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Telecom Sector In India

Rising data usage, premiumisation may push existing users towards postpaid in FY26

Updated On: 06 Jan 2025 | 11:17 PM IST
Bs_logoARPUs to rise, user churn to subside for telcos in Q3FY25, say analysts

The loss-making private telecom firm Vodafone Idea has rolled out annual recharge plans for mobile phones, offering users unlimited data from midnight till noon, in an attempt to catch up with competition. The company in a statement shared that it has rolled out pre-paid plans priced at Rs 3,599, Rs 3,699 and Rs 3,799 that will offer unlimited data usage from 12 AM till 12 PM every day throughout the year and it will be in addition to the daily data usage limit at high speed. "Vi's annual recharge plans offer half day unlimited data from 12 AM to 12 PM in addition to a 2GB daily data quota for the remaining 12 hours of the day. Not just that, Vi SuperHero packs also offer weekend data rollover, which allows users to carry forward unused weekday data and use it during the weekend," Vi said. The new recharge plans, Vi SuperHero prepaid packs, are currently available in Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab and Haryana. Vi's rival Jio and Bharti Airtel h

Updated On: 03 Jan 2025 | 8:12 PM IST
Bs_logoVi rolls out unlimited annual data usage plans to counter competition

Reduction in levies and tariff hikes are required for telecom operators in the country to reap the benefit of investments they have made in digital infrastructure, according to experts in the sector. Private operators have invested around Rs 70,000 crore in telecom infrastructure and radiowave assets this year to expand the coverage of next-generation 5G services in 2024 for the sector. However, the challenge is to keep 180 million 2G customers connected and encourage them to move to 4G for inclusive growth. "Telecom sector levies need to be rationalised, India is the highest on levies and still one of the lowest on tariffs. Innovation in tariff structure may come in with high usage customers paying more and entry level data users still at similar rates," EY India Markets and Telecom leader Prashant Singhal said. He said that India still had over 18 crore 2G customers who need to move to the 4G bandwagon in 2025 may see that happening. "The investments made by telecom companies

Updated On: 31 Dec 2024 | 8:15 PM IST
Bs_logoTime for telcos to reap gains from tariff hike: EY's Prashant Singhal

The country's private telecom operators face twin challenges on investment recovery in the New Year customers leaving their network after tariff hikes and satellite players mainly Elon Musk's Starlink eyeing a chunk of their bread and butter data business. Private operators have invested around Rs 70,000 crore in telecom infrastructure and radiowave assets this year to expand the coverage of next-generation 5G services which is one of the main highlights of 2024 for the sector. To recover investments and protect margins, private telcos resorted to tariff hikes in mid-year but that move backfired. Around 2 crore subscribers dropped their connections. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea jointly lost 2.6 crore customers due to a 10-26 per cent price hike. Around 68 customers switched to state-run player BSNL which refrained from price hike. The loss-making PSU still offers generation-old 3G service and is on the path of rolling out 4G network across the country. Despite ..

Updated On: 28 Dec 2024 | 6:33 PM IST
Bs_logoTelcos face twin challenges on tariffs, upcoming satellite services front

Scindia emphasised the efforts of the Home Ministry in setting up a network to tackle cyber fraud which had helped to prevent fraud worth Rs 4,000 crore

Updated On: 18 Dec 2024 | 9:46 AM IST
Bs_logo275K numbers disconnected, Rs 4000 cr fraud prevented: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Telecom firms urge the govt to limit internet shutdowns, citing their impact on essential services like banking, education, and digital payments, and stress exploring alternatives for law-and-or

Updated On: 07 Dec 2024 | 11:19 AM IST
Bs_logoInternet vital for life, shutdowns hurt banking, education: Telcos to govt

Industry likely to benefit further as full gains from tariff hikes seen over next two quarters; consolidation may lead to further increases

Updated On: 05 Dec 2024 | 11:11 PM IST

The debt-laden telco's board will consider the issue of equity shares and/or convertible securities, Vi said in an exchange filing on Thursday

Updated On: 05 Dec 2024 | 10:18 PM IST

Debt-ridden telecom firm Vodafone Idea on Thursday said its board will consider a proposal to raise Rs 2,000 crore from entities belonging to promoter Vodafone Group. The development follows Vodafone Group's announcement to sell a 3 per cent stake in Indus Towers to clear its debt of USD 101 million or about Rs 856 crore and use the residual amount to pay outstanding dues of its Indian venture Vodafone Idea. " a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company is scheduled to be held on Monday, 9 December 2024, inter-alia, to consider proposal for raising of funds not exceeding Rs 2,000 crore, by way of issuance of equity shares and / or convertible securities on a preferential basis to one or more entities belonging to Vodafone Group," the company said in a filing. British telecom firm Vodafone's 3 per cent stake in Indus Towers is valued at around Rs 2,800 crore. The company had announced that after settling the debt, it intends to contribute the residual proceeds from the placi

Updated On: 05 Dec 2024 | 8:35 PM IST

The Centre has blocked 6.69 lakh SIM cards and 1.32 lakh International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers reported by police authorities to check cyber crimes in the country, Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday. In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said the central government and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have devised a system to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers appearing to be originating within India. "Such international spoofed calls have been made by cyber criminals in recent cases of fake digital arrests, fedex scams and impersonation as government and police officials," the minister said. Directions have been issued to the TSPs for blocking of such incoming international spoofed calls, he said. "Till November 15, 2024, more than 6.69 lakh fake SIM cards and 1.32 lakh IMEIs as reported by police authorities have been blocked by the government of India," he ...

Updated On: 27 Nov 2024 | 8:35 PM IST

Donald Trump's return to the White House may bring potential advantages for Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, as his policies favouring US companies could create a conducive environment for them

Updated On: 08 Nov 2024 | 2:34 PM IST

Insolvency tribunal NCLAT has said that the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) would prevail over the provision of the Telecom Service Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act, as it dismissed two petitions filed by the sectoral regulator in the RCom matter. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) dismissed the plea by the telecom regulator TRAI against the classification of the balances of the customers of RCom as operational debt by the resolution professional in the insolvency proceedings of the defunct service provider. NCLAT also dismissed the second petition filed by TRAI, where it sought direction to the resolution professional of RCom for payments of statutory dues amounting to Rs 85.10 lakh. "The submission of the appellant (TRAI) that Act being a special law, would prevail over the provisions of IBC cannot be accepted." "The Supreme Court has already held that Section 238 of the IBC has overriding effect over any other law. Hence, IBC shall prevail over the ..

Updated On: 07 Nov 2024 | 1:14 PM IST

Trai's new mandate, set to take effect on November 1, would require traceability of messages sent by principal entities, including banks, e-commerce platforms, and financial institutions

Updated On: 24 Oct 2024 | 11:17 AM IST

State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) on Tuesday launched a slew of new offerings and initiatives - a lineup that ranges from spam blockers to automated SIM kiosks and direct-to-device services. BSNL also introduced low latency 5G connectivity for mining operations in partnership with CDAC, leveraging Made in India equipment and BSNL's technological expertise. The new services - 7 in all - were launched by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. BSNL's spam-blocking solutions automatically filter out phishing attempts and malicious SMS and aim to create a safer communication environment for the telco's users. Automated SIM kiosks allow users to purchase, upgrade, port or replace SIMs on a 24X7 basis leveraging UPI or QR-enabled payments with seamless KYC integration and multi-lingual access. India's first direct-to-device connectivity solution converges satellite and terrestrial mobile networks to deliver "reliable connectivity", a release said adding the technology is

Updated On: 22 Oct 2024 | 2:12 PM IST

Narendra Modi-led government faces task of luring foreign investment especially from heavyweights like Musk and balancing it with the demands placed by local wireless firms led by Ambani and Mittal

Updated On: 16 Oct 2024 | 10:44 PM IST

At India Mobile Congress, he stressed on 'dos and don'ts' for technology on global level

Updated On: 15 Oct 2024 | 8:24 PM IST

India is resolved to lead the world in 6G, communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday, terming the telecom sector of the country as 'aggressive' and 'ambitious'. Scindia, speaking at the inauguration of India Mobile Congress and World Telecommunication Standardization (WTSA) 2024, said with the Bharat 6G Alliance, India hopes to contribute at least 10 per cent patents to 6G standardisation. "It is our belief and our commitment -- India followed the world in 4G, we marched with the world in 5G, but we shall lead the world in 6G," the minister asserted. With the fastest 5G rollout in India wherein 98 per cent of districts and 90 per cent of all villages were covered in a span of just 21 months, Scindia said it is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's effort of not just embracing, but bracing the country to become the first-mover in 6G technology. "It is noteworthy that the Indian Mobile Congress and the International 6G Symposium demonstrates both local and global ...

Updated On: 15 Oct 2024 | 1:58 PM IST

It is a pivotal global event that will bring together more than 3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries, representing telecom, digital, and ICT sectors

Updated On: 15 Oct 2024 | 7:25 AM IST

Telecom regulator Trai will expedite the process for satellite spectrum pricing before taking up the issue of regulation for over-the-top apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google Meet, Trai chairman said on Wednesday. A consultation paper on pricing for Satellite Spectrum will issued in the next few days, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Chairman RC Lahoti said. "OTT was not part of this paper (Service Authorisation Framework under Telecommunications Act 2023). It is being discussed separately. Right now, we have to take up spectrum pricing on a priority basis," Lahoti said. He said that Trai will explore if OTT apps need to be regulated under the Telecommunications Act 2023. Telecom operators have expressed concern over Trai's recent recommendation on a new regime that proposes to allow the provisioning of telecom service using single authorisation instead of a license, which was the norm under the old regime. Lahoti said Trai has only recommended the framework that

Updated On: 25 Sep 2024 | 6:04 PM IST

The telecom regulator maintains that telcos are responsible for controlling unsolicited commercial communications under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations

Updated On: 11 Sep 2024 | 11:55 AM IST