Bharti set to acquire Qualcomm’s India BWA licences
If reports are to be believed, Bharti Airtel is set to buy Qualcomm’s broadband wireless licences in India for US$1.2billion. Previously, it was suggested that Qualcomm was looking for US$1.1 billion to sell its 74 percent stake in the business, having brought in local partners Global Holdings and Tulip Telecom during 2010 in a US$58 million deal.
Qualcomm was awarded one slot of 20MHz TDD BWA spectrum in the 2.3GHz band covering the key telecom circles of Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala, spending more than US$1 billion in a 2010 auction process.
The sale of the licences has been long-anticipated, with the US wireless technology company stating that is has been very transparent†about the fact that it does not want to be an operator its reason for acquiring the business was to promote the use of TD-LTE technology in the country, over the potential rival WiMAX.
Aircel rolls out 3G service in Kerala (India)
Aircel has launched its 3G service in the Kerala today with a hope that 10% of its customer base in the state will switch over to the new system.
According to Aircel National Head-Operations and Customer Support, Vipul Saurabh, they are targeting 10% of customer base all-India and Kerala to shift to 3G. The 3G service will be available in 10 towns in the state from today. The aim was to convert existing customers to 3G, besides bringing in new subscribers, including students and youth. Aircel has over 5.5 crore customers across India, including 20 lakh subscribers in Kerala.
The company aims to be a leading player in the next phase of India’s telecom, Internet and broadband growth.
Aircel has presence in 23 circles. It will complete the launch of 3G in 13 circles by mid March.
HDFC Bank seeking 3G services to improve mobile banking (India)
A senior HDFC Bank official has claimed that the bank is planning to increase the number of clients using its mobile banking services in Andhra Pradesh to 10% of its customer base once 3G services are fully launched in the state from below 5% at present.
The leading private lender is also set to open 34 new branches in the state before the end of this financial year, taking the total number to 137.
According to HDFC Bank Senior Vice President, Mr C S Gopinath, mobile banking is still in the budding stage. It has to go a long way. After facilities like 3G services are launched, it is expected to reach 10%. Currently, mobile banking is around 3 to 5%. The aim is to encourage customers to go for more technology based services like ATM, mobile and Internet banking.
According to Mr Gopinath, only 26% of HDFC Bank’s customers visit branches and the rest depend on ATMs, the Internet and mobiles for their banking needs. The bank has 450 to 500 ATMs in AP and up to 20% of customers use Internet banking. HDFC Bank is planning to open 34 new branches in the state by the end of this fiscal.
He informed that they have 103 branches in AP presently. They are planning to open another 34 by the end of this financial year, taking the number of branches to 137. In Karnataka, they have close to 100 branches and in Kerala — 150. In Tamil Nadu, the bank has 135 branches.
AT&T in talk with Qualcomm for licence to 4G (India)
Global telecom giant, AT&T is reportedly in talks with chip maker Qualcomm for a possible partnership in India. Qualcomm holds the licence and spectrum to offer fourth generation or 4G wireless broadband services in four telecom circles in India.
AT&T had exited Indian mobile telephony market in 2006, when it divested its stake in favor of its partners — the Tata group and the Aditya Birla Group — and failed in its attempt to gain an entry in 2008.
In the May 2010 auctions conducted by India’s Department of Telecommunications, Qualcomm won spectrum urban circles in New Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala for around US$ 1 billion.
NSN wins Indian 3G Contract
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has won a 3G network contract from India’s Idea Cellular covering four circles – Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), Kerala and Haryana.
Nokia Siemens Networks is currently a major GSM vendor for the operator and the deal will strengthen this relationship with an overlay of 3G on the existing GSM network.
The contract covers about 40% of Idea’s base station portfolio. Nokia Siemens Networks will also supply unified network management, monitoring and optimization based on its NetAct system.
In addition, Nokia Siemens Networks will apply its domain expertise in 3G network operations to provide support to the operator in managing its 3G network.
No financial or timeline details were disclosed.
DoT rejects Liberty group bid for ITI takeover (India)
The department of telecom (DoT) has reportedly rejected the Liberty Group’s bid for attainment of telecom equipment maker- Indian Telephone Industries (ITI). The Liberty Group which is known for its footwear brand was the only company to have raised a bid for attaining ITI after the fourth deadline to find a buyer for the ailing state-owned firm expired in August 10.
An ITI executive has confirmed that Liberty’s bid had been rejected. The official added that apart from failing to meet some of the technical criteria, the bid was also not placed before the deadline expired.
Liberty has diversified into telecom equipment manufacturing by forming a joint venture with Israel’s Runcom Technologies to make WiMax base stations and accompanying equipment. This JV called Sunfest had recently forged tie-ups with several foreign firms to manufacture telecom equipment.
ITI, which employs more than 12,700 people and operates six manufacturing units in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, has been bleeding revenues over the years.
Qualcomm to launch BWA services by mid-2011 (India)
Qualcomm is reportedly intending to launch commercial plans in the second half of 2011.
According to Qualcomm India and South Asia president Kanwalinder Singh, the devices (the chip) sets and the infrastructure would be ready by June next year, and in the second half, it (BWA service) will be ready for launch commercially. It is understood that Qualcomm, which paid US$1.1 billion for concessions covering Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala, will offer its services in partnership with one or more other operators.
Meanwhile, following to the previous reports, the US Company was prepared to sell off its Indian wireless broadband subsidiary, seeking a minimum bid of US$1.10 billion for the concessions, Mr Singh noted that the talks with the operators are ongoing but there is no set time frame to exit the service. It is up to the operators … if some operator wants to [acquire] their stake it will happen quickly. If they want to launch with us having the spectrum that also is ok.
Videocon faces tough competition: Planning to sell 26% of Videocon Telecommunications
Videocon Industries is busy looking for possible buyers to sell 26% of its telecom arm Videocon Telecommunications that has 1.9 million subscribers and has a market share of 0.31%. The company in the recent past had started discussion with South Korean company SK Telecom, UAE’s Etisalat and Turkey’s Turkcell. By selling 26% of Videocon Telecom, the main company will raise around INR 15,000 crores which will be employed to improve services and expand operations to improve customer base.
According to a source, Videocon is struggling to keep up with the major players like Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications, and Vodafone due to fewer offerings to the customer.
The telecom company currently operations in Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Mumbai, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, UP East, UP West and Himachal Pradesh. Videocon recently announced 1 paise/sec international calling to US and Canada. Such schemes may help the company in fetching new customers, but if the company wants a stand in the market it needs to improve service and infrastructure to handle larger customer base.
Virgin Mobile India unveils special pack for GSM users
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A pocket friendly local calling pack has been launched by Virgin Mobile India for all its GSM subscribers. The pack is worth Rs. 45 with a validity of 30 days allowing the customers to call any local number at just 1paise/2seconds.
The offer is available across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Orissa, Mumbai and Maharashtra circles.
The company has made it clear that the pack is profitable on both minute and second billing profiles. Consumers are also provided an option to choose per minute tariff or a per second one. A differentiated tariff proposition of 20p/min for STD and local calls to any Virgin Mobile number will be offered on per minute tariff.
40p/min for local and 50p/min for STD calls will have to be paid for calling any other network.
Etisalat DB to enter Indian market as Cheers Mobile
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: GSM service of Etisalat DB will be soon launched in India under the brand Cheers Mobile Service. The website of the company has already gone live providing information on various tariff and customer care numbers. Etisalat DB is one of the pre-qualified bidders for 3G spectrum in India, the auction if which is expected to begin on April 9, 2010
The GSM Mobile Network of Telecom Talk has already gone live in Tamil Nadu and Kerala but it is still to come to Delhi. The commercial service of the operators is also expected soon in Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh and other circles. On launching its service in April, the operator will become the fourth telco to launch GSM services in the last 5 months and second this year.
Etisalat DB is a joint venture between Etisalat and Dynamix Balwas Group after Etisalat bought 45 percent share for $900 million in Swan Telecom.
UASL license has been granted to Etisalat DB to operate 2G services in 15 circles including Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu (including Chennai), Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
