Airtel brings the 4G revolution to Bengaluru (India)
Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecom services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, today launched its 4G services in India’s IT hub – Bengaluru. Following the recent inaugural launch of Airtel 4G services in Kolkata, customers in Bengaluru have now become the second in India to have access to cutting-edge 4G LTE technology that delivers the most advanced wireless broadband experience available across the globe. As a first for the telecom industry worldwide, Airtel has also introduced ‘Smartbytes’ for 4G – thus allowing customers to buy these add on packs and continue enjoying the 4G experience even after exhausting their monthly data limits.
At the launch, Sanjay Kapoor, CEO – India & South Asia, Bharti Airtel said that as seen the world over, the total data usage is exploding and is doubling each year to grow to nearly 3.6 hexabytes by 2014. With the launch of 4G, India will move from being a follower in technology to matching the world in this domain. Leading from the front, Airtel is now the only operator that gives citizens of the Information Technology capital of Bengaluru, access to entire spectrum of broadband services including 2G, 3G and now 4G – thereby giving the customers never seen before data experience. Besides offering rich content, Airtel 4G will allow superfast access to High Definition (HD) video streaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and much more.
As part of an exciting introductory offer by Airtel, customers subscribing to 4G services will now be given a cashback for the CPE / dongle – thus bringing device cost to customers zero and paving way for mass adoption of 4G services. Airtel 4G is now also available in an all new 30GB pack priced at $57.
Customers on Airtel 4G can already choose from a catalogue of over 35 high quality Bollywood movie titles and leverage the power of 4G to enjoy an unmatched video streaming experience. While 10 movie titles will be available free of cost for customers during the first month, movie buffs can pay a monthly subscription of INR 149 and watch unlimited movies. Airtel will be further adding to this list of movies in the catalogue in weeks to come.
In 2010, Airtel had successfully bid for BWA license spectrum in Kolkata, Karnataka, Punjab and Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai) circles. The company has launched its 4G LTE services in Kolkata and Bengaluru and is currently working towards rolling out state-of-the-art networks in remaining licence circles.
Airtel selects Huawei for 4G network contract in Karnataka (India)
Indian telecom operator Bharti Airtel has awarded Huawei a contract to plan, design, supply and deploy LTE network to offer fourth-generation (4G) mobile broadband services in Karnataka. According to reports, Huawei will deliver LTE network infrastructure and devices which offers high-speed internet access on the go.
Sanjay Kapoor, chief executive officer for India & South Asia, Bharti Airtel, said that with the pioneering launch of 4G LTE, Airtel has paved the way for data revolution in the country by being at the forefront of India’s telecom revolution once again. Further, mobile data traffic in the country will increase nearly 100-fold by 2015 and consumers will stream nearly 600 hours of video content.
This is the third region where Airtel has launched 4G services in India, following Kolkata and Maharashtra. Airtel is also the first operator to offer 4G services in India.
Airtel appoints Nokia Siemens Networks to manage 4G network (India, Finland)
Leading telecom operator in India, Bharti Airtel, has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to build and operate its TD-LTE (time division duplex long term evolution) network in Maharashtra, one of the country’s largest telecom circles. TD-LTE is a 4G mobile broadband technology that delivers instant internet access and can support video streaming and high-definition video conferencing. The launch of commercial TD-LTE services later this year will offer Bharti Airtel subscribers in Maharashtra a much improved experience when using bandwidth-intensive applications, with more consistent network coverage and faster response times.
Bharti Airtel will deploy its TD-LTE network in the 2.3 GHz frequency band allocated by the Indian government for broadband wireless access technologies.
Sanjay Kapoor, CEO Bharti Airtel (India & South Asia) said that in the next five years, data will be the main thrust in India, riding on the waves of 3G or 4G technologies. As per industry estimates, mobile data traffic in the country will increase nearly 100-fold by 2015 and consumers will stream nearly 600 hours of video content – every second, thus paving way for the ensuing data revolution. LTE provides ultra high speed data access, in conjunction with 3G, this will lead the data revolution and drive fundamental changes in individual lifestyles, businesses and the society at large. He added that they look forward to the advent of 4G technology which will be launched in India at the same time, as the rest of the world.
Being part of India’s large-scale 4G commercial rollout, Nokia Siemens Networks will deliver the TD-LTE network and end-user data devices that can provide data speeds of upto 100 megabits per second (Mbps) as specified by 3GPP. The company will use its newly introduced and industry’s first TD-LTE 6 pipes radio. This integrated solution considerably reduces site space and the operator’s total cost of ownership per site compared to the traditional approach of using one remote radio head per sector. Nokia Siemens Networks is widely deploying this TD-LTE solution to commercial customers in Russia, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.
Nokia Siemens Networks’ NetAct operations support system will enable effective and consolidated monitoring, management and optimization of Bharti Airtel’s GSM and TD-LTE networks. Nokia Siemens Networks will provide network design, integration, commissioning and optimization services to the operator for rapid roll-out of the network and full set of care services including hardware, software and competence development services. It will use its Global Network Solutions Center at Noida, India that is already supporting TD-LTE networks globally, to remotely deliver services for improved efficiency and network performance.
Ashish Chowdhary, head of Customer Operations Asia and Middle East at Nokia Siemens Networks, has said that from networks to devices, Nokia Siemens Networks offers a full range of LTE solutions. He added that as Bharti Airtel’s long-standing partner, they are glad to be chosen for the launch of 4G services. With their expertise and focus on mobile broadband, they hope to assist the operator in taking mobile broadband experience to a completely new level for its customers.
Idea Cellular to empower the rural segment of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, UP West & AP
Idea, the pan-India telecom operator and handygo, India’s leading provider of VAS solutions, have announced the launch of ‘Behtar Zindagi ‘, latest bouquet of VAS offerings for customers in rural areas of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, UP West and Andhra Pradesh. This innovative product is specially designed to provide day-to-day information to Idea’s rural subscribers. The subscribers can get exhaustive and up to the mark information regarding health, education, finance, weather updates, mandi rates, livestocks, agriculture and fisheries.
To use this service Idea subscribers need to dial 556780 (tollfree) and avail the subscription pack at a minimal charge of Rs 30, 15, 7 and 2 for 30, 15, 7 and 1 day, respectively. The service is available in all the respective states regional languages along with Hindi and English.
This unique IVR based rural solution by handygo provides credible and authentic information to the rural subscribers. For latest and reliable updates handygo has partnered with various organizations such as Care India, Aviva Life Insurance, Indian Metrological Department, INCOIS, Hariyali Kisan Bazaar, Network for Fish Quality Management and Sustainable Fishing, Transparency International India, Sonalika, EKO India Financial Services and plethora of other organizations.
On this tie-up, Mr. Praveen Rajpal, CEO, handygo said, “We are contented to partner with one of India’s leading mobile operator -Idea Cellular. We envisage great potential in the untapped rural market and are bullish about the stupendous feedback from the end consumers. We have partnered with various large associations for ensuring the latest and authentic information to the mobile subscribers using the service. Our IVR based rural product is available in all the regional languages along with Hindi and English.”
Announcing the launch of these services, Mr. Rajendra Chourasia, Chief Operating Officer – Maharashtra & Goa, Idea Cellular said, “With over 1.2 crore subscribers, Idea is the largest mobile network and has the highest penetration in rural parts of Maharashtra & Goa. We are happy to partner with handygo to offer relevant and affordable services to our rural subscribers in the circle.”
Airtel launches 3G services in Mumbai (India)
Bharti Airtel has launched its 3G services in Mumbai. The company has formally announced 3G services in Mumbai, Maharashtra and Goa circles.
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71% mobile users active in January (India)
The Indian telecom regulator, TRAI has stated that Videocon lost more than 1 million subscribers, while Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications and Vodafone Essar added 3 million subscribers each in January this year.
According to TRAI, more than 71% of mobile subscribers in India are active users. Around 548.66 million people were using mobile phones of the total subscriber base of 771 million mobile subscribers.
Bharti Airtel had the highest ratio of active subscribers compared to its total subscriber base at 92.63%, followed by Idea Cellular with 90.34% but Etisalat showed the lowest ratio of 33.55%.
Bharti Airtel also continued to lead the industry, grabbing more than one-fifth of the market share. RCOM and Vodafone Essar were the second and third largest telcos as of January-end. BSNL was the only public telco to have a market share of more than 11.6%.
Jammu & Kashmir has the highest proportion of active subscribers at 81.26% followed by Assam with more than 81% and Maharashtra at 77.58%. In contrast, the financial capital Mumbai has the lowest proportion of active mobile users.
Reduction in licence fee would lower levies (India)
An internal report by DoT calls for rationalization of levies to be among the top priorities for the communications ministry. The department is also set to approach the finance ministry for a reduction or even an exception on the 10.3% service tax that consumers are charged on their mobile and landline bills.
According to both government and industry estimates, Indian telcos pay about 31% of their total revenues towards different forms of taxes, which is among the highest in the world, against the global average of 17%. Any reduction in levies will be a boost for the ultra competitive 14-player telecoms market that has been fighting stagnant revenues and plunging profits over the last 18 months due to the savage price war. According to DoT officials, the first step towards lower levies will be a reduction in the licence fee, which could be implemented from January 2012.
Sector regulator TRAI in May 2010 had suggested that the licence fee be reduced gradually over the next four years to 6%. The regulator stated that the move would allow the industry to save about US$1.43 billion, while adding that Bharti Airtel would see savings to the tune of US$444.14 million, while for Vodafone, the reduced licence fee would give it a benefit of US$308.63 million.
At present, mobile phone companies share between 6-10% of their revenues with the government – the licence fee is highest at 10% for the metros and category A regions, which include lucrative states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra among others.
TRAI’s proposal involved reduction of licence fee in metros from 10% currently to 9% in 2011-12, 8% in the year after, then 7% and finally at 6% in 2013-14.
In category ‘A’ circles, where operators are currently paid 10%, TRAI had suggested that this be reduced by 1% every year to be at 6% by 2014.
Idea Cellular faces $66 mn fine for M&A violation (India)
Idea Cellular has been threatened with the loss of 3G spectrum and several of its GSM licenses after the Additional Solicitor General of India stated that the company had broken M&A rules when it brought a stake in Spice Telecom in 2008.
The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) also proposed a fine of US$66 million against the company.
Idea Cellular has strongly denied the allegations.
The ASG has sent his report to the Department of Telecom writing that the two companies violated a lock-in period clause which says that telecoms companies cannot enter in mergers within three years from the effective date of their licenses being granted. In total, four new licences were issued to Spice and two to Idea Cellular on January 25, 2008. Hence,mergers of their operations should not have started until January 2011.
In 2008, Idea brought a 41.1% stake in Spice – which resulted in the companies holding overlapping licenses in six of the country’s telecoms circles (or licensed zones). The ASG has suggested cancelling the new licences in these six circles of Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Karnataka.
According to the company’s statement, the Idea and Spice merger, since approved by the courts, happened to involve six overlapping licenses. Despite being issued spectrum for five of these, it is Idea which advised the DoT that it was not using such spectrum; in effect, placing overlapping licenses in a de facto escrow pending receipt of the DoT’s formal letter of merger, including surrender, if at all that was attracted.
In addition, Idea has won 3G spectrum in four out of the six circles and DoT has been advised to withdraw the 3G spectrum or the licence would be cancelled.
Delhi HC rejects Etisalat’s early hearing plea (India)
The Delhi High Court has rejected the plea of the India Director of Etisalat DB Telecom for an early disposal of his petition claiming that the Maharashtra government and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) found no evidence against him of his alleged link with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
Justice S Muralidhar dismissed an application filed by Shahid Usman Balwa seeking the court to pre-pone the hearing of his petition which was fixed for March 7.
The UAE-based Etisalat DB Telecom Company (Swan Telecom) is facing CBI and ED probes in 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Filing an application, Balwa claimed that the Anti-Terror Squad of Mumbai police and IB, after a thorough inquiry, have found no documents against him and despite the report the Centre has failed to file any affidavit so far.
Seeking the court to allow his plea for a restraint on the Centre from making any allegations of linking him with Dawood Ibrahim, Balwa stated that due to such allegations he has been facing huge embarrassment in social and business circles. As a result of wrongful and defamatory allegations, grave prejudice and loss is being caused to him.
Balwa further stated that due to the allegations against him, some banks have cancelled the loan sanctioned to his company and also withdrawn the credit facilities sanctioned to his companies promoted by the petitioner.
