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Tag: Reliance Jio Infocomm

  • Q3-2016: Reliance organised retail continues on growth path, Jio launched

    Q3-2016: Reliance organised retail continues on growth path, Jio launched

    BENGALURU: The Mukesh D Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited’s (RIL) organised retail segment – Reliance Retail, continued its growth momentum and profitability in the quarter ended 31 December, 2105 (Q3-2016, current quarter, Q3-16).

     

    RIL chairman and managing director Ambani said, “Our portfolio of world-class refining and petrochemical assets are paying-off handsomely. Refining business delivered yet another record performance on the back of seven-year high refining margins and highest ever crude throughput. In the current nine-month period, our refining business EBIT has surpassed the record earnings it achieved in FY-2015. The petrochemical business also delivered amongst its best quarterly performance, driven by robust polymer margins. The benefits of low crude oil and energy prices for our downstream businesses clearly outweigh the impact of these factors on our upstream segment, reflecting in the record earnings for the quarter.”

     

    “In the last quarter we also achieved significant milestones in our consumer facing businesses. In the biggest ever launch, Jio services have been offered to over 100,000 group employees and their families enabling them to experience the world-class digital services and applications, and help co-creating the best experience for all our customers. Our retail business crossed Rs 6,000 crore quarterly revenue milestone with a footprint now encompassing over 3,000 stores in 371 cities,” added Ambani.

     

    Revenues from RIL’s retail segment for Q3-2016 grew by 28.9 per cent YoY to Rs 6,042 crore (8.9 per cent of consolidated net turnover) as compared to Rs 4,686 crore (five per cent of consolidated net turnover) and grew 18.7 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 5,091 crore (7.2 per cent of consolidated net turnover). RIL says that consolidated its leadership position in the grocery category. It further optimised its network operations to enhance profitability across the grocery retailing chain. Several private label products were launched under various grocery and general merchandise categories during the quarter. These continue to attract consumers due to compelling value proposition and great quality.

     

    The business delivered operating profit growth of 10.5 per cent YoY at Rs 147 crore (2.4 per cent margin)in Q3-2016 as against Rs 133 crore, and grew 25.6 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 117 crore in Q2-2016.

     

    RIL numbers

     

    For Q3-2016, RIL achieved a consolidated net turnover of Rs 68,261 crore, a decrease of 27 per cent YoY, as compared to Rs 93,528 crore in Q3-2015 and 3.7 per cent lower than the Rs 70,901 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    However, RIL’s net profit after tax (PAT) increased 39.3 per cent YoY in Q3-2016 to Rs 7,431 crore as compared to the Rs 5,271 crore in Q3-2015 and increased 9.4 per cent as compared to the Rs 6,709 crore in the previous quarter.

     

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited

     

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), a subsidiary of RIL, is rolling out a state-of-the-art pan India digital services business. In addition to fixed and wireless broadband connectivity offering superior voice and data services on an all-IP network, RJIL says that it will also offer end-to-end solutions that address the entire value chain across various digital services in key domains such as education, healthcare, security, communication, financial services, government-citizen interfaces and entertainment. RJIL aims to provide anytime, anywhere access to innovative and empowering digital content, applications and services, thereby propelling India into global leadership in digital economy. RJIL aims to bring connected intelligence to the country through its extensive true 4G connectivity.

     

    RJIL is the first telecom operator to hold pan India Unified License. It holds 751.10 MHz of liberalised spectrum across the 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2300 MHz bands. RJIL plans to provide seamless 4G services using LTE in 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2300 MHz bands through an integrated ecosystem. The combined spectrum footprint across frequency bands provides significant network capacity and deep in-building coverage. In addition, RJIL has entered into agreements with RCOM for change in spectrum allotment in the 800 MHz band from RCOM to RJIL across nine circles and sharing of spectrum in the 800 MHz band across 17 circles.

     

    Media business

     

    Consolidated revenue and EBITDA of Network18 Media & Investments Limited was Rs 906 crore and Rs 95 crore, respectively during the quarter. Network18’s news channels (CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNN-IBN) and entertainment channels (Colors, Vh1, MTV, Nick) continued to be leaders in their respective genres says the company. Network18’s digital properties Moneycontrol and Bookmyshow continued to be market leaders. Moneycontrol launched new Android and iOS versions of Moneycontrol App during the quarter.

  • Q3-2016: Reliance organised retail continues on growth path, Jio launched

    Q3-2016: Reliance organised retail continues on growth path, Jio launched

    BENGALURU: The Mukesh D Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited’s (RIL) organised retail segment – Reliance Retail, continued its growth momentum and profitability in the quarter ended 31 December, 2105 (Q3-2016, current quarter, Q3-16).

     

    RIL chairman and managing director Ambani said, “Our portfolio of world-class refining and petrochemical assets are paying-off handsomely. Refining business delivered yet another record performance on the back of seven-year high refining margins and highest ever crude throughput. In the current nine-month period, our refining business EBIT has surpassed the record earnings it achieved in FY-2015. The petrochemical business also delivered amongst its best quarterly performance, driven by robust polymer margins. The benefits of low crude oil and energy prices for our downstream businesses clearly outweigh the impact of these factors on our upstream segment, reflecting in the record earnings for the quarter.”

     

    “In the last quarter we also achieved significant milestones in our consumer facing businesses. In the biggest ever launch, Jio services have been offered to over 100,000 group employees and their families enabling them to experience the world-class digital services and applications, and help co-creating the best experience for all our customers. Our retail business crossed Rs 6,000 crore quarterly revenue milestone with a footprint now encompassing over 3,000 stores in 371 cities,” added Ambani.

     

    Revenues from RIL’s retail segment for Q3-2016 grew by 28.9 per cent YoY to Rs 6,042 crore (8.9 per cent of consolidated net turnover) as compared to Rs 4,686 crore (five per cent of consolidated net turnover) and grew 18.7 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 5,091 crore (7.2 per cent of consolidated net turnover). RIL says that consolidated its leadership position in the grocery category. It further optimised its network operations to enhance profitability across the grocery retailing chain. Several private label products were launched under various grocery and general merchandise categories during the quarter. These continue to attract consumers due to compelling value proposition and great quality.

     

    The business delivered operating profit growth of 10.5 per cent YoY at Rs 147 crore (2.4 per cent margin)in Q3-2016 as against Rs 133 crore, and grew 25.6 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 117 crore in Q2-2016.

     

    RIL numbers

     

    For Q3-2016, RIL achieved a consolidated net turnover of Rs 68,261 crore, a decrease of 27 per cent YoY, as compared to Rs 93,528 crore in Q3-2015 and 3.7 per cent lower than the Rs 70,901 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    However, RIL’s net profit after tax (PAT) increased 39.3 per cent YoY in Q3-2016 to Rs 7,431 crore as compared to the Rs 5,271 crore in Q3-2015 and increased 9.4 per cent as compared to the Rs 6,709 crore in the previous quarter.

     

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited

     

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), a subsidiary of RIL, is rolling out a state-of-the-art pan India digital services business. In addition to fixed and wireless broadband connectivity offering superior voice and data services on an all-IP network, RJIL says that it will also offer end-to-end solutions that address the entire value chain across various digital services in key domains such as education, healthcare, security, communication, financial services, government-citizen interfaces and entertainment. RJIL aims to provide anytime, anywhere access to innovative and empowering digital content, applications and services, thereby propelling India into global leadership in digital economy. RJIL aims to bring connected intelligence to the country through its extensive true 4G connectivity.

     

    RJIL is the first telecom operator to hold pan India Unified License. It holds 751.10 MHz of liberalised spectrum across the 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2300 MHz bands. RJIL plans to provide seamless 4G services using LTE in 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2300 MHz bands through an integrated ecosystem. The combined spectrum footprint across frequency bands provides significant network capacity and deep in-building coverage. In addition, RJIL has entered into agreements with RCOM for change in spectrum allotment in the 800 MHz band from RCOM to RJIL across nine circles and sharing of spectrum in the 800 MHz band across 17 circles.

     

    Media business

     

    Consolidated revenue and EBITDA of Network18 Media & Investments Limited was Rs 906 crore and Rs 95 crore, respectively during the quarter. Network18’s news channels (CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNN-IBN) and entertainment channels (Colors, Vh1, MTV, Nick) continued to be leaders in their respective genres says the company. Network18’s digital properties Moneycontrol and Bookmyshow continued to be market leaders. Moneycontrol launched new Android and iOS versions of Moneycontrol App during the quarter.

  • Reliance Jio to raise Rs 3000 crore via debentures

    Reliance Jio to raise Rs 3000 crore via debentures

    MUMBAI: Even as it gears up to launch its much touted 4G service pan India, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio Infocomm is planning to raise Rs 3000 crore by issuing secured redeemable non-convertible debentures on private placement basis.

     

    As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, Reliance Jio is slated to launch its 4G services across India on 28 December, which also happens to be the birth anniversary of the family’s patriarch Dhirubhai Ambani.

     

    In a regulatory filing, Reliance Jio said, “… pursuant to the approval of the board of directors and shareholders, the company proposes to issue secured redeemable non-convertible debentures aggregating up to Rs 3,000 crore on private placement basis,”

     

    It may be recalled that in May this year, Reliance Jio had taken a 12-year loan of Rs 4500 crore from Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-sure) for its 4G rollout. The funds were to be used to finance goods and services from Samsung Electronics and Ace Technologies Corp, which are being tapped for its infrastructure rollout. Thereafter in July, the company announced plans to raise Rs 4,500 crore through debentures.

     

    Reliance Jio is currently present across all 29 Indian states, with a direct physical presence in approximately 18,000 cities and towns, and more than one lakh villages. Ambani plans to launch 4G services with an approximate investment of Rs 100,000 crore.

  • Reliance Jio plans soft launch on Dhirubhai Ambani’s birth anniversary

    Reliance Jio plans soft launch on Dhirubhai Ambani’s birth anniversary

    MUMBAI: Touted as the most anticipated launch in the Indian telecommunications space, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio is planning a soft launch on the late family patriarch – Dhirubhai Ambani’s birth anniversary i.e 28 December, 2015.

     

    While Jio’s launch is being regarded as the game changer of the Digital India vision, the task cut out for the newest telecom company in the fray is not as simple as rival Bharti Airtel, which is also gearing up to launch its 4G network.

     

    During the company’s Annual General Meeting earlier this year, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani spoke about Jio’s commercial launch in December 2015. However, a source close to the development tells Indiantelevision.com that while the soft launch will happen in December this year, the commercial launch will only be somewhere around March 2016.

     

    “Airtel has a full fledged 3G network across the country and hence if consumers are out of the 4G network area coverage, they can operate on 3G. However, Reliance Jio cannot follow this proposition due to unavailability of the 3G network. We are planning for a soft launch on a good day in December,” the source says.

     

    The source also confirmed that Reliance Jio’s commercial launch, which will facilitate consumers from across 5,000 cities and towns, might get delayed to March.

     

    Recently, Reliance Jio Infocomm signed a deal with US-based test and measurement equipment provider Keysight Technologies to test its 4G network. Analysts peg that the testing deal may have cost Reliance Jio approximately Rs 100 crore.

     

    Ambani plans to launch 4G services in over 5,000 cities and towns across India with an approximate investment of Rs 100,000 crore. Test runs have already begun in some parts of the country.

  • Reliance Jio signs with Keysight Technologies to test 4G network

    Reliance Jio signs with Keysight Technologies to test 4G network

    MUMBAI: Reliance Jio Infocomm has signed a deal with US-based test and measurement equipment provider Keysight Technologies to test its Fourth Generation (4G) network.
     
    Analysts peg that the testing deal may have cost Reliance Jio approximately Rs 100 crore.
     
    The Mukesh Ambani-led company is planning to launch its 4G services in December this year in 5,000 cities and towns across India with an approximate investment of Rs 100,000-crore.
     
    Reliance Jio is aiming to provide the best, seamless and high-speed services, after the commercial launch in December.
     
    Keysight will be testing hardware and software for Reliance Jio. It will enable the company to get proper design and test labs for its 4G technology. This supports both Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) and Test-driven Development (TDD) plans. For efficient tests and detecting blind spots, field gear would be required.
     
    With the Keysight equipment, Reliance Jio will be able to test its network for varied parameters like sensitivity, load conditions, power, transmission loss, noise and service quality. The tests will ensure that these deployments meet desired standards for customers. Keysight will make the tests during installation and deployment. Besides, it will also train operators on wireless domains. 
     
    Reliance Jio had earlier joined hands with Keysight to test its base station design and development. After that, the company opted for Long Term Evolution (LTE) Conformance Test System to so that its devices and dongles have the telecom standards of Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), before they were launched.
     
    Besides, Reliance Jio also made investments on 4G LTE device manufacturing test solutions. This will let the company test third-party devices, independently before they are made available to the masses.
  • Reliance says allegations against Jio Chat ‘unfounded and malicious’

    Reliance says allegations against Jio Chat ‘unfounded and malicious’

    MUMBAI: Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio Infocomm has said that statements against its Jio Chat application, which alleged that it sends user information to China based servers, are “unfounded and malicious” and that it fanatically respects and adheres to the privacy, security, and confidentiality of its users’ information.

     

    The Jio Chat app has seen over a million downloads since its launch earlier this year. Reliance Jio Infocomm believes that the analysis published was a deliberate attempt to sensationalize the issue by conveniently highlighting irrelevant portions of the APK script and malign this app.

     

    “We have seen various comments online by anonymous users and other aliases that question the integrity and security of the Jio Chat app. As a rule, we prefer not to respond to gossip and innuendo; however, we want to assure our users that Jio Chat takes privacy and security very seriously,” Reliance Jio Infocomm said in a statement.

     

    The company said that all Jio Chat data and associated servers are hosted physically in Reliance Jio data centers in India and no data travels outside of India from Jio Chat servers.

     

    “As part of standard development practices, the code base has reference to a number of servers, in the comment area. This is not executable code, meaning these references are not used by the application while running. Proper and complete examination of the code would show that the app does not transfer data to any servers outside of India. Within the developer community, it is well understood that decompiled snippets of code is not indicative of how the application actually functions with respect to end users and associated data transfer. “Anonymous” posters often raise false alarms by quoting items such as this out of context,” the statement added.

     

    Concern was also raised regarding references to Chinese map APIs. To counter this, the company said, “Jio Chat is a global application. It is well known that China does not support Google Maps (or for that matter, any Google applications). Thus, for location-based services within China, a Chinese-based mapping service is required. This is a common practice for any app wishing to provide location-based services within China. However, when used Globally, JioChat (outside of China) always uses Google Maps. (This can be checked by anyone by using Jio Chat Location Sharing function).”

     

    The company further clarified that Jio Chat was developed by developers across the world, including India. “Occasionally these developers use their native language while writing comments within the APK to better understand the problem. We are committed to having the best talent working on our products, regardless of race, nationality, gender, or native tongue. India embraces diversity, and, as a company, we do too,” the company said.    

  • Reliance Jio raises Rs 4500 crore from K-sure for 4G rollout

    Reliance Jio raises Rs 4500 crore from K-sure for 4G rollout

    MUMBAI: Reliance Jio Infocomm has signed a loan for approximately Rs 4500 crore ($750 million) from the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-sure) for a period of 12 years.

     

    The funds will be used to finance goods and services from Samsung Electronics and Ace Technologies Corp, which are being tapped for its infrastructure rollout.

     

    This is the first facility by K-sure with Reliance Jio and its largest deal in India. However this is also the second facility by K-sure with the Reliance Group, including RIL and Reliance Jio.

     

    This deal also marks the second round of financing for Reliance Jio from Korean export credit agencies (ECAs) and the third overall between the group and Korean ECAs in three years, highlighting growing business with Korean organisations.

     

    The facility is funded by nine relationship banks of Reliance including The Hong kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, Banco Santander SA, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, JPMorgan Chase NA, Mizuho Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, ING Bank and DZ Bank AG.

  • Reliance Jio places €7 million order with Saft for battery systems

    Reliance Jio places €7 million order with Saft for battery systems

    MUMBAI: Reliance Jio Infocomm has placed an order worth €7 million with Saft for the supply of its state-of-the-art Evolion lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery systems, to support the next phase in India’s 4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution) roll-out programme.

     

    Reliance Jio Infocomm is currently the only pan-Indian 4G/LTE operator.

     

    This new order builds on the success of past orders placed in 2013 and 2014 by Reliance Jio Infocomm for Saft’s Evolion systems, for an amount of €50 million.

     

    These batteries have now been rolled out in more than 16,000 4G/LTE Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites across India, where they provide backup power in case of interruption of the main power supply, guaranteeing total continuity and availability of Reliance Jio Infocomm’s mobile network.

     

    India’s vast geography and wide range of climate conditions represent a significant technical challenge for batteries. The Evolion battery concept has been developed to ensure reliability and service life for telecom installations operating at temperatures in the range of – 40 degree C to + 75 degree C and in high humidity conditions.

     

    In addition, Evolion is also around half the size and only one quarter of the weight of a conventional telecom battery, freeing up space and making it easier and safer for operators to transport, handle and install.

     

    “Our backup battery systems play a key role in guaranteeing the reliability of telecom networks at all times, which is crucial to the successful expansion of 4G/LTE services. I am thrilled by Reliance Jio Infocomm’s renewed trust in Saft’s Evolion modules, which again demonstrates the quality of our backup battery systems and their ability to ensure reliability and maximize life of service for our clients’ infrastructures in the most challenging conditions,” said Saft’s Industrial Battery Group general manager Xavier Delacroix.

     

    To support the intensive deployment of the Evolion battery systems, Saft is also providing a dedicated service for RJIL for life cycle support across the entire installed base. Deliveries are scheduled to take place during the second quarter of 2015.

     

  • Reliance Jio Infocomm extends free 4G wi-fi service in Kolkata

    Reliance Jio Infocomm extends free 4G wi-fi service in Kolkata

    KOLKATA: Reliance Jio Infocomm, the company owned by Mukesh Ambani’s flagship Reliance Industries, has said that four more areas in Kolkata will turn into wi-fi enabled zones by next month.

    In February, the company rolled out a free 4G wi-fi service at Park Street, enabling Kolkata as the first metro city with a 4G-enabled high-speed internet service.

    South City to Lords crossing, Medical College to Barnaparichay Mall and the areas around Lady Brabourne College, National Medical College and Don Bosco School, and Rashbehari crossing to Hazra crossing, are the new public wi-fi zones where the services are likely to be stretched. Two more zones were added last month — Gariahat-Golpark and the area near Jadavpur 8B bus-stand.

    Sources said that it takes a week to set up power connectivity with access points so the system and the wi-fi zones are likely to be active by the end of this month or in the first week of May.

    Sources further added that the company is extending the service to four more areas because of the increasing demand for data services. 

    Around five lakh users have availed of the free wi-fi service since it was rolled out at Park Street on 5 February. Park Street has around 230 wi-fi routers online, allowing around 9,200 people to connect to the wi-fi network at a time.

     

    While inaugurating wi-fi in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said that in around next two months, the whole city will be connected with wi-fi.

    The Chief Minister further said that the company has laid down the cable connectivity covering 2,000 km, and around 250-300 km cable laying work was likely to be completed soon. “Reliance Jio Infocomm has completed more than 90 per cent of the work,” she said.

    The company, which is investing around Rs 3,300 crore to roll out 4G in Bengal, plans to offer the free service as part of a sampling experiment. The official commercial launch will take place later.

  • Telecom spectrum bid: Rs 77,000 crore committed by end of round three

    Telecom spectrum bid: Rs 77,000 crore committed by end of round three

    NEW DELHI: A total telecom spectrum of Rs 77,000 crore (provisional figure) was reached by the end of the week with 17 rounds.

     

    Eight telecom operators — Reliance Communications, Reliance Jio Infocomm, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, Tata Teleservices, Uninor, Idea Cellular and Aircel attended the six fresh rounds of bidding. 

     

    On day one, bids value was Rs 60,000 crore, while day two bids value reached Rs 65,000 crore. The bids were held for spectrum in 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz, 900 MHz and 800 MHz bands.  

     

    The bidding has taken place in all bands, according to the Communications and Information Technology Ministry. There is still some spectrum available and auction will continue for this. 

     

    The reserve price value was around Rs 49,000 crores of provisionally won spectrum.

     

    The estimated revenue from the auction of spectrum is targetted at Rs 64,840 crore (excluding 2100 MHz spectrum) of which Rs 16,000 crore is expected to be realized in the current financial year.

     

    The reserve price approved is Rs 3646 crore pan-India per MHZ in 800 MHz, Rs 3980 crore for 900 MHz band pan India excluding Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, and Jammu and Kashmir; Rs 2191 crore pan India (excluding Maharashtra and West Bengal) in 1800 MHz band. 

     

    A meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, early in January, approved the proposal of the Department of Telecom to proceed with auction in 800, 900 and 1800 MHz bands. 

     

    The quantum of spectrum to be put to auction was 103.75 MHz in 800 MHz band in all service areas, 177.8 MHz  in 17 LSAs in 900 MHz band and 99.2 MHz in 15 LSAs in 1800 MHz band. Thus a total of 380.75 MHz in 800, 900 and 1800 MHz was being put to auction.  

     

    Payment terms, eligibility criteria and auction objectives shall be as in the previous auction of February 2014. 

     

    The Cabinet had also decided that intent to put 2100 MHz to simultaneous auction may be announced along with auction of other bands. Details of this will be announced later on.

     

    Later that month on 15 January, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India opined that clubbing the 2100 MHz band spectrum with the spectrum of other bands for auction in February will be defeated if sufficient spectrum is not made available in the 2100 MHz band.

     

    “A split auction of 2100 MHz (one in February 2015 and remaining say, in December 2015 after availability from Defence Ministry) will artificially increase the market price of 2100 MHz in February because of the severe supply constraint. The 15 MHz of spectrum in the 2100 MHz spectrum being vacated by the Defence Ministry should be auctioned in view of the in-principle agreement reached with MoD, even if it is not available immediately,” TRAI had said. 

     

    The Authority reiterated that in the auction of 2100 MHz band spectrum, an auction-specific cap should be placed that no bidder would be permitted to bid for more than two blocks in a local service area if three to four blocks are available in that local service area. 

     

    TRAI had said there was no change in the reserve prices for spectrum in the 2100 MHz bands from what were recommended earlier.

     

    It said the Department of Telecom is responsible to ensure that the spectrum being auctioned is either interference free or to share information upfront about the areas where interference is likely to occur so that the telecom service providers participating in the auction can take informed decision.

     

    These views were given to the DoT in Clarifications/Reconsideration of Recommendations on ‘Valuation and Reserve Price of Spectrum: 2100 MHz Band’.