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Tag: Reliance Communications

  • Digital marketing veteran Amit Lall switches to WPP Media as planning lead

    Digital marketing veteran Amit Lall switches to WPP Media as planning lead

    MUMBAI: Amit Lall, a digital marketing stalwart with over two decades in the trenches, has traded his principal partner role at Mindshare for a planning lead position at WPP Media, overseeing the conglomerate’s western and southern Indian operations from Mumbai.

    The move in September ends Lall’s four-year-eight-month stint at Mindshare, where he commanded a team of over 30 professionals whilst juggling a diverse client roster spanning consumer durables, fintech, telecom, pharmaceuticals, and banking. His portfolio included marquee accounts across multiple sectors, positioning him as one of the agency’s key rainmakers in the fiercely competitive western market.

    Before his Mindshare tenure, Lall spent just over a year as senior vice president at DigitalKites Global, where he steered a pioneering audience intelligence platform touching 250 million profiled users—India’s largest first-party audience marketplace. The role saw him managing full profit-and-loss responsibility across markets whilst delivering digital transformation solutions to brands and agencies.

    He has had a fascinating career trajectory. At Omnicom Media Group, he spent over five years crafting digital strategies for western India’s premium clients, earning local and global accolades including Foma and James Burke awards. Earlier, at Mobile2win, he turbocharged mobile advertising revenue by 260 per cent year-on-year during a recession, whilst onboarding 50 new accounts and slashing overheads by 30 per cent.

    Lall’s appointment signals WPP Media’s intent to consolidate its Indian operations under seasoned digital natives who’ve witnessed the subcontinent’s advertising metamorphosis from traditional media to mobile-first strategies. His deep understanding of India’s fragmented media landscape—from pioneering SMS ad networks at Mauj Telecom to managing channel partnerships at Reliance Communications—positions him well to navigate WPP’s evolving client demands.

    The hire comes as global advertising giants scramble to retain top talent in India’s booming digital advertising market, where homegrown expertise commands premium valuations.

  • Abhijit Kishore named Vodafone Idea’s new chief executive

    Abhijit Kishore named Vodafone Idea’s new chief executive

    MUMBAI: Vodafone Idea has appointed Abhijit Kishore as its new chief executive officer. A long-time company insider, Kishore has spent more than five years in senior roles at the struggling carrier, including chief operating officer and chief enterprise business officer.

    Before joining Vodafone Idea, he held leadership positions at Tata Teleservices and Reliance Communications, steering mobility, enterprise and circle operations across key markets. Over two decades in telecoms, Kishore has managed P&Ls from Kerala to Gujarat, notching up operational turnarounds and enterprise growth.

    An alumnus of Delhi University and the Fore School of Management, he has sharpened his management credentials with stints at IIM Ahmedabad and London Business School. His appointment comes as Vodafone Idea wrestles with heavy debt, a bruising price war and the need to raise capital for 5G roll-out.

  • India adds 3.2 million phone users in May, total hits 1.2 billion

    India adds 3.2 million phone users in May, total hits 1.2 billion

    MUMBAI: Dialling up its digital growth, India’s telecom sector added 3.24 million new telephone subscribers in May 2025, pushing the country’s total subscriber base to a staggering 1.207 billion. While urban India remained saturated with 131.76 per cent tele-density, rural areas rang in gains too, growing 0.14 per cent month-on-month to hit 537.39 million subscribers.

    The data, released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), also showed a strong wireline comeback with 1.25 million new connections pushing wireline growth to 3.34 per cent, led by aggressive additions from Jio and Airtel.

    India’s broadband base surged 3.37 per cent to reach 974.87 million subscribers, thanks largely to mobile broadband (up 2.92 per cent) and a 60 per cent spike in fixed wireless (5G FWA, Wi-Fi, satellite) subscriptions. However, 5G FWA itself dipped slightly from 7.50 million to 7.40 million users, indicating early volatility in the still-nascent category.

    Jio led the broadband brigade with 494.47 million subscribers, followed by Airtel (302.15 million) and Vodafone Idea (126.68 million), together accounting for a whopping 98.47 per cent of the market.

    Overall wireless subscriptions grew modestly by 0.17 per cent to 1.168 billion, with rural India contributing 0.38 million new users. Urban wireless teledensity climbed to 124.91 per cent, while rural teledensity inched up to 58.90 per cent. Wireline adoption in rural India saw a sharper surge of 10.44 per cent, albeit from a much smaller base.
    Who’s Winning the Race?

    .  Reliance Jio: 494.47 million broadband subs, 40.92 per cent mobile market share.

    .  Bharti Airtel: 302.15 million broadband subs, 33.61 per cent mobile market share.

    . Vodafone Idea: 126.68 million broadband subs, 17.61 per cent mobile market share.

    Jio also led wireline subscriber additions with 1.28 million new connections, while Vodafone Idea continued to see a decline of over 1.35 lakh users in the wireline segment.

    Indians are clearly still keen to keep their digits. 14.03 million MNP requests were made in May alone. Uttar Pradesh (East) topped the chart with 115.77 million cumulative porting requests, followed by Maharashtra at 92.72 million.

    Out of the total 1.161 billion mobile subscribers, 1.08 billion were active as per VLR (Visitor Location Register) data about 93 per cent. BSNL had the lowest active subscriber rate (63.73 per cent), while Reliance Communications registered a perfect 100 per cent, albeit on a very small base.

    With over 85.36per cent teledensity nationwide and close to a billion broadband users, India’s telecom story continues to evolve rapidly. But the future lies beyond just numbers, rural wireline expansion, M2M growth (now at 73.91 million connections), and the true test of 5G fixed wireless adoption could be the next chapters in this digital saga.

    So, whether it’s smartphones in metros or landlines in tier-3 towns, India’s telecom tune is still playing and the country’s clearly not hanging up any time soon.

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  • Sunil Raina calls the shots as new managing director at Lava International

    Sunil Raina calls the shots as new managing director at Lava International

    MUMBAI:  Sunil Raina has officially taken the reins as managing director at Lava International, stepping into the hot seat after a stellar 15-year rise through the ranks at the homegrown mobile brand.

    From leading marketing at Xolo to steering strategy as president and business head, and most recently serving as executive director, Raina has been the driving force behind Lava’s brand identity, market expansion, and product innovation over the years.

    His journey with the company began in 2010 as chief marketing officer, and since then, he’s been pivotal in Lava’s evolution from an emerging player to a Make in India torchbearer.

    With earlier stints at Telenor, Reliance Communications, Airtel, and Tata Teleservices, Raina’s telecom roots run deep. His marketing chops and GTM savvy are expected to play a key role as Lava navigates India’s fiercely competitive smartphone battleground.

    Industry insiders say Raina’s elevation signals a renewed push for domestic dominance and global ambition, as the brand looks to consolidate its positioning against Chinese rivals and double down on manufacturing, design, and distribution.

    As the handset wars heat up, all eyes are on how Lava’s homegrown hero plans to dial up growth—and ring in a fresh era of desi disruption.

  • Dialling into decline RCom posts heavy losses amid ongoing insolvency

    Dialling into decline RCom posts heavy losses amid ongoing insolvency

    MUMBAI: The lines are anything but clear at Reliance Communications (RCom), which dialled in a staggering consolidated loss of Rs 8,125 crore for the financial year ended 31 March 2025. With the telecom player still navigating the turbulent waters of insolvency, its latest audited results tell a tale of debt, deferred dreams, and deepening losses.

    Under the shadow of ongoing corporate insolvency proceedings since 2019, RCom’s affairs remain under the management of resolution professional Anish Niranjan Nanavaty. In a disclosure to stock exchanges, the company reported a loss of Rs 162 crore from continuing operations and an even steeper Rs 7,963 crore loss from discontinued operations, which include legacy telecom assets like spectrum, towers, and fibre assets still listed at 2018 valuations and now held for sale.

    Operating income slumped to Rs 278 crore for the year, against expenses of Rs 440 crore. The auditors, however, weren’t convinced everything adds up.

    The audit report issued by Pathak H.D. & Associates LLP is riddled with red flags from non-provisioning of interest on borrowings and foreign exchange fluctuations, to unauthorised asset sales and unresolved willful default allegations. “Had the interest and foreign exchange variation been provided,” the auditors note, “the reported loss would have been higher by Rs 5,110 crore, and the net worth lower by Rs 37,573 crore.”

    What’s more, RCom continues to default on statutory dues and has not implemented Ind AS 116 for lease accounting,  a miss that auditors flagged yet again.

    Even as a resolution plan remains pending before the NCLT and the Supreme Court battles over spectrum liabilities drag on, RCom maintains it has prepared its books on a ‘going concern’ basis. A claim auditors aren’t entirely buying, given the sustained erosion in net worth, which now stands at negative Rs 69,204 crore.

    Amidst it all, resolution efforts have hit pause. Applications to migrate telecom licences remain stuck in litigation. Multiple petitions before the NCLT, TDSAT, and the Supreme Court including the AGR dues dispute continue to cloud the future of RCom and its affiliates.”

    As India’s telecom landscape moves ahead with 5G and AI-driven innovations, RCom remains tethered to unresolved past dues and legal quicksand. Whether it can ring in a revival or continue to be stuck in voicemail remains a question only the courts and creditors can answer.

  • Reliance Communications comprehensive loses amount to Rs 2,068 crore in Q3

    Reliance Communications comprehensive loses amount to Rs 2,068 crore in Q3

    MUMBAI: Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom.), once a dominant force in the Indian telecom sector, continues its painful spiral into financial oblivion. The latest Q3 FY25 results make for grim reading, with deepening losses, shrinking revenues, and an insolvency process that looks more like a never-ending courtroom drama. The company, under corporate insolvency resolution since 2019, posted a staggering net loss of Rs 2,068 crore for the quarter ending 31 December 2024, further extending its financial nightmare.

    But is there a miracle in sight? Or is RCom. doomed to be a cautionary tale in corporate history?

    Standalone Results

    RCom.’s revenue from operations in Q3 FY25 stood at Rs 65 crore, marginally slipping from Rs 66 crore in the previous quarter. Compared to Rs 71 crore in the same period last year, the company seems to be on a never-ending treadmill-moving, but going nowhere. The nine-month revenue isn’t offering much comfort either, standing at Rs 206 crore, a dip from Rs 220 crore in FY24. With operations at a standstill and no meaningful revenue streams, RCom.’s survival depends on asset monetisation. However, that process has been moving at the pace of a turtle on vacation.

    Consolidated Results

    RCom.’s financials for Q3 reveal a disaster unfolding in slow motion. If numbers could scream, these would be deafening.

    RCom.’s profit after tax (PAT) might as well be renamed loss after tax, as it posted a net loss of Rs 2323 crore for Q3 and a whopping Rs 6779 crore for the nine-month period. The losses are on autopilot, and there’s no emergency landing in sight. The EBITDA situation? Let’s just say it stands for “Empty Bucket DA”. There’s no sign of improvement, and the company continues to hemorrhage cash.

    Revenue from operations came in at Rs 87 crore for Q3, which, in telecom terms, is barely enough to keep the call centers running. The nine-month revenue stands at Rs 272 crore, proving that RCom.’s once-mighty earnings have taken a permanent vacation.

    If you’re an RCom. shareholder, consider looking away. The earnings per share (EPS) before exceptional items was (Rs 8.67) per share for Q3 and (Rs 25.10) per share for the nine-month period. After exceptional items? Let’s not even go there.

    To top it all off, the comprehensive loss for Q3 stood at Rs 2,373 crore, ballooning to Rs 6,878 crore for the nine-month period-because apparently, one kind of loss just wasn’t enough.

    The financial report reads less like a balance sheet and more like a horror novel. With no operational revenue and a debt mountain that refuses to shrink, the road ahead is looking rockier than ever.

    Discontinued Operations

    RCom.’s discontinued operations, including its wireless spectrum, towers, fibre, and media convergence nodes, continue to be the financial equivalent of quicksand. Despite being classified as “held for sale” since 2018, these assets remain unsold, haunting the company’s balance sheet like a ghost that refuses to be exorcised.

    The real horror story lies in the discontinued operations segment, where the company booked a massive provision of Rs 1,840 crore towards license and spectrum fees, sending the total net loss soaring to Rs 2,068 crore. For the nine-month period, RCom.’s total losses ballooned to Rs 6,012 crore, with discontinued operations contributing Rs 5,874 crore in losses. If you’re looking for signs of improvement, well, there aren’t any-the loss for the same period last year was Rs 6,232 crore.

    The segment’s revenue was a pathetic Rs 3 crore, against expenses of Rs 160 crore, leading to a Rs 156 crore loss. Making matters worse, the company has not accounted for interest on loans amounting to Rs 1,327 crore for Q3, further distorting its actual financial position.

    Debt and Insolvency

    RCom.’s financial position is about as stable as a house of cards in a hurricane. The company has defaulted on both interest and principal payments for years. Its total debts now exceed total assets, with a debt-to-assets ratio of 1.02. Net worth? Completely wiped out, standing at a shocking negative Rs 68,490 crore as of December 31, 2024.

    The insolvency resolution process remains stuck in legal limbo, with creditors desperately waiting for some sort of recovery. But with Supreme Court and NCLT hearings stretching on indefinitely, they might be waiting for a long, long time.

    Segment-wise performance

    . Telecom services: With just Rs 65 crore in revenue, the core business has all but collapsed. The segment continues to operate at a loss, and there’s no revival plan in sight.

    . Infrastructure and enterprise solutions: This segment is in hibernation mode, waiting for the insolvency proceedings to play out.

    .  Discontinued operations: The spectrum, towers, and fibre assets remain stranded, with no buyers in sight, making them a financial black hole.

    With no revenue growth, no operational revival, and mounting liabilities, RCom.’s future looks about as promising as a sinking ship without a lifeboat. The resolution process remains entangled in legal battles, and the much-needed asset sales haven’t made any progress. Creditors are frustrated, and shareholders have zero hope of recovery.

    Unless a miraculous acquisition or restructuring deal materialises, RCom. is likely to become a footnote in India’s corporate history-a grim reminder of how unchecked expansion, debt mismanagement, and regulatory battles can sink even the biggest players.

  • RCOM reports mixed Q2 amid insolvency struggles

    RCOM reports mixed Q2 amid insolvency struggles

    Mumbai: In the latest financial disclosure, Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) reported its unaudited standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter and half-year ending 30 September 2024. The announcement, dated 9 November 2024, was made under the oversight of the resolution professional, Anish Niranjan Nanavaty, as the company remains under corporate insolvency resolution since 28 June 2019.

    For the quarter ending 30 September 2024, RCOM’s consolidated total income stood at Rs 97 crore, reflecting a slight decrease from Rs 100 crore in the previous quarter. The company reported an operating loss of Rs 32 crore, widening from a loss of Rs 19 crore in the preceding quarter. The net loss for the quarter was Rs 1,060 crore, an improvement from the Rs 1,965 crore loss reported in the previous quarter.  

    The operating margin for the quarter was -32.99 per cent, compared to -19 per cent in the previous quarter, indicating increased operational challenges. The depreciation and amortisation expenses rose to Rs 34 crore from Rs 32 crore, suggesting ongoing capital expenditure and asset utilisation.

    Since the initiation of the insolvency process in June 2019, RCOM has faced multiple operational and structural obstacles, with the National Company Law Tribunal overseeing its recovery and management efforts. The impact of these challenges is evident in the subdued financial performance across segments. Cost-cutting initiatives, though visible, remain inadequate to counterbalance the income reductions from discontinued services and stagnant growth.

    As RCOM pivots its strategy to maximise value during insolvency proceedings, its existing customer base and asset utilisation are pivotal to short-term stabilisation. Nonetheless, substantial debt obligations and restricted access to capital raise questions about RCOM’s capability to weather the long-term implications of market pressures without a viable merger or acquisition plan.

    Key Financial Highlights

    •    Total Income: Rs 97 crore (Q2 FY2024-25)

    •    Operating Loss: Rs 32 crore

    •    Net Loss: Rs 1,060 crore

    •    Operating Margin: -32.99 per cent

    •    Depreciation/Amortisation: Rs 34 crore

    These figures reflect the company’s ongoing efforts to manage its financial health amid challenging circumstances.

    The future trajectory of RCOM hinges largely on its restructuring efforts and external support from potential investors. While the telecom industry’s competitive intensity shows no signs of abating, any potential buyer would inherit both the legacy issues and opportunities presented by RCOM’s extensive infrastructure. Stakeholders continue to monitor how RCOM will leverage or offload these assets within the constraints of its insolvency resolution process.

     

  • Prasun Kumar elevated to chief marketing officer at Magicbricks

    Prasun Kumar elevated to chief marketing officer at Magicbricks

    Mumbai: Prasun Kumar, who was previously business head – New Revenue Verticals & Head – Operations, Digital Marketing & Quality Assurance at Magicbricks has been promoted to chief of marketing at the leading real estate portal.

    In this new capacity, Prasun will oversee the company’s entire marketing, research, and editorial functions. Additionally, he will also be Business Head for a few strategic revenue verticals.

    Before rejoining Magicbricks in 2023, Prasun held the position of chief marketing officer at Justdial. His professional journey, spanning over two decades, includes leadership roles at renowned organisations such as Reliance Communications, Sony Mobile Communications, MTS, Levi Strauss & Co., Madison Communications, and McCann Worldgroup.

  • Cable industry veteran Lt Col VC Khare passes away

    Cable industry veteran Lt Col VC Khare passes away

    KOLKATA: Cable TV expert, retired Lt.Col VC Khare has passed away. He contributed to the cable TV industry in India at different roles for nearly three decades.

    He was a member of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) where he played a significant role in formulating 8 BIS Specification for cable TV hardware. He published over 30 papers on cable television.

    The cable industry veteran was also a part of Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd. (BECIL). During his stint at BECIL, he established the Wireline Broadcasting Division and set up training in collaboration with SCTE UK in India.

    He also worked with renowned brands like Videocon, Reliance Communications. At Videocon, he guided the setting up of d2h earth station for its DTH platform. At Reliance Communications, he set up Reliance Digital DTH platform from concept to service on screen.

    Khare was very vocal about industry issues like DAS implementation, new tariff order roll out. He spoke at different forums to share his expertise with the operators.

    At the early part of his career, he was associated with the Indian army for 24 years. He got his education on telecommunications engineering in the field of military communications from the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering Secunderabad.

  • Abhishek Kapadia joins iGKnights Digital Media Works as COO

    Abhishek Kapadia joins iGKnights Digital Media Works as COO

    MUMBAI: Ad network and value-added-services firm iGKnights Digital Media Works has brought on board Abhishek Kapadia as the chief operating officer. The new appointment is a strategic move with the aim of strengthening and expanding the India leadership team of iGKnights Digital Media Works. Based out of UAE and Delhi, he will look after the overall functioning of the company and allied businesses.

    Prior to his role at iGKnights Media Works, h was associated with digital media firm Globocom as a partner and led multiple projects and businesses of the firm. With over fourteen years in the sales, business development and marketing sectors, Kapadia has also been associated with industry companies like Reliance Communications, Bharti Airtel, Indiatimes.com, Hungama, Symbiotic Infotech, and mobile performance advertising agency Mobusi.

    Speaking about his new role, Kapadia said, “The dynamic and fast expanding digital advertising industry has always enticed me into taking up greater initiatives and responsibilities. With this opportunity, I plan on leveraging my knowledge and expertise with a company whose beliefs resonate with mine. I am excited to join the team and ready to explore additional facets of the trade!”