Megha Manchanda

Stories by Megha Manchanda

5G Spectrum Auction Unlikely Before 2023

5G Spectrum Auction Unlikely Before 2023

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2021

'We are targeting the 5G tender around January-March 2023.'

Fee for Bharat Series-registered vehicles can be paid in tranches

Fee for Bharat Series-registered vehicles can be paid in tranches

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2021

The owner can pay registration fee for two years and the other amount in instalments in later years, in multiples of two.

India's internet user base touches 825 million, bulk of it wireless

India's internet user base touches 825 million, bulk of it wireless

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2021

The subscriber base is made up of 778.09 million broadband internet users and 47.21 million narrowband internet users.

More bad news: Vodafone Idea may get notice for licence fee delay

More bad news: Vodafone Idea may get notice for licence fee delay

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2021

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is in the process of issuing a show-cause notice to Vodafone Idea (Vi) for delaying the payment of licence fee. Companies pay 8 per cent of their adjusted gross revenue as licence fee. This also includes a universal service obligation levy. The fee is collected from each of the 22 telecom circles in the country on a quarterly basis.

Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea gets nod for FDI up to Rs 15,000 crore

Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea gets nod for FDI up to Rs 15,000 crore

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2021

Cash-strapped telco Vodafone Idea's proposal for investment of up to Rs 15,000 crore through foreign direct investment (FDI) has been approved by the Union government, according to officials. A top-level group, comprising representatives from the ministries of home affairs, external affairs, finance and commerce and industry, took the decision. The nod, which is an enabling provision, would help the financially-stressed company raise funds to pay up some of its dues linked to adjusted gross revenue (AGR), reduce debts and use the money for operational expenses.

Airtel hikes tariffs, family postpaid plan spiked for new customers

Airtel hikes tariffs, family postpaid plan spiked for new customers

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2021

Bharti Airtel on Thursday announced new postpaid plans and discontinued some previous ones. "In the post-pandemic world, an abundance of high-speed data is increasingly becoming a key need for customers as work from home and online education is the new normal. "In this context, Airtel has further simplified its postpaid plans to offer industry-leading data benefits backed by a 5G-ready network and superior digital-first customer care. "The plans also come with a range of exclusive benefits such as bundled content and business productivity tools," Airtel said in a press release.

Navy's reluctance to vacate spectrum may delay 5G auction

Navy's reluctance to vacate spectrum may delay 5G auction

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2021

The Indian Navy has expressed reservations in vacating 100 Mhz of the spectrum, proposed to be sold in the tender expected next year, sources said. This could delay the Centre's plans to proceed with the 5G auctions in 2022. A department of telecom (DoT) official said, "The Indian Navy is showing reluctance in vacating the spectrum from the 3.3 GHz-3.4 GHz band that it is using. "Unless there is some traction with them on this issue, we can't seek consultation from TRAI." The 3300 MHz-3600 MHz (or 3.3GHz-3.6GHz) will be auctioned for the first time in the proposed 5G auctions, likely next year.

Road construction zooms nearly 60% in 1st two months of FY22

Road construction zooms nearly 60% in 1st two months of FY22

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2021

Road construction witnessed a near 60 per cent year-on-year jump in the first two months of financial year 2021-22 (FY22), despite restrictions being imposed in the wake of the second wave of Covid-19. Around 1,470 km of roads were constructed during the first two months of the current fiscal, as against 847 km in the corresponding period last year, according to official figures. However, these are provisional numbers as the state public works departments of Maharashtra and Goa are yet to provide data.

Reliance Jio beats Bharti Airtel, adds 4.3 million users in February

Reliance Jio beats Bharti Airtel, adds 4.3 million users in February

Rediff.com   12 May 2021

Total wireless subscribers increased from 1.1 billion, in January to 1.2 billion in February, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.72 per cent.

'Scrapping centres will be an industry'

'Scrapping centres will be an industry'

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2021

'Our automakers export 50 per cent of what they manufacture and once the policy comes into play, which is in the next 2-3 years, we would become a Rs 10 trillion industry.'

'In 3 years, India's infrastructure will be on par with the US'

'In 3 years, India's infrastructure will be on par with the US'

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2021

'We completed Rs 17 trillion worth of projects in the first term and currently Rs 9 trillion worth of contracts are under construction.'

Mobile operators rush to rework equipment sourcing pacts

Mobile operators rush to rework equipment sourcing pacts

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2021

While the government has not barred procurement of equipment from Chinese companies, the process to amend the general financial rules (GFR) 2017 has started. This will impose restrictions on bidders in public procurement from countries that share a land border with India, reports Megha Manchanda.

'Govt wants more incentive to customers for vehicle scrapping'

'Govt wants more incentive to customers for vehicle scrapping'

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2021

'Some companies have agreed to 2-3% incentive but the automakers and SIAM have to decide amongst themselves'

Govt eyes Rs 6,200 crore in AGR dues from Airtel, Vi by March 31

Govt eyes Rs 6,200 crore in AGR dues from Airtel, Vi by March 31

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2021

SC said 10 per cent of the amount would have to be paid by March 31.

Chaos rules at toll plazas over FASTag implementation

Chaos rules at toll plazas over FASTag implementation

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2021

Either drivers were blissfully unaware of the requirement or they hadn't bothered to get one installed in their vehicle.

Data traffic in India increased 60 times in 5 years

Data traffic in India increased 60 times in 5 years

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2021

A Nokia research showed that 4G alone constituted nearly 99 per cent of the total data traffic consumed across the country in 2020.

Airtel ahead of Jio again!

Airtel ahead of Jio again!

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2020

Airtel tops with 3.7 million new subscribers, Jio adds 2.2 million; Vi lets go of 2.7 million.

How India will be toll plaza free in 2 years

How India will be toll plaza free in 2 years

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2020

The central government has finalised GPS-based toll collection to ensure seamless movement of vehicles across the country.

Jio accuses Airtel, Vodafone Idea of fanning farmers' ire against it

Jio accuses Airtel, Vodafone Idea of fanning farmers' ire against it

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2020

The latest telecom war kicked off after some pictures surfaced, showing Airtel banners among agitating farmers. According to the Jio camp, it was a giveaway that farmers were being enticed to port their phone numbers.

Vodafone Idea hikes tariff as it struggles to pay dues

Vodafone Idea hikes tariff as it struggles to pay dues

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2020

The latest move, even if it is symbolic, is the first rate hike after the one announced end of 2019.