ITV

Tag: Hathway

  • DTH service providers say STB interoperability unlikely to succeed in current conditions

    DTH service providers say STB interoperability unlikely to succeed in current conditions

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky, Dish TV and Hathway – Indian direct to home (DTH) service providers have provided their inputs to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)’s consultation paper on the issue related to interoperability of set-top-boxes (STB).

    According to Tata Sky’s response, having interoperable STBs will not be desirable due to commercial, technical, security and service-related reasons. The response stated that interoperability will only be viable if the new design of STB will have a reasonable cost with highest standards of quality, but not have any detrimental impact on the STB’s security and privacy features. The current STB ecosystem allows operators to provide secure solutions like HDCP, water-marking, fingerprint, among others at an optimum cost. The serious concern is, will third party manufacturers, developers be able to maintain the same security standards in the interoperable STB?

    As different operators keep entering the market at different points of time, operators use different compressions standards like MPEG2, MPEG4, HEVC, among others. The presence of multiple compression standards comes in the way of interoperability. As the STB model, functionality, processor speed, memory, software configuration, encryption and transmission standards are different with different operators, this will lead to serious compatibility issues if interoperability is attempted.

    The interoperable STB would soon get outdated and obsolete as a requirement would arise for operators to upgrade their STBs. The operator would get stifled by the slow pace of upgrade.

    The BIS standardisation process of various STB features would require significant cost and long gestation period. In the current scenario of the sector, with aggressive and unregulated competition coming in from OTT and mobile operators, STB interoperability is not feasible.

    According to Dish TV’s response, TRAI envisaged that it is not desirable to roll out interoperable STBs for a number of reasons, apart from the technical factors elaborated by Dish TV.  The response states that the dynamics of the STB industry are very rapid and will enable new product cycles at relatively low cost and advanced features which will get impeded, if an elaborated mechanism of interoperability including that of digital video broadcast (DVB)-C and DVB-T will be gone through. It will increase the cost at the same time disproportionately.

    TRAI should not ignore the devices including the STBs the come with broadband and OTT delivery, which are the rapidly gaining segments, having their own technologies of DRM and content protection, based on two way interconnectivity rather than one way DSA and key transfer algorithms.

    The structure of STBs vary in the cable and DTH segments, which does not warrant any interoperability to be mandated between them. DTH STBs have multiple functions that become redundant in cable-based STBs and vice versa.

    Hathway believes that there should be a provision for interoperability of STBs because with the rapid technological advancement, it will provide lot of options to subscribers. The concept is in a preliminary stage and there are not any known examples of STB interoperability available in any other country. The concept could proceed in India methodically but also need to think about various aspects and interests of all the stakeholders involved in the broadcast service value chain.

    At present, the STB architecture is designed in a way which meets the requirements of conditional access system (CAS). STB needs to be tightly bound with the CAS system for content security, which requires some parts of the CAS software to be hardcoded in the STB chipset during the manufacturing process, because of which not all chipsets support all available CAS systems. CAS is a very important component in the eco system of digital TV service. It defines the content security, specifies minimum requirement of STB’s CPU, RAM and FLASH memory, operating system and the requirement of a critical head end component – Multiplexer (MUX).

    MUX is used to encrypt channels based on ECMs generated by the CAS systems. All CAS systems have different methods of generating ECMs, that depends on various parameters like service ID, transport stream ID, source channel, session ID, among others. The length of ECMs varies in different CAS systems, which makes it difficult for MUX vendors to support all available CAS systems.

    The benefits of interoperability cannot be passed on to the subscribers in the case of an MSO, since its functioning is restricted to a specific area. The infrastructure and the set up for provision of services with a MSO and a DTH operator are completely different. The provision of service with a DTH operator is a wireless infrastructure, while with a MSO is a wired set up and depends on a local cable operator for end mile connectivity. A DTH operator can have a boundless reach, but MSO will have a limitation of reach due to infrastructure and geographical conditions.

    Due to the disparity in re-transmission infrastructure of a DTH operator and MSO, the DTH operator will not be in a position to give access to subscribers or customers of a MSO. Hence, STB interoperability for MSO and DTH operators should not be allowed.

  • ACT enters TRAI’s top 5 broadband players list

    ACT enters TRAI’s top 5 broadband players list

    BENGALURU: South Indian wired broadband internet services provider Atria Convergence Technologies Limited was among Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) list of top 5 broadband internet services providers in the month ended 31 July 2019 (Jul-19, month or period under consideration). ACT added approximately 20,000 subscribers during the month under consideration to reach a subscriber base of 0.147 crore (14.7 million, 1.47 million). Also, You Broadband with 0.075 crore (7.5 lakh, 0.75 million) wired broadband subscribers,
    re-entered TRAI’s list of top 5 wired broadband internet players with the exit of the public sector MTNL from that list

    Overall Broadband Internet subscriber base

    As per TRAI data for Jul-19, India’s broadband subscriber base across all platforms grew 2.25 percent or by 0.953 crore (95.3 lakh, 9.53 million) to 60.412 crore (6,041.2 lakh, 604.12 million) from 59.459 crore (5,945.9 lakh, 595.49 million) in Jun-19. Please refer to the figure below:

    The top five service providers constituted 98.95 percent market share of the total broadband subscribers at the end of Jul-19. These service providers were Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd with 33.979 crore (3,397.9 lakh, 339.79 million) subscribers, Bharti Airtel with 12.394 crore (1,239.4 lakh, 123.94 million) subscribers, Vodafone Idea with 11.092 crore (1,109.2 lakh, 110.92 million) subscribers, BSNL with 2.164 crore (216.4 lakh, 21.64 million) subscribers and Atria Convergence with 0.147 crore (14.7 lakh, 1.47 million) subscribers.

    Wired Broadband Internet subscribers

    The number of wired broadband internet subscribers grew by just 10,000 in July-19. ACT and Hathway showed growth in subscribers, while BSNL and Bharti Airtel showed stagnant subscriber bases. As mentioned above, MTNL exited TRAI’s list of top 5 wired broadband internet servive providers while You Broadband re-entered it. ACT grew its base by 20,000 subscribers while Hathway’ssubscriber base grew by 10,000. This means that the other players which include MSOs’/LCOs’, lost 20,000 subscribersduring Jul-19.

    As on 31 July, 2019, the top five Wired Broadband Service providers were BSNL with 0.095 crore (90.5 lakh 9.05 million) subscribers, Bharti Airtel with 0.24 crore (24 lakh, 2.40 million) subscribers, Atria Convergence Technologies with 0.147 crore (14.7 lakh, 1.47 million), Hathway Cable & Datacom with 0.085 crore (8.5 lakh, 0.85 million) subscribers and You Broadband with 0.075 crore (7.5 lakh, 0.75 million).

    Wireless Broadband Internet subscribers

    As on 31 July, 2019, the top five Wireless Broadband Service providers were Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd  with 33.979 crore (3,397.9 lakh 339.79 million) subscribers, Bharti Airtel with 12.154 crore (1,215.4 lakh, 121.54 million)subscribers, Vodafone Idea with 11.090 crore (1,109 lakh, 110.90 million) subscribers, BSNL with 1.258 crore (125.8 lakh, 12.58 million) subscribers and MTNL with 0.021 crore (2.1 lakh, 0.21 million) subscribers.
     

  • TRAI sends directive to 5 major MSOs for non-compliance of NTO provisions

    TRAI sends directive to 5 major MSOs for non-compliance of NTO provisions

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed five major multi system operators to comply with all provisions of its the new tariff order (NTO). After receiving scrutiny of the reply of earlier notice from the MSOs, TRAI found violation of rules of NTO.

    Following issues were found by the regulator for Induslnd Media and Communications Ltd   :

    ·         LCOs are not  providing  the itemised invoices to  the  consumers.  Some LCOs  are providing their  own  Cash memo bills.

    ·         Consumer portal provided by IMCL is not  working

    ·         IVRS facility of IMCL does not  have  any  provision for complaint registration.

    ·         LCOs without GST Registration are collecting tax  amount from  the  subscribers but not  depositing it.

    Following issues were found by the regulator for Hathway Digital:

    • Facility of Bill generation is available in LCO portal, but the customers are  not able  to get itemised billing in most cases even  after the request of the  subscriber,

    •LCOs without GST Registration are collecting tax  amount from  the  subscribers but  not  depositing it.

    Following issues were found by the regulator for GTPL Hathway:

    •IVRS facility of M/s GTPL Hathway Ltd.  does not  have provision for  complaint registration

    •The consumer portal of GTPL KCBPL has very  limited facilities. The facility ofupgradation and modifications in  subscription is  not  available on  consumer portal.

    •LCOs without GST Registration are  collecting tax  amount from  the  subscribers but not  depositing it.

    Following issues were found by the regulator for SITI Networks:

    •LCOs can  provide itemized invoices to consumers but most of the  LCOs are  not providing the  same. Some LCOs are  providing their own  cash memo bills;

    •IVRS facility of Siti  Networks Ltd.  does  not   have any  provision for  complaint registration.

    Following issues were found by the regulator for DEN networks:

    • LCO are  providing their own  cash memo bills  using card system for  payment receipts, while  the  subscribers are  not  able to get itemized bills

    • Facility of  upgradation  and  modification in  subscription is not   available on consumer portal.

    •LCOs without GST registration are  collecting tax  amount from  the  subscribers but  not  depositing it.

    All the MSOs have been directed to report compliance as per the new regulatory framework within seven days from the date of issue of this direction.

  • Broadband subscriber growth improved in Jun-19

    Broadband subscriber growth improved in Jun-19

    BENGALURU: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data for the month ended 30 June 2019 (Jun-19, month or period under review) reveals that broadband subscriber additions have improved. Jun-19 recorded the second-highest number of subscriber additions in a month in the calendar year (CY 19) until 30 June 2019 at 130.8 lakh. The highest number of subscriber additions in CY 2019 was in the month ended 31 January 2019 (Jan-19) at 214.l9 lakh. 130.7 lakh broadband subscribers were added in India in the month ended 31 March 2019 (Mar-19).

    The highest growth in broadband subscribers was wireless internet subscribers through Mobile – (Phones and Dongles) with 131.1 lakh subscriber additions during the period under review. Wired internet subscriber base in Jun-19 declined by 30,000, while subscribers of Fixed wireless- WiFi, Wi Max, Point to Point, Radio, Vsat remained static at 5.4 lakh.

    Wireless broadband internet subscribers

    In the case of wireless or mobile, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (Jio) was the biggest contributor in terms of broadband subscribers with 82.7 lakh subscribers added during the month under review. Jio’s subscriber base in Jun-19 was 3,312.6 lakh as compared to 3,229.9 lakh subscribers in May-19. Bharti Airtel Limited (Airtel), the second largest wireless broadband internet player in terms of subscribers, added 31.40 lakh wireless subscribers in Jun-19 to take its subscriber base to 1,190.90 lakh from 1,159,5 lakh in May-19. At third rank, the merged Idea-Vodafone entity added 15.1 lakh subscribers in Jun-19 to achieve a subscriber base of 1,105 lakh from 1,089.9 lakh in May-19. The fourth-ranked public sector BSNL added 3 lakh wireless broadband subscribers in Jun-19 for subscriber base of 128.7 lakh from 125.7 lakh in May-19. At fifth rank, Tata Teleservices saw its wireless broadband subscriber base decline by 90,000 to 14 lakh in Jun-19 from 14.9 lakh in May-19.

    Wired broadband internet subscribers 

    As mentioned above, wired internet subscriber base declined by 30,000 in Jun-19 to 18.42 lakh in Jun-19 from 18.45 lakh in May-19. The two public sector wired broadband internet service providers – BSNL and MTNL lost 1.3 lakh wired broadband internet subscribers. Among the top 5 wired internet broadband internet subscribers, three private players added 1.1 lakh subscribers. Besides BSNL and MTNL losing 20,000 wired broadband subscribers, another 10,000 subscribers were lost by the other players during Jun-19.

    BSNL continued to be the leading wired broadband internet services provider in Jun-19 with 90.5 lakh subscribers as compared to 90.9 lakh subscribers in the previous month, hence incurred a loss of 40,000 subscribers during the month. At second place was Airtel which added 10,000 subscribers in Jun-19 for a subscriber base of 24 lakh as compared to 23.9 lakh in May-19. Atria Convergence Technologies or ACT was ranked third in terms of number of wired broadband subscribers. ACT also added 10,000 subscribers in Jun-19 to reach a subscriber base of 14.5 lakh as compared to 14.4 lakh in May-19. Hathway Cable and Datacom Ltd (Hathway) added 90,000 wired broadband subscribers to reach a subscriber base of 8.4 lakh in Jun-19 from 7.5 lakh in May-19. Fifth-ranked MTNL lost 90,000 subscribers in Jun-19 to reach a base of 7.4 lakh wired broadband subscribers in Jun-19 from 8.3 lakh in May-19.

    All broadband internet subscribers

    The top five broadband service providers constituted 98.72 percent market share of the total broadband subscribers at the end of Jun-19. These service providers were Jio with 3,312.6 lakh (331.26 million, 33.126 crore) subscribers, Airtel with 1,214.93 lakh (121.49 million, 12.149 crore) subscribers, Vodafone Idea with 1,105.2 lakh (110.52 million, 11.052 crore) subscribers, BSNL with 219.3 lakh (21.93 million, 2.193 crore) subscribers and Tata Teleservices with 17.6 lakh (1.76 million, 0.176 crore) subscribers.

  • Broadband subs growth still sluggish in May 2019

    Broadband subs growth still sluggish in May 2019

    BENGALURU: India’s broadband subscribers growth has slowed down over the past few months according to data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). For the first time in 17 months, two consecutive months saw subscribers grow less than 1 crore (10 million, 100 lakh) per month. India’s broadband internet subscribers grew by 0.956 crore (9.56 million, 95.6 lakh) or 1.7 percent month-on-month (m-o-m) in the month ended 31 May 2019 (May-19, month under review) and grew by 0.864 crore (8.64 million, 86.4 lakh) or 1.5 percent m-o-m in the month ended 30 April 2019 (Apr-19). In March 2019, broadband internet subscribers grew by 1.307 crore (13.07 million, 130.7 lakh) or 2.5 percent m-o-m as compared to Feb-19. Broadband internet subscribers across all platforms grew in May-19 to 58.151 crore (581.51 million, 5,815.1 lakh) from 57.195 crore (571.95 million, 5,719.5 lakh) in Apr-19. The total broadband subscriber base in Mar-19 stood at 56.331 crore (563.31 million, 5,633.1 lakh).

    As has been the norm, broadband internet subscriber growth was led by Mobile devices users (Phones and dongles) in May-19. Mobile device broadband subscribers grew by 1.027 crore (10.27 million, 102.7 lakh) or 1.8 percent m-o-m to 56.252 crore (562.52 million, 5,625.2 lakh) in May-19 from 55.225 crore (552.25 million, 5,522.5 lakh) in Apr-19. Mukesh Dhirbhai Ambani’s biggest startup in the world – Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) led growth with the addition of 0.818 crore (8.18 million, 81.8 lakh) in May-19 at 32.299 crore (322.99 million or 3,229.9 lakh) from 31.481 crore (318.41 million, 3,184.1 lakh) in Apr-19. Bharti Airtel (Airtel) witnessed wireless subscriber growth of 0.262 crore (2.62 million or 26.2 lakh) in May-19 at 11.595 crore (115.95 million or 1,159.5 lakh) from 11.333 crore (113.33 million or 1,133.3 lakh) in Apr-19. The third largest broadband internet services player in the country – the Vodafone-Idea combine saw wireless internet subscribers decline by 0.065 crore (0.65 million or 6.5 lakh) in May-19 to 10.899 crore (108.99 million or 1,089.9 lakh) from 10.964 crore (109.64 million, 1,096.4 lakh) in Apr-19. The public sector BSNL saw subscribers grow 0.018 crore (0.18 million, 1.8 lakh) to 1.257 crore (12.57 million or 125.7 lakh) from 1.239 crore (12.39 million or 123.9 lakh) in Apr-19.

    Wired subscribers grew 0.2 percent or by 40,000 to 1.845 crore (18.45 million, 184.5 lakh) in May-19 from 1.841 crore (18.41 million or 184.1 lakh) in Apr-19. Three of the five top wired internet players saw subscriber growth, one witnessed decline and one saw no growth at all. The largest wired broadband internet player- BSNL saw subscribers decline by 60,000 to 0.909 crore (9.09 million or 90.9 crore) in May-19 from 0.915 crore (9.15 million or 91.5 lakh) in Apr-19. The largest private wired broadband internets services player in the country – Airtel witnessed subscriber growth of 10,000 to 0.239 crore (2.39 million or 23.9 lakh) in May-19 from 0.238 crore (2.38 million or 23.8 lakh) in Apr-19. Atria Convergence Technologies or  ACT also witnessed subscriber growth of 10,000 in May-19 to 0.144 crore (1.44 million or 14.4) lakh from 0.143 crore (1.43 million or 14.3 lakh). The fourth largest wired internet services player in terms of subscribers – Hathway also saw its subscriber base grow by 10,000 to 0.083 crore (0.83 million or 8.3 lakh) from 0.082 crore (0.82 million or 8.2 lakh). The fifth largest wired broadband internet services player – MTNL saw no growth in subscribers in May-19 as compared to Apr-19. BASNL had a subscriber growth of 0.075 crore (0.75 million or 7.5 lakh) at the end of May-19.

    The top five broadband internet service providers across all platforms constituted 98.69 percent market share of the total broadband subscribers at the end of May-19. These service providers were Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd  (Jio)  at 32.299 crore (322.99 million, 3,229.9 lakh), Bharti Airtel 11.834 crore (118.34 million, 1,183.4 lakh), Vodafone Idea 10.901 crore (109.01 million, 1,090.1 lakh), BSNL 2.167 crore (21.67 million or 216.7 lakh) and Tata Teleservices 0.187 crore (1.87 million, 18.7 lakh).

  • Airtel led broadband subscriber growth in Jan-19

    Airtel led broadband subscriber growth in Jan-19

    BENGALURU: The Sunil Mittal-promoted Bharti Airtel Ltd (Airtel) led broadband subscriber growth, both wired as well as wired internet, for the month ended 31 January 2019 (1 January 2019 to 31 January 2019, Jan-19) according to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data for the period. In Jan-19, Airtel added 0.997 crore (9.97 million, 99.7 lakh) wireless subscribers, hence upstaging the Mukesh Ambani’s juggernaut Reliance JioInfocomm (Jio) which added 0.932 crore (9.32 crore, 93.2 lakh) subscribers in Jan-19. Airtel also added 30,000 or about 30 percent to the growth of 1,00,000 in wired broadband internet subscribers Jan-19.

    Overall, the number of broadband subscribers grew by 2.149 crore (21.49 million, 214.9 lakh) in Jan-19, much higher than the 1.532 crore (15.32 million, 153.2 lakh) subscribers that were added in Jan-18, and even higher than the 2.054 crore (20.54 million, 205.4 lakh) subscribers added in Mar-18, the month which saw the highest number of subscribers added in any month in 2018. In percentage terms, India’s broadband subscriber base grew by 4.1 percent in Jan-19 to reach 54.004 crore (540.04 million, 5,400.4 lakh) from 51.855 crore (518.55 million, 5185.5 lakh) in Dec-18.

    In Jan-19, wireless broadband internet subscribers constituted about 96.5 percent of the broadband internet services base in India, followed by wired broadband internet services (3.4 percent) and Fixed Wireless subscribers (Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Point-to- Point Radio & VSAT) at about 0.1 percent. While the subscriber base of the former two grew in Jan-19, in the case of Fixed Wireless subscribers (Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Point-to- Point Radio & VSAT) the base declined by about 10,000 .

    Please refer to the figures below:

    In Jan-19, the top five service providers constituted 98.63 percent market share of the total broadband subscribers at the end of Jan-19. These service providers were Jio 28.994 crore (289.94 million, 2,899.4 lakh), Airtel 11.025 crore (110.25 million, 1,102.5 lakh), Vodafone Idea 10.986 crore (109.86 million, 1,098.6 lakh), BSNL 2.081 crore (20.81 million, 208.1 lakh) and Tata Tele group 0.226 crore (2.26 million, 22.6 lakh).

    Wireless broadband internet – mobile device users (phones and dongles)

    As mentioned above, India’s wireless broadband internet services have been leading broadband internet subscriber base as well as subscriber growth in the country  – wireless broadband internet subscriber base grew 4.28 percent in Jan-19 to reach 52.135 crore (521.35 million, 5213.5 lakh) from 49.995 crore (499.95 million, 4999.5 lakh) at the end of Dec-18.

    As on 31 January, 2019, the top five wireless broadband service providers were Jio  28.944 crore (289.44 million, 2,894.4 lakh), Vodafone Idea 10.984 crore (109.84 million, 1,098.4 lakh), Airtel  10.796 crore (107.96 million, 1,079.6 lakh), BSNL 1.164 crore (11.64 million, 116.4 lakh) and Tata Teleservices 0.179 crore (1.79 million, 17.9 lakh).

    Wired broadband internet

    Also, as mentioned above, India’s wired broadband internet subscribers grew by 1,00,000 (0.56 percent) in Jan-19. There were 1.827 crore (18.27 million, 182.7 lakh) wired broadband internet subscribers in the period under consideration as compared to 1.817 crore 18.17 million, 181.7 lakh) in the previous month, Dec-18.

    As on 31 January, 2019, the top five wired broadband service providers were BSNL 0.917 crore (9.17 million), 91.7 lakh, Bharti Airtel 0.23 crore (2.30 million, 23 lakh), Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT) 0.14 crore (1.40 million, 14 lakh), Hathway Cable & Datacom (Hathway) 0.079 crore  (0.79 million, 7.9 lakh) and MTNL 0.077 crore  (0.77 million, 7.7 lakh).

    While the public sector BSNL’s subscriber base remained stagnant, its smaller public sector sibling MTNL lost 10,000 subscribers, as well its fourth rank in terms of number of wired broadband subscribers in Jan-19 to Hathway which had added 10,000 subscribers in the same period. The other player – ACT also added 10,000 subscribers in Jan-19.
     

     

  • Broadband internet subscriber growth rate slowed down in December 2018

    Broadband internet subscriber growth rate slowed down in December 2018

    BENGALURU: Month-on-month (MOM) broadband internet subscriber growth in December 2018 (Dec-18) was the second lowest in 2018 at just 66.5 lakh (6.65 million, 0.665 crore) subscriber additions or 1.3 percent as compared to the immediate trailing month – Nov-18. The lowest growth was in the month of Aug-18 at just 34.1 lakh (3.41 million or 0.341 crore)  or 0.7 percent as compared to the previous month based on Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) monthly telecom data reports.Bharti Airtel has lost wireless broadband internet subscribers in the month of Dec-18.

    Broadband subscribers across wired, mobile device (phones and dongles) and fixed wireless grew 42.9 percent from 3,628.7 lakh (362.87 million or 36.287 crore) as of 31 December 2017 by 1,556.8 lakh (155.68 million or 15.568 crore) to 5,185.5 lakh (518.85 million or 51.885 crore) as of 31 December 2018. Please refer to the figures below for MOM subscriber growth trends.

    Mobile devices comprising of phones and dongles is the largest constituent of India’s broadband internet subscriber base at 96.4 percent. Growth in broadband internet subscribers in calendar year 2018 (CY 2018) was led by growth in mobile devices users at 99.8 percent or 1,553.80 lakh (155.38 million or 15.538 crore) of new subscribers added in the year. Broadband internet subscribers through mobile devices grew 45.1percent from 3,445.7 lakh (344.57 million or 34.457 crore) at the end of Dec-17 to 4,999.50 lakh (499.95 million or 49.995 crore) at the end of Dec18.

    Wired broadband internet subscribers grew 1.7 percent or by 3.1 lakh (0.31 million or 0.031 crore) in CY 2018 from 178.6 lakh (17.86 million or 1,786 crore) at the end of Dec17 to 181.7 lakh (18.17 million or 1.817 crore) at the end of Dec-18.

    Fixed wireless- WiFi, Wi Max, Point to Point, Radio, Vsat broadband internet subscribers   declined by about 10,000 (fell by about 2.7 percent) from 4.4 lakh (0.44 million or 0.044 crore) at the end of Dec-17 to 4.3 lakh (0.43 million or 0.043 crore) at the end of Dec-18.

    Please refer to the figure below for details of broadband internet subscribers at the end of each month starting from Dec-17 until Dec-18.

    Airtel loses broadband internet subscribers.

    The top five broadband internet service providers across all segments constituted 
    98.57 percent marketshare of the total broadbandsubscribers at the end of Dec18. These service providers wereReliance JioInfocomm Ltd 28,01.2 lakh (280.12 million or 28.012 crore), Vodafone Idea 1,079.2 lakh (107.92 million or 10.792 crore), Bharti Airtel 1,002.6 lakh (100.26 million or 10.026 crore), BSNL 205.5 lakh (20.55million or 2.055 crore) and Tata Tele. Group 22,6 lakh (2.26 million or 0.226 crore).

    Wireless broadband internet subscribers (mobiles and dongles)

    Bharti Airtel Limited lost 45 lakh (4.5 million or 0.45 crore) wireless broadband internet subscribers in the month of Dec-18. The company’s wireless broadband internet subscriber base fell to 979.9 lakh (97.99 million or 9.799 crore) at the end of Dec-18 from 1,024.9 lakh (102.49 million or 10.259 crore) at the end of Nov-18.

    As on 31 December, 2018, the top five wireless broadband service providers were Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd 2801.2 lakh (280.12 million or 28.012 crore), Vodafone Idea 1079 lakh (107.90 million or 10.79 crore), Bharti Airtel 979.9 lakh (97.99 million or 9.799 crore), BSNL 113.8 (11.38 million or 1.138 crore) and Tata Teleservices 17.9 lakh (1.79 million or 0.179n crore).

    Wired broadband internet subscribers

    The combined total number of broadband subscribers of the top 5 wired broadband internet service providers fell by about 60,000 in 2018, hence their market share among the wired broadband internet services providers has declined. The biggest losers were the public sector BSNL and MTNL, which lost 23 lakh (2.3 million or 0.23 crore) and 13 lakh (1.3 million or 0.13 crore) subscribers respectively in CY 2018.  Their subscriber bases at the end of 2018 were 91.7 lakh and 7.8 lakh respectively. Airtel added 1.2 lakh (0.12 million or 0.012 crore) subscribers in the year, while Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT) added 1.1 lakh (0.11 million or 0.011 crore) subscribers. The fifth wired broadband internet services among the top 5 –Hathway Cable & Datacom (Hathway) added 50,000 subscribers in CY 2018.

    As on 31 December, 2018, the top five Wired Broadband Service providers were BSNL 91.7 lakh (9.17 million or 0.917 crore), Bharti Airtel 22.7 lakh (2.27 million or 0.227 crore), ACT 13.9 lakh (1.39 million or 0.139 crore), MTNL 7.8 lakh (0.78 million or 0.078 crore) and Hathway7.8 lakh (0.78 million or 0.078 crore). 
     

  • Rajan Raheja resigns as non-exec director of Hathway Cable and Datacom

    Rajan Raheja resigns as non-exec director of Hathway Cable and Datacom

    MUMBAI: Billionaire industrialist Rajan Raheja has resigned as non-executive director of Hathway Cable and Datacom Ltd on 30 January. A pioneer in the Indian cable TV industry, he has been widely credited for Hathway’s expansion.

    The resignation came in accordance with the agreement between Hathway and Jio Content Distribution Holdings Private Ltd, Jio Internet Distribution Holdings Private Ltd, Jio Cable and Broadband Holdings Private Ltd and the existing promoters of the company.

    Last October, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) acquired majority stake in two leading cable TV broadband companies – Hathway Cable and Datacom and Den Networks. “We are glad to join hands with Rajan Raheja (Hathway promoter) and Sameer Manchanda (DEN), two of the pioneers in MSO industry,” Ambani said in a statement after the acquisition.

    After Jio launched its flagship fibre-to-home service Jio GigaFiber, the company asserted that it is open to work with local cable operators. Many experts looked at it optimistically terming the deal “win-win” situation for all the parties.

  • Mukesh Ambani’s RIL announces acquisition of majority stake in Hathway & DEN Networks

    Mukesh Ambani’s RIL announces acquisition of majority stake in Hathway & DEN Networks

    MUMBAI: Reliance Industries today announced strategic investments of Rs. 2,045 crore through a preferential issue under SEBI regulations and secondary purchase of Rs. 245 crore from the existing promoters for a 66 per cent stake in Den Networks Limited (DEN) and Rs 2,940 crore for a 51.3 per cent stake in Hathway Cable and Datacom Limited.

    RIL is also planning to make open offers in DEN and Hathway as well as GTPL Hathway a company jointly controlled by Hathway with 37.3 per cent stake and Hathway Bhawani Cabletel and Datacomm Limited, a subsidiary of Hathway under SEBI Takeover Regulations.

    Through this transaction, Reliance and Jio will be strengthening the 27,000 LCOs that are aligned with DEN and Hathway to enable them to participate in the digital transformation of India  through  (a) access  to  superior  back-end  infrastructure;  (b) tie-ups  with  content producers; (c) access to latest business platforms to improve business efficiencies and deliver customer experience; and (d) investment in digital infrastructure for connecting customers. And the LCOs will continue to do what they do best – provide localized, intimate, people-friendly and ultra-fast customer services. This will create multiple future opportunities for LCOs as Jio rolls out new services and platforms.

    These investments and the creation of the digital eco-system will open up new channels for content monetization. This will lead to exponential growth for the content producers and broadcasters.

    These investments will help in accelerating the march towards Digital India. Reliance will ensure compliance with all the regulatory and statutory requirements at all times and works towards systematic growth of the sector.

    Jio has already started work on connecting 50 million homes across 1,100 cities. It will work together with Hathway and DEN and all the LCOs to offer a quick and affordable upgrade to a world-class lineup of JioGigaFiber and Jio Smart-Home Solutions to the 24 million existing cable connected homes of these companies across 750 cities. This will accelerate Jio’s commitment to connect 50 million homes with JioGigaFiber in the shortest possible time.

    RIL chairman and MD Mukesh D. Ambani said, “We are glad to join hands with Shri Rajan Raheja and Shri Sameer Manchanda, two of the pioneers in the MSO industry. Our investments in DEN and Hathway create a win-win-win outcome for the LCOs, customers, content producers and the eco-system.

    With Local Cable Operators now as part of the Jio ecosystem, we look forward to bringing Jio’s advanced JioGigaFiber and Smart Home Solutions to more Indian homes, even quicker. We look forward to welcoming other MSOs and LCOs to be part of this partnership. This will result in growing wireline data connectivity in India and making state-of-the-art high- speed affordable internet and digital services accessible to the widest population in the shortest possible time.”

  • RIL close to buying majority stakes in DEN, Hathway

    RIL close to buying majority stakes in DEN, Hathway

    MUMBAI: Reliance Industries is expected to buy controlling stakes in two of India’s largest cable TV and broadband service providers, DEN Networks and Hathway Cable & Datacom, according to a report by the Times of India (TOI). The plan mostly is to increase the reach in particular regions of the country for its Gigafiber, Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) service.

    In May 2017, Reliance Jio had begun rolling out beta trials of the FTTH service at select locations in six cities- Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Surat and Vadodara.

    RIL is likely to own more than 25 per cent each in the two companies which will enable it to control developments and get a seat on the board. The deal is expected to be announced in the next few days. Both companies have told the stock exchanges that the respective boards are meeting on 17 October to discuss and approve a proposal for raising funds.

    “RIL wants to create a platform which will accelerate home broadband penetration in India, which is currently in a low single-digit. The aim is to push home broadband penetration to around 60 per cent in the coming years,” TOI quoted a source.

    Last September, RIL was in advanced talks to acquire DEN but could not reach an agreement. Some months ago, it began talks with Hathway as well.

    Industry experts told TOI that a stake in Hathway and DEN will be a major boost to Jio. Both operators have 7.2 million digital cable subscribers each, with operations across 350 and 200 cities, respectively.