Free domestic roaming may result in a loss of $400 million for telecom operators (India)

On 10.18.11, In Mobile Operators, By Editor

Indian mobile users may need to wait for a little while longer for the free nationwide roaming as proposed by the telecom department in the National Telecom Policy 2011. While free domestic roaming is prevalent in countries like the US, Canada, France, Germany and England; in India, service providers may be hesitant due to the negative financial implications that could concern them.  As per sources, this policy could result in a $400 million hit for the industry as a whole.

Reports suggest that GSM operators such as Airtel and Vodafone earn almost 8% of their revenues from roaming tariffs while in the case of CDMA operators, it accounts for almost 5% of their total revenues. As per sources, the overall domestic roaming business accounts for about $600 million every year while international roaming charges amount to as much as $1.2 billion.

However, Rajan S Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has reportedly said that free roaming should not have a negative impact on an operator’s revenue. He added that the national MNP, free roaming and other points in the draft will have to be studied but this will surely ease the tariffs for consumers.

 

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Vodafone tops the MNP chart (India)

On 03.21.11, In Mobile, By Editor

A new data has revealed that Vodafone India has so far gained the most, following India’s move allowing mobile users to retain their numbers even when they switch carriers.

According to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), mobile number portability (MNP), which was launched in a northern state in late November and nationwide from Jan. 20, was not a game changer for the industry.

The COAI stated that less than 5 million subscribers, or less than 1% of the country’s total customers, had opted to switch carriers. Of these, a net 192,761 customers switched to India’s third-largest mobile carrier Vodafone Essar, while sixth-ranked Idea Cellular was next, with net gains of 150,789 customers.

Data showed that top mobile operator Bharti Airtel gained a net 148,215 customers in MNP, but No. 2 Reliance Communications was a net loser of 306,417 customers.

With 771 million mobile subscribers as of January, India is the world’s second-biggest market for mobile services and with monthly additions averaging 19 million in the past one year; it is the world’s fastest growing market.

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Indian Base Station emissions levels below International Standards

On 12.22.10, In Mobile, By Editor

According to a survey commissioned by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI), radio emissions from mobile phone towers in Delhi, India have been found to be hundreds of times below international safety standards.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai (IITM), Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai (TCE) and Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology, Chennai (CEWIT), while carrying out measurements on electromagnetic radiation at over 180 locations in New Delhi found that in all circumstances, the Cumulative Measurements were well below the compliance limit set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), adopted by the Government for the Telecom sector in India, bringing it at par to International safety standards.

While adopting international standards on public health and safety in 2008, companies in India must by law adhere to prescribed limits for Base Station Antennae for general public exposure.

The study measured cumulative emissions within the 800 to 2000MHZ band of frequency (which includes both GSM and CDMA technologies) across in the nation’s capital using calibrated equipment, as per the Dot prescribed procedure in line with the ICNIRP specifications.. The basic restrictions/proper limits for power density specified in ICNIRP guidelines for safe frequencies between 400 to 2000 MHz are as follows:

Type of Exposure 900MHz(inW/m2) 1800MHz (in W/m2)
Occupational 22.5 45
General Public 4.5 9

?According to Prof. P.R.Goundan, Joint Director Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology, Chennai,it is one of the first studies carried out in the Indian environment to assess the level of emissions from the Mobile Towers. They are happy to note that the cumulative emissions are well below the prescribed limits and that service providers in India are in compliance with set safety norms.

The study was commissioned in tandem by COAI and AUSPI as a response to growing public concern over myths associated with the emissions from the cellular mobile towers and its alleged health effects on the human body.

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India adds 14.7 million GSM subscribers in October

On 11.19.10, In Mobile, By Editor

India’s GSM subscriber base raised 3% in October with the addition of 14.7 million subscribers with telecom operator, Bharti Airtel alone marking over 3 million users.

As per the data released by Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the total number of subscribers in the country surpassed 508.72 million as compared to 494 million the previous month.

Bharti Airtel now gains a market share of 28.76%, with 146.29 million subscribers, the highest in the country.

Vodafone added 2.49 million subscribers, a growth of 40% as compared to 1.78 million the previous month to have a total of 118 million subscribers. State-owned BSNL and Uninor strongly followed up with 2.48 million each to have a total of 75 million and 13.7 million respectively.

Idea Cellular signed over 1.8 million subscribers, a growth of 22.5% totaling a subscriber base of 76 million.

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India’s GSM subscribers’ base increased by 11.08m

On 12.17.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The number of people availing the facility of mobile communication is increasing by leaps and bounds in India with an increase of 11.08 million subscribers within a month. According to figures from the industry
association COAI, 366.77 million GSM mobile subscribers by the end of November went up by 355.69 million in October.

With a market share of 31.63 percent and 116 million subscribers, up from 113.2 million GSM subscribers a month earlier, Bharti Airtel remained the market leader. The subscriber base of Vodafone Essar rose to 88.6 million, from 85.82 million in October and its market share was 24.16 percent.

The third place was occupied by BSNL which ended the month with 55.18 million customers, up from 53.96 million, the market share being 15.05 percent. Idea Cellular ended the month with the fourth place with 55.9 million customers and a market share of 15.24 percent. Aircel’s market share was 8 percent and subscriber base of 29.35 million.

Reliance Telecom and MTNL had 14.6 million and 4.5 million customers respectively. Their market share stood at 3.98 percent and 1.23 percent.

Loop Mobile operating only in Mumbai, saw its subscriber base reach 2.59 million and its market share is 0.71 percent.

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War triggers between GSM and CDMA operators in India over 11-digit No.

On 12.10.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: DOT’s decision to implement 11-digit numbers by January next year has triggered a war between the GSM and CDMA mobile operators putting consumer interests at stake. As per the plan, all the mobile operators will add extra 9 to all mobile numbers in the country by January 1, 2010.

AUSPI representing the interests of CDMA operators like Tatas, Reliance and Sistema, is in favour of moving to an 11-digit numbering plan while GSM operators are vehemently opposing the move. COAI which is representing GSM operators made a detailed presentation to the government claiming this move to be harmful for the industry and consumers.

According to COAI, there is hardly any growth in the number of fixed line subscribers which currently rest at 40 million. Hence, there is no need to reserve levels 2, 3, 4,5,6,7, and 8 for fixed line. It is estimated that with the three series, 7, 8 and 9, a billion plus subscribers can be served without any need for fresh allocation of levels.

On the other hand, AUSPI feels that new opportunities can come up with the implementation of an 11-digit numbering plan and will help the subscribers to migrate from the incumbent operators networks. Besides, it has also claimed that 11-digit numbers are mobile number portability compatible.

With so many contradictory views, uncertainty has been raised on the implementation of the plan by Department of Telecommunication.

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India’s GSM subscriber base reaches 335.5 million

On 09.13.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The GSM subscribers of India have grown by 9.31 million in August, taking its total base to 335.5 million, as per the data released.

According to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the apex body of GSM operators, Bharti Airtel remained the front runner with 2.8 million additions, taking its number of subscribers to 107.9 million.

Followed to this is Vodafone with the additon of 2.19 million, taking its subscriber tally to 80.8 million.

The monthly data does not include GSM subscribers of Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices, which report figures separately, COAI said.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has gained 1.3 million subscribers, Idea Cellular added 1.5 million subscribers in August.

The GSM subscribers of India have grown by 9.31 million in August, taking its total base to 335.5 million, as per the data released.
According to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the apex body of GSM operators, Bharti Airtel remained the front runner with 2.8 million additions, taking its number of subscribers to 107.9 million.
Followed to this is Vodafone with the additon of 2.19 million, taking its subscriber tally to 80.8 million.
The monthly data does not include GSM subscribers of Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices, which report figures separately, COAI said.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has gained 1.3 million subscribers, Idea Cellular added 1.5 million subscribers in August.
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