short period, the importance of global companies in the satcom sector has increased. Companies such as Starlink, OneWeb, and more can provide connectivity services even when the terrestrial networks infrastructure or power supply is damaged. During war scenarios such as what is happening in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, satcom companies are really valuable for people to access internet services. Starlink Providing Internet Services in Ukraine Starlink, SpaceX owned low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband company, has started providing internet services in Ukraine. Ukraine's Prime Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, tweeted to Musk asking Starlink to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations for continuous broadband services. Musk replied to the minister, saying the Starlink services in the country are now active, and more terminals are en route. This solidifies and signifies the importance of Starlink terminals in Ukraine right now, where the terrestrial networks might be damaged. Many areas of Ukraine might have damaged mobile towers, no power supply, and more. Thus, while the industry is fairly young, it is very important for India and the world to embrace it in the best manner possible and ensure that connectivity prevails even during war or natural calamities scenarios. Currently, India is in the process of coming out with regulations and policies regarding the future of the satcom industry. This also includes recommendations for the spectrum auctions. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) need to ensure that the satcom industry gets the best environment to grow as fast as possible. It might not be directly marketed to the customers by most companies, but it will help bring connectivity in areas where terrestrial operators can't reach with fiber. It is still some time left for the spectrum auctions in India to be conducted as TRAI is yet to submit final recommendations for the same.

BSNL Reducing Price of Prepaid Plans for Mobile App Recharges Posted: 27 Feb 2022 08:24 PM PST Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is reducing the price of prepaid plans for customers who are recharging through its mobile app – Selfcare. BSNL launched the Selfcare mobile app a few months back, and it looks much like the mobile app of Vodafone Idea (Vi). The telco said that until March 31, 2022, it would offer a 4% discount to users’ prepaid plans recharged through the Selfcare app. Note that the recharge offer is only applicable on plans with denominations of Rs 201 and more. The offer is only applicable for Selfcare app users. It won't be given to people who are making their recharges through third-party mobile apps such as Google Pay, PhonePe, and more. Every plan that is available for the users on the website is available on the Selfcare app. Not a Big Enough Discount, but BSNL Users Might Take It It is not a very high incentive offer for users to recharge through the mobile app as 4% of a Rs 201 plan would be only Rs 8.04. People might not be very motivated to save such a small sum of money. The strategy is definitely to bring more users to the portal of BSNL Selfcare, including people who already have the app on their smartphones and those who don't. BSNL Selfcare is available for customers using both iOS and Android smartphones. BSNL Selfcare has a rating of 4.4 Stars rating on the Google Play Store and has already been downloaded by more than a million users. It is a very light application that doesn't consume a lot of data. Through this app, BSNL users can do everything, including recharges, checking balance, managing recharges of their friends and relatives, and more. BSNL wants users to migrate from the old My BSNL App into the Selfcare app. But the state-run telco will have to try other tricks as a 4% discount isn't going to make a big difference in its users' lives.

Airtel Investors Approve Google Deal Amongst Other Things Posted: 27 Feb 2022 06:59 PM PST Bharti Airtel, the second-largest telecom operator in the country, said that its shareholders had approved Google's investment of USD $700 million into the company for a 1.28% stake. In addition to this, the shareholders or investors have also backed the telco's plan of spending over Rs 1.17 lakh crore in related expenses, which would include its subsidiaries, Indus Towers, and moreover the next four years. In an exchange filing, Airtel said that the resolutions during the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on February 26 were approved by a 99.99% overwhelming majority. Google Had Committed to Invest Up to USD $1 Billion Into Airtel In January, Google had announced that it would invest up to USD $1 Billion into Bharti Airtel, out of which USD $700 million will go towards a 1.28% stake of the telco and the remaining $300 million to form multi-year partnership deals. These multi-year deals would be formed focusing on providing smartphones with subsidies in the Indian market, amongst other things such as developing 5G use cases. The USD $1 billion investment into Airtel will come out of Google's USD $10 billion 'Google for India Digitization Fund'. Bharti Airtel is the second telecom operator in the country after Reliance Jio to get an investment from Google. With Jio, Google's partnership was more focused on building and selling an affordable 4G smartphone. However, with Airtel, the focus would be more on subsidies on smartphones as both the companies are not going to partner for developing one for the Indian market. Airtel also plans to spend Rs 1.17 lakh crore in material related-party expenses, including opex spends over the next four years. It would include Rs 15,000 crore for availing services of Nxtra (data centre arm), Rs 88,000 crore in business with tower joint venture (JV), Indus Towers, and Rs 14,000 crore with Bharti Hexacom. Airtel owns 70% of Bharti Hexacom that runs mobile services in parts of Northeast and Rajasthan.

BSNL, Jio, Airtel, Excitel – Who Offers Better 100 Mbps Plan Posted: 27 Feb 2022 05:24 PM PST When it comes to broadband plans, the 100 Mbps plans are very common as they not only provide high-speed internet connectivity but also are available at reasonable price tags. 100 Mbps plans are suitable for all aspects that require connectivity whether it work from home, online learning, gaming or entertainment. Almost all the internet service providers (ISPs) in the country offer a 100 Mbps plan and it is good for users to compare the plans before choosing one. Mentioned below are the 100 Mbps plans offered by some of the major ISPs in the country such as BSNL, Jio, Airtel and Excitel to see which ISP offers a better plan. 100 Mbps Broadband Plans from BSNL The state-owned telco BSNL under Bharat Fibre Broadband provides exciting plans for its users who want to opt for 100 Mbps of internet speed. BSNL offers two 100 Mbps plans namely, SuperStar Premium-1 and Fibre Value plan. SuperStar Premium-1 and Fibre Value plans offer 100 Mbps of internet speed at the cost of Rs 749 and Rs 799 per month respectively. FUP data limit set on the SuperStar Premium-1 plan is 1000GB whereas on the Fibre Value plan is 3300GB. It is to be kept in mind that all these packs are exclusive of GST and customers can also get an annual 100 Mbps pack for Rs 9,588. JioFiber 100 Mbps Plan One of the most reliable service providers in India, JioFiber offers a 100 Mbps internet speed data plan at the price of Rs 699 for a validity period of 30 days. The FUP limit set on this plan is 3300GB or 3.3TB. Users get access to symmetrical upload and download speeds of 100 Mbps with this plan. The efficient services and reliable connectivity offered by JioFiber makes it one of the most preferable options to choose from. The 'Standard' Pack from Airtel Airtel Xstream Fiber can provide high-speed internet up to 1 Gbps, however, the telco offers some comparatively affordable plans with effective internet speed. Fibre Optic internet connection Airtel allows one of the fastest broadband connections and is highly reliable. Users can get access to the 'Standard' pack which provides 100 Mbps of internet speed at a monthly cost of Rs 799 exclusive of taxes. Users get 3.3TB or 3300GB of monthly fair-usage-policy (FUP) data with this plan. Excitel – 100 Mbps Plan One of the growing brands in India, Excitel uses European technology to offer seamless and consistent performance. The 100 Mbps plan from Excitel comes at different price tags and durations to cater to user convenience. 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 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.

5G in India Needs E-Band Spectrum for Backhaul: Report Posted: 27 Feb 2022 08:42 AM PST As the 5G network rollout in India nears, ITU APT Foundation of India in its new recommendation letter to the Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has asked to open the high-frequency range of E band for supporting 5G network and delicensing V band for Wi-Fi services as a part of the upcoming telecom sector reforms. It is to be noted that the next telecom reforms are expected to take place in May. The reforms are going to aim at enhancing the ease of doing business, reducing the cost of doing business and more. Airtel CEO Had the Similar Stand In addition to this, the ITU APT Foundation has also recommended delicensing the use of 1100 megahertz spectrum in the 6 GHz frequency rate in order to better promote Wi-Fi services in the country. For those unaware, telecom operators in the country have been demanding an auction for the allocation of both the E and V band spectrum. On the other hand, other internet service providers have been asking for the delicensing of these bands according to the TRAI's recommendations and global trends. Earlier, Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal also took a similar stand as he stated that the government must give out E-band spectrum for backhaul with the 5G airwaves during the spectrum auctions. Vittal stressed about the E-band spectrum getting wasted with the government as it has never been allocated or given out to the telcos. However, with 5G, the E-band spectrum would play a major role for backhaul. ITU APT Foundation of India or IAFI stated that it has been advised by various economists that the delicensing of V band could bring unprecedented economic growth and increased GDP. The non-profit industry body also mentioned that the delicensing of the spectrum band is the most transparent way of allocating spectrum and aligns with the Supreme Court judgment in the 2G case as well. Furthermore, the 6GHz band in the country is exclusively available to the satellites for unlinking of broadcasting channels and VSAT players for providing connectivity. IAFI suggests that the delicensing of the 6GHz band will allow innovators and manufacturers to develop more products and technologies in India for export.

Redmi K50 Series Storage Options Revealed via TENAA Listing Posted: 27 Feb 2022 03:52 AM PST The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Redmi is gearing up for the launch of its flagship Redmi K50 series in China next month. The Redmi K50 series will feature the vanilla Redmi K50, Redmi K50 Pro, Redmi K50 Pro+, and Redmi K50 Gaming Edition smartphones. The K50 Gaming Edition has already been launched in China. The devices were earlier spotted at the 3C certification and now in a new development, the smartphones have been spotted at the TENAA certification site. The listing of the Redmi K50 series at TENAA has revealed intel on RAM and storage variants of the devices. Storage Variants for Redmi K50 Series The TENAA listing reveals a device registered with 22021211RC model number which reportedly belongs to the Redmi K50 smartphone. The listing reveals that the device will be launched in China with 6GB RAM + 128GB storage, 8GB RAM + 128GB storage, and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variants. The listing also has a smartphone with model number 22041211AC which belongs to the Redmi K50 Pro handset. The listing suggests that the handset could launch in China with storage options such as 8GB RAM + 128GB storage, 8GB RAM + 256GB storage, and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage. The third device of the series with the model number 22011211C which belongs to Redmi K50 Pro+ is also visible on the listing. The TENAA certification site reveals that the device will arrive in China with 8GB RAM + 128GB storage, 8GBRAM + 256GB storage, and 12GB RAM + 512GB storage options. Moreover, a recent report also revealed that the Redmi K50 might arrive in India as well. In addition to this, a few Computer-Aided Design (CAD) renders of the Redmi K50 was also shared by a tipster. The renders suggest that the device will feature a triple rear camera setup at the back embedded in a rectangular camera module. The front of the device features a centrally-placed hole-punch cut out to house the selfie camera. The power button of the device as well as volume controls is placed on the right spine of the handset. A 3.5mm headphone jack and a speaker grille are also visible at the bottom of the handset.

Airtel Prepaid Broadband Plans Under Rs 1000 Full of Value Posted: 27 Feb 2022 12:52 AM PST The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically increased internet usage at home, prompting a greater number of people working from home and students attending online classes. With work and entertainment both relying on the internet, one inevitable need in households is a robust broadband connection. Several telecom providers are offering unlimited broadband plans across India. Among the multitude of providers available, Bharti Airtel is a leading player offering broadband plans starting from as low as Rs 499. Here, let us check out some affordable broadband plans from Airtel coming at a price point of maximum up to Rs 1000. Airtel Broadband Plan at Rs 499 Airtel Basic broadband plan costs a monthly rental of Rs 499, providing broadband up to a speed of 40 Mbps. The plan includes some Airtel Thanks App benefits such as Wynk app from where you can enjoy some free music and one-year access to Shaw Academy, enabling you to upskill with some online courses. Users get 3.3TB of monthly data with this plan. Airtel Broadband Plan at Rs 799 Those subscribers whose internet usage goes beyond checking emails and browsing the internet can go for Airtel Standard Plan, coming at a monthly rental of Rs 799. The plan offers internet at a speed of up to 100 Mbps. Similar to the Airtel plan, it comes with add-on benefits, including free Wynk Music and one-year access to Shaw Academy. With this plan as well, users get 3.3TB of monthly data. Airtel Broadband Plan at Rs 999 For hardcore streamers, 100 Mbps speed could be less. In such a case, Airtel provides a broadband plan at Rs 999. Dubbed as an 'Entertainment' plan, it offers subscribers internet at a speed of up to 200 Mbps. As an add-on, the plan provides a couple of entertainment options, including one-year access to Amazon Prime and a one-year subscription to Disney+ Hotstar Super and Airtel Xstream app. Other Airtel Thanks app benefits of Wynk's free music and access to Shaw Academy for a year are also provided. Moreover, the Airtel Rs 999 broadband plan subscriber will get priority services at all Airtel stores and customer care centres. The users currently booking for Airtel broadband plan from the Airtel Thanks app can get a 15% discount on packs starting from Rs 799. All Airtel broadband plans come with free Wi-Fi router.

Wi-Fi 6: Things You Need to Know About the Next Generation Wi-Fi Posted: 26 Feb 2022 09:42 PM PST The tech world first started hearing about Wi-Fi 6 in 2018, when Wi-Fi Alliance announced the next generation of Wi-Fi based on 802.11ax technology. Currently, not many devices support Wi-Fi 6. Apple iPhone 11 and Samsung Galaxy Notes are two known smartphones providing support to Wi-Fi 6. Recently, we have seen Wi-Fi 6 routers emerging in the market. Some of the primary benefits of Wi-Fi 6 devices are faster speeds, increased throughput, and better user experiences. They work better in higher-density environments, enhance the battery life of compatible devices and support an increased capacity of devices. They also boast higher data transfer rates than their predecessors. How Is Wi-Fi 6 Different? The new generation Wi-Fi 6 is capable of a maximum throughput of 9.6 Gbps across multiple channels, compared to 3.5 Gbps on Wi-Fi 5. This implies that Wi-Fi 6 capable router could hit speeds over 250% faster than current Wi-Fi 5 devices. What Makes Wi-Fi 6 Faster? You may attribute the higher speed capability of Wi-Fi 6 to technologies such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO), Beamforming and 1024 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). OFDMA, for example, permits access points to serve many customers at the same time. Another technology that allows numerous devices to communicate is MU-MIMO. While OFDMA is well suited to low-bandwidth, small-packet applications like IoT sensors, MU-MIMO improves capacity and efficiency in high-bandwidth applications like mission-critical voice calls and video streaming. Beamforming allows the router to target a specific device rather than broadcasting signals throughout the network, resulting in a faster and more stable Wi-Fi connection. QAM clubs two amplitude modulation (AM) signals into a single channel. This help improves its effective bandwidth. What Is Wi-Fi 6E? Another addition is Wi-Fi 6E. Wi-Fi 6E capable devices have a new band with a whole new set of Wi-Fi channels to reduce network congestion and dropped signals. This was launched due to the FCC's decision to allow unlicensed broadcast over the 6 GHz band. This decision increases the amount of bandwidth available for Wi-Fi utilization and IoT devices—1,200 MHz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band available for unlicensed use. It is important to note that all devices that support Wi-Fi 6 will not be compatible with Wi-Fi 6E. To fully realize the potentials of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, the infrastructure should have compatible Wi-Fi routers or mesh systems, devices capable of supporting the new generations of Wi-Fi and high-speed internet connection.

Jio vs Airtel Postpaid Plans Under Rs 1000 With OTT Benefits Posted: 26 Feb 2022 05:37 PM PST If you are looking to opt for a postpaid plan, telecom operators provide a number of postpaid plans that offer a variety of benefits. However, it might get a bit tricky with postpaid plans when it comes to the budget. Users need plans that not only come with a reasonable price tag but also provide additional benefits such as OTT platforms. Mentioned below are the postpaid plans provided by the two leading private players – Jio and Airtel that costs less than Rs 1,000 and offers OTT access. Jio Jio provides multiple plans that cost less than Rs 1,000. Almost all of the plans provided by the telco comes with an OTT subscription, whether it is cheap or expensive. For Rs 399, Jio offers a total of 75GB data per month after which users can access the internet at Rs 10/GB. The pack offers a data rollover of 200GB as well as unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS/day. Next is a Rs 599 postpaid plan offered by the telco. For Rs 599 users get a total of 100GB data along with 200GB of rollover data. After the consumption of 100GB, users are charged Rs 10/GB. The plan provides one additional SIM card and offers unlimited voice calls with 100 SMS/day. One of the most reasonable plans from the telco comes at the price tag of Rs 799. Jio offers up to two additional SIM cards with its Rs 799 plan. The plan offers a total of 150GB data and allows data rollover of 200GB. After the completion of 150GB data, users are charged Rs 10/GB. The plan offers unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day. The last on the list is the most expensive family postpaid from the telco comes at a price tag of Rs 999. Jio offers up to three additional SIM cards with its Rs 999 plan. The plan offers a total of 200GB data and allows data rollover of 500GB. After the completion of 200GB data, users are charged Rs 10/GB. The plan offers unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day. All the mentioned plans offer a subscription to Netflix as well as Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar. Moreover, the Amazon Prime Video bundled with the plans comes with a yearly subscription. Airtel Airtel postpaid plans are one of the country's most efficient networks and reach the remotest corner of India. The telco offers two plans under Rs 1,000 that provide an OTT subscription. The first plan on the list is Infinity Family Plan 499 which happens to be the bestseller as well. At a price tag of Rs 499, Airtel offers 75GB monthly data with rollover up to 200GB along with unlimited calls including local, STD and roaming. Users get 1 regular SIM with this plan as well along with 100 SMS per day. This is also a platinum pack and thus users get access to Airtel Thanks Platinum rewards which includes Amazon Prime membership for 1 year at no extra cost as well as Disney+ Hotstar VIP membership for 1 year at no extra cost. The other benefits include Airtel X-stream App premium, Wynk premium and more. The other plan on the list is Family Infinity 999 Plan offered by Airtel. At a cost of Rs 999 users can get 150GB monthly data with rollover up to 200GB along with unlimited calls and 100 SMS per day. With the subscription of this plan, users get 1 regular SIM and 2 free Add-on regular voice connections for family members. The Airtel Thanks Platinum rewards with this plan are the same as the Infinity Family Plan 499.

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