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Tag: Anupam Shrivastava

  • Eros Now strikes a strategic partnership with BSNL

    Eros Now strikes a strategic partnership with BSNL

    Mumbai:  Eros International PLC (NYSE:EROS) (“Eros”), a Global Indian Entertainment Company, announced today that Eros Now, its cutting-edge digital over-the-top (OTT) South Asian entertainment platform has entered into a platform and content association with Indian state-owned telecommunications company – Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). The association comes as an initiative to deliver high quality on-demand entertainment to BSNL consumers thus enhancing the reach of Eros Now paid subscribers across the rural parts of India.

    The partnership between Eros Now and BSNL will further enhance the entertainment experience of BSNL’s post-paid as well as the pre-paid subscribers through their access to the Eros Now app including the vast library of over 11,000+ movies, digital originals, Eros Now Quickie, music videos and more. The alliance is a first for BSNL’s large pre-paid customer base to avail the services of an online video platform. The tie-up will allow all BSNL customers across all packs and tariffs to access the collection of Bollywood and Regional entertainment, on the go via the Eros Now app.

    As per the recent report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), by 2020, half of the internet population in India will be from rural India as the internet penetration there is expected to grow to as much as 35%, thus driving Video OTT services to take off in rural India. Eros Now’s association with BSNL reiterates its own reach strategy in connecting with predominantly rural Tier II and III markets where the telecom service provider has a strong foothold.

    Commenting on the partnership, Rishika Lulla Singh, CEO, Eros Digital, said, “As trends indicate, the OTT industry in India is expected to reach a size of $5 billion by 2023 with tier II, III and rural areas of India witnessing a sizeable increase in mobile penetration and data consumption. We are well poised to cater to this growing community and our alliance with BSNL is a step towards bridging the urban-rural gap and expanding our national reach”.

    Mr. Anupam Shrivastava, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL informed that keeping up to the commitment of offering great service at affordable price to BSNL subscribers, BSNL has taken this initiative of offering unlimited free viewing of video content on the Eros Now app. This service will be made available to BSNL subscribers by end of January 2019.

  • BSNL strikes deal with Amazon for free Prime membership for post-paid, broadband customers

    BSNL strikes deal with Amazon for free Prime membership for post-paid, broadband customers

    Mumbai: State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has tied up with e-commerce major Amazon to offer free Prime membership to select post-paid and broadband customers. BSNL users in India are eligible for one year of free membership worth Rs. 999. BSNL customers can avail these benefits with Rs 399 post-paid or Rs 745 broadband landline plans.
    The annual Amazon Prime membership can be activated through the BSNL website. Access to Prime Video is available after downloading the Prime Video app on supported devices. Similarly, one can enjoy Playlists and Stations specially curated by Amazon’s music editors across moods, activities, genres, artists and decades, by downloading the Amazon Prime Music app and avail shopping benefits by logging in with their Prime account credentials on Amazon.in.
    With this offering, eligible BSNL customers can enjoy unlimited streaming anytime, anywhere of top TV shows, standup comedies, favorite kids’ animation shows and premium movies – including the latest and exclusive blockbuster Bollywood and Indian Regional movies like Padmaavat, Raazi, Race 3, Kaala and Mahanati. Members can also enjoy critically acclaimed and hugely popular Prime Original series like Breathe, 2018 International Emmy® nominated Inside Edge, The Grand Tour, American Gods and now Comicstaan and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. In addition, customers can stream ad-free music with unlimited offline downloads across tens of millions of songs in multiple languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, Telugu, Bengali and more – and get free fast delivery on millions of items with early access to deals and discounts on Amazon.

    Amazon Prime Video India director and business head Gaurav Gandhi said, “Prime Video has received an overwhelming response from customers across the length and breadth of the country. We are thrilled that our association with BSNL will expand the reach of Prime Video to an even larger base of customers who can now enjoy premium content on a screen of their choice – be it their mobile device or the television in their living room.”
    BSNL chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava said “We understand the customer shift towards a highly networked digital ecosystem. Customers today demand freedom and flexibility in shopping and streaming content online. Our collaboration with Amazon India is our commitment to stay ahead of times providing the best to our customers. It provides them access to thousands of Indian and international movies, videos, TV Shows and music on the go. We are confident that our customers can enjoy uninterrupted on-the-go shopping and entertainment benefits with their Amazon Prime membership”.

    Amazon Prime India director and head Akshay Sahi said, “We are pleased to collaborate with BSNL making Amazon Prime membership accessible to more customers. Eligible BSNL post-paid and broadband landline customers can now experience Amazon Prime as a part of their plan. We believe these subscribers will love the many benefits of Prime and enjoy unlimited shopping, shipping and entertainment.”
    BSNL, Amazon Prime, Gaurav Gandhi, Anupam Shrivastava

  • BSNL ties up with Softbank, NTT for 5G, IoT deal

    BSNL ties up with Softbank, NTT for 5G, IoT deal

    MUMBAI: BSNL, a mobile service provider, has tied up with two top telecom operators of Japan, Softbank and NTT Communications, to roll out 5G and internet of things (IoT) technology in India, according to a report by the Press Trust of India.
    The service provider will partner with Softbank for its satellite constellation which will have around 900 satellites to provide high speed internet services across the globe.
    BSNL chairman and MD Anupam Shrivastava said, “We have signed agreement with Softbank and NTT Communications to roll out 5G and IoT products and services in India. Under the agreement, we will look at solutions specifically for smart cities.”
    Indian telecom operators are aiming to launch 5G in 2020. Operators such as Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone launched 3G seven years after the technology was available in other foreign markets and 4G services after a four-year lag.
    BSNL has signed an agreement with Finland-based telecom equipment maker Nokia and US-based enterprise networking company Cisco Systems for developing 5G ecosystem and working to finalise test cases for using 5G in India.
    BSNL is in advance stages of starting 5G field trials. The government is in agreement to provide 5G spectrum for trials.

    Earlier media reports said that the Indian government will not auction 5G spectrum in 2018 or 2019 due to weak financial conditions in the Indian telecom market.
    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended auction of about 8,644 MHz of telecom frequencies at an estimated base price of Rs 4.9 lakh crore. The government is yet to finalise details of allocation of spectrum for 5G services.

  • BSNL violating TRAI’s IUC norms, complains COAI

    BSNL violating TRAI’s IUC norms, complains COAI

    NEW DELHI: The Cellular Operator Association of India (COAI) has approached the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India against the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd’s (BSNL) new limited fixed mobile telephony app-based calling service that virtually turns mobiles into a cordless phone.

    The new service works in sync with landlines to make and receive calls within home premises.

    Claiming it was like the “in-principle same version of their fixed mobile telephony (FMT) services” launched last year and subsequently withdrawn, COAI members want TRAI to direct BSNL to withdraw the new service. BSNL has so far marketed its service as “distinct”.

    Interestingly, Reliance Jio has not joined in as it claims to have divergent views.

    While launching the new service in mid-January, BSNL had stated that the latest limited Fixed Mobile Telephony (FMT) service is “different” from the contentious Fixed Mobile Telephony service it had announced last year. The PSU was subsequently forced to put on hold the service following opposition from cellular operators.

    The operators say the new service is disguised as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) service and violation of numbering plan and breach of licence conditions.

    In its letter to TRAI, COAI has also alleged that BSNL’s service represents evasion and bypass of Interconnect Usage Charges (IUC) in the form of termination charges. “We understand that the new service will use fixed line Caller Line Identification for making calls from mobiles and currently no termination charges are applicable for calls to and from fixed line in terms of TRAI’s prevailing IUC regulation,” COAI said.

    If the service is allowed, other operators with landline number series may also start using the methodology for saving on IUC leading to major revenue implications, COAI has argued.

    “In light of the serious concerns … we request your kind intervention in issuing an immediate direction to BSNL for withdrawing this app-based calling service,” COAI has said.

    While putting its service on hold, BSNL chairman Anupam Shrivastava had said the earlier service allowed customers on roaming in India and overseas to connect their landlines through mobile and make calls through them, but the new service is restricted within the home premises.

    “Landline subscribers find it inconvenient to fetch the contact details from mobiles and then dial the number on fixed line … This service will turn mobile handset into a cordless device within the home premises, which means that customers can still avail the attractive landline tariffs of BSNL,” Shrivastava had said.

    Also Read:

    BSNL launches FMT & Ditto TV; 4G planned this year

    Fazed by expensive 4G spectrum, BSNL gifting Kerala 1k hotspots

  • BSNL violating TRAI’s IUC norms, complains COAI

    BSNL violating TRAI’s IUC norms, complains COAI

    NEW DELHI: The Cellular Operator Association of India (COAI) has approached the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India against the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd’s (BSNL) new limited fixed mobile telephony app-based calling service that virtually turns mobiles into a cordless phone.

    The new service works in sync with landlines to make and receive calls within home premises.

    Claiming it was like the “in-principle same version of their fixed mobile telephony (FMT) services” launched last year and subsequently withdrawn, COAI members want TRAI to direct BSNL to withdraw the new service. BSNL has so far marketed its service as “distinct”.

    Interestingly, Reliance Jio has not joined in as it claims to have divergent views.

    While launching the new service in mid-January, BSNL had stated that the latest limited Fixed Mobile Telephony (FMT) service is “different” from the contentious Fixed Mobile Telephony service it had announced last year. The PSU was subsequently forced to put on hold the service following opposition from cellular operators.

    The operators say the new service is disguised as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) service and violation of numbering plan and breach of licence conditions.

    In its letter to TRAI, COAI has also alleged that BSNL’s service represents evasion and bypass of Interconnect Usage Charges (IUC) in the form of termination charges. “We understand that the new service will use fixed line Caller Line Identification for making calls from mobiles and currently no termination charges are applicable for calls to and from fixed line in terms of TRAI’s prevailing IUC regulation,” COAI said.

    If the service is allowed, other operators with landline number series may also start using the methodology for saving on IUC leading to major revenue implications, COAI has argued.

    “In light of the serious concerns … we request your kind intervention in issuing an immediate direction to BSNL for withdrawing this app-based calling service,” COAI has said.

    While putting its service on hold, BSNL chairman Anupam Shrivastava had said the earlier service allowed customers on roaming in India and overseas to connect their landlines through mobile and make calls through them, but the new service is restricted within the home premises.

    “Landline subscribers find it inconvenient to fetch the contact details from mobiles and then dial the number on fixed line … This service will turn mobile handset into a cordless device within the home premises, which means that customers can still avail the attractive landline tariffs of BSNL,” Shrivastava had said.

    Also Read:

    BSNL launches FMT & Ditto TV; 4G planned this year

    Fazed by expensive 4G spectrum, BSNL gifting Kerala 1k hotspots

  • BSNL launches FMT & Ditto TV; 4G planned this year

    BSNL launches FMT & Ditto TV; 4G planned this year

    MUMBAI: State-run BSNL is now making diligent changes to their services. The service provider has gone beyond its limits and adapting to the dynamic changes in the Indian telecom scene.

    BSNL also announced mobile TV service ‘Ditto TV’ and limited fixed mobile telephony, an app that virtually turns mobiles into cordless phone working in sync with landlines within home. Ditto TV is a mobile TV service wherein subscribers can view live TV for over 80 channels.

    The reports of cheaper plans came in after BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava hinted the same in a tweet. He also revealed that BSNL plans to launch their 4G services, most likely this year.

    BSNL is prepared to re-introduce a ‘truly unlimited’ 3G data plan priced at Rs 498, along with many other new plans. These cheaper plans may be launched on 26 January — the Republic Day. The earlier plan offered users unlimited 3G data for 14 days. However, the plan was discontinued as BSNL noticed users violating the free data usage policy.

    Besides, BSNL still offers a plan offering unlimited data and free BSNL to BSNL calls at Rs 1099 per month. The BSNL announcement comes soon after Jio offered ‘Happy New Year Offer‘.

    A BSNL statement said that the “smartphone needs to download the app and with connectivity with BSNL broadband modem (say on Wi-Fi), customer can receive and also be able to make outgoing calls…on smartphone handsets. This service is in no way linked with mobile operator service or customer SIM in mobile handset,” the statement clarified.

    On the mobile TV offering, BSNL mobile users need to download Ditto TV app from the play store, install it on mobile, register and then start using the service, at Rs 20 per month and is also bundled with Data Special Tariff Voucher for recharge of Rs 223.

  • BSNL launches FMT & Ditto TV; 4G planned this year

    BSNL launches FMT & Ditto TV; 4G planned this year

    MUMBAI: State-run BSNL is now making diligent changes to their services. The service provider has gone beyond its limits and adapting to the dynamic changes in the Indian telecom scene.

    BSNL also announced mobile TV service ‘Ditto TV’ and limited fixed mobile telephony, an app that virtually turns mobiles into cordless phone working in sync with landlines within home. Ditto TV is a mobile TV service wherein subscribers can view live TV for over 80 channels.

    The reports of cheaper plans came in after BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava hinted the same in a tweet. He also revealed that BSNL plans to launch their 4G services, most likely this year.

    BSNL is prepared to re-introduce a ‘truly unlimited’ 3G data plan priced at Rs 498, along with many other new plans. These cheaper plans may be launched on 26 January — the Republic Day. The earlier plan offered users unlimited 3G data for 14 days. However, the plan was discontinued as BSNL noticed users violating the free data usage policy.

    Besides, BSNL still offers a plan offering unlimited data and free BSNL to BSNL calls at Rs 1099 per month. The BSNL announcement comes soon after Jio offered ‘Happy New Year Offer‘.

    A BSNL statement said that the “smartphone needs to download the app and with connectivity with BSNL broadband modem (say on Wi-Fi), customer can receive and also be able to make outgoing calls…on smartphone handsets. This service is in no way linked with mobile operator service or customer SIM in mobile handset,” the statement clarified.

    On the mobile TV offering, BSNL mobile users need to download Ditto TV app from the play store, install it on mobile, register and then start using the service, at Rs 20 per month and is also bundled with Data Special Tariff Voucher for recharge of Rs 223.

  • BSNL-Tata tie up; 44 million hotspots available abroad

    BSNL-Tata tie up; 44 million hotspots available abroad

    MUMBAI: State-owned telecom firm BSNL has tied up with Tata Communications to provide its customers access to 44 million wi-fi hotspots globally at fixed prices starting at Rs 999.

    BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava said that the BSNL was the first among the Indian mobile operators to have taken this huge step towards how subscribers would use wi-fi internationally. He said they had tied up with Tata to facilitate access to high-speed data service when its customers travelled abroad. They would be able to access unlimited data on that hotspots at fixed cost, he said.

    The customers can activate the wi-fi plan through BSNL’s mobile application. The plans are priced at Rs 999 for three days, Rs 1,599 for 15 days and Rs 1,999 for 30 days, inclusive of all other charges. The mobile application will also show location of wi-fi hotpsots.

    BSNL mobile subscribers could access wi-fi anywhere across the globe without worrying about the bill when they get home, Shrivastava added.

    Also Read:

    TRAI ideas on public WiFi in three weeks; Mumbai gets 500 hotspots

    ‘India needs 80 lakh hotspots; metros’ spectrum 1/10th of U.S’

    “There would be a lot on TRAI’s plate in 2017” – RS Sharma

  • BSNL-Tata tie up; 44 million hotspots available abroad

    BSNL-Tata tie up; 44 million hotspots available abroad

    MUMBAI: State-owned telecom firm BSNL has tied up with Tata Communications to provide its customers access to 44 million wi-fi hotspots globally at fixed prices starting at Rs 999.

    BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava said that the BSNL was the first among the Indian mobile operators to have taken this huge step towards how subscribers would use wi-fi internationally. He said they had tied up with Tata to facilitate access to high-speed data service when its customers travelled abroad. They would be able to access unlimited data on that hotspots at fixed cost, he said.

    The customers can activate the wi-fi plan through BSNL’s mobile application. The plans are priced at Rs 999 for three days, Rs 1,599 for 15 days and Rs 1,999 for 30 days, inclusive of all other charges. The mobile application will also show location of wi-fi hotpsots.

    BSNL mobile subscribers could access wi-fi anywhere across the globe without worrying about the bill when they get home, Shrivastava added.

    Also Read:

    TRAI ideas on public WiFi in three weeks; Mumbai gets 500 hotspots

    ‘India needs 80 lakh hotspots; metros’ spectrum 1/10th of U.S’

    “There would be a lot on TRAI’s plate in 2017” – RS Sharma

  • BSNL offers cheaper data, free calls; Rs 1250 crore subsidy approved

    BSNL offers cheaper data, free calls; Rs 1250 crore subsidy approved

    NEW DELHI: State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) soon plans to reportedly bring a plan which will give neck and neck competition to Reliance Jio. BSNL chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava said that the was closely observing Jio’s performance and the market.

    Plans being considered by BSNL are — lifetime free-voice-tariff plans from January 2017 at Rs 2-4 cheaper than Jio’s offering. (Jio’s entry price is Rs 149) Free voice calls to all BSNL users including 3G and 2G. Mobile customers with broadband can also avail this offer. BSNL users can use home broadband to route outgoing mobile calls through the landline network.

    BSNL subsidy

    Meantime, the Indian cabinet has approved a compensation of Rs.1,250 crore for the deficit incurred in operating rural landline connections installed before April 1, 2002. The subsidy support to BSNL will be paid from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). The USOF, since inception in 2002, has provided subsidy to BSNL for the rural wireline connections installed prior to April 2002. A total of Rs.8,692 crore has been extended as USOF subsidy support till date.