Mobile bill payment history to reflect credit worthiness (India)

On 01.30.12, In Mobile, By Editor

Indian credit information bureau, Cibil, is planning to include an individual’s mobile and telephone bill payment history, when calculating their credit worthiness. According to a report by ET, Cibil has already begun working with Vodafone’s post-paid subscribers and is discussing a similar project with Bharti Airtel.

Arun Thukral, managing director, Cibil has said that their aim is to eventually link the telecom utility payment history to the banking and financial records of customers and make it available as a Cibil record to banks and other financial institutions. He added that the database can also be used by a telecom service provider when issuing a post-paid number to an individual. It will lower delinquencies and improve their quality of customers.

The implementation of this service may add to the list of verifications by a bank or financial institution to allow or deny a home or car loan. Further, even future credit cards and post-paid connections may be tougher for a customer with a poor credit rating.

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Airtel indicates rise in tariffs if additional spectrum is charged (India)

On 01.27.12, In Mobile, By Editor

AirtelIndia’s leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel, has hinted at an increase in the call rates in the event that the government decides to charge the operators for the additional spectrum allocated to them.

According to reports, Sunil Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Airtel, has said that if the government decides in their wisdom that this industry needs to be taxed heavily in the form of high spectrum charges, whether it’s one time or recurring, that has to result in higher tariff regime.

As per sources, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed a significant hike in the 2G spectrum price along with a charge for any additional spectrum to be allocated beyond the 6.2 MHz limit. Mittal said that if the government finally decides that they want higher charges both upfront and ongoing, the result of that should be higher tariffs.

He added that India already boasts of having the lowest telecom rates which have been affecting their profit margins, as cost of operations remains high. He said if there is going to be more load, that is going to put pressure on margins, which would mean the industry will have to force their hands to raise the tariffs to get the margins back.

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Airtel asked to pay taxes worth US$ 212 million (India)

On 01.23.12, In Mobile, By Editor

AirtelBharti Airtel, a leading telecommunications operator in India with operation across Asia and Africa, has reportedly been asked to pay a bill of US$ 212 million by the Indian income tax. According to reports, the authorities have claimed that the telecom operator has not paid the entire tax amount on its overseas operations.

As per sources, the telecom operator has said that the demand notice is not justified and that they will be taking legal action against the same. Airtel also said that they have complied with the tax laws and will challenge the notice in court.

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Airtel renews managed services contract with Nokia (Africa, India)

On 01.23.12, In Mobile, By Editor

AirtelLeading telecom operator Bharti Airtel, has extended its managed services contract with Nokia Siemens Networks for an additional five years. According to company reports, the contract covers Airtel’s network in eight circles consisting of Bihar and Jharkhand; Kolkata; Gujarat; Maharashtra and Goa; Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh; Mumbai; Orissa and West Bengal.

Under this five-year managed services contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will manage and maintain Bharti Airtel’s 3G and GSM networks as well as iWAN (internet Wireless Access Network), the operator’s enterprise broadband service. This next phase of managed services relationship will help Bharti Airtel achieve better network efficiency, simplify operations and deliver better quality services.

Sanjay Kapoor, CEO, India and South Asia, Bharti Airtel has said that India started its journey of transformation from voice to data with the deployment of 3G.The data story in the country has just begun and they will witness increasing complexity due to multiplicity of network layers specifically when serving data. It is imperative for any service provider to have a complete end-to-end view to manage voice and data services. This initiative is in line with their strategy to create ubiquitous networks for offering enriched customer experience. Nokia Siemens Networks has been their long standing managed services partner and they are happy to continue their association further.

Ashish Chowdhary, head of customer operations Asia and Middle East, Nokia Siemens Networks said this deal will allow Bharti to simplify processes and improve end-to-end network and service performance. More importantly, stringent key performance indicators ensure they’re helping Bharti Airtel deliver an enhanced subscriber experience.

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Airtel launches 3.75G service in Zambia (Africa)

On 01.20.12, In Mobile, By Editor

AirtelTelecom giant Bharti Airtel has launched its 3.75G service in Zambia. The new technology will offer users high speed internet access enabling them to make video calls, stream and download music as well as watch live television on their mobile handset.

According to company reports, Fayaz King, Managing Director, Airtel Zambia, has said that the 3.75G technology will give their customers the opportunity to interact with data in a different way and that this is why Airtel doesn’t see 3.75G as a product but a platform that enables the community to expand its social and commercial horizons, alongside the rest of the world.

Further, as per the company, the latest technology will offer speeds up to 21 Mbps for its users including the business and youth segment and is similar to the technology being rolled out in Europe and USA. King also said that Airtel will be rolling out its data network across all its markets in Africa with the objective of building the largest 3G network across the continent.

King added that their 3.75G platform will allow customers to combine the enormous potential of the internet with the convenience of cellular phones and other devices. It will liberate the potential of the youth through enabling fast access to the internet for learning, sharing, social networking, creating and accessing content like music. Further, for the small and medium business, it will enable the entrepreneur to embrace a highly mobile way of working with high speed access to email and internet and it will allow large companies to increase productivity through vastly enhanced mobile internet speeds and access to record and allow for communication via video calls on handsets.

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Airtel launches new tariff plans for prepaid subscribers (India)

On 01.13.12, In Mobile, By Editor

AirtelIndia’s leading telecommunications provider, Bharti Airtel, has launched a new price plan titled the ‘Airtel Bachat Card’ for its prepaid subscribers in Gujarat. According to company reports, new prepaid subscribers can avail calling benefits of 900 free local minutes to any network for 30 days at a charge of US$ 3.78. Existing prepaid customers can avail the same benefits at a charge of US$ 3.8. Further, as per reports, this new tariff plan can be availed along with other STD/ISD tariff plans.

As per reports, Anant Arora, CEO, Bharti Airtel, Gujarat has said that at Airtel, it is their constant endeavor to offer products and services that are innovative, affordable and relevant for their customers. He also said they are confident that the launch of the all new Bachat card offer will add great value for friends on Airtel and allow them to keep in touch with each other at affordable prices.

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MTN to invest US$ 1 billion for network upgrade in Nigeria (Africa)

On 01.06.12, In Mobile, By Editor

Africa based MTN Group will invest over USD 1 billion in 2012 in an attempt to improve its network service in Nigeria following the directives by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to improve its service quality.

According to reports, the operator has said that the increase in the number of subscribers has necessitated the need for an efficient service delivery. Further, sources claim that the investment will help ease out the traffic on the network thereby improving the network quality.

As per sources, the Nigerian Communications Commission had issued a warning to telecom operators MTN, Globacom and Bharti Airtel in 2011 for their poor services, asking them to improve their quality before taking on additional subscribers.

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Bharti Airtel contemplates mobile service launch in South Africa and Cameroon (Africa)

On 01.02.12, In Mobile, By Editor

India’s leading telecommunications operator Bharti Airtel may be planning to expand its network in South Africa and Cameroon, as learned through industry sources. Airtel is a dominant player in the mobile industry with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa.

Mobile penetration has steadily been increasing in African countries, and with most of the global markets being saturated, emerging markets such as Africa provide mobile operators with new opportunities to increase their subscriber base and enhance their revenue.

Currently Airtel offers services in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Niger, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. By adding South Africa and Cameroon, two of Africa’s fastest growing mobile economies to the list, Airtel aims to strengthen its position in Africa.

Airtel is the leading mobile operator in India and is well known for its innovative and competitive tariff pricing. The operator’s entry into these new markets is expected to take the mobile industry by storm and introduce an unprecedented level of competition.

Airtel presently offers services in 15 cities in India and with the population of one Indian city being similar to that of one African country, South Africa and Cameroon have the potential to be extremely lucrative for Bharti Airtel.

Further, sources claim that rival operators currently offering services in these economies such as MTN, Vodacom and Orange are already working on strategies to maintain their market share and offer stiff competition to Airtel.

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Telecom Ministry classifies 3G roaming pacts as illegal (India)

On 12.23.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The Indian Telecom Ministry has asked mobile operators who have entered into the 3G roaming pacts to discontinue their agreements as they are illegal. As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea had provided each other with access to their networks in an attempt to provide their customers with 3G services in circles where they did not win the licence.

Industry analysts have reportedly said that this decision could have a negative impact on the mobile operators’ revenue, which altogether have paid around US$ 4.42 for the licences. The three telecom operators had jointly written to the Prime Minister claiming that in the event that the Government would not allow the roaming pacts, they would like a refund for the amount invested by them in acquiring the licences.

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TRAI plans legal action against Airtel for violation of MNP guidelines (India)

On 12.16.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is reportedly planning to take action against leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel for violation of norms regarding Mobile Number Portability (MNP). According to reports, the regulatory authority had previously issued a show cause notice to the operator for the same.

As per sources, TRAI has reportedly been receiving complaints from users across different operators for rejecting their request for MNP services, with Bharti Airtel accounting for as many as 893 complaints, the largest number amongst all operators.

Further, reports reveal that TRAI wrote a letter to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) stating that the regulatory authority had sent a team of officers to various network operators for analyzing the reason behind rejection of MNP requests, and has found that operators have not been complying with the MNP guidelines.

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