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Tag: SSTL

  • Sistema Shyam TeleServices to launch innovative services

    Sistema Shyam TeleServices to launch innovative services

    KOLKATA: Sistema Shyam TeleServices Ltd (SSTL), the telecom services provider under the MTS brand, aims to launch innovative services early this year for smart phones. It is looking at launching devices, which can act as chargers as well as wireless internet for the smart phone users.

    Also, the data-led brand, had witnessed upwards of around 100 per cent increase in online marketing spent in the calendar year 2014 as compared to that last year 2013.

    “SSTL is looking at launching devices which can act as a charger as well as wireless internet for the smart phone users. Test phase is on,” said MTS India head of marketing and communications Gaurav Kackar.

    On the online marketing spent, without quantifying the budget Kackar, explained that if in the corresponding period the company spent Rs 100, around 20 per cent was dedicated for online advertisement spent and last year, it was increased to around 50 per cent. “We have almost doubled our share on online marketing spend,” he said.

    Also, the Facebook page of MTS brand has more than two million fans, he said.

    MTS expects surge in data traffic. “SSTL expects strong data growth over its networks,” he said.

    The company foresees exceptional data growth onto its networks. The Indian unit of Russia’s Sistema JSFC that operates under the MTS brand operates in nine out of 22 telecom circles in India.

    MTS, mainly a prepaid data services, has made its mark too when it comes to post paid services. “In the last three months, post paid growth has almost doubled,” he said.

    The company has, of late, shifted its focus to data-centric services such as video streaming.

    Postpaid consumers pay Rs 999 instead of Rs 1,499 for the MTS MBlaze Ultra Wi-Fi dongle. Additionally they can also opt for 40GB data pack at Rs 999, among various other offers, concluded Kackar.

  • MTS’s Discover reports 100 per cent traffic growth in 2014

    MTS’s Discover reports 100 per cent traffic growth in 2014

    KOLKATA: Sistema Shyam TeleServices Ltd (SSTL), the telecom services provider under MTS brand, which launched ‘Discover’, has witnessed a traffic growth of almost 100 per cent.

     

    “It is witnessing a traffic growth of almost 100 per cent from 1 lakh to 2 lakh in 2014,” informed MTS India head, marketing communications Gaurav Kackar.

     

    Launched in 2012, ‘Discover’ provides a platform to upcoming singers to showcase their talent.

     

    SSTL also continues its association with the NH7 Weekender, a music festival. The weekender is a music festival conceptualised and started by Only Much Louder (OML), a management company for Indian music groups. The event started in Pune, but now has been expanded to Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata.

     

    “As the music programme gets near, we experience 5,000-7,000 hits by music lovers every day. MTS is a youth oriented brand and I feel music and youth are inseparable. This is the best way to connect our brand with the young India. Also, the Facebook page of MTS brand has more than 2 million fans,” said Kackar.

     

    Earlier, MTS had served as a launch pad in India for some great Indian and international artists from Dhruv Visvanath, Nischay Parekh and Prateek Kuhad to Cardiff folk duo Zervas & Pepper and Australian alternative pop sensation Kate Miller-Heidke.

     

    Besides the music festival, the company will also set up a special ‘MTS Lounge’ where fans would be entertained with some surprise performances.

     

    The Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2014 festival is scheduled to start from 1 November 2014 in Kolkata and will end on 30 November in Delhi.

     

  • Ad budgets halved ahead of Durga Puja

    Ad budgets halved ahead of Durga Puja

    KOLKATA: Even as the Bengali community prepares to welcome Goddess Durga, the economic recession seems to have dampened Kolkata’s festive fervour.
    Advertising budgets have been slashed to half their size while companies are opting for short-term campaigns spanning not more than 15 days in a bid to save the pennies. Brands are likely to divert funds from large-scale advertising campaigns to quick-win promotions, including coupons and POS discounts so as to attract cash-strapped customers.

     

    Sampark Adverting & Media marketing head Kalyan Brata Ghosh agrees that companies are increasingly opting for short-term campaigns. While Inter Action founder Pranatar Chaudhuri says: “The budget is very low. The biggest spender ITC Vivel is almost non-existent. Vodafone has not yet launched its Puja campaign as normally, the telecom service provider starts the campaign three to four weeks before.”

     

    Chaudhuri adds that clients are optimising costs. For instance, both Berger and Asian Paints haven’t rolled out anything major yet. With the Pujas starting from today, the mood is rather low-key.

     

    “We are selling off space at half the cost so that hoardings do not go blank and we earn something during tough times,” a source from an outdoor media agency reveals.

     

    “Pujas are getting hit. Puja committees have lost clients. Money market companies, which, till last year, either spent a huge amount on the Puja campaigns or donated to big Puja committees have almost contributed nil this year,” says a media planner.

     

    Some brands are even back-tracking as no one is willing to spend. “One of my clients got all the plans made and then backed out even when we quoted the cheapest rates,” says a source from a city-based medium-sized outdoor agency.

     

    Meanwhile Sistema Shyam TeleServices, which provides telecom services under the MTS brand, has announced the launch of the MTS Digital Utsav campaign, near to the Durga Puja celebrations. The campaign has been specially designed to cash in on the power of the digital medium for two special initiatives: the MTS Street Food Festival and MTS Digital Pujo Awards, says an SSTL release.

     

    Ghosh points out that most agencies have kept client campaigns under wraps and will unveil them once people start pandal hopping during the Puja.

  • Auction of 800 Mhz spectrum to commence on 11 March

    Auction of 800 Mhz spectrum to commence on 11 March

    NEW DELHI: Only one applicant – SSTL – registered for the auction of 800 MHz spectrum while no applicants registered for the auction of 1800 and 900 MHz spectrum at the time of close on the last date for receipt of applications, 25 February.

    In view of this, the Government today announced that it will commence the auction for 800 MHz on 11 March.

    Under the original announcement, auction for 1800 and 900 MHz bands was to begin simultaneously starting from 11 March and the 800 MHz band auction was to commence two days after the conclusion of the auction of 1800 and 900 MHz spectrum.

    The Department of Telecom also announced that the next steps in respect of the 1800 and 900 MHz spectrum will be decided shortly after placing the developments and issues arising therefrom before the Empowered Group of Ministers on auction of spectrum.

    A third auction (after the first auction in November 2012 and the second auction due to commence on 11 March) was already announced by the DoT on 20 February consequent to the Supreme Court directions of 15 February.

    This third auction was to cover only the 1800 MHz band to comply with the SC directive to put the entire spectrum surrendered (which was entirely either in the 1800 or 800 MHz bands) by holders of quashed licenses to auction immediately. This would, in any case, have necessitated auction in 20 of the 22 circles wherein the quantum of spectrum put to auction was less than what the apex court had directed on 15 February after the issue of the NIA for the March 2013 auction.

    In Delhi and Mumbai circles, the quantum of spectrum put to auction in March 2013 was already in accordance with the latest orders of the Court. This was also the case in respect of spectrum in the 800 MHz band both in the November 2012 auction and again in the March 2013 auction.

    In the light of these developments, DoT will review the need to include the remaining two circles – Delhi and Mumbai – for 1800 MHz bands in the next round of auctions as also the need for a re-auction in the three metro circles of the 900 MHz band. The quantum of spectrum, the reserve price and the timelines for this auction will be decided after necessary directions are obtained from the EGoM and where required, the cabinet, in this regard.

    DoT is also in the process of filing an affidavit of compliance in the Supreme Court regarding implementation of its orders of 15 February. Any further directions issued by the Court in the matter will be incorporated into the plan of action for the next round of auction to be held as soon as possible after the 11 March auction is completed.

    Separately, the DoT will also take action as directed by the Delhi High Court to dispose of the applications for extension of licenses received from licensees whose licenses are due to expire in November 2014. This action will be completed before the timeline fixed by the High Court of Delhi.

  • MTS launches mobile advertising service mAd

    MUMBAI: Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL), which nationally operates its telecom services under the MTS brand, pioneered the launch of its new service called ‘MTS mAd‘. The service provides brands a clutter breaking means to engage with customers on a one-to-one basis. It also allows MTS Smartphone customers using mAd will to make free local calls after watching a video ad.

    MTS mAd service is available on all Android devices on the MTS network including MTS MTag 3.1, MTS MTag 351, MTS MTag 352, MTS MTag 353, MTS MTag 401, MTS Pulse, Samsung Galaxy Y and Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos CDMA. The company plans to expand this service to Blackberry and BREW enabled entry level MTS handsets.

    MTS India chief marketing and sales officer Leonid Musatov said, “Innovation is one of the core values of MTS India. The launch of mAd service is a testament of our deep rooted commitment to the same value. MTS mAd is a unique service which enables our Smartphone customers to make free calls by just watching a video ad on their device. The service also provides an opportunity to leading brands to connect with their customers in a personalised manner. I am confident that the mAd service would find its appeal amongst both our customers and the advertising fraternity.”

    Brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Mentos, Center Fresh, Fiat, Kellogg‘s, Titan and Lenovo have associated for MTS mAd service to engage with customers.

    MTS mAd service requires no charges for activation, application download and for data transfer while watching video ads. The user will get a seamless experience with no buffering and video streaming hassle. Customers using this service will be able to make as many as four MTS mAd calls in a day.