In a desperate attempt to grab spectrum and start operations in new circles ahead of rivals, leading GSM operators have informed the government that they are willing to start services with less than 4.4 MHz spectrum. Vodafone Essar has intimated its willingness to start operations in new circles where the availability of spectrum is less than 4.4 MHz.
Says spending $3 billion every year on networks alone
Telecom tower companies likely to invest around Rs 500 crore (Rs 50 billion) to enhance network.
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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Friday came out with a revised subscriber-linked policy for spectrum allocation to GSM operators, which is in line with the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).
The deal between Bharti group and Tata Teleservices is yet another example of how swiftly things can change in business.
Reliance Communications on Thursday applied to the department of telecommuications for radio frequencies in the 1800 MHz band for operating mobile networks in 14 circles all over the country.
Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he is appalled and dismayed at the recommendations of Trai.
GSM service provider Idea Cellular might get spectrum to start operations in the Mumbai circle by the end of the year, with the ministry of telecom close to clearing its application.
The government has set a total revenue target of Rs 40,874.5 crore (Rs 408.74 billion) this fiscal from spectrum, including auction amount, one-time spectrum charge and annual regular licence fee.
Many new players have challenged the offer by Bharti Airtel to pay Rs 2,650 crore (Rs 26.50 billion) to get a start-up GSM spectrum of 4.4 MHz. While some say they will up the ante and are planning to write to the government that they can offer more, others say the offer is meant to keep away new competitors.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd will foot the entire bill of a Rs 1,000-crore (Rs 10-billion) project to release 45 Mhz of spectrum from defence to civilian use, after providing the armed forces alternative equipment for their communication needs.
Under the UASL norms, spectrum is linked to licences, and a particular band of radio wave is restricted to be used in a particular technology
The Global Mobile Suppliers Association on Monday rejected Telcom Regulatory Authority of India's proposal to allocate frequencies in the controversial US PCS band (1850-1910 MHz paired with 1930-1990 MHz) to the existing Code-Division Multiple Acces
As the new owner, Airtel will take over Telenor India's spectrum, licences and operations, including its employees and customer base of 44 million.
The govt is expected to achieve the revenue target of Rs 40,000 crore from spectrum sale this fiscal, Telecom Secretary M F Farooqui said.
A US court has asked Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation, to pay a compensation of USD 1.2 billion to a Bengaluru-based startup, Devas Multimedia, for cancelling a satellite deal in 2005.
Govt is set to garner Rs 1 lakh crore from sale of radiowaves.
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The development comes a day after RCom posted a consolidated loss of Rs 30,142 crore for July-September 2019 due to provisioning for liabilities after the Supreme Court ruling on statutory dues.
In an effort to provide better connectivity and ease network congestion for its cellular subscribers even at peak hours, Bharti launched India's first dual band network in Delhi to leverage the benefits of 1800 MHz and 900 MHz frequency bands.
Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com brings you the details.
The department of telecommunications, in the draft universal licence guidelines to be signed with telcos which recently won spectrum in the 1800 MHz auction of November, has included a new clause for foreign companies.
Company won spectrum in six circles in the 1,800 MHz band for Rs 2,221 cr in Nov; Nokia Siemens is technology partner for the rollout.
Reliance Jio to take over mobile business assets of troubled RCom at an estimated value of Rs 24,000-Rs 25,000 crore.
Huawei came under a cloud after allegations that the firm's electronic and telecom devices helped China spy on US corporations and agencies.
Companies have activated a comprehensive pandemic response plan with requisite risk mitigation protocols for keeping networks working as telecom is an essential service.
The Cabinet is believed to have asked the Department of Telecom to examine imposing a Swachch Bharat cess on spectrum charges paid annually by service providers.
According to rating agency Fitch, India can in the long run support five-six profitable telecom operators.
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Indian telecom sector has at present around 13 mobile phone service providers with some of them expected to go for consolidation once the final guidelines are in place.
Companies might have to shell out a fourth of the industry's annual net revenue to clear the obligation
Customers may lose freebies or have to pay a little more for mobile services in the days ahead as operators try to make up for Rs 61,100 crore they have committed to government in the latest spectrum auction.
GSM operators say upcoming auctions will be a dud, while govt hopes to rake it in.
This merger, Bhupesh Bhandari believes, will be watched keenly by management gurus the world over.
The government takes pragmatic steps on telecom.
An Empowered Group of Ministers, headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, will seek legal opinion from Attorney General on its decision to charge around Rs 27,000 crore one-time spectrum fee from existing telecom operators.
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