The Indian Railways is replacing its outdated signalling system with the latest automated train protection technologies - European Train Control System and Train Collision Avoidance System.
While everybody is talking about the vast potential of 5G, the uptake of such services in India depends on operators getting around 100 Mhz 5G spectrum. At the reserve price proposed by Trai, getting this spectrum will cost a telco around Rs 490 billion. Which amount could be difficult for operators to mop up, given the financial stress they are undergoing, says Kiran Rathee.
Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance Jio Infocomm and five other telecom firms will battle it out at the spectrum auction tomorrow, from which the government expects to garner at least Rs 11,300 crore (Rs 113 billion).
In these two cities, TTSL has 5 MHz of spectrum but will surrender only 1.25 MHzy. Company executives say 3.75 MHz in these two high data usage markets will be adequate to ensure services like Tata Photon Max, the bulk of whose revenues come from these two cities, are not impacted.
Surajeet Das Gupta explains why Mukesh Ambani's target is by no means impossible.
If Reliance Jio resets the rules of the game with low voice and data tariffs, most incumbents will find themselves back to square one.
Regulator has suggested a lower reserve price even in service areas where spectrum was sold in November 2012.
According to a study, the change in frequency for transmitting mobile signals could cost the telcos over Rs 1 lakh crore (Rs 1 trillion) cumulatively.
Bharti Airtel called the prices exorbitant while Vodafone Idea wants the auctions take place in 2020. The auctions need to happen when the infrastructure is ready for the roll out, be it in terms of fiberisation levels, or optimisation of equipment and software etc. Spending a hefty amount on a technology (airwaves) that at present offers limited returns is not going to be a priority for the incumbent telcos.
Telecom companies have put in bids worth Rs 58,332 crore (Rs 583.32 billion) in spectrum auction at the end of 49 rounds on the 7th day of bidding on Monday.
The auction started off with the 36th round this morning. At the end of 35 rounds on Friday, bids worth around Rs 54,600 crore had been received by the government.
Loop Mobile has debt of Rs 400 crore (Rs 4 billion), which is likely to be included in final deal size.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has given its recommendations on the much-awaited issue of spectrum sharing.
The Indian market is highly competitive, and tariffs here are amongst the lowest in the world.
Spectrum auction: Govt revenues reach Rs 1.02 tln on Day 10
It said that fixing reserve price of 800 MHz band at low levels benefits a certain set of operators.
The case is likely to come up for hearing on Monday.
Of the two big players, while Bharti Airtel can leverage its existing subscriber base, newcomer Reliance Jio will have to wean away subscribers from the incumbents
Telecom companies that bought spectrum in the 2G auction of November last year would lose around Rs 4,000 crore
Only the Supreme Court can rectify spectrum management in line with other resources, but all stakeholders can contribute, writes Shyam Ponappa.
Arbitrary decisions may have helped Bharti airtel and Idea Cellular get spectrum.
A crown of thorns awaits the next telecom minister at Sanchar Bhawan as the new incumbent will have to address a host of tricky issues like industry infighting, tariffs and improving financial health of the Rs 2.3 lakh crore industry.
Telecom Commission says refarm all spectrum in 900-MHz band to 1,800-MHz band operators.
Apart from other things, this would have put a spanner in the government's Digital India campaign.
Incumbent operators can retain 2.5-MHz spectrum in 900-MHz band, rest to be refarmed decision final.
A liberalised spectrum allows operators to use any technology to deliver services like 3G and 4G.
Rationalisation of reserve prices in the ongoing spectrum auction helped the government to get Rs 40,000 crore of bids on the opening day.
To launch 4G long-term evolution services in 1,800 MHz band.
The Big Two telecom companies have accelerated their moves towards this next-gen technology, though they have chosen very different routes to getting there.
Reliance Retail will also sell Wi-Fi dongles.
The commission has disagreed with another key proposal -- that of allowing operators a deferred payment scheme after the auction.
The much-awaited soft launch of Reliance Jio's next-generation mobile services has been delayed by another month.
He feels that the reserve price set by the government for the 2G spectrum auction was very high.
The auction has so far got bids worth Rs 1.07 lakh crore.
While the draft M&A policy for the telecom sector has been revised a few times over the past few months, DoT has not made any major changes to guidelines.
But says more than 5 MHz can be auctioned in 9 circles
Public and private sector GSM operators in the country have demanded an additional 13.2 MHz of spectrum
Its says reconsider lower reserve price, uniform usage charges; GSM players to bear the brunt.
These circles account for 23 per cent of Bharti's revenues and armed with additional spectrum, it will eat into rivals' share
Raises cap of market share for merged entity to 50%, spectrum trading allowed, with riders.
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