Indian telecom industry poised for record growth.
Telecom operator Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal on Wednesday said the telecom sector reforms approved by the Cabinet will ensure that the industry is able to invest fearlessly, and the company will respond to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to invest and accelerate the country's growth. Among a series of breathers for the stressed telecom sector, the Cabinet has approved the inclusion of revenues earned only from telecom services in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR), and the removal of penalty on dues to be paid to the government prospectively. Mittal congratulated and thanked the government for undertaking these seminal reforms to lift an industry that is at the core of his Digital India vision.
Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal on Wednesday said the regulatory regime needs to be simple to avoid fresh litigations in the telecom sector, asserting that collaboration among competing players, lower duties and reduction in spectrum pricing will help unleash the full potential of the industry. The telecom czar noted that the "temperature" of the industry needs to be lowered when it comes to litigations and appealed to the government to look into the matter. The timely reforms that were announced brought in cheer and heightened comfort for all the active players in the sector, Mittal said and urged the industry counterparts to focus on building the next wave of connectivity in the run-up to 5G and beyond.
Telecom players have started protesting against government's move to allow Voice over Internet Protocol. They say Reliance will be the biggest beneficiary.
Having missed most of the first three industrial revolutions, India has its chance to lead the fourth industrial revolution through a convergence of its IT prowess, ultra-high-speed internet connectivity and affordable smart devices, billionaire Mukesh Ambani said on Thursday. The richest Indian, who heads the nation's most valuable company Reliance Industries, said his group's telecom and digital unit Jio was conceived to provide the key ingredients needed to lead the fourth industrial revolution.
Siva Group had mandated JM Financial to hunt for a buyer, but investors shied away from the Indian telecom industry.
Bharti Airtel is the country's largest telecom operator.
Reliance Communications announced a new rate plan - Simply Unlimited Pack - with unlimited talk time on a single monthly recharge for its CDMA pre-paid customers.
Huawei came under a cloud after allegations that the firm's electronic and telecom devices helped China spy on US corporations and agencies.
BSNL offers 2GB data per day, unlimited calling for Rs 339
Lower CVD on accessories, parts and components will help in keeping the cost of handsets low.
Buoyed by the entry of new telecom players and entry of Reliance Communications in the GSM space, the Indian telecom industry clocked the highest subscriber-addition in a month, by adding 15.87 million subscribers in March 2009.
Indian telecom operators are world-leaders in terms of profitability, enjoying better EBIDTA margin than their counterparts in developed countries.
The company will start selling the Rs 800-phone to Asian, African and South Amercian consumers from next month.
Voice and Data, a flagship magazine of the Cybermedia Group, will organise a 'CEO Conclave' on the Indian telecom industry in leading metros, starting off with Mumbai on November 26.
In the biggest synergy in the Indian telecom industry, leading cellular service providers BPL Mobile, Escotel, RPG Cellular and Spice Telecom, have forged what they have named the 'MobileFirst' Alliance to provide enhanced value to their customers.
The industry wants higher FDI in the telecom sector.
No licensing system should come in the way of the country's progress: Shourie
The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,183.15 million at the end of May to 1,186.63 million at the end of June.
According to Ambani's presentation, data rates per GB are around $30 in Japan, $18 in Korea, $15 in China, $7.5 in Spain and $6 in South Africa
For existing customers, he announced that the current benefits will continue under a new tariff plan for another 12 months by payment of Rs 303 per month and a one-time joining fee of Rs 99.
Analysts expect structural risks such as risk to voice revenues, steep correction in data realisations, capex spend and rise in churn and subsequent increase in costs to continue in the medium term
High spectrum charges would lead to rise in mobile services rates and adversely impact government's Digital India initiative by impeding telecom network expansion.
The 2016 upstart, called Jio, dislodged rivals and has emerged as the nation's No. 4 carrier by offering call services free for life and data transmission at dirt cheap rates.
Given the escalating cost of doing business, the revenue opportunity is decreasing and consolidation is an inevitable part of the industry.
While it was technically not possible to block the deal, the tax department could resort to arm-twisting.
Mittal said that overall, he expected that by March 2018, the "dust will settle down" for the entire industry.
Viom Networks is planning to raise arouns Rs 1500 crore (Rs 15 billion) and is likely to list its shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), say sources.
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