Although the industry is disappointed with the government decision not to lower spectrum prices at a time telcos are saddled with over Rs 4-trillion debt and an estimated Rs 1.43-trillion licence fee dues, the DCC has relaxed the payment structure to offer some relief to the financially stressed sector.
Given the fragmented nature of the domestic cable TV market and the need for last-mile connectivity, RIL, said sources, would have to do more to achieve its target of reaching 20 million homes and 15 million business establishments with its broadband services across 1,600 towns in the next few years.
Internet.org is a Facebook-led initiative
From January 15, callers will have to dial numbers with prefix '0' for making calls from landline to mobile phone. Announcing the decision, the communications ministry said the move would free up sufficient numbering resources for future use, and nearly 2,539 million numbering series are expected to be generated as a result. There will be no change with respect to dialling numbers for fixed-to fixed, mobile-to-fixed, and mobile-to-mobile calls.
Bharti Airtel had planned to charge separately for internet-based voice calls provided by Skype.
Department of Telecom had sought the legal opinion of the matter from the government's counsel.
Ending net neutrality will impact govt's Make in India.
Starting December 1, the country's 3.2 million Direct-to-Home subscribers will be able to ask for refunds on DTH equipment (the set-top box and antenna) if they choose to discontinue the service.
Manoj Sinha, earlier minister of state for railways, will be tasked to conduct the auction and deal with issues like net neutrality.
Debt-ridden telecom operator Vodafone Idea on Tuesday approved the allotment of equity shares worth Rs 16,133 crore to the government, which post-allocation has become the largest shareholder with a 33.44 per cent stake in the company. The shares have been allocated to the government in lieu of conversion of interest dues arising from deferment of adjusted gross revenue and spectrum auction payments, the company said in a regulatory filing. "...it is hereby informed that the board of directors of the company has, at its meeting held today approved the allotment of 16,133,198,899 equity shares of face value of Rs 10 each at an issue price of Rs 10 per equity share aggregating to Rs 161,331,848,990 to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, Government of India," the filing said.
Hearing from Apr 18 by five-judge SC bench against WhatsApp, FB move; Centre, Trai also summoned
Airtel Zero launched with the promise of free access to apps.
Within a week of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India giving its final recommendations on the valuation and pricing of spectrum, Chairman Rahul Khullar speaks to Business Standard on the process the regulator followed in finalising the much-debated issue.
The new e-mail campaign asks Facebook users to act to save free internet access, while stating that free access to basic internet services is in danger.
The country's wireless subscriber base fell to 87.05 crore at the end of September, registering the first drop in five months, after Reliance Communications deactivated services of over 1 crore "unprofitable" users.
Of late, net neutrality has generated much debate.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Tuesday directed the cellular and basic telecom operators to provide accessibility to Internet services for cellular subscribers.
The company is to act as an ISP across rural areas for local entrepreneurs.
Bulk of these customers use 2G phones and are still focused on voice services and might prove useful for both Bharti Airtel and the Idea-Vodafone combine.
The auction will help operators augment expansion of high-speed 4G voice and data services in the world's second largest mobile phone market.
Delhi High Court says it can do so under the TRAI Act, rejects petitions filed by telecom associations.
BSNL, MTNL launch free night calling to win back consumers lost to mobile boom
Denial of interconnection "appears to be with ulterior motive to stifle competition and is anti consumer", Trai said.
Call drops may end as govt allows telecom spectrum trading
Big three telecom companies term Jio's free voice calls predatory pricing
The Mukesh Ambani-owned company had complained to Trai about incumbents offering segmented offers to different customers
Airtel CEO said, the 5G ecosystem is yet to develop in India and the prices are very high. Telecom companies including Vodafone Idea (VI) and Reliance Jio have also said that the current prices are exorbitant.
DoT though failed to implement TRAI's recommendations to levy spectrum usage charge
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Chairman Rahul Khullar said insurance companies have asked for 4-6 weeks to deal with unsolicited commercial call or SMS.
Rediff.com gives you a lowdown on the net neutrality issue that is today part of the national discourse.
IAMAI in a statement, which represents digital businesses in India, said Trai's recommendation to formulate standards of anonymisation and de-identification was akin to putting the cart before the horse, and till such time the Srikrishna Committee submits the report, making these standards would be like groping in the dark.
DoT will have wider consultations with all stakeholders.
Nivedita Mookerji explains why a timely rollout of 5G may not be easy in India.
While only 78.15 per cent of Jio's total subscriber base was active, Airtel boasts of 98.14 per cent active customers.
The consolidated revenue increased 20 per cent to Rs 8,422 cr
As the world moves from 'Triple Play' to 'Quadruple Play', make your voice heard across a range of data options in fibrespace. As talk gets cheap, walk the talk and beyond. . .
Critics say the programme, launched 10 months ago in India in collaboration with operator Reliance Communications, violates principles of net neutrality
The DoT estimates that it will receive Rs 29,524 cr in revenue from the telecom industry in FY18, which is 38% less than the Budget revenue target of Rs 47,300 cr for FY18
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