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Tag: Bharti Airtel

  • TRAI data: Mobile b’band subs get over DeMon in December 2016

    MUMBAI: This is good good news for the those in the OTT/SVOD/App ecosystem. According to the latest telecom subscription up to 31 December 2016 released by the Telecom Regulatory Authoriy of India (TRAI), Indian consumers quickly got over the demonetisation hiccup – at least as far as subscribing to mobile broadband, and dongles are concerned.

    Growth at 8.89 per cent has come back in the December month with the total number of mobile broadband subscribers rising to 217.36 million from 199.61 million subs earlier.

    This increase has come about primarily due to Reliance Jio’s relentless drive to build a user base: it had 72.16 million mobile broadband users, whereas Bharti Airtel (43.56 million), Vodafone (35.02 million), Idea Cellular (27.04 million), and BSNL (20.36 million) followed.

    Prime minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on 8 November 2016. In that month, the number of users of broadband via mobile and dongles fell by 0.14 per cent from 199.91 million to 199.61 million. Probably, their woes in depositing the old notes and getting cash for themselves kept them preoccupied.

    In the months prior to that (October and September) subscription growth for wireless broadband and dongles was running at double digits at 14.97 per cent to 199.91 million and 13.31 per cent to 173.87 million.

    Reliance Jio accounted for 52.23 million (November), 35.94 million (October), and 16 million subs (September). Bharti Airtel’s figures for the same period were 41.90 million, 46.22 million, and 44.25 million respectively. Whereas the numbers for the respective period for Vodafone were (34.87 million) (40.19 million) and (35.93 million) and for Idea Cellular were (28.40 million) (29.76 million) (30.72 million).

    We will have to wait and watch whether the media blitzkrieg and broadband offers by Idea and Bharti Airtel which commenced a month or so ago will help slow down the uptake of Reliance Jio and swing subscribers back towards them. For Reliance Jio, of course the challenge remains how to convert the large number of free subscribers it has signed on into paying ones.

    As of a month or so ago, it had limited the daily bandwidth consumption to 1 GB at 4G speeds, following which data speeds drop. But users don’t seem to be complaining as they are quite hopeful that the free offer will continue courtesy the largesse of Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani beyond 31 March 2017.

  • TRAI to review telecoms tariff structure

    NEW DELHI: Changing telecom landscape and increasing convergence happening between telecoms and broadcast services have made Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) initiate a fresh consultation process regarding telecoms tariff structures.

    The consultation paper put out by TRAI late last week, while highlighting dealing with “emergent issues and challenges”, said the re-assessment becomes necessary to take care of regulatory principles of tariff issues like “transparency, promotional offers, disclosures and non discrimination, adherence to the principle of non-predatory pricing, meaning of predatory pricing, relevant market (and) assessment of dominant position.”

    “The consultation process aims to bring about greater clarity in interpretation of various regulatory principles set out in the TTO (Telecommunication Tariff Order, 1999) in consonance with the best global practices,” the TRAI paper said.

    Of late various telcos have been opposing and criticising TRAI’s inaction in dealing effectively with predatory pricing and offers, especially a comparative newcomer, Reliance Jio. An extension till March 31, 2017 to Jio’s free data offer to its consumers and targets has been the cause of heartburn in the telecom industry.

    According to a news report in Mint newspaper, Market leader Bharti Airtel Ltd has moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), raising questions about the validity of the extension of Reliance Jio free offers till March 2017 and accusing TRAI of inaction against Jio.

    While the regulator in the past has justified its actions on the Jio free offer fracas, in its latest consultation paper it explained the need to go in for a fresh assessment of the tariff structures of telecoms service providers: “Despite the amendments made to the TTO and other regulations issued to factor in various market developments, a need has been felt to undertake a comprehensive review of the TTO framework, albeit in a phased manner, starting with a discussion on the core regulatory principles enshrined in the TTO…The consultation is in line with the decision taken in the meeting held with the CEOs of the TSPs (telecoms service providers) on 6 January 2017 to discuss the annual calendar of activities of TRAI for the year 2017, which, inter-a/ia, included developing a new framework for tariffs in evolving telecommunication sector and on which there was a consensus.”

  • MSOs among Top 5 fastest net providers, telco Airtel leads the pack

    MUMBAI: Cable TV companies have begun featuring in the country’s top five companies that lead in providing the fastest internet speed and downloads.

    Although lead by the top telecom company Bharti Airtel, the cable TV companies in the fast-net list are — 7 Star Digital and Hathway, according to the Netflix ISP Speed Index.

    For the third time since September 2016, the average download speed on Bharti Airtel’s mobile network was measured to be the highest in January at 8.42 megabit per second (mbps), according to the latest data published by TRAI, the telecom regulator. Netflix Index also rated Airtel as the fastest ISP with 2.25 Mbps Speed.

    Also, a Credit Suisse report published this month stated that Airtel 4G offered the best download speeds in general at around 12Mbps based on its study conducted across 30 cities, and that Vodafone, Jio and Idea were close to 7-8Mbps.

    The average mobile data speed per month published by TRAI showed that the download speed on Airtel almost doubled in January from 4.68 mbps in the preceding months, PTI reported. The monthly average speed on India’s largest broadband service-provider Jio however reduced by over half to 8.34 mbps from 18.14 mbps peak speed that it registered in December 2016.

    TRAI collects information and calculates on a real-time basis the speed of mobile data from subscribers across India with the help of MySpeed application.

    The Netflix ISP Speed Index meantime also rated Airtel as the fastest Internet Service Provider with 2.25 Mbps Speed. The Index announced Airtel to be the fastest internet service provider followed by Spectranet, 7 Star Digital and ATRIA Convergence. While Airtel gives broadband services via cable, DSL, wireless and fiber, Spectranet provides its broadband services through fiber.

    7 Star offers cable TV, digital Media, broadband and entertainment services. It holds an ISP license to offer broadband in Mumbai and is also the first HD content provider across India. ATRIA speed fell below 2.18 Mbps, and Hathway climbed a spot higher to pocket the fifth position with 1.93 Mbps speed, followed by YOU with 1.84 Mbps speed.

    Meantime, in an attempt to check mobile service quality, TRAI has begun operator-assisted tests that capture real-time data to monitor the level of call drops and voice quality across multiple cities. The tests involves the telcos’ equipment and costs, with TRAI supervising the process.

    The tests have already taken place in Mathura (UP-West circle), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Jaisalmer, (Rajasthan), and Mangalore (Karnataka), among other. Tests are under way or slated to be conducted over the coming weeks in locations include Kalyan, Noida, Jammu, Guwahati-Dispur, Mysore, Hyderabad, Rajkot, Bhopal, and Jhansi, as per the schedule drawn up by the regulator.

  • Over 35,000 PoIs provided to Jio by Airtel

    Over 35,000 PoIs provided to Jio by Airtel

    MUMBAI:  Bharti Airtel has informed the BSE that it has provided a total of over 35,000 points of interconnect (Pols) to Reliance Jio in record time of five months. Of these 27, 719 Pols – 79 per cent  of the total – have been dedicated for incoming calls from Jio customers, which is the highest amongst all operators.

    The Pols have been provided well above the customer growth projection provided by Jio to Airtel. The capacity provided is ideal for serving over 190 million customers on the Jio network and is more than double of the 72.5 million total customers currently claimed by Jio.

    More importantly, the above mentioned capacity has been released at a staggering pace, something not seen before in the Indian telecom industry and is much more than comparable capacity provided by Airtel to other operators.

    • Vodafone with 202 million customers has been provided a total of approx. 40,600 Pols by Airtel over a period of 21 years. Of these 23, 950 Pols are for incoming calls- much less than what has been provided to Jio.

    • Idea with 185 million customers has been provided a total of approx. 38,130 Pols by Airtel over a period of 21 years. Of these 23, 694 Pols are for incoming calls- again much less than what has been provided to Jio.

    • Reliance Communications with 86 million customers has been provided a total of approx.
    13,400 Pols by Airtel over 13 years. Of these 8415 Pols are for incoming calls -less than one third of what has been provided to Jio.

    • Telenor with 58 million customers has been provided a total of approx. 9000 POls over seven years. Of these 6510 Pols are for incoming calls – less than one fourth of what has been provided to Jio.

    Ever since the commercial launch of services by Jio in September 2016, Airtel has honoured its regulatory obligations and ensured that there are no capacity constraints from its end and customers are not inconvenienced. In fact, Airtel has been providing Pols to Jio, well ahead of the commencement of its commercial operations.

    It, therefore, appears that the constant rhetoric by Jio with regard to Pols is aimed at covering up technical issues in their own network or their inability to activate the Pols given.

    On the contrary, due to continued non-compliance of TRAI’s tariff orders by Jio by providing free services for the past 5-6 months, there is a tsunami of incoming voice traffic on the Airtel network, thereby, impacting the service experience of our customers.

    The huge asymmetry in traffic due to Jio’s free offers has also resulted complete failure of the present IUC regime, which assumes nearly symmetric traffic while fixing the below cost termination charge. The present termination charge of 14 paise is less than half of the actual cost of terminating calls on the network, resulting in huge loss to the company.

    Allocation of Pols to operators by Airtel

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/sites/drupal7.indiantelevision.co.in/files/styles/large/public/jio%20%281%29.jpg?itok=zz-Qq-RM

  • Jio offers: TDSAT gives TRAI time to explain

    Jio offers: TDSAT gives TRAI time to explain

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to clarify whether Reliance Jio Infocomm’s offers — Happy New Year offer and Welcome offer — are aligned with the letter and spirit of the tariff order.

    TDSAT asked TRAI to provide an explanation on whether the provision of the two Jio offers as well as their implementation follow Telecom Consumers Protection Regulation. TRAI is expected to file its response by 15 February before TDSAT takes a decision possibly on next hearing on 20 February.

    The tribunal has asked TRAI to explain whether Jio’s two offers are at variance. TRAI has also been been told to explain whether Jio had informed its subscribers that the two offers were non-similar and whether it took the ‘subscriber’s approval’. 

    TRAI had stated that Jio’s New Year offer was not violative of the principles of non-discrimination, interlinked rule compliance and was non-predatory. TRAI recently gave a go-ahead to Jio’s free mobile voice calling and data plan on the condition that the scheme is not a violation of the guidelines on promotional offers.

    On 4 December 2016, Jio launched Happy New Year offer which was distinct from its earlier Welcome Offer and could not be treated as an extension of the earlier promotional offer as the benefits were different. Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular had petitioned TDSAT for allowing Jio to continue its promotional offer for over 90 days.

    Jio spokesperson however said that Airtel’s intention was to divert attention from its own violation of licensing conditions by denying PoIs to Jio. Airtel was also acting against consumer interest by opposing Jio’s ‘free voice’ benefit. All Jio plans had been found to be non-predatory by TRAI, Jio stated.

    Also Read:

    TRAI allowing Jio to contravene rules, Airtel files affidavit in TDSAT

    Idea petitions TDSAT against TRAI; price war set to escalate

  • Clarify Rs 3,050-cr PoI penalty norms, telecom panel asks TRAI

    Clarify Rs 3,050-cr PoI penalty norms, telecom panel asks TRAI

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Commission as sought clarity from TRAI in the matter relating to the latter recommending Rs 50 crore per circle penalty on Vodafone India, Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular in October 2016. The panel directed the department of telecom (DoT) to seek clarity from TRAI on whether the regulator can impose the penalty for violation for interconnect norms.

    The penalty was recommended by TRAI on the three telcos accused of denying interconnectivity to newcomer telco Reliance Jio. According to TRAI, the penalty for Airtel and Vodafone was at Rs 1,050 crore each, while for Idea it was around Rs 950 crore. DoT had earlier sought legal opinion from attorney-general on whether it had the powers to impose the penalty, to which he had opined that DoT could impose the penalty.

    A senior government official reportedly said the panel now asked DoT to seek clarification from TRAI on 10-12 points, including whether the 90-day period was given to the operators for providing point of interconnection (PoI), method of calculating penalty of Rs 50 crore per circle etc.

    Meanwhile, the panel has also okayed demand of Rs 2,834 crore to be raised from operators which provided services between February 2012, when Supreme Court cancelled their licences, and till the time they procured fresh permits after buying spectrum in auction.

    Experts said other issues that needed clarification included whether the penalty was reached after calculating congestion in the network on a monthly average and the fine was based upon the license as contract and not on PoI pact between the operators. Jio had in August submitted to TRAI that it will need 12,727 PoIs for mobile services and 3,068 PoIs for STD facilities before its commercial launch.

    Also Read:

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/trai-hc-asks-idea-dot-to-file-affidavit-on-plea-170124

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/iworld/telecom/rs-30k-cr-to-enhance-jio-coverage-a-g-clears-dots-power-to-penalise-telcos-170114

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/tdsat/jio-hny-tdsat-raps-trai-as-contest-deepens-170106

    http://www.indiantelevision.com/regulators/trai/respond-to-vodafones-trai-challenge-in-two-weeks-govt-directed-170104

  • Idea petitions TDSAT against TRAI; price war set to escalate

    Idea petitions TDSAT against TRAI; price war set to escalate

    MUMBAI: Idea Cellular has petitioned TDSAT seeking to stop Reliance Jio from continuing free services till 31 March. In December 2016, India’s largest telco Bharti Airtel had moved the tribunal over the same issue.

    TDSAT had, in its last hearing, directed TRAI to come to a conclusion in “reasonable time”.

    Jio’s free services have set off a price war. After Reliance proposing investment of Rs 30,000 crore by end of this fiscal, the war is set to escalate. The recent cut-down — by approximately 66 per cent — in data rates impacted Idea’s stock prices. Airtel’s stock too was in the list of the losers on Nifty.

    India’s third largest wireless operator Idea Cellular, run by the multi-billion dollar conglomerate Aditya Birla Group, has now filed a petition in the appellate telecom tribunal (TDSAT) against the telecom regulator TRAI. According to an unidentified TRAI official, the authority has sought opinion of attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi on the matter related to Jio’s extension of free services.

    TRAI chairman R.S. Sharma said that everybody in India was free to move court. The Constitution provided them the right. TRA was looking into the matter of Jio’s promotional services and the presentations / arguments made by other operators, and would decide the issue very soon.

    Airtel had said that TRAI was allowing Jio to continue with its free internet services beyond the stipulated 90-days time period. It had accused TRAI of acting as a “mute spectator” and killing competition in the sector by allowing Jio to offer free services. Rival telcos had said the free services were predatory in nature.

    Also Read:

    Jio may use US$4.4bn to lay OFC, expand network to stifle competition

    Rs 30k cr to enhance Jio coverage; A-G clears DoT’s power to penalise telcos

    Q3-17: Reliance: Jio busts records, organized retail op profit grows 55 percent

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

     

  • Idea petitions TDSAT against TRAI; price war set to escalate

    Idea petitions TDSAT against TRAI; price war set to escalate

    MUMBAI: Idea Cellular has petitioned TDSAT seeking to stop Reliance Jio from continuing free services till 31 March. In December 2016, India’s largest telco Bharti Airtel had moved the tribunal over the same issue.

    TDSAT had, in its last hearing, directed TRAI to come to a conclusion in “reasonable time”.

    Jio’s free services have set off a price war. After Reliance proposing investment of Rs 30,000 crore by end of this fiscal, the war is set to escalate. The recent cut-down — by approximately 66 per cent — in data rates impacted Idea’s stock prices. Airtel’s stock too was in the list of the losers on Nifty.

    India’s third largest wireless operator Idea Cellular, run by the multi-billion dollar conglomerate Aditya Birla Group, has now filed a petition in the appellate telecom tribunal (TDSAT) against the telecom regulator TRAI. According to an unidentified TRAI official, the authority has sought opinion of attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi on the matter related to Jio’s extension of free services.

    TRAI chairman R.S. Sharma said that everybody in India was free to move court. The Constitution provided them the right. TRA was looking into the matter of Jio’s promotional services and the presentations / arguments made by other operators, and would decide the issue very soon.

    Airtel had said that TRAI was allowing Jio to continue with its free internet services beyond the stipulated 90-days time period. It had accused TRAI of acting as a “mute spectator” and killing competition in the sector by allowing Jio to offer free services. Rival telcos had said the free services were predatory in nature.

    Also Read:

    Jio may use US$4.4bn to lay OFC, expand network to stifle competition

    Rs 30k cr to enhance Jio coverage; A-G clears DoT’s power to penalise telcos

    Q3-17: Reliance: Jio busts records, organized retail op profit grows 55 percent

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

     

  • Jio may use US$4.4bn to lay OFC, expand network to stifle competition

    Jio may use US$4.4bn to lay OFC, expand network to stifle competition

    MUMBAI: It’s common knowledge that Reliance Jio, Mukesh Ambani’s telecom venture, is up against incumbent rivals such as Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, and Idea Cellular. Jio closed 2016 with 72.4 million subscribers. Last September, it claimed to be the fastest growing technology operation in the globe after signing up 50 million subs in 83 days.

    Ambani has already invested Rs 1,71,000 crore (approx US$25 billion) into Jio to build India’s first fourth-generation (4G)-only infrastructure to provide high-speed internet. He recently announced that Jio will raise another Rs 30,000 crore through a rights issue, which will be used to expand existing network and lay additional optical fibre cable (OFC). OFC is vital for high-speed internet as it joins one telecom tower, transmitting air waves for wireless connectivity, to the other, via cables.

    Reliance announced plans for a rights issue of convertible preference shares at Jio to raise US$ 4.4 billion. A part of the funds will be used to continue funding its free internet services, which has been a reason for regulatory tussle with other telecom operators.

    Vodafone is fighting a legal case against Jio. Bharti CMD Sunil Mittal said that Jio’s free services started an unfair competition.

    Jio has already acquired 72 million subscribers, and is adding six lakh new ones every day, the company says. Jio’s offers set off a price war. Airtel now is offering Rs 9,000 of free 4G data to new subs and has also cut down its data prices by two-thirds. Idea also is offering several schemes to data users.

    Jio is getting more subscribers with an introductory and then New Year offer of free services until March. The company also claims the most extensive Indian 4G network which will reach soon 90 per cent population.

  • Jio may use US$4.4bn to lay OFC, expand network to stifle competition

    Jio may use US$4.4bn to lay OFC, expand network to stifle competition

    MUMBAI: It’s common knowledge that Reliance Jio, Mukesh Ambani’s telecom venture, is up against incumbent rivals such as Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, and Idea Cellular. Jio closed 2016 with 72.4 million subscribers. Last September, it claimed to be the fastest growing technology operation in the globe after signing up 50 million subs in 83 days.

    Ambani has already invested Rs 1,71,000 crore (approx US$25 billion) into Jio to build India’s first fourth-generation (4G)-only infrastructure to provide high-speed internet. He recently announced that Jio will raise another Rs 30,000 crore through a rights issue, which will be used to expand existing network and lay additional optical fibre cable (OFC). OFC is vital for high-speed internet as it joins one telecom tower, transmitting air waves for wireless connectivity, to the other, via cables.

    Reliance announced plans for a rights issue of convertible preference shares at Jio to raise US$ 4.4 billion. A part of the funds will be used to continue funding its free internet services, which has been a reason for regulatory tussle with other telecom operators.

    Vodafone is fighting a legal case against Jio. Bharti CMD Sunil Mittal said that Jio’s free services started an unfair competition.

    Jio has already acquired 72 million subscribers, and is adding six lakh new ones every day, the company says. Jio’s offers set off a price war. Airtel now is offering Rs 9,000 of free 4G data to new subs and has also cut down its data prices by two-thirds. Idea also is offering several schemes to data users.

    Jio is getting more subscribers with an introductory and then New Year offer of free services until March. The company also claims the most extensive Indian 4G network which will reach soon 90 per cent population.