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Tag: LTE

  • Mobile & computer prices may be affected with withdrawal of special additional duty

    Mobile & computer prices may be affected with withdrawal of special additional duty

    NEW DELHI: The Union Budget for 2016-17 is expected to result in raising the prices of mobile phones as well as personal computers.

    In his budget speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the exemption from basic customs duty, CV duty, Special Additional Duty on charger/adapter, battery and wired headsets/speakers for manufacture of mobile phone was being withdrawn and vary between four to 12.5 per cent.

    But inputs, parts and components, subparts for manufacture of charger / adapter, battery and wired headsets /speakers, of mobile phone, subject to actual user condition was being exempted.

    The exemption from Special Additional Duty (SAD) on populated PCBs for manufacture of personal computers (laptop or desktop) was being withdrawn and would go up to four per cent.

    The exemption from SAD on populated PCBs of mobile phone/tablet computer being withdrawn and the concessional SAD on populated PCBs for manufacture of mobile phone/tablet computer was being imposed at two per cent.

    The Excise duty structure on domestically manufactured charger/adapter, battery and wired headsets/speakers for supply to mobile phone manufacturers as original equipment manufacturer has been changed and will be between two to 12.5 per cent.

    At the same time, the excise duty on inputs, parts and components, subparts for manufacture of charger/adapter, battery and wired headsets/speakers of mobile phone, subject to actual user condition have being exempted from 12.5 per cent at present.

    Specified telecommunication equipment [Soft switches and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) equipment namely VoIP phones, media gateways, gateway Product/Switch (POTP/POTS), Optical controllers and session border controllers, Optical Transport equipment; combination of one / more of Packet Optical Transport Network(OTN) products, and IP Radios, Carrier Ethernet Switch, Packet Transport Node (PTN) products, Multiprotocol Label Switching- Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) products, Multiple Input / Multiple Output (MIMO) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) Products on which 10 per cent Basic Customs Duty was imposed in 2014-15 Budget has been excluded from the purview of the other exemptions also and goes up to 10 per cent.

    The Basic Customs Duty exemption on preform of silica for manufacture of telecom grade optical fibre /cables has been withdrawn and will be 10 per cent.

    The Minister said the assignment by the Government of the right to use the radio-frequency spectrum and its subsequent transfers being declared as a service so as to make it clear that assignment of right to use the spectrum is a service leviable to service tax and not sale of intangible goods, with effect from date of enforcement of Finance Bill, 2016. It will therefore be 14 per cent. 

  • Mobile & computer prices may be affected with withdrawal of special additional duty

    Mobile & computer prices may be affected with withdrawal of special additional duty

    NEW DELHI: The Union Budget for 2016-17 is expected to result in raising the prices of mobile phones as well as personal computers.

    In his budget speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the exemption from basic customs duty, CV duty, Special Additional Duty on charger/adapter, battery and wired headsets/speakers for manufacture of mobile phone was being withdrawn and vary between four to 12.5 per cent.

    But inputs, parts and components, subparts for manufacture of charger / adapter, battery and wired headsets /speakers, of mobile phone, subject to actual user condition was being exempted.

    The exemption from Special Additional Duty (SAD) on populated PCBs for manufacture of personal computers (laptop or desktop) was being withdrawn and would go up to four per cent.

    The exemption from SAD on populated PCBs of mobile phone/tablet computer being withdrawn and the concessional SAD on populated PCBs for manufacture of mobile phone/tablet computer was being imposed at two per cent.

    The Excise duty structure on domestically manufactured charger/adapter, battery and wired headsets/speakers for supply to mobile phone manufacturers as original equipment manufacturer has been changed and will be between two to 12.5 per cent.

    At the same time, the excise duty on inputs, parts and components, subparts for manufacture of charger/adapter, battery and wired headsets/speakers of mobile phone, subject to actual user condition have being exempted from 12.5 per cent at present.

    Specified telecommunication equipment [Soft switches and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) equipment namely VoIP phones, media gateways, gateway Product/Switch (POTP/POTS), Optical controllers and session border controllers, Optical Transport equipment; combination of one / more of Packet Optical Transport Network(OTN) products, and IP Radios, Carrier Ethernet Switch, Packet Transport Node (PTN) products, Multiprotocol Label Switching- Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) products, Multiple Input / Multiple Output (MIMO) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) Products on which 10 per cent Basic Customs Duty was imposed in 2014-15 Budget has been excluded from the purview of the other exemptions also and goes up to 10 per cent.

    The Basic Customs Duty exemption on preform of silica for manufacture of telecom grade optical fibre /cables has been withdrawn and will be 10 per cent.

    The Minister said the assignment by the Government of the right to use the radio-frequency spectrum and its subsequent transfers being declared as a service so as to make it clear that assignment of right to use the spectrum is a service leviable to service tax and not sale of intangible goods, with effect from date of enforcement of Finance Bill, 2016. It will therefore be 14 per cent. 

  • Reliance Jio’s Wi-Fi service goes live in Himachal Pradesh

    Reliance Jio’s Wi-Fi service goes live in Himachal Pradesh

    MUMBAI: Dharamshala & Mcleodganj have become the first hill stations in Himachal Pradesh to have Reliance Jio’s Wi-Fi service – JIOnet.

     

    Minister of Housing, urban development and town & country planning of Himachal Pradesh Sudhir Mishra inaugurated the service. JIOnet’s high speed Wi-Fi service will cover Macleo Chowk and Temple road in Mcleodganj and Kotwali in Dharamshala of Himachal Pradesh.

     

    It is part of the Himachal Pradesh government’s initiative to convert Dharamshala into a ‘Smart City.’ People and visitors of Dharamshala and Mcleodganj will be able to access the services on their smart phones and tablets. This service will also be available at Mall Road, Manali, Kullu and Hamirpur locations.

     

    Speaking on this new advancement, a Reliance Jio spokesperson said, “High speed data connectivity is one of the foundations on which future prosperity of cities and nations will be built. By deploying Jionet’ Wi-Fi services at Dharamshala and Mcleodganj, a famous tourist destination, we want people to experience the high speed internet and rich digital content through specially designed apps to enrich their lives.”

     

    The feedback from users will be used to improve the services further as Jio gets ready for its formal launch. After commencement of service,  4G LTE, Wi-Fi and LTE networks will operate seamlessly with each other.

  • Verizon acquires AOL for $4.4 billion

    Verizon acquires AOL for $4.4 billion

    MUMBAI: Taking another significant step in building digital and video platforms to drive future growth, Verizon Communications Inc. has acquired AOL Inc. for an estimated total value of approximately $4.4 billion.

     

    AOL chairman and CEO Tim Armstrong will continue to lead AOL operations after closing.

     

    Verizon’s acquisition further drives its LTE wireless video and OTT (over-the-top video) strategy. The agreement will also support and connect to Verizon’s IoT (Internet of Things) platforms, creating a growth platform from wireless to IoT for consumers and businesses.

     

    The combination of Verizon and AOL creates a scaled, mobile-first platform offering directly targeted at what eMarketer estimates is a nearly $600 billion global advertising industry. AOL’s key assets include its subscription business; its premium portfolio of global content brands, including The Huffington Post, Tech Crunch, Engadget, MAKERS and AOL.com, as well as its millennial-focused OTT, Emmy-nominated original video content; and its programmatic advertising platforms.

     

    Verizon chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam said, “Verizon’s vision is to provide customers with a premium digital experience based on a global multiscreen network platform. This acquisition supports our strategy to provide a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers to deliver that premium customer experience.”

     

    “AOL has once again become a digital trailblazer, and we are excited at the prospect of charting a new course together in the digitally connected world. At Verizon, we’ve been strategically investing in emerging technology, including Verizon Digital Media Services and OTT, that taps into the market shift to digital content and advertising. AOL’s advertising model aligns with this approach, and the advertising platform provides a key tool for us to develop future revenue streams,” he added.

     

    Armstrong said, “Verizon is a leader in mobile and OTT connected platforms, and the combination of Verizon and AOL creates a unique and scaled mobile and OTT media platform for creators, consumers and advertisers. The visions of Verizon and AOL are shared; the companies have existing successful partnerships, and we are excited to work with the team at Verizon to create the next generation of media through mobile and video.”

     

    The transaction will take the form of a tender offer followed by a merger, with AOL becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon upon completion.

     

    The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions and is expected to close this summer.

     

     

    Verizon expects to fund the transaction from cash on hand and commercial paper. The company also continues to expect to return to pre-Vodafone transaction credit ratings in the 2018-2019 timeframe.

     

    Transaction advisers for Verizon were Lion Tree Advisors; Guggenheim Partners; and Weil, Gotshal&Manges. AOL advisers were Allen & Company LLC and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.

  • Docomo to launch one-day international data service

    Docomo to launch one-day international data service

    MUMBAI: Docomo has announced that it will offer a one-day (24-hour) flat-rate data communications billing plan for customers traveling overseas beginning 2 December.
    The service, called “Global 1 day Pake,” will vary in cost (980 yen, 1,280 yen or 1,580 yen) depending on the country or region of use. For example, the cost will be 980 yen for South Korea, 1,280 yen for UK and 1,580 yen for the US mainland and Hawaii.

     

    The flat rate will apply to the 24-hour period that begins once the customer activates the service. Activation simply requires tapping a button on a dedicated app, or dialing a dedicated number. At the end of the 24-hour period, the packet communication feature in the user’s mobile device will automatically turn off to avoid unintended data usage, providing peace of mind to users concerned about using roaming services overseas.

     

    Customers can apply for the service at Docomo’s sales channels, including Docomo shops and Docomo information centers.

     

    Customers of Docomo’s existing international flat-rate data service, Global Pake-hodai, can flexibly use this service or the new service depending on their handset or other conditions.

     

    Docomo also plans to introduce a roaming service for LTE-based packet communication services outside of Japan by the end of March 2014.