ITV

Tag: Telecom Infrastructure

  • Bharti Hexacom Q2 boasts 20.7 per cent revenue surge and data growth

    Bharti Hexacom Q2 boasts 20.7 per cent revenue surge and data growth

    Mumbai: Imagine a day without the internet—no streaming the latest movies, no WhatsApp pings from friends, no emails to explain running late to the boss. Digital silence. Yet, as our lives entwine ever more with digital connectivity, Bharti Hexacom emerges as a robust architect of India’s digital future. In Q2 FY25, the telecom powerhouse posted an impressive 20.7 per cent year-on-year revenue jump, reaching Rs 20,976 million. Fueled by strategic expansions in mobile and broadband, Bharti Hexacom shows unyielding momentum. With mobile data usage surging 29.7 per cent, and bolstered by solid infrastructure investments, the company signals a steadfast commitment to enhancing the nation’s digital ecosystem.

    The quarter’s revenue growth was propelled by Bharti Hexacom’s core mobile services, which registered a substantial 20 per cent year-on-year increase, reaching Rs 20,433 million. This growth trajectory was bolstered by ‘tariff repair’ initiatives and a strategic focus on acquiring quality customers, leading to an Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) increase to Rs 228, a 16.3 per cent rise from Rs 196 in Q2 FY24. Homes and Office services also saw revenue growth, up by 19.8 per cent YoY, with net customer additions reaching an impressive 30,000, marking the highest quarterly growth in this segment.

    The company’s EBITDA rose by 21.8 per cent YoY to Rs 10,464 million, supported by the operational efficiency initiatives that helped to widen EBITDA margins to 49.9 per cent from 49.4 per cent last year. However, EBIT margin slightly contracted by 24 basis points to 24.3 per cent amid escalating competition and increased operational costs. Net income, a noteworthy figure, reached Rs 2,531 million—transforming a year-over-year loss into a profitable position and reflecting a robust 237 per cent growth after accounting for exceptional items.

    Bharti Hexacom’s capital expenditure of Rs 4,465 million in Q2 FY25 has enabled the rollout of over 200 network towers and 407 mobile broadband stations, primarily across Rajasthan and the North East. This investment complements the recent acquisition of an additional 15 MHz spectrum, allowing for enhanced connectivity and user experience. Bharti Hexacom’s pioneering AI-driven spam detection tool—India’s first by a telecom provider—was also launched this quarter to improve customer satisfaction.

    Mobile data consumption demonstrated a robust year-over-year growth of 29.7 per cent, reaching 1,524 PB, driven by a rise in smartphone users, which grew by 11.3 per cent YoY. The segment saw significant usage, with data consumption averaging 25.9 GB per user per month, reinforcing Hexacom’s position as a digital leader amid rising demand for mobile data.

    The Homes and Office services unit continues its growth trajectory, expanding high-speed broadband services to 103 cities and leveraging partnerships with local cable operators to reach a wider base. This strategic extension allowed the segment to achieve a 20 per cent revenue increase year-over-year, with 30,000 new customer additions in the last quarter. ARPU for home broadband stabilised at Rs 509, a reflection of steady demand despite sectoral pricing adjustments.

    The current Debt-to-EBITDA ratio, including lease impacts, stands at 2.03x, a favourable metric within the industry. Hexacom’s judicious capital allocation and a focus on cost optimisation underpin its positive cash flow, which saw a 123 per cent increase YoY, reaching Rs 5,999 million. As Bharti Hexacom prepares for further digital transformation, these metrics reflect a strong financial foundation poised for sustained growth.

    Bharti Hexacom’s Q2 FY25 performance embodies a strategic blend of innovation, investment, and customer-centric expansion. By focusing on both mobile and broadband sectors, the company has effectively harnessed India’s digital demand surge. Going forward, Hexacom’s robust infrastructure, innovative digital solutions, and a steady financial strategy are expected to maintain its momentum in India’s competitive telecom sector.

  • Panel of experts checks possibility of STB inter-operability: TRAI

    Panel of experts checks possibility of STB inter-operability: TRAI

    NEW DELHI: A panel of 12 experts from institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore is working on the challenge of overcoming the problem relating to inter-operability of set top boxes (STB). Even though it has already issued a consultation paper on the subject, broadcast regulator Telecom Reguatory Authority of India has still to find solutions for inter-operability of STBs.

    TRAI chairman R S Sharma said inter-operability of STBs was a major programme in the interest of the consumers as this would help consumers get better service from their service providers who would be aware that one can switch to another operator if not satisfied with a service.

    He said he was aware that many felt that it is not possible to have a common STB because of security reasons and the need of broadcasters to keep their content encrypted and safe from piracy.

    “Because it is essentially a technology issue, we have brought on board professors from IITs and other institutions to look at it from a technology perspective,” Sharma said adding that C-DoT is the technology partner in this venture.

    TRAI is attempting to find a solution to this problem as soon as possible, Sharma told a press meet.

    The press meet was held to apprise the media about the spate of consultation papers and other decisions taken by TRAI in recent weeks.  (Earlier, it is learnt by Indiantelevision.com that some broadcasters also called on Sharma to discuss various issues.)

    TRAI officials said while a common STB for cable services may be a bit easier as shown by lab tests, another challenge is bringing STBs which are inter-operable between cable as well DTH operators.

    Another major initiative, for which TRAI has initiated a consultation process in the broadcasting sector is ensuring that the broadcasters share infrastructure. Sharma, said that “learning from the Telecom sector” where competitors also share towers, it is being examined if such a practice can be instilled in the broadcasting sector.

    Referring to sharing of infrastructure by broadcasters as suggested by the regulator in its latest paper, TRAI officials said different broadcasters are using different satellite system to carry the same channels.

    “The idea is whether there is a need to have a different head-end, or different optical fibre network or different satellite system and if we can combine, are we not able to reduce the cost of operations,” a TRAI official said.

    The official said that while broadcasters have been initially “closed” to this idea, they were positive that the idea may yield results as seen from the example in the telecom sector.

    The TRAI official said that are some licensing conditions which do not allow sharing of infrastructure. After consultations, the regulator would work to see that a proper framework can be provided which allows sharing of infrastructure by broadcasters.

    TRAI is also pushing for provision of broadband services through the cable sector, officials added. The regulator is also working to create guidelines for audience measurement for radio and guidelines, officials said.

     

  • Panel of experts checks possibility of STB inter-operability: TRAI

    Panel of experts checks possibility of STB inter-operability: TRAI

    NEW DELHI: A panel of 12 experts from institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore is working on the challenge of overcoming the problem relating to inter-operability of set top boxes (STB). Even though it has already issued a consultation paper on the subject, broadcast regulator Telecom Reguatory Authority of India has still to find solutions for inter-operability of STBs.

    TRAI chairman R S Sharma said inter-operability of STBs was a major programme in the interest of the consumers as this would help consumers get better service from their service providers who would be aware that one can switch to another operator if not satisfied with a service.

    He said he was aware that many felt that it is not possible to have a common STB because of security reasons and the need of broadcasters to keep their content encrypted and safe from piracy.

    “Because it is essentially a technology issue, we have brought on board professors from IITs and other institutions to look at it from a technology perspective,” Sharma said adding that C-DoT is the technology partner in this venture.

    TRAI is attempting to find a solution to this problem as soon as possible, Sharma told a press meet.

    The press meet was held to apprise the media about the spate of consultation papers and other decisions taken by TRAI in recent weeks.  (Earlier, it is learnt by Indiantelevision.com that some broadcasters also called on Sharma to discuss various issues.)

    TRAI officials said while a common STB for cable services may be a bit easier as shown by lab tests, another challenge is bringing STBs which are inter-operable between cable as well DTH operators.

    Another major initiative, for which TRAI has initiated a consultation process in the broadcasting sector is ensuring that the broadcasters share infrastructure. Sharma, said that “learning from the Telecom sector” where competitors also share towers, it is being examined if such a practice can be instilled in the broadcasting sector.

    Referring to sharing of infrastructure by broadcasters as suggested by the regulator in its latest paper, TRAI officials said different broadcasters are using different satellite system to carry the same channels.

    “The idea is whether there is a need to have a different head-end, or different optical fibre network or different satellite system and if we can combine, are we not able to reduce the cost of operations,” a TRAI official said.

    The official said that while broadcasters have been initially “closed” to this idea, they were positive that the idea may yield results as seen from the example in the telecom sector.

    The TRAI official said that are some licensing conditions which do not allow sharing of infrastructure. After consultations, the regulator would work to see that a proper framework can be provided which allows sharing of infrastructure by broadcasters.

    TRAI is also pushing for provision of broadband services through the cable sector, officials added. The regulator is also working to create guidelines for audience measurement for radio and guidelines, officials said.

     

  • Bharti and Reliance Jio announce comprehensive telecom infrastructure sharing arrangement

    Bharti and Reliance Jio announce comprehensive telecom infrastructure sharing arrangement

    MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel Limited (“Bharti”) and Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (“Reliance Jio”) today announced a comprehensive telecom infrastructure sharing arrangement under which they will share infrastructure created by both parties. This will include optic fibre network – inter and intra city, submarine cable networks, towers and internet broadband services and other such opportunities identified in the future.

    The cooperation is aimed at avoiding duplication of infrastructure, wherever possible, and to preserve capital and the environment. This will also provide redundancy in order to ensure seamless services to customers of the respective parties.

    The arrangement could, in future, be extended to Roaming on 2G, 3G and 4G, and any other mutually benefiting areas relating to telecommunication, including but not limited to jointly laying optic fibre or other forms of infrastructure services. The pricing would be at ‘arm’s length’, based on the prevailing market rates.

    As part of this arrangement, Bharti and Reliance Jio have already announced an agreement under which Bharti has provided capacity on its i2i submarine cable to Reliance Jio. About Bharti’s Infrastructure:

    Bharti Infratel, a subsidiary of Bharti, is one of the largest tower infrastructure providers in India with 35,376 towers in 11 telecom circles across India. Bharti Infratel has 42% equity interest in Indus Towers. Indus Towers has 112,144 towers in 15 telecom Circles across India. Bharti’s national long distance network provides pan-India reach with 175,705 Rkms of optic fibre. Its global network runs across 225,000 Rkms, covering 50 countries and 5 continents.

    This includes ownership of i2i submarine cable system connecting Chennai to Singapore, consortium ownership of SMW4 submarine cable system connecting Chennai and Mumbai to Singapore and Europe, and new cable system investments like Asia America Gateway (AAG), India Middle East & Western Europe (IMEWE), Unity, EIG (Europe India Gateway) and East Africa Submarine System (EASSy). It also has terrestrial express connectivity to neighboring countries including Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and China.