Author: Chetan (Page 69)

Reliance Communications (RCom), India’s foremost and truly integrated telecommunications service provider, has entered into a long-term strategic telecom infrastructure sharing agreement with Etisalat Telecom. The agreement will accelerate Etisalat forthcoming launch of telecom services in India. You may recall, Swan Telecom once rumored to be backed by the Ambani holdsContinue Reading

The long awaited [yes for over 3 years] Mobile Number Portability is all set to go Live this Year, finally 🙂 TRAI just minutes ago issued complete guidelines on Eligibility, Consumer Rights, Operators Obligations for undergoing the same. Here is an excerpt, There is a time restriction of 90 daysContinue Reading

The 3G spectrum auction is back on the table. On Jan-2, we reported that the 3G spectrum reserved price  is likely to be doubled at the behest of Finance Ministry to Rs 4,040 cr and it looks certain now. The Government would now auction up to six blocks per circleContinue Reading

For the month of May-09, Indian Wireless Operators added 11.6 mn subscribers little less than 11.9m in Apr. Total sub base was ~410m (+50% yoy), implying a penetration of 35.6%. The mom decline in net-adds was led by BSNL (net adds down 0.6m) and Vodafone (down 0.2m). All other leadingContinue Reading

In a move that will speed up the proposed auctions of third generation (3G) spectrum, the key for telcos to launch high-end telecom services such as video-conferencing and high speed internet on the mobiles, the Cabinet is expected to take up the issue soon for discussions. Communications and IT ministerContinue Reading

Bharti Airtel has entered into an exclusivity agreement (till July 31) to enter a complicated and circular ownership structure with MTN Group – Bharti  owning 49% stake in MTN and MTN owning 25% of Bharti in return. The structure envisages a 25% swap of new shares (MTN pays $2.9bn). TheContinue Reading

Vodafone Essar’s rev/min declined 2.3% qoq and MoU declined 5.6% qoq. This also confirms a trend – MoU/ARPU hit has been more for operators with greater metro/urban presence. In case of Vodafone, lower roaming and diversion to RCOM’s free mins can be seen as the primary reason for the decline.Continue Reading

Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the GSM operator lobby, is protesting the 11-digit mobile numbering on the back of inconvenience to the subscribers after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recommended for the new numbering plan. Instead, they are demanding to put up an end to the exclusive two-digit operatorContinue Reading