News for 'Telecom'

Union Budget 2024 remains largely neutral for stock markets in India

Union Budget 2024 remains largely neutral for stock markets in India

Rediff.com25 Jul 2024

Overall market reaction to the Budget was neutral. Investors absorbed the changes to the tax rates (positive for salaried class) and capital gains taxes (CGTs, negative due to the removal of indexation and increases. Other proposals largely pertain to supporting rural development, buybacks taxed as dividends, Custom duty changes that impact multiple sectors, higher outlays for clean energy, etc. There's some moderation in the growth of capex outlay across defence, fer

HCL Tech Q1 net profit surges 20.4% to Rs 4,257 cr

HCL Tech Q1 net profit surges 20.4% to Rs 4,257 cr

Rediff.com12 Jul 2024

IT services company HCLTech on Friday posted a 20.4 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 4,257 crore for the June-ended quarter and gave a revenue growth guidance of 3-5 per cent for FY25 on GenAI diversification and strong operational execution. For the fiscal's first quarter ended June 2024 (Q1 FY25), the revenue came in at Rs 28,057 crore, 6.6 per cent more than in the year-ago period. Seen sequentially, it was 1.6 per cent lower than the March quarter.

'Modi running around saying he has been offered 2036 Games'

'Modi running around saying he has been offered 2036 Games'

Rediff.com12 Aug 2024

French organisers turned Paris into an open-air Olympic playground where everyone was invited, with or without a ticket.

HC admits CBI plea against acquittal of A Raja, 16 others in 2G scam case

HC admits CBI plea against acquittal of A Raja, 16 others in 2G scam case

Rediff.com23 Mar 2024

Admitting the Central Bureau of Investigation appeal, the high court said there are "some contradictions" in the trial court's judgment which require "deeper examination".

Yunus takes oath as head of interim B'desh; says will rein in conspirators

Yunus takes oath as head of interim B'desh; says will rein in conspirators

Rediff.com9 Aug 2024

Yunus, 84, was administered the oath of office by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at a ceremony at the presidential palace 'Bangabhaban'.

Sensex, Nifty climb on firm trend in global markets

Sensex, Nifty climb on firm trend in global markets

Rediff.com24 Apr 2024

From the Sensex basket, JSW Steel, Tata Steel, Power Grid, Kotak Mahindra Bank, UltraTech Cement, NTPC and Bajaj Finance were the major gainers. Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Maruti, Reliance Industries and Titan were among the laggards.

How year's most extravagant wedding was made secure

How year's most extravagant wedding was made secure

Rediff.com14 Jul 2024

Three different invitations were sent out for the wedding and the receptions with top-run guests being sent a large red box that contained an intricate chest incorporating a mini silver temple featuring gold idols of various Hindu deities, including Lord Ganesh, Radha-Krishna, and Goddess Durga.

'Marwari' school of business keeps 3 generations of Ruia family under one roof

'Marwari' school of business keeps 3 generations of Ruia family under one roof

Rediff.com17 Jun 2024

Indian family-run business houses have in recent years seen ugly public spats between owners over control. But metals-to-ports conglomerate Essar's Ruia family seems to be an exception. Three generations of the Ruia family - founder brother Shashi and Ravi Ruia, their children and grandchildren - continue to live under one roof and jointly run the business empire.

India's Economic Reality And The Hype

India's Economic Reality And The Hype

Rediff.com13 Jul 2024

From connectivity woes to infrastructure advancements and the startup boom, there is a gulf between claims and reality in India's economic landscape, points out Devangshu Datta.

Vodafone sells 18% stake in Indus Towers for Rs 15,300 crore

Vodafone sells 18% stake in Indus Towers for Rs 15,300 crore

Rediff.com20 Jun 2024

British telecom player Vodafone on Wednesday said it has sold an 18 per cent stake in Indus Towers for 1.7 billion euro (about Rs 15,300 crore). Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel has increased its stake by acquiring 2.69 crore shares, representing a 1 per cent stake, in Indus Towers. The shares were acquired by Airtel at an average price of Rs 320 apiece, taking the transaction value to Rs 862.38 crore, as per the bulk deal data.

Gautam Adani drew Rs 9.26 cr salary in FY24 - lower than his executives, industry peers

Gautam Adani drew Rs 9.26 cr salary in FY24 - lower than his executives, industry peers

Rediff.com23 Jun 2024

India's second richest person Gautam Adani received a total remuneration of Rs 9.26 crore in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, lower than most industry peers as well as his own key executives.

Telecom ministry has a plan to combat tele frauds, pesky calls

Telecom ministry has a plan to combat tele frauds, pesky calls

Rediff.com15 Feb 2021

The telecom ministry will set up an intelligence unit and a consumer protection system as part of continuing efforts to tackle the menace of pesky calls as well as to take strict action against financial frauds perpetrated using telecom resources.

Invest In Stocks, Gold Or Bitcoin?

Invest In Stocks, Gold Or Bitcoin?

Rediff.com17 Jul 2024

'We expect market consolidation and recommend buying during market dips.'

Recipe to rescue India's telecom sector, specially Vodafone Idea

Recipe to rescue India's telecom sector, specially Vodafone Idea

Rediff.com13 Sep 2021

Measures reportedly being mulled by the government to ease telecom industry's stress and fundraising may give Vodafone Idea the much-needed breather, but structural issue undermining the sector can be fixed only with "sizable" tariff hike for 4G prepaid customers, according to a note by Edelweiss. It further observed that as Voda Idea's large liabilities are falling due, and given the impending launch of JioPhone Next (whose rollout timeline has now been pushed to before Diwali), "the sooner the government measures as well as tariff hikes are rolled out, the better it is". It is pertinent to mention here that the telecom sector has been keenly watching out for the relief package, which could include redefinition of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) to exclude non-telecom items, cut in levies such as Spectrum Usage Charges and easier terms and conditions for surrendering radiowaves to the government.

Sensex pares early gains, ends up 90 points

Sensex pares early gains, ends up 90 points

Rediff.com23 Apr 2024

From the Sensex basket, Bharti Airtel, Nestle, Maruti, Tata Motors, HCL Technologies, NTPC, Asian Paints and State Bank of India were the major gainers. Sun Pharma, Reliance Industries, Mahindra & Mahindra, JSW Steel, Tech Mahindra and Bajaj Finance were among the laggards.

Vodafone Idea FPO subscribed 3.3 times, retail lags

Vodafone Idea FPO subscribed 3.3 times, retail lags

Rediff.com22 Apr 2024

Debt-saddled telecom operator Vodafone Idea Ltd's Rs 18,000 crore follow-on offering (FPO) on Monday was subscribed more than 3.3 times, as institutional investors poured in money but the retail segment lagged. On the last day of the offering, as many as 4,212.56 crore shares were sought against the issue size of 1,260 crore at 14.30 hrs, according to information on stock exchanges.

India needs 3 private players in telecom: Airtel CEO

India needs 3 private players in telecom: Airtel CEO

Rediff.com4 Aug 2021

Bharti Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal on Wednesday asserted that a large nation like India needs three private players in the telecom sector, and hoped the government would take measures to offer relief to the industry that is facing "serious financial stress". The comments assume significance in the backdrop of Vodafone Idea's desperate struggle to stay afloat. Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla had in June this year offered to hand over the group's stake in debt-laden Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) to the government or any other entity to ensure that the company remains a going concern.

Modi meets Meloni in Italy, here's what they discussed

Modi meets Meloni in Italy, here's what they discussed

Rediff.com15 Jun 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held bilateral talks with Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni in Bari during which they discussed defence and security cooperation and hoped for further enhancing the defence industrial collaboration.

Mukesh Ambani looks to repeat telecom feat in new energy

Mukesh Ambani looks to repeat telecom feat in new energy

Rediff.com8 Aug 2022

Reliance Industries Ltd, whose offering of rock-bottom tariffs shook up the telecom industry, is looking to repeat the feat in the green energy business, where its billionaire chairman Mukesh Ambani sees promise to outshine all existing growth engines in 5-7 years. Having pledged Rs 6 lakh crore on green energy, Ambani says RIL will scale up investments in this business which will start going live in the next 12 months. "Over the next 12 months our investments across the Green Energy value chain will gradually start going live, scaling up over the next couple of years," Ambani, chairman and managing director of RIL, said in the company's latest annual report.

Cabinet okays 9 telecom reforms: 100% FDI, 4-year stay on dues and more

Cabinet okays 9 telecom reforms: 100% FDI, 4-year stay on dues and more

Rediff.com15 Sep 2021

In big bang reforms, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a relief package for the telecom sector that includes a four-year moratorium on payment of statutory dues by telecom companies as well as allowing 100 per cent foreign investment through the automatic route. Briefing reporters on the decisions taken by the Cabinet, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said nine structural reforms for the telecom sector were approved. The definition of AGR, which had been a major reason for the stress in the sector, has been rationalised by excluding non-telecom revenue of telecom companies.

Brookfield to buy ATC's India business for $2 bn

Brookfield to buy ATC's India business for $2 bn

Rediff.com5 Jan 2024

Canada-based Brookfield will acquire the Indian business of American Tower Corporation (ATC) for an enterprise value of $2 billion, a release said on Friday. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and expected to close in the second half of 2024. "Data Infrastructure Trust (DIT), an Infrastructure Investment Trust sponsored by an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management, today announced the signing of an agreement with ATC to acquire 100 per cent of equity interests in American Tower's operations in India (ATC India), for an enterprise value of Rs 16,500 crore ($2 billion) which is subject to pre-closing terms as per the securities purchase agreement," it said.

Want To Invest In Infrastructure Funds?

Want To Invest In Infrastructure Funds?

Rediff.com1 Jul 2024

'Investors should not go for lump-sum investments in infrastructure funds at this point.' 'The SIP route is the best to avoid any major disappointment.'

Sunil Mittal vows to work with rivals to unleash India's telecom dream

Sunil Mittal vows to work with rivals to unleash India's telecom dream

Rediff.com16 Sep 2021

Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal on Thursday said he had reached out to Vodafone's Nick Read after bold telecom reforms were announced by the government and will also speak to RIL's Mukesh Ambani, as the telecom czar vowed to take the lead in bringing the industry together to unleash India's telecom dream. Mittal exhorted the industry to collaborate in areas such as infrastructure sharing to reduce costs but vehemently ruled out possibility of any cartelisation among players. Amid reports of its potential tie-ups with handset makers to counter Jio's upcoming ultra low-cost smartphone, Mittal said Airtel is in a state of "readiness" on an affordable smartphone "should a need arise".

4 pro-YSRCP news channels off air in Andhra post polls; Oppn party moves TRAI

4 pro-YSRCP news channels off air in Andhra post polls; Oppn party moves TRAI

Rediff.com23 Jun 2024

In a recent letter to TRAI, Reddy claimed the Andhra Pradesh Cable TV Operators Association took these four channels off air due to alleged coercion by the TDP-led government in the state.

Brokerages raise targets on RIL stock post Q4

Brokerages raise targets on RIL stock post Q4

Rediff.com1 May 2024

Shares of Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) rose nearly 1 per cent on Tuesday, hitting an intraday high of Rs 2,986.05 per share, after most brokerages reacted positively to the company's March quarter (Q4FY24) results. The bullish outlook stems from Reliance Jio's potential tariff hikes, given the competitive landscape, along with slow but steady improvement in the oil-to-chemical (O2C) vertical.

Nearly 100 million subscribers using 5G now, govt tells LS

Nearly 100 million subscribers using 5G now, govt tells LS

Rediff.com6 Dec 2023

The 5G networks have rolled out in 738 districts across the country, and around 100 million subscribers are using these services, marking one of the fastest fifth-generation rollouts in the world, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Telecom service providers have also committed a total investment of Rs 2 lakh crore, including a commitment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for spectrum acquired through auction in July-August 2022, Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan said in a written reply in Lok Sabha. "As on November 24, 2023, 5G networks have been rolled out in 738 districts across the country and a total of 3,94,298 base stations have been installed with around 100 million subscribers using 5G services," he informed.

Think Before You Make A Complaint!

Think Before You Make A Complaint!

Rediff.com7 Jun 2024

National Commission concluded that false and baseless allegations had been made in the complaint to claim a highly exaggerated and atrocious amount of compensation.

Telecom industry under tremendous stress; tariffs need to go up: Sunil Mittal

Telecom industry under tremendous stress; tariffs need to go up: Sunil Mittal

Rediff.com1 Jul 2021

Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal on Thursday said tariffs need to go up amid "tremendous stress" in the telecom sector, and Airtel will not hesitate to raise prices, but it will not do so unilaterally. The comments by the telecom czar came at a time when Airtel's rival Vodafone Idea has approached the government for a one-year moratorium on payment of spectrum instalment of over Rs 8,200 crore - due in April 2022. Cash-strapped VIL has told the telecom department that while it is working on raising new funding for the last six months, "investors are not willing to invest in the company because they believe that unless there is a significant improvement in consumer tariffs, the health of the industry will not recover and they will incur a loss on their investment".

Shareholders expect RIL to unlock value in telecom, retail

Shareholders expect RIL to unlock value in telecom, retail

Rediff.com11 Jul 2022

Institutional shareholders of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) are expecting big-ticket announcements from the company, including timeline for listing of its telecom and retail subsidiaries. They expect this to unlock value in the company, which has seen a sharp fall in market valuation on Friday. This is due to windfall tax imposed by the Centre on refiners and oil producers.

Govt has no interest in acquiring any telecom company: VIL CEO

Govt has no interest in acquiring any telecom company: VIL CEO

Rediff.com26 Sep 2021

The government has given an option to telcos to pay back interest on dues through equity and also conveyed that it has no interest in acquiring any telecom company, a top official of debt-ridden Vodafone Idea has said. Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) managing director and CEO Ravinder Takkar in an interview to PTI said it is clear that the government wants the company to compete in the market and there should be at least three private service providers in the telecom sector. "I have had many many interactions across various parts of the government leading up to this announcement (telecom reforms).

Policy, valuations could keep rural stocks in play post-2024 polls result

Policy, valuations could keep rural stocks in play post-2024 polls result

Rediff.com13 Jun 2024

Most brokerages are betting that the new government will shift to a policy focussing on boosting rural incomes and consumption since that has clearly been a pain point.

Sensex tumbles 733 points amid broad-based selloff; Nifty slips from record

Sensex tumbles 733 points amid broad-based selloff; Nifty slips from record

Rediff.com3 May 2024

From the Sensex basket, Larsen & Toubro, Maruti, Reliance Industries, Nestle, Bharti Airtel, UltraTech Cement, Kotak Mahindra Bank and JSW Steel were among the major laggards. Bajaj Finance climbed nearly 1 per cent higher.

Jio is India's top telecom revenue earner

Jio is India's top telecom revenue earner

Rediff.com27 Aug 2019

The incumbents Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea recorded adjusted gross revenue of Rs 10,701.5 crore and Rs 9,808.92 crore, respectively, during the quarter.

SC pulls up Centre, telecom cos for altering AGR order

SC pulls up Centre, telecom cos for altering AGR order

Rediff.com18 Mar 2020

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre and telecom companies for doing self-assessment or reassessment of the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues fixed by the apex court in its verdict given on October 24 last year. The top court, which was also anguished by frequently published newspaper articles on the AGR issue, said all managing directors of telecom companies will be personally responsible and held for contempt of court for any such future write-ups hiding the truth.

Elon Musk postpones India visit; cites Tesla 'obligations' as reason

Elon Musk postpones India visit; cites Tesla 'obligations' as reason

Rediff.com20 Apr 2024

American tech billionaire Elon Musk on Saturday said his proposed visit to India has been postponed due to "very heavy Tesla obligations". The electric carmaker Tesla CEO -- who was expected to be in India on April 21 and 22 and scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- wrote on X that he is looking forward to coming to India later this year.

Sunil Mittal on what telecom sector needs to remain viable

Sunil Mittal on what telecom sector needs to remain viable

Rediff.com10 Aug 2021

Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal has expressed hope that the government and regulators will step in to ensure the sector remains a viable place for continued investments and asserted that the industry requires "long overdue" support to maintain its current 3+1 structure. In the latest annual report of Airtel, Mittal said as the sector's role in the economy becomes more pervasive, its challenges loom larger. Issues such as unsustainable pricing and low returns in a highly capital-intensive environment, coupled with legacy legal issues, "have extracted their toll", Mittal observed.

Price hike, capex moderation key for further gains in Bharti Airtel stock

Price hike, capex moderation key for further gains in Bharti Airtel stock

Rediff.com18 Jun 2024

From its lows this month, the stock of Bharti Airtel is up 14 per cent. The gains for the telco have come on the back of expectations that market share consolidation, tariff hike and lower capex should boost margins and profits. While the company is a key player in the Indian market, it also has a leadership position in major markets of Africa.

Hong Kong busts $1.8-bn money laundering syndicate with India links, 7 held

Hong Kong busts $1.8-bn money laundering syndicate with India links, 7 held

Rediff.com16 Feb 2024

The syndicate used "stooge" bank accounts and shell companies to transfer the largest amount linked to a single case recorded in the city, the Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong said.

Crisis grips world's cheapest, biggest telecom market

Crisis grips world's cheapest, biggest telecom market

Rediff.com25 Dec 2019

When on October 24, the Supreme Court, on a petition moved by the government, ordered payment of past dues according to its new definition of AGR, the country's second-biggest carrier Vodafone-Idea Ltd warned of shut down if no relief is given. The total dues for the industry ran into a whopping Rs 1.47 lakh crore. For an industry that has come from 7-8 operators to just three private players and state-owned fourth operator, the warning by Vodafone-Idea sounded like a death knell.

Taiwan keen to help India become leader in chip space

Taiwan keen to help India become leader in chip space

Rediff.com29 Apr 2024

Taiwan is keen to collaborate with India and help it become a leader in the semiconductor space, Jason Ho, chairman of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in India, said, asserting that the Taiwanese companies have the supply chain for things that the Indian market needs. Manufacturing semiconductors - used in electric and hybrid cars, drones, and communication devices - is fairly complicated, entails huge investment, and can be a cumbersome process.