Telecom Industry

Industry body representing telcos argues 6GHz is the last remaining mid-band spectrum range available for effective 5G deployment

The government is ready to put its money where its mouth is. The vision document has suggested a research and development fund of Rs 10,000 crore, led by the government for the next 10 years for 6G an

Six telecom companies -- including Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea -- had a total debt of Rs 4.17 lakh crore in fiscal 2021-22, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Data submitted by Minister of State for Telecom Devusinh Chauhan in the Lok Sabha shows Vodafone Idea had a debt of Rs 1,91,073.9 crore, Airtel (Rs 1,03,408.1 crore), Reliance Jio (Rs 42,486 crore), BSNL (Rs 40,400.13 crore), Tata Teleservices (Rs 20,162.04 crore) and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited (Rs 19,703.84 crore) in the financial year 2021-22. "The Government has approved various structural and procedural reforms in the telecom sector to promote healthy competition, protect interests of consumers, infuse liquidity, encourage investment and reduce the regulatory burden on Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)," Chauhan said.

He also asserted that while consumers are ready, "but somehow, as an industry, we have not been able to come to an understanding of increasing ARPUs so that this industry can be healthy"

The telecom industry's financial health needs to improve if India's dream of digital connectivity across the country has to be fulfilled, Bharti Enterprises Vice-Chairman Akhil Gupta said on Tuesday. Very poor return on capital is a big hindrance in telecom development in India today and unless it changes, investments will dry up at some point or the other, he said while speaking at the Times Network India Digital Fest here. However, due to competitive reasons increasing average revenue per user (ARPU) has been difficult and the industry players need to work together so that the ARPU goes up to Rs 300 in a phased manner in the next few years. "The big hindrance in telecom development in India today is the very poor return on capital, which this industry has, and at some point in time, that will have to change because otherwise, the investments will dry up at some point or the other," Gupta said. Return on capital is a big hindrance today and that's the reason why "a very big and a

India is closing in on western Europe which has 63 million 5G subscribers; it is already ahead of Latin America and the GCC

Discussion will seek to end unsolicited communication using technology, regulations

PM to inaugurate International Telecom Union's first India office, release 6G vision document today

All postpaid customers, and prepaid ones with a data plan of Rs 239 and above will be able to avail the offer; The move follows Jio's new set of postpaid family plans, Jio Plus, at Rs 399 a month

The Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) has also flagged only three major states aligning state policies with central right-of-way guidelines

18 countries are also keen on implementing India's indigenously developed 4G and 5G stacks, Ashwani Vaishnaw says

Vi had earlier submitted a payment plan as it has paid only 10 per cent of the dues for the period

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Monday announced that it has crossed the 10 million unique 5G user mark on its network. In a statement, the company said it is well poised to cover every town and key rural areas with Airtel 5G services by the end of March 2024. The company informed it has surpassed the 10 million unique 5G user milestone, on its network. In November 2022, Airtel became the first and only operator to have 1 million unique customers on its network within 30 days of its commercial launch, the statement added. It is pertinent to mention that high speed 5G services were launched in the country, on October 1, 2022. The 5G services powers ultra-low latency connections, which allow downloading full-length high-quality video or movie to a mobile device in a matter of seconds (even in crowded areas). The fifth Generation or 5G would, going forward, would enable powerful solutions such as e-health, connected vehicles, more-immersive augmented reality and metaverse experien

Indian telecommunications tycoon Sunil Mittal is seeking a stake in Paytm by merging his financial services unit into the fintech giant's payments bank

Industry body representing telcos argues that 6GHz is the last remaining mid-band spectrum range where city wide coverage can be provided with mobile networks

Govt preparing the ground for tougher service quality norms

The telco currently owes Rs 41,300 cr in license fees and spectrum usage charges to govt

The group is reportedly looking to raise long-term debt for ailing telco Vodafone Idea (Vi) and use preferential share allotment as the route

5G spectrum: Centre is looking for ways to shift some broadcasting and satellite players from 3.8 GHz to higher frequency

This is expected to free up some cash for Vodafone Idea which needs to pay urgently to Indus Towers, Nokia and Ericsson