Page 10 - Telecom Industry

Telcos, chip makers oppose direct-to-mobile plan; say tech still immature

The D2M proposal is also likely to make smartphones in India costlier by at least Rs 2,500

BSNL likely to award Rs 1,000 crore 3-yr OTN equipment contract to Nokia

Other companies that have applied for the BSNL contract include domestic vendors like United Telecoms (UTL), and Tata Group company, Tejas Networks

Trai asks telecom companies to quickly deploy consent driven anti-spam tech

Telcos say businesses dragging feet on new Digital Consent Authorization

Centre to disburse Rs 400 cr to 20 firms under PLI scheme for telecom gear

All of these 20 companies, including Nokia and Jabil, have met their targets under the production-linked incentive scheme for manufacturing telecom goods

Bharti Airtel Q2 results: Net profit drops 37.5% on one-time charge

For the just-ended quarter, the consolidated net income (before exceptional items) came in at Rs 2,960 crore, up by 44.2 per cent year-on-year

India to see higher demand of telecom equipment in 2024-25: Nokia

While Indian telecom operators have completed the roll-out of 5G network across the country, Nokia sees demand for equipment will be substantial in 2024-25, a senior company official said. Speaking to PTI at the India Mobile Congress, Nokia India head of mobile networks business Tarun Chhabra said that the proliferation of fixed wireless access network will usher the Indian telecom sector into the second phase of 5G network deployment. "India's requirement is still going to be substantial in 2024-25, then our factories will be fully loaded with India plus some exports," Chhabra said. Nokia has recorded multi-fold growth in its telecom gear business in India on account of rapid 5G network deployment. In the third quarter financial report, Nokia President and CEO Pekka Lundmark said the business continued to benefit from 5G deployments in India, where net sales more than doubled year-on-year, but sales volume moderated significantly on a sequential basis as the pace of deployment has

Global foray an option under evaluation, says Reliance Jio President

After success in India, telecom major Reliance Jio sees global foray as an option which is continuously under evaluation at the company, a senior company official said. While speaking to the media at India Mobile Congress, Reliance Jio President Mathew Oommen said that India is now a tier 1 plus country and there should be no apprehension in framing policies that are right for the nation. We think the opportunity for India to go global is big. Reliance will continue to review options to see how best to represent India globally and offer value to customers leveraging the technology capabilities that we have already operationalized in India, Oommen said. He said that to truly drive the Digital India vision, the government should start leveraging Rs 75,700 crore Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) not just for mobile tower deployment but to make devices and services affordable and accessible for individuals. He said Jio Bharat Phone ecosystem is an enabler to 2G mukt Bharat and

Govt wants telecom service to remain most affordable in entire world: Min

The government wants India's telecom service to remain the most affordable in the entire world, union telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. According to the telecom sector industry body Cellular Operators Association of India, telecom operators have not been able to monetise 5G service since its launch last year. "From the government side we are very clear. We would like telecom service to continue to remain the most affordable in the entire world and today among all large economies India's telecom sector is the most affordable telecom sector," Vaishnaw told PTI in an interview at India Mobile Congress 2023. According to analysts, telecom operators need an average revenue per user (ARPU) in the range of Rs 270-300 over next three years to realise the investments they are making in building 5G networks. At present ARPU in India is in the range of Rs 140-200 compared to global average of Rs 600-850 and about Rs 580 in China. Telecom operators have been demanding that 4-5 apps that

India competing with world's best telecom equipment makers: Vaishnaw

On semiconductor manufacturing, the minister said at least three players were in advanced talks with the government for building a chip plant in India

India will lead the world in 6G: PM Narendra Modi at India Mobile Congress

PM Modi said that the need of the hour is to take forward the success in mobile and electronics and establish a strong semiconductor manufacturing sector in India

Vodafone Idea Q2 results: Net loss surges 15.2% to Rs 8,746 crore

Company incurred higher expenses on rising finance cost, slow revenue growth

DoT grants 2-month extension to telcos to register, verify SIM card sellers

Telcos sought additional time for implementation of new rules as it required change in their IT systems. Considering the request, the government has given a one-time extension

Jio tops in all nine mobile network parameters in first half of 2023: Ookla

Telecom major Jio has topped across nine mobile network parameters in the first half of 2023, Broadband speed and quality research firm Ookla said on Tuesday. According to Ookla, Jio emerged as the number 1 network in India, winning all nine awards for mobile networks in the market, including all awards for 5G networks. The achievement is a first for any service provider anywhere in the world, it said. Among the nine parameters, Jio bagged the top rank for best 5G gaming experience network in the country with a score of 87.09, video experience with 86.23, mobile gaming experience (77.31), mobile video experience (77.04), fastest 5G mobile network with a speed score of 335.75, and best mobile coverage, with a score of 801. "Over the past seven years, we've set several global benchmarks, propelling India into digital prominence. Today, our ambitions are even higher, and our faith in India's digital future is as strong as ever," Reliance Jio Chairman Akash Ambani said. "I am particul

Tax uncertainty

SC ruling will increase uncertainty in telecom

Ericsson India sales jump 3.5 times to about Rs 7,400 cr in Jul-Sept qtr

Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson's net sales in India grew over 3.5 times to about Rs 7,400 crore (9.6 billion Swedish Krona) in the third quarter ended September 30, as per its financial report released on Tuesday. Ericsson had recorded 4 per cent of total net sales contribution of 2,721.6 million SEK (about Rs 2,100 crore) from India for the September 2022 quarter. The net sales of Ericsson at the global level during the September 2023 quarter fell by 5 per cent to 64.5 billion SEK due to a sharp decline of business in North America, which was partly offset by sales in South East Asia, Oceania and India. "Networks organic sales in North America were down by 60 per cent YoY (year-on-year) from a record quarter in September 2022 quarter, due to customers' inventory adjustments and a slower deployment pace. The decline in North America was partly offset by growth in India as well as some early 5G markets resuming investments," Ericsson President and CEO Brje Ekholm said. The net

Fair share charge does not affect access to an open, free internet: COAI

Telcos' body COAI on Tuesday said the proposed 'fair share charge' does not affect access to an open and free internet, as it sought to debunk "misleading and speculative views being circulated by certain quarters" to allegedly "misguide" people. The comments by COAI assume significance as the past months have seen the telecom operators and OTTs exchange fire over the telcos' demand that large traffic-generating apps must dish out part of the revenue (fair share charge) for sustenance and upkeep of communications networks. Firing a fresh salvo in an escalating war of words, the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) alleged that all concerns being raised -- including favouring one website or application, and pricing differentiation -- are devoid of facts and are speculative scenarios designed to mislead the public. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea are members of COAI. "There is no violation of net neutrality if a peering charge is applied at an interconnection

Telecom cos invest Rs 2,419 crore under PLI scheme till date: Vaishnaw

Investment by telecom companies under the production-linked incentive scheme has crossed the halfway mark of Rs 2,419 crore, resulting in the employment of 17,753 people, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday. The government shortlisted 42 companies in October 2022 that committed a total investment of Rs 4,115 crore and are likely to generate additional sales of Rs 2.45 lakh crore and employ over 44,000 people during the six-year scheme period ending 2025-26. "Today, in the telecom sector, we have crossed a major milestone where PLI-supported companies have already completed an investment of Rs 2,419 crore, where the sales are at Rs 34,516 crore, exports are Rs 7,600 crore, and employment is 17,753. This is a great milestone for the telecom industry," Vaishnaw said. He was speaking during the virtual inauguration of a production line to manufacture 4G and 5G connectivity modules and data cards for US-based Telit Cinterion by domestic firm VVDN. "Very complex manufacturi

DoT disposes VIL objections over license fee demand of Rs 3,273 crore

The telecom department has disposed-off Vodafone Idea's (VIL) representation and objections related to license fee demand of Rs 1,749 crore and Rs 1,524 crore, respectively, for FY2016 and FY2017, the troubled telco said. The company further said it is studying the communication to decide the next course of action. "Department of Telecommunication (DoT) vide its communication dated 04.10.2023 has disposed-off the company's representation and objections in respect of license fee demand of Rs 1,749 crore and Rs 1,524 crore respectively (including Interest till 31.03.2023) for financial Year(s) 2015-16 and 2016-17," VIL said in a regulatory filing. The company said in the past it has written to the DoT to correct the errors in demands up to FY 2016-17 "which DoT has not acted upon so far". "If, however, it is permissible for DoT to modify the demands for the period covered by the Judgment of the Supreme Court, then in that event there are various errors which need to be corrected and

May restrict services to Vodafone Idea if dues unpaid: Indus Towers to Trai

Indus Towers has also criticised the telco for 'wilful and continuous' failure to make the due payments

Jio, Airtel to invest Rs 75,000 cr on network this fiscal: JM Financials

Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are expected to invest about Rs 75,000 crore in the current financial year to strengthen their networks, according to a report by JM Financials. According to the report, Jio may invest around Rs 42,000 crore and Bharti Airtel around Rs 33,000 crore in FY24, but the investment will taper down after their 5G network rollout target is met as per their announcement. "Bharti's management capex guidance implies India business capex could decline to approximately Rs 200 billion (Rs 20,000 crore) from FY25 (versus Rs 280 billion, or Rs 28,000 crore in FY23) though we continue to conservatively build in approximately Rs 270 billion (Rs 27,000 crore) for FY25 and Rs 330 billion (Rs 33,000 crore) for FY24," the report said. As per the report's estimates, Jio's capex may be about Rs 42,163 crore in FY24, which may lower to about Rs 30,000 crore in FY25. Jio has announced plans to complete pan-India 5G rollout by December 2023, while Bharti Airtel aims to do the s