Page 15 - Telecom Industry

Top Headlines: Tax levy on SUVs, tighter service norms for telcos, and more

Business Standard brings you the top headlines at this hour

Telcos seek regulatory framework to levy 'fee' on internet messaging apps

Telecom operators industry body COAI has written to the government to set-up a licensing and regulatory framework to charge a 'usage fee' from big internet-based calling and messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Google Duo. In a letter to Telecom Secretary K Rajaraman last week, the Cellular Operators Association of India Director General SP Kochhar said that charges may be limited based on usage of the network without burdening over-the-top (OTT) players in micro, small and medium enterprise segment. The Department of Telecom has proposed to define OTT players providing call and messaging service as telecom service providers (TSPs). COAI said OTT players should pay the TSPs for using the telecom network for providing their OTT services to the customers in a fair and equitable manner by way of an equivalent of 'Usage Charge' on the basis of mutual agreement. "There may be instances wherein the OTT players and the TSPs may not agree mutually on 'Usage Charge'. If a mutual agreement

Need separate pan-India licence for Satellite Earth Station Gateways: TRAI

A satellite gateway (also referred to as a teleport or hub) is a ground station that transmits data to and from the satellite to the local area network

India second among 21 countries in H1 2022 Arpu rise, shows data

Also ranked 6th among 26 countries in data usage growth over same period

Telecom firms fear surge of 'pseudo-TSPs' due to private 5G network

This, they feel, could happen under direct allocation of spectrum by the govt

Airtel may end cheap subscription plans but decision has risks: Analysts

Telecom company discontinues its Rs 99-recharge offer in Haryana and Odisha circles

Big portion of Telecom Bill to be implemented by Trai: Ashwini Vaishnaw

The statement comes in the light of concerns from some stakeholders that the proposed Bill will clip the powers of TRAI

Most of BSNL's 125,000 new 4G towers to come up in rural areas

This is to shake off its image of a lagging government service, multiple officials added

Reliance Jio announces rollout of 'True 5G' service in Delhi, NCR cities

Company's welcome offer will give users unlimited data at up to 1Gbps speeds

DoT mandates telecom infra firms to share assets with notified entities

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has amended registration rules of telecom infrastructure companies to provide access of their assets to entities that will be notified by the central government in public interest and for national security, an official notice said. Earlier, sharing of assets like dark fibres, duct space and mobile towers of telecom infrastructure companies was allowed on mutually agreed terms with the other parties. The norms amended on November 10 added that "IP-1 registration holders shall also share the above mentioned infrastructure with the entities as may be specified by the central government in the interest of national security and public interest as per the terms and conditions which may be specified by the central government". Telecom infrastructure body Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA), which represents companies like Indus Towers and American Tower Corporation, said that the amendment in the Scope of IP-1 registration has been

C-DOT emerges as govt's biggest bet for India's ongoing 5G rollout

The body's latest achievement is designing a fully indigenous non-standalone 5G core in record time

DoT extends deadline for public comments on draft Telecom Bill to Nov 20

The Department of Telecom has extended the deadline till November 20 for submitting public comments on the draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022. The bill proposes to bring internet-based calling and messaging services under the telecom rules as well as strengthen security for consumers. "In response to the requests received from several stakeholders, the ministry has decided to further extend the last date for receipt of comments till 20th November, 2022," the DoT said in an official note on Thursday. The draft of the bill was released on September 21. The last date for comments on the bill was earlier extended from October 20 to October 30. It was further extended to November 10.

Higher mobile bills hit Indian consumers harder than most nations

An analysis from shows that while overall bills are lower in India in absolute terms, they are a larger share of monthly income than in many economies

Within a month, Bharti Airtel crosses 1-million 5G subscribers mark

As of August, Airtel had the second largest overall mobile phone user base at 363.8 million

Bharti Airtel to focus on rural markets to narrow gap with Reliance Jio

Decision on differential 5G pricing may be taken after 6-9 months: Vittal

Govt equity in Vodafone Idea hinges on stock recovery: Indus Towers

Any equity infusion cannot be below par value, says Indus Towers in its Q2 report

DoT may mandate local purchase of high-quality telecom equipment

Focus on high-quality products, indigenous manufacturers told

Govt unveils new policy reforms for satellite communication services

The government on Wednesday unveiled new policy reforms for satellite communications services to ease procedures and streamline clearances to expedite the rollout of Satcom across the country, especially in remote areas. Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw exhorted the industry to increase tower deployments for a speedy 5G rollout. The current pace of tower deployment needs to increase from 2,500 towers a week to 10,000 towers per week, he said. The government has done its bit in ushering in reforms, and it is now up to the industry to show its commitment, the minister added.

At 10-20%, telecom tariff hikes in 2022 expected to be lower than in 2021

Tariffs are hiked by telcos to maintain a healthy average revenue per user (ARPU)

'Telcos may see steady Q2 as SUC saving aid margins; 5G updates key focus'

Telecom companies are expected to witness "steady" revenue growth in Q2FY23 with slight sequential uptick in average revenue per user albeit softer net additions, while SUC (spectrum usage charges) savings are seen lifting margins, say analysts. Amid mega 5G network deployments by telcos, market analysts will be keenly tuning in to management commentaries on pace of roll-out for next-generation services, capex outlook and markers on tariff hikes. "We expect Indian telcos to report a steady quarter with stable ARPUs and slowing net adds. Margins would be higher q-o-q as we get 45-50 days benefits of lower SUC," BofA Securities said in its Q2 earnings preview for the sector. India's largest telecom operator Reliance Jio is expected to come out with its Q2 report card on October 21 (Friday), while Bharti Airtel is scheduled to announce its results on October 31. In the earnings' preview for the sector, ICICI Securities anticipated "steady revenue growth" and said margins may jump on .