Telecom Operators

In talks with satcom operators including Starlink, says Vodafone Idea

The announcement comes on the heels of Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel signing pacts with the US giant to offer its satellite internet services in India

Vodafone Idea share gains 5% on rolling out 5G services in Mumbai; details

The uptick in the Vodafone Idea share price came after the company launched its 5G services in Mumbai

Lack of 5G monetisation, low RoI for telcos may delay 6G tech: COAI

Telecom operators have given orders for GPUs to better handle traffic on networks

Telcos urge DoT to implement Trai's definition for international traffic

Last month, Trai recommended a clear definition for international traffic, classifying SMS messages originating or terminating on devices, servers, or apps outside India as international

Telcos face twin challenges on tariffs, upcoming satellite services front

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 ..

Bharti Airtel clears 2016 spectrum liabilities by paying Rs 3,626 crore

Indian telecom operators owe the government significant spectrum fees, following years of high-stakes auctions and competitive bidding for airwave rights

Internet vital for life, shutdowns hurt banking, education: Telcos to govt

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

Telcos call for prompt notification of guidelines to curb spam calls

Draft norms had called for tracing and taking action against spam sources

BSNL successfully deploys over 50,000 indigenous 4G sites nationwide

Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia earlier this month said BSNL will roll out its 4G network nationwide by June 2025, by deploying 1 lakh sites, and convert them to 5G within a month

DoT to crack down on telemarketers; new rules to curb spam calls & messages

Telecom companies have consistently raised concerns that they are penalised for spam that originates from third-party telemarketers over whom they have little control

Airtel Business inks pact with Sparkle to enhance connectivity with Europe

Airtel Business, the B2B arm of telecom major Bharti Airtel, has inked a pact with Italy-based global operator Sparkle to enhance connectivity between Asia and Europe. As part of the partnership, Airtel will take capacity from Sparkle on the Blue-Raman Submarine Cable Systems, which will connect India to Italy. Under Sparkle's Blue-Raman cable system, Blue is deployed across Italy, France, Greece and Israel, while Raman connects Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Oman and India. "With this additional capacity, Airtel will further diversify its global network across multiple international submarine cable systems to serve the growing demand for data services in India and neighbouring countries," a company statement said. The partnership will also work on the development of new business opportunities and projects in the Indian sub-continent, leveraging Airtel and Sparkle's respective cable infrastructures, the statement said. Airtel Business Global Business CEO Vani Venkatesh said the .

Indian telcos to join forces to tackle rising spam calls & messages menace

Telecom companies have traditionally been hesitant to share sensitive data because it could affect their business customers financially

Supreme Court to hear curative pleas from telecom operators on AGR Dues

Supreme Court will consider curative petitions from Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, among other telcos, in a closed session on Friday

Call, messaging apps must comply with rules for nation's security: COAI

Telecom operators expect internet calling and messaging apps like WhatsApp, Google Meet, and Telegram to comply with rules in the same manner as all service providers do, industry body COAI said on Monday. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) -- whose members include Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, among others -- said it is misleading to demand to exclude over-the-top (OTT) communication apps from the Telecommunications Act 2023 as they are subject to other regulations because various non-sectoral rules apply on telecom operators as well. "COAI would like to state that the 'Security of the Country' is of utmost importance and in this regard, all communication service providers, including OTT-based communication services, should adhere to the requisite directives of the country as done by the Telecom Service Providers," COAI Director General SP Kochhar said. He said that telecom operators have invested heavily in setting up the infrastructure for lawful

India delays 6 GHz spectrum allocation used for 5G and WiFi services

Tech firms and telecom companies tussle of 6 GHz spectrum allocation, while DoT worries about potential impact on Isro satellite operations

Telco operators ask Trai to bring OTT apps under licensing framework

Telecom operators, in their latest submission to sector regulator Trai, have unanimously demanded to bring over-the-top apps like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram within the ambit of the licensing regime under the new Telecommunication Act. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and industry body COAI -- in their comments on the consultation paper issued by Trai, seeking views on the framework for service authorisations to be granted under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 -- have said that the calling and messaging apps should be brought under services to be provided through authorisation. "As per our understanding, OTT Communication services are covered under the new Telecom Act as an access service," Telecom operators industry body COAI said in its submission to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Reliance Jio said the definition of 'message' and 'telecommunication service' under the newly enacted Telecommunication Act, 2023, includes all forms of telecommunication

War on spam: Trai directs telcos to curb misuse of bulk connections

Internet URLs or APK files which are not whitelisted can't be delivered by texts, TRAI directs

Telcos dial into caller ID service trials to combat rising spam calls

Telecom operators are assessing the feasibility of CNAP, where both number and caller name will be displayed during incoming calls

Telcos collaborate with tech partners to curb unwanted calls, messages

The Centre has currently designated the 140 number series for promotional voice calls, and the 160 number series for transactional and service-related voice calls

Telcos to snap 1.8 million mobile connections in cybercrime crackdown

The government believes that telcos need to be more proactive in detecting usage patterns of SIMs, particularly those purchased outside home circles