Bharti Airtel ConCall – Lower Termination Charges hit ARPU + NO M&A Plans + Mum on MTN + 3G + DTH
Bharti Airtel hosted Analyst call this afternoon and here is an excerpts from the same. Earlier this morning I had raised questions on the drastic QoQ fall of ARPUs and the management clarified that the same was due to new regime of lower mobile termination charges [MTC]. Rs 12 /Continue Reading
Bharti Airtel – Wireless ARPU + AMU Crack in Q1 FY2010
India’s largest Wireless carrier, Bharti Airtel has announced its results for Q1 ending June-30. Wireless ARPUs are down 9% QoQ to Rs 278 from Rs 305 without any increase in Average Minutes of user per user which has also fallen by 2% QoQ to 478 minutes. Looks like RCom GSMContinue Reading
RCom – Etisalat sign pact for Telecom infrstructure sharing
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
Eligibility + Customer Rights + Operator Obligation – Rules + Regulations for Mobile Number Portability in India
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
Revised 3G Spectrum Reserved Prices + Availability – Govt to get USD 5 Bn
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
Indian Wireless Subscriber base at 410 mn – Grows 50% YoY – 36% Penetration
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
DoT puts 3G auction on fast track
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
MTN – Bharti Airtel – Expensive Deal + Intercontinentanl Regulatory Hurdles
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 Esaar – Higher Impact than Bharti / Idea
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