ITV

Category: Telecom

  • Sunil Raina calls the shots as new managing director at Lava International

    Sunil Raina calls the shots as new managing director at Lava International

    MUMBAI:  Sunil Raina has officially taken the reins as managing director at Lava International, stepping into the hot seat after a stellar 15-year rise through the ranks at the homegrown mobile brand.

    From leading marketing at Xolo to steering strategy as president and business head, and most recently serving as executive director, Raina has been the driving force behind Lava’s brand identity, market expansion, and product innovation over the years.

    His journey with the company began in 2010 as chief marketing officer, and since then, he’s been pivotal in Lava’s evolution from an emerging player to a Make in India torchbearer.

    With earlier stints at Telenor, Reliance Communications, Airtel, and Tata Teleservices, Raina’s telecom roots run deep. His marketing chops and GTM savvy are expected to play a key role as Lava navigates India’s fiercely competitive smartphone battleground.

    Industry insiders say Raina’s elevation signals a renewed push for domestic dominance and global ambition, as the brand looks to consolidate its positioning against Chinese rivals and double down on manufacturing, design, and distribution.

    As the handset wars heat up, all eyes are on how Lava’s homegrown hero plans to dial up growth—and ring in a fresh era of desi disruption.

  • Vi for victory? spectrum swaps, ARPU hikes and 5G boost Vodafone Idea

    Vi for victory? spectrum swaps, ARPU hikes and 5G boost Vodafone Idea

    MUMBAI: The fourth quarter of FY25 brought a much-needed signal boost for Vodafone Idea (Vi), as the beleaguered telco dialled up its strongest financial performance in years powered by equity infusions, spectrum-to-stock swaps, and an aggressive push into 5G and rural expansion.

    For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2025, Vi reported revenue of Rs 435.7 billion, marking a 2.2 per cent year-on-year increase. More notably, its annual cash EBITDA (pre-Ind AS 116) rose 9.5 per cent to Rs 92 billion, a third straight year of growth. The company’s Q4FY25 revenue hit Rs 110.1 billion, its highest average daily revenue in five years.

    But it’s not just numbers that changed. In a game-changing spectrum-to-equity conversion, Vi allotted 36.95 billion shares worth Rs 369.5 billion to the Government of India, boosting GoI’s stake to 49 per cent. With an additional Rs 180 billion from a public offer, and Rs 40 billion via preferential issues to Vodafone and Aditya Birla Group, Vi raised a total of Rs 614 billion in equity this year. That’s more than a capital top-up, it’s a lifeline.

    The subscriber base stood at 198.2 million at the end of Q4, with average revenue per user (ARPU) rising to Rs 175 up 14.2 per cent YoY. Vi also added over 6,900 new 4G towers this quarter (a company record since the merger), expanded 4G coverage to 83 per cent of India’s population, and improved 4G speeds by 28 per cent.

    Capex for FY25 totalled Rs 95.7 billion, with Q4 alone accounting for Rs 42.3 billion, Vi’s highest in a quarter post-merger. The company also brought down its bank debt from Rs 40.4 billion to Rs 23.3 billion and closed FY25 with a cash and bank balance of Rs 99.3 billion.

    However, challenges remain. Vi reported a consolidated loss of Rs 273.8 billion for the year and still holds spectrum and AGR liabilities aggregating over Ts 1.9 trillion. It has another Rs 164.3 billion in AGR dues falling due in FY26, and is in talks with banks for additional debt funding.

    To offset these burdens, Vi is diversifying its offerings. It launched new “Limitless” postpaid plans and hero prepaid plans to woo consumers, expanded its retail footprint to over 500 flagship stores and 2,500 touchpoints, and introduced premium international roaming benefits and lost baggage insurance.

    Even its B2B wing is flexing muscle, signing an MoU with West Bengal for MSME digital skilling and partnering with HPE to deliver enterprise-grade network solutions.

    Vi’s signal to the market is clear: it’s not just staying alive, it’s aiming for a comeback. With spectrum dues now equity, ARPU trending upwards, and credit ratings upgraded to BBB- (Stable) by ICRA and CARE, FY25 could be the year Vi finally got its second wind.

    Now, all eyes are on August 2025, when the company plans to beam 5G across all 17 of its spectrum circles. Until then, the mantra is clear: invest, expand, and connect.

  • Dialling into decline RCom posts heavy losses amid ongoing insolvency

    Dialling into decline RCom posts heavy losses amid ongoing insolvency

    MUMBAI: The lines are anything but clear at Reliance Communications (RCom), which dialled in a staggering consolidated loss of Rs 8,125 crore for the financial year ended 31 March 2025. With the telecom player still navigating the turbulent waters of insolvency, its latest audited results tell a tale of debt, deferred dreams, and deepening losses.

    Under the shadow of ongoing corporate insolvency proceedings since 2019, RCom’s affairs remain under the management of resolution professional Anish Niranjan Nanavaty. In a disclosure to stock exchanges, the company reported a loss of Rs 162 crore from continuing operations and an even steeper Rs 7,963 crore loss from discontinued operations, which include legacy telecom assets like spectrum, towers, and fibre assets still listed at 2018 valuations and now held for sale.

    Operating income slumped to Rs 278 crore for the year, against expenses of Rs 440 crore. The auditors, however, weren’t convinced everything adds up.

    The audit report issued by Pathak H.D. & Associates LLP is riddled with red flags from non-provisioning of interest on borrowings and foreign exchange fluctuations, to unauthorised asset sales and unresolved willful default allegations. “Had the interest and foreign exchange variation been provided,” the auditors note, “the reported loss would have been higher by Rs 5,110 crore, and the net worth lower by Rs 37,573 crore.”

    What’s more, RCom continues to default on statutory dues and has not implemented Ind AS 116 for lease accounting,  a miss that auditors flagged yet again.

    Even as a resolution plan remains pending before the NCLT and the Supreme Court battles over spectrum liabilities drag on, RCom maintains it has prepared its books on a ‘going concern’ basis. A claim auditors aren’t entirely buying, given the sustained erosion in net worth, which now stands at negative Rs 69,204 crore.

    Amidst it all, resolution efforts have hit pause. Applications to migrate telecom licences remain stuck in litigation. Multiple petitions before the NCLT, TDSAT, and the Supreme Court including the AGR dues dispute continue to cloud the future of RCom and its affiliates.”

    As India’s telecom landscape moves ahead with 5G and AI-driven innovations, RCom remains tethered to unresolved past dues and legal quicksand. Whether it can ring in a revival or continue to be stuck in voicemail remains a question only the courts and creditors can answer.

  • Vi Business inks pact with HPE to boost India’s enterprise tech game

    Vi Business inks pact with HPE to boost India’s enterprise tech game

    MUMBAI: In a move that signals smarter days ahead for Indian enterprise networks, Vi Business—the enterprise arm of Vodafone Idea—has signed a strategic managed services deal with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to deliver next-gen networking solutions across industries.

    The collaboration leans on the power of HPE Aruba Networking to roll out managed wireless LAN, switching, and security infrastructure, designed to support everything from sprawling manufacturing plants to sleek corporate HQs. With this alliance, Vi Business and HPE are looking to wire up workplaces with scalable, secure and AI-powered tech that runs as smoothly as a late-night software patch.

    All services will be handled by Vi’s Network Operations Center (NOC), which promises seamless delivery and in-life support. The offering includes AI- and ML-based analytics for intelligent orchestration, boosting user experience through predictive and adaptive networking. Enterprises also get support with well-defined service level agreements (SLAs), giving them peace of mind alongside performance.

    Private data centres are also in focus. Vi and HPE plan to co-develop solutions that can cater to the growing storage and compute demands of private and public sector enterprises—including government entities.

    Vodafone Idea chief enterprise business officer Arvind Nevatia said, “We are excited to sign this strategic partnership with HPE. This collaboration will not only strengthen Vi Business’s ICT product portfolio but also enhance our offerings by integrating our telco core with advanced enterprise solutions. Together, Vi Business and HPE are committed to delivering scalable, secure, and high-performance solutions that drive operational efficiency, enabling digital transformation for our enterprise customers”.

    HPE Aruba Networking EVP & GM Phil Mottram added, “We are thrilled to join forces with Vi Business, as this represents a powerful leap forward for enterprise innovation in India. By combining the intelligence and security of HPE Aruba Networking with Vi’s strong connectivity and service expertise, we will deliver agile, resilient, and future-ready solutions that will empower businesses to scale confidently in a rapidly evolving digital landscape”.

    This partnership brings together robust connectivity and deep tech innovation, creating a one-stop solution for enterprises hoping to modernise their network infrastructure without the usual headache.

     

  • Europe shoots for the stars with home-grown satellite internet

    Europe shoots for the stars with home-grown satellite internet

    MUMBAI: Space, it seems, is the final frontier for European ambition. Constellation Technologies & Operations (CTO), a plucky French outfit with grand designs on satellite internet, has inked a memorandum of intent with the European Space Agency (ESA) to conduct orbital experiments that could shake up the cosmic connectivity game.

    The partnership will see the duo test the world’s first regenerative 5G payload operating in the mmWave band from low Earth orbit, with a satellite launch pencilled in for June 2025. It’s a bold gambit to prove that Europe can play with the big boys—namely America’s SpaceX and China’s expanding constellation of internet satellites.
    Whilst Elon Musk’s Starlink and Chinese competitors dominate the space internet market, CTO is championing what it calls a “made in Europe” alternative. The company’s pitch is seductive: a shared, neutral infrastructure that lets telecom operators beam high-speed, low-latency internet from space without breaking the bank on massive capital investments.

    CTO CEO & founder Charles Delfieux isn’t mincing words about the venture’s ambitions. He stated:  “This alliance with ESA reflects a shared ambition: to build a competitive European sovereignty in space connectivity, powered by bold technology designed and developed in Europe. We’re proving that it’s possible to compete on a global scale without compromise—giving telecom operators back control over their future in space. Space is the new frontier for telecoms!”

    The technical wizardry involves using very low Earth orbit satellites to leverage telecom operators’ existing 5G mmWave spectrum, creating what the companies describe as a “hybrid connectivity ecosystem.” Rather than building entirely new networks, operators could complement their terrestrial infrastructure with space-based coverage—particularly handy for remote, rural, or crisis-hit areas where laying fibre is either impossible or prohibitively expensive.

    ESA  director of connectivity & secure communications Laurent Jaffart sees the collaboration as part of Europe’s broader push for “technological sovereignty.” He said: “This agreement aligns with ESA’s strategy to support the rise of innovative European players and jointly build resilient connectivity. The upcoming tests with CTO will pave the way for new hybrid use cases at the intersection of terrestrial and space networks.” 
    The upcoming tests, conducted jointly between CTO’s French-developed regenerative payload and ESA’s experimental facilities in Oxfordshire, represent what both parties hope will be a “major step forward” in the race for European space independence.

    As satellite internet becomes increasingly crucial for everything from military communications to rural broadband, Europe finds itself uncomfortably dependent on foreign providers. CTO’s proposition—a competitively priced, operator-friendly alternative—could offer a lifeline for European telecoms companies looking to expand their reach without surrendering control to American or Chinese constellations.

    Whether this ambitious European venture can actually deliver on its promises remains to be seen. But with ESA’s backing and a clear launch timeline, CTO is certainly putting its money where its mouth is. In the high-stakes game of space internet, Europe is finally ready to make its move.

  • Vi boosts global travel plans in 145+ countries with double data and free calls this summer

    Vi boosts global travel plans in 145+ countries with double data and free calls this summer

    MUMBAI: As outbound travel heats up for the summer, telecom major Vi has stepped up its international roaming (IR) offerings with a seasonally upgraded suite of postpaid plans. The refreshed plans now deliver double data, unlimited incoming calls, and added travel protection for Indian users heading abroad during peak vacation months.

    India recorded a surge in international flyers with 64.5 million passengers between January and November 2024—an 11.4 per cent rise over the previous year, as per data from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Tapping into this growing wanderlust, Vi has revised three IR postpaid plans starting at Rs 649, offering greater convenience, connectivity, and value for Indian travellers across over 145 countries.

    Vi’s upgraded IR plans now include a limited-period double data offer:

    ●    Rs 649 (1 day): 1 GB data (up from 500 MB), 50 outgoing minutes, 10 SMS, unlimited free incoming calls

    ●    Rs 2999 (10 days): 10 GB data (up from 5 GB), 300 outgoing minutes, 50 SMS, unlimited free incoming calls

    ●    Rs 3999 (30 days): 30 GB data (up from 12 GB), 1500 outgoing minutes, 100 SMS, unlimited free incoming calls

    This upgrade ensures users can do more on-the-go-whether navigating city maps, making video calls, streaming shows, or handling work emails-with reduced data anxiety.

    Adding to the hassle-free experience, Vi lets customers schedule roaming pack activations up to 60 days in advance. Travellers can activate their plans any time through the Vi app or website, selecting their destination, duration, and pack in just a few clicks.

    To safeguard baggage blues, Vi continues its tie-up with Blue Ribbon Bags. For a nominal Rs 99, users receive up to Rs 19,800 compensation per bag if their checked luggage is delayed or lost beyond 96 hours of complaint registration.

    Vi has also ensured that help is always on hand with 24×7 international roaming customer support-available for any network or service issue, wherever users may be.

    With robust data packs, always-on assistance, and baggage protection, Vi’s new IR proposition turns global travel into a smoother ride-just in time for the school break exodus.

     

  • Airtel gives caller ID a glow up with Business Name Display launch

    Airtel gives caller ID a glow up with Business Name Display launch

    MUMBAI: Is it your bank or just another spam bot? Airtel Business wants to take the guesswork out of answering calls, one display name at a time. The telecom giant has launched Business Name Display (BND), a first-of-its-kind service in India that lets businesses flash their verified brand name on your phone screen during outgoing calls. In a world where unknown numbers trigger suspicion and “Potential Spam” labels trigger instant rejection, this nifty new feature is all about making customer conversations a little less cat-and-mouse.

    The move builds on Airtel’s earlier anti-spam crusade, which helped users dodge pesky telemarketers but had the unfortunate side-effect of flagging legit calls from banks, food delivery riders, hospitals, and couriers as possible spam. So while users became savvier, brands got ghosted. BND aims to change that reinstating trust, one branded ring at a time.

    Airtel Business director & CEO Sharat Sinha said, “At Airtel, we are constantly innovating to create a communication experience that is smarter, safer and more transparent for everyone. With “Business Name Display”, we will be helping businesses establish trust and stand out with every call while simultaneously giving customers the confidence of knowing who is reaching out to them. It is about making communication more personal, secure and seamless for both sides.”  

    Airtel piloted the feature with over 250 companies across banking, retail, mobility, and delivery services. In just one month, these businesses used 1.5 million plus numbers to make 12.8 million calls, reporting a spike in engagement and answer rates. Because apparently, when people know it’s their pizza or parcel calling they tend to pick up.

    The service is easily activated via Airtel Business’s portal, where companies can register and configure their details. No more hiding behind random digits, just clear, verified identity with every ring.

    In a world of dodgy dials, Airtel’s Business Name Display could be the caller ID glow-up we didn’t know we needed.

  • Jio Platforms rides the 5G wave: revenues, profits, and ambitions soar in FY’25

    Jio Platforms rides the 5G wave: revenues, profits, and ambitions soar in FY’25

    MUMBAI: Reliance’s digital juggernaut, Jio Platforms Limited (JPL), wrapped up FY25 in style, clocking quarterly revenues of Rs 39,853 crore, up 17.8 per cent year-on-year, and an EBITDA surge of 18.5 per cent to Rs 17,016 crore. The subscriber base swelled to 488 million, with over 191 million True 5G users, as India’s data appetite drove traffic to an eye-watering 185 exabytes – a 24 per cent jump.

    Average revenue per user (ARPU) climbed to Rs 206.2, thanks to tariff hikes and a posher customer mix. Net profit rose a muscular 25.8 per cent to Rs 7,023 crore for the quarter ended March 2025, fuelled by strong EBITDA flow-through and despite a modest uptick in depreciation and finance costs.

    Jio’s operating revenue (net of GST) grew on the back of mobility tariff hikes and a surge in home broadband and digital services. EBITDA margins stayed a steady 50.1 per cent, while churn was the industry’s lowest at 1.8 per cent. Data consumption hit a per capita monthly average of 33.6 GB, with total data traffic rising nearly 20 per cent year-on-year.

    Jio signed an agreement with SpaceX to retail Starlink broadband in India, pending regulatory green lights. It also rolled out a cricket season blitz – free JioHotstar and JioFiber/AirFiber deals to woo mobile and home users alike.

    The telco flexed its tech muscle at the Mahakumbh mela, handling 400 million data service requests and 20 million voice calls on peak days without breaking a sweat. In parallel, partnerships with AMD, Cisco, Nokia, and Ericsson are fuelling its next big play: an Open Telecom AI Platform designed to slash operational costs and turbocharge network efficiency using cutting-edge agentic AI.

    Jio’s IP prowess didn’t go unnoticed either, with wins at the National Intellectual Property Awards and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Trophy, further burnishing its credentials as India’s poster child for homegrown innovation.

    Reliance Jio Infocomm chairman Akash M Ambani summed it up, saying: “Jio continues to drive consistent outperformance with best-in-the-world network technologies and a wide bouquet of digital services. Our work at the Mahakumbh and plans to enable large-scale AI infrastructure reaffirm our commitment to serving India’s digital future.”

  • Truecaller dials up policy muscle, taps Aruna Sundararajan for board role

    Truecaller dials up policy muscle, taps Aruna Sundararajan for board role

    MUMBAI: Truecaller is adding some serious regulatory firepower to its boardroom. The Stockholm-based caller ID giant has nominated Aruna Sundararajan—former telecom policy chief and digital transformation architect—for a seat on its board, ahead of the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for 23 May.

    The nomination comes as part of a broader recommendation from the Truecaller AB nomination committee, which also proposed the re-election of all existing board members—Nami Zarringhalam, Alan Mamedi, Annika Poutiainen, Helena Svancar, and Shailesh Lakhani.

    Sundararajan is no stranger to tech and governance. The former secretary at India’s ministry of electronics and IT and department of telecommunications has steered some of the country’s most ambitious digital infrastructure and policy initiatives. She now chairs the Broadband India Forum and sits on the boards of Delhivery, Info Edge, L&T Technology Services, and India’s National Bank for Infra Financing and Development (NaBFID).

    “We are very pleased with the nomination of Aruna Sundararajan as a new board member of Truecaller. She possesses extensive experience in policy and regulatory matters within technology and has board experience from several listed companies in India. Her appointment as a new board member is expected to significantly enhance the board’s collective expertise and competence in these areas. With this addition the Board will consist of six board members with well diversified competences and experiences,” said Truecaller’s nomination committee chair Kamjar Hajabdolahi. “Her addition will level up the board’s strategic depth at a time when digital trust and global expansion are front and centre.”

    The committee, comprising reps from top shareholders and co-founder Alan Mamedi, will publish its full slate of proposals and justifications alongside the AGM notice.

    Founded in 2009 and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since 2021, Truecaller has become a default defence against spam and scam calls globally. With over 450 million active users, the app blocked nearly 56 billion unwanted calls in 2024—making it one of the world’s most widely used caller ID platforms.

    With Sundararajan’s potential onboarding, Truecaller is ringing in not just experience—but influence that matters.

  • Indian mobile count goes up as does broadband: TRAI data Jan 2025

    Indian mobile count goes up as does broadband: TRAI data Jan 2025

    MUMBAI: India’s telecom sector added a modest 2.1 million net subscribers in January 2025, nudging the total count to 1.19 billion, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s monthly data release. But it wasn’t all smooth signal—wireline connections tanked, dropping over 10 per cent as TRAI shifted 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) from wired to wireless accounting.

    Mobile still rules the roost, with 1.16 billion users riding the wireless wave, including 5.7 million FWA users. Urban India continued to drive growth, adding over 5 million new mobile connections. Meanwhile, rural areas quietly chipped in with just under a million more.

    Broadband subscriptions inched up 0.04 per cent to 945.16 million—an uninspiring climb, considering Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel hold over 80 per cent of the market. Wireline broadband, meanwhile, shrank slightly as users cut the cord in favour of FWA.
    MARKETSHAREDATAMobile Number Portability (MNP) remained red-hot with 14.14 million requests in Jan alone—pushing the all-time tally past 1.09 billion. Uttar Pradesh (East) and Maharashtra topped the charts for most switched loyalties.
    The market remains firmly in private hands, with Jio and Airtel leading across broadband and mobile. 

    Government-owned players like BSNL and MTNL continue to struggle, holding just 8 per cent of wireless subscribers and less than a quarter of the wireline market.

    Tele-density stood at 84.54 per cent—Delhi being the most connected with an eye-popping 274 per cent, while Bihar lagged behind at 56.6 per cent.

    And while fixed lines may be flatlining, India’s telecom story continues to be a mostly wireless wonder.