Tag: Jio

Jio, Samsung win ‘Best Innovation” award

MUMBAI: Reliance Jio Infocomm and Samsung Electronics have announced that they have won the “Best obile Innovation for Emerging Markets” from Global Mobile Awards 2017 at Mobile World Congress 2017 for the digital movement that Jio, with support from Samsung, is bringing to India.

Jio and Samsung’s ongoing effort in transforming India into a digitally empowered society by
overcoming the country’s digital divide has been recognized on the global stage with this prestigious award. The two organizations have focused on reaching the power of communication
and information with free voice and world’s lowest data rates across towns and rural areas through the deployment of the world’s largest greenfield LTE network in India.

“We are pleased to have won this prestigious award in joint effort with Samsung Electronics, who have been a reliable partner in our pursuit to creating a truly Digital India,” said Jio president Jyotindra Thacker. “By continuing to introduce consumer-centric options in our services and much easier access, we hope to bring down India’s digital divide and enable every Indian to benefit from digital life,” he added.

“Today’s achievement signified more than just an award, it is an indicator of the transformation we have brought to India and its people,” said Samsung Electronics president and head of network business Youngky Kim. “Samsung, as Jio’s strategic partner for the realization of Digital India, is pleased to be able to support the process of India taking steps towards becoming a pioneer in the global telecommunications industry.”

March 1, 2017
Digital India: Jio & Samsung shift LTE mobile landscape

MUMBAI: Samsung has announced its innovative “I&G (Infill & Growth) Project” for Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd in India. This joint project was established to upgrade current LTE mobile communication services across India by expanding both the current network capacity as well as network coverage.

Jio has built a world-class all-IP data strong future proof network with latest 4G LTE technology. It is the only network conceived and born as a Mobile Video Network from the ground up and supporting Voice over LTE technology. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies.

The new project sets a high benchmark for LTE services in India through wider coverage, inbuilding penetration and the highest speeds, regardless of the user’s location. Utilizing spectrum in the 850, 1800 and 2300MHz bands, it will enable seamless indoor and outdoor coverage in dense urban areas. The project will also extend Jio’s superiority in rural areas by expanding its reach to over 90 per cent of the population.

Previously, Samsung provided the LTE core, base stations and solutions required for VoLTE services, as well as massive deployment services for establishing a nationwide network for Jio. The two companies have successfully established the world’s largest greenfield LTE network.

Reliance Jio Infocomm president Jyotindra Thacker said, “Samsung and Jio successfully achieved 100 million subscribers in 170 days, making us the fastest-growing company in the world, and the numbers continue to rapidly grow. It was possible because we introduced a truly effective LTE service, Pan-India. We are committed to bringing game-changing digital experiences to India with superior ecosystems,mobile content, all-IP networks and ongoing process innovations.”

“As Jio’s end-to-end LTE solutions partner, it is a great pleasure for Samsung to contribute to Jio’s tremendous success,” said Samsung Electronics president and head of networks business Youngky Kim. “The massive deployment of over a million cells across India is especially remarkable. We will strive to create new paradigms for LTE-Advanced Pro and 5G by closely cooperating with Jio as a unified workforce.”

Jio stands as an innovator which transformed the telecommunications sector in India last year. The company has already established itself as the leading data service provider in the country within a few months of commencing operations. It was also India’s first operator to introduce free-of-charge High Definition calls (VoLTE). This is especially notable, as this
approach is now becoming a new market rule in India.

Samsung, as Jio’s strategic partner, has established a foundation for Indians to enjoy exclusive services, including voice calls, with data as their engine. It has also gone a step further, enabling Jio to offer a superior service to its users by providing professional solutions such as Samsung VoLTE, Quality Monitoring and Analysis (VoMA) and Cognitive Traffic
Monitoring and Optimizer for a superior user experience. Further, it was through Samsung’s VoMA that the steady management of high traffic in data-dense environments was enabled.

The tools monitor and optimize mobile data services, and have successfully contributed to enabling Jio to provide its subscribers with a stable and improved user experience. The relationship between Jio and Samsung goes back to 2012, when the two companies signed a turn-key agreement covering the entire scope of network, ranging from equipment to establishment and maintenance services.

March 1, 2017
Jio crosses 10-cr subs mark, offers prime membership for Rs 99

MUMBAI: Jio has crossed 100 million customer mark on 4G LTE all IP wireless network said Mukesh Ambani in 170 days which means seven customers in every second every day.

Jio has enabled employment opportunities for 50 lakh customers. Also, all Jio members can enroll for prime membership for a one-time fee of Rs 99. Ambani announced that the prime members can get tremendous value at an introductory price of only Rs 303/month, effectively just Rs 10/day.

Jio today announced that in addition to its own market leading tariff plans, it will also offer its customers the option to choose the highest selling tariff plan of any of the other leading Indian telecom operators, but with 20 per cent more data than what any other operator provides.

The existing 100 Million plus Jio subscribers can avail of the special ‘Jio Prime Membership’ programme which comes with several special benefits. First, Jio Prime Members will be able to enjoy the unlimited benefits of the existing Jio Happy New Offer for another full year or till 31 March 2018 for a nominal, one-time enrolment fee of just Rs. 99/- and a rock-bottom introductory price of only Rs. 303/- per month or effectively at just Rs. 10/- per day!

Second, the programme will enable Jio Prime Members to enjoy the full bouquet of Jio’s applications absolutely free till 31 March 2018. This translates to additional benefit worth over Rs. 10,000/- for the Jio Prime Members.

In addition, there will be many other attractive deals and offers from both Jio and its partners that the Jio Prime Members will enjoy under this programme.

The Jio Prime Membership is available only for existing Jio customers and the enrolment window will remain open from 1–31 March, 2017. Enrolment for Jio Prime Membership can be done through MyJio app.

Customers will also enjoy a completely digital recharge and billing experience to provide further convenience and ease of usage.

Also Read:

Jio juggernaut rolls on, wired segment wobbles

Jio becomes top ISP, Wireline growth retards overall broadband internet subs fall in Nov-16

February 21, 2017
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

February 7, 2017
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

February 7, 2017
Airtel petitions CCI as TRAI allows free Jio

MUMBAI: Telecom regulator TRAI has made up its mind to permit the new entrant Reliance Jio to go on with its free data offer, objections from rivals notwithstanding. Failing to get a favourable TRAI decision, Airtel has petitioned the Competition Commission of India (CCI) seeking respite from Jio’s complimentary services. Airtel complained said that Jio’s tariffs are affecting competition.

TRAI has now permitted Jio to continue with its “Happy New Year” offer thus allowing its subscribers to use up to 1GB free data every day. But, TRAI ruled that Jio schemes were valid.

Airtel had, on 24 December, filed a petition with the telecom tribunal, TDSAT, calling TRAI a “mute spectator” as it allowed Jio to go on with its complimentary offer beyond the stipulated 90-day period. On 18 January, Idea Cellular too moved TDSAT to stop Jio from giving free data.

Rules prevent operators from having a complimentary campaign for over months, and Jio has now been offering free services for over 90 days, and now deciding to extend the offer to 31 March.

Telcos meanwhile are planning to consolidate in order to survive in the competitive market.

Also Read:

Jio becomes top ISP, Wireline growth retards overall broadband internet subs fall in Nov-16

BSNL violating TRAI’s IUC norms, complains COAI

TRAI: HC asks Idea, DoT to file affidavit on plea

Idea petitions TDSAT against TRAI; price war set to escalate

February 6, 2017
Vodafone confirms possibility of merger with Idea

NEW DELHI: Vodafone Group Plc today confirmed that it was in discussions with the Aditya Birla Group about an all share merger of Vodafone India (excluding Vodafone’s 42% stake in Indus Towers) and Idea.

Vodafone group general counsel and company secretary Rosemary Martin said, “Any merger would be effected through the issue of new shares in Idea to Vodafone and would result in Vodafone deconsolidating Vodafone India.”

“There is no certainty that any transaction will be agreed, nor as to the terms or timing of any transaction.”

Reacting to recent media speculation regarding a potential combination of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular (“Idea”), she said: “This announcement contains inside information.”

Although, earlier, there were reports that Vodafone may be seeking merger with Idea or Jio, experts believed a merger with the former was a possibility. Vodafone had launched several tariffs to browbeat competition from Airtel and Jio. The Indian unit is reportedly seeking a merger with one of the top telecom companies following intensified competition. Vodafone may be keen for a possible tie-up with Idea, Jio or another of the top three providers. Jio’s aggressive tariffs and heavy investments started impacting competitor a few weeks after it entered.

Also read: Darwin effect: 3-4 telcos may Jio after potential M&As

January 30, 2017
Vodafone confirms possibility of merger with Idea

NEW DELHI: Vodafone Group Plc today confirmed that it was in discussions with the Aditya Birla Group about an all share merger of Vodafone India (excluding Vodafone’s 42% stake in Indus Towers) and Idea.

Vodafone group general counsel and company secretary Rosemary Martin said, “Any merger would be effected through the issue of new shares in Idea to Vodafone and would result in Vodafone deconsolidating Vodafone India.”

“There is no certainty that any transaction will be agreed, nor as to the terms or timing of any transaction.”

Reacting to recent media speculation regarding a potential combination of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular (“Idea”), she said: “This announcement contains inside information.”

Although, earlier, there were reports that Vodafone may be seeking merger with Idea or Jio, experts believed a merger with the former was a possibility. Vodafone had launched several tariffs to browbeat competition from Airtel and Jio. The Indian unit is reportedly seeking a merger with one of the top telecom companies following intensified competition. Vodafone may be keen for a possible tie-up with Idea, Jio or another of the top three providers. Jio’s aggressive tariffs and heavy investments started impacting competitor a few weeks after it entered.

Also read: Darwin effect: 3-4 telcos may Jio after potential M&As

January 30, 2017
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.

January 18, 2017
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.

January 18, 2017