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Tag: VoLTE

  • Vernacular content consumers to be 2.5 times English by 2021: Deloitte

    Vernacular content consumers to be 2.5 times English by 2021: Deloitte

    MUMBAI: Deloitte India has launched the eighth edition of its report on technology, media and telecommunications which predicts major advances in machine learning, voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology services and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, apart from other trends.

    According to the report, VoLTE is expected to be the most prevalent voice technology in the future. It is also estimated that more than 90 per cent of all mobile subscribers will comprise of broadband subscribers by 2023. OTT platforms are witnessing an explosion in original content due to increase in consumption and viewership, the report says, adding that they will gradually become a preferred medium over television, with the consumers of vernacular content likely to be over 2.5 times that of English language content by 2021.

    The publication highlights the fact that machine learning will intensify among medium and large-sized enterprises. Compared to 2017, the number of implementations and pilot projects using machine learning technology is likely to double in 2018 and then double again in 2020.

    As enterprises in India embrace technology to bring transparency and efficiency in business operations, data assumes centre stage in decision-making, setting the stage for tools such as advanced analytics and machine learning to usher value-chain efficiencies, a Deloitte India spokesperson said. Organisations will take steps to realise the potential of the internet of things (IoT) for their businesses, predictive analytics and intelligent data mining technologies are set to become mainstream in India.

    Deloitte India Partner PN Sudarshan, said, “India is one of the fastest growing technology markets in APAC, with the ongoing digital transformation of public sector and private sector enterprises enabled by changing market dynamics and policy interventions. Enterprises across industries are increasingly adopting technology driven solutions to improve customer experience, optimise business operations, and compete effectively in the market. Catalysed by the availability of cost effective computing infrastructure and flexible business models through cloud computing, and the adoption of exponential technologies such as AI, ML, AR, IoT etc., technology sector in India is truly at an inflection point.”

    He further added, “Trends such as IoT will catalyse the emergence of analytics at the edge. Digital revolution, also known as ‘The Internet Economy’ is creating a new market for digital-first services, which has the potential to optimise value chains, bring transparency, and improve overall productivity in the economy.”

    Newer technologies like LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A pro and 5G will make wireless internet commercially more viable for home internet users. The smartphone riding on new innovation will consolidate its position as the primary access to digital services and content, and live streaming and OTT video content are likely to gain popularity.

    IoT-driven point solutions will be adopted to solve a specific business issue. IoT-driven enterprise solutions would help organisations redefine their business models and provide innovative services for their customers; investments will not only be assessed on KPIs, but also will involve new product launches, new supply chains and a new operating model that enables organisations to monetise their services across value chains, leveraging IoT.

    Analytics will finally travel beyond the back office as enterprises will combine external perspectives, social inputs (surveys, social media comments, response to a feedback questionnaire) to the internal data sources to improve customer service. Device data will be integrated faster and on-demand to answer immediate field needs; information dissemination for decision-making will be faster and simpler using digital delivery; paying for results and provisioning on demand is the new normal (on cloud).

    Deloitte also predicts that more than 60 per cent of all broadband subscribers would be utilising VoLTE technology for voice services by 2023 surpassing five billion subscribers globally. IoT appliances can be enhanced with VoLTE improving the productivity and efficiency of applications and especially effectiveness in emergency situations. One example is a smartwatch with a feature to automatically dial an emergency contact in case of abnormal heart rate. Wi-Fi would be an essential part of service provider network strategy to enhance access and extend coverage. With VoLTE supporting VoWi-Fi (Wi-Fi calling), it would be an opportunity to monetise hot-spots especially relevant in the Asia-Pacific region which would constitute 45 per cent of global hotspots.

    Sports media in India is set to unlock new horizons as Indian sports business will continue to attract global investments. With broadcasters paying as much attention to rural segment, these geographies will continue to lead the way for sports sector in India, especially with tier II leagues beginning to receive widespread attention. Data analytics will increasingly play a significant role in managing all aspects of sports, especially on initiatives such as fan engagement and viewership on digital platforms. Governance-related matters will continue to be in focus in Indian sports ecosystem, and topics such as legalising betting will be discussed more than before.

    Wireless home internet is bigger than imagined but due to challenges in deployment of fixed broadband networks, current rural internet penetration stands at a negative 17 per cent. In future, demand for fixed broadband would be limited to consumers with higher bandwidth/QoS requirements, with majority of home internet requirements catered through wireless network.

    Augmented reality (AR) is on the cusp of reality as the Indian market is witnessing the emergence of AR service providers helping enterprises embrace it as part of their digital experience strategy. India’s $150 billion technology services industry has the potential to play a key role in increasing the adoption of AR for global businesses by building a robust supply of talent, business models, and frameworks to accelerate deployments. The public sector also has the opportunity to leverage the product and talent ecosystem in the country and adopt AR for improving the quality of experience in areas such as education and healthcare.

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  • Jio to raise Rs 200 bn for next phase of expansion

    MUMBAI: Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) is planning to raise Rs 200 billion through a rights issue of OCPS (optionally convertible preference shares). Jio will raise the amount through the rights issue of shares to shareholders as Reliance Industries’ wholly-owned subsidiary is reading for the next phase of expansion.

    RIL is now expected to reveal Jio’s next significant move – an inexpensive 4G feature phone supporting Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology.

    The OCPS fund-raising would take the total raised by Jio through this route to around Rs 900 billion in the last two years. In the March quarter, Jio’s capital expenditure was Rs 180 billion, and this would stay the same in the subsequent three-month period, the company stated. Jio pocketed around 117 million users, or around nine per cent active subscriber market share as of May end, according to TRAI data.

    RIL has already invested around Rs 2000 billion in Jio, which started commercial operations in September 2016.

    To take on competition, incumbent operators have also ramped up investments. As in March 2017, Bharti Airtel, Idea and Vodafone India respectively invested Rs 2300 billion, Rs 1250 billion and Rs 1350 billion.

  • Digital India: Jio & Samsung shift LTE mobile landscape

    MUMBAI: Samsung has announced its innovative “I&G (Infill & Growth) Project” for Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd in India. This joint project was established to upgrade current LTE mobile communication services across India by expanding both the current network capacity as well as network coverage.

    Jio has built a world-class all-IP data strong future proof network with latest 4G LTE technology. It is the only network conceived and born as a Mobile Video Network from the ground up and supporting Voice over LTE technology. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies.

    The new project sets a high benchmark for LTE services in India through wider coverage, inbuilding penetration and the highest speeds, regardless of the user’s location. Utilizing spectrum in the 850, 1800 and 2300MHz bands, it will enable seamless indoor and outdoor coverage in dense urban areas. The project will also extend Jio’s superiority in rural areas by expanding its reach to over 90 per cent of the population.

    Previously, Samsung provided the LTE core, base stations and solutions required for VoLTE services, as well as massive deployment services for establishing a nationwide network for Jio. The two companies have successfully established the world’s largest greenfield LTE network.

    Reliance Jio Infocomm president Jyotindra Thacker said, “Samsung and Jio successfully achieved 100 million subscribers in 170 days, making us the fastest-growing company in the world, and the numbers continue to rapidly grow. It was possible because we introduced a truly effective LTE service, Pan-India. We are committed to bringing game-changing digital experiences to India with superior ecosystems,mobile content, all-IP networks and ongoing process innovations.”

    “As Jio’s end-to-end LTE solutions partner, it is a great pleasure for Samsung to contribute to Jio’s tremendous success,” said Samsung Electronics president and head of networks business Youngky Kim. “The massive deployment of over a million cells across India is especially remarkable. We will strive to create new paradigms for LTE-Advanced Pro and 5G by closely cooperating with Jio as a unified workforce.”

    Jio stands as an innovator which transformed the telecommunications sector in India last year. The company has already established itself as the leading data service provider in the country within a few months of commencing operations. It was also India’s first operator to introduce free-of-charge High Definition calls (VoLTE). This is especially notable, as this
    approach is now becoming a new market rule in India.

    Samsung, as Jio’s strategic partner, has established a foundation for Indians to enjoy exclusive services, including voice calls, with data as their engine. It has also gone a step further, enabling Jio to offer a superior service to its users by providing professional solutions such as Samsung VoLTE, Quality Monitoring and Analysis (VoMA) and Cognitive Traffic
    Monitoring and Optimizer for a superior user experience. Further, it was through Samsung’s VoMA that the steady management of high traffic in data-dense environments was enabled.

    The tools monitor and optimize mobile data services, and have successfully contributed to enabling Jio to provide its subscribers with a stable and improved user experience. The relationship between Jio and Samsung goes back to 2012, when the two companies signed a turn-key agreement covering the entire scope of network, ranging from equipment to establishment and maintenance services.

  • RIL AGM to be streamed live from 11 am onwards 1 Sept

    RIL AGM to be streamed live from 11 am onwards 1 Sept

    MUMBAI: A lot is expected to be revealed about Reliance Jio progress and rollout plans during the course of Reliance Industries Ltd’s 42 annual general meeting with its shareholders on 1 September.

    Punters are betting that its tariffs will be disclosed as well as the plans it has VoLTE, IPTV and broadband.
    RIL has reportedly spent over Rs 29,000 crore over Jio and is expected to invest more. And while the profits are not expected to start rolling out during its investment and growth phase, RIL would still like to know what chairman Mukesh Ambani has in store. As Jio is expected to revolutionise the way Indians consume data and engage on their mobiles.

    Keeping this in mind, RIL has decided to stream the AGM live on its various online digital channels from 11 am when Mukesh Ambani is slated to begin his speech.

    YouTube

    o   Flame Of Truth channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/flameoftruth2014)

    o   Jio Digital Life channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuXlQvucItKHNH4b0ega0DA)

    ·        Facebook

    o   Reliance Industries Limited (https://www.facebook.com/RelianceIndustriesLimited/)

    o   Jio (https://www.facebook.com/Jio/)

    ·        Twitter

    o   @FlameOfTruth (https://twitter.com/flameoftruth)

    o   @RelianceJio (https://twitter.com/reliancejio)

    ·        Jio Chat

    ·        Jio Play

  • RIL AGM to be streamed live from 11 am onwards 1 Sept

    RIL AGM to be streamed live from 11 am onwards 1 Sept

    MUMBAI: A lot is expected to be revealed about Reliance Jio progress and rollout plans during the course of Reliance Industries Ltd’s 42 annual general meeting with its shareholders on 1 September.

    Punters are betting that its tariffs will be disclosed as well as the plans it has VoLTE, IPTV and broadband.
    RIL has reportedly spent over Rs 29,000 crore over Jio and is expected to invest more. And while the profits are not expected to start rolling out during its investment and growth phase, RIL would still like to know what chairman Mukesh Ambani has in store. As Jio is expected to revolutionise the way Indians consume data and engage on their mobiles.

    Keeping this in mind, RIL has decided to stream the AGM live on its various online digital channels from 11 am when Mukesh Ambani is slated to begin his speech.

    YouTube

    o   Flame Of Truth channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/flameoftruth2014)

    o   Jio Digital Life channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuXlQvucItKHNH4b0ega0DA)

    ·        Facebook

    o   Reliance Industries Limited (https://www.facebook.com/RelianceIndustriesLimited/)

    o   Jio (https://www.facebook.com/Jio/)

    ·        Twitter

    o   @FlameOfTruth (https://twitter.com/flameoftruth)

    o   @RelianceJio (https://twitter.com/reliancejio)

    ·        Jio Chat

    ·        Jio Play

  • Reliance Retail launches LYF Wind 5 smartphone

    Reliance Retail launches LYF Wind 5 smartphone

    BENGALURU: Reliance Retail added to its LYF brand of True 4G smartphones with the launch of value model Wind 5. With this launch, Reliance Retail has expanded its Elements Collection range The new smartphone is priced at Rs 6,599 and is available across the country says the company. With the launch of this device LYF Smartphone+ now has an extensive range of smartphones across price points it adds.

    The key features of Wind 5, as listed on the website, include:OTG Support – Pen Drive Compatible; 12.7cm (5) screen with HD; Camera with the 8MP rear and 5MP front camera; 64-bit quad-core processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory, 2000 mAh battery.

    Reliance Retail says that the Wind 5, like all phones from LYF, is equipped with VoLTE technology across all price points. It further claims that the Wind 5 will deliver a True 4G experience (TRUE 4G features are network and transmission dependent) to the user, which it says means HD voice and video calling, fast call setup time, seamless switch between voice and video calling, HD voice calling over WiFi, seamless switch of voice calls between WiFi and LTE, multiparty audio and video conferencing, and internet surfing while calling.

    LYF handsets are currently available in the price range of Rs 5,599 to Rs 19,499.

  • Reliance Retail launches LYF Wind 5 smartphone

    Reliance Retail launches LYF Wind 5 smartphone

    BENGALURU: Reliance Retail added to its LYF brand of True 4G smartphones with the launch of value model Wind 5. With this launch, Reliance Retail has expanded its Elements Collection range The new smartphone is priced at Rs 6,599 and is available across the country says the company. With the launch of this device LYF Smartphone+ now has an extensive range of smartphones across price points it adds.

    The key features of Wind 5, as listed on the website, include:OTG Support – Pen Drive Compatible; 12.7cm (5) screen with HD; Camera with the 8MP rear and 5MP front camera; 64-bit quad-core processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory, 2000 mAh battery.

    Reliance Retail says that the Wind 5, like all phones from LYF, is equipped with VoLTE technology across all price points. It further claims that the Wind 5 will deliver a True 4G experience (TRUE 4G features are network and transmission dependent) to the user, which it says means HD voice and video calling, fast call setup time, seamless switch between voice and video calling, HD voice calling over WiFi, seamless switch of voice calls between WiFi and LTE, multiparty audio and video conferencing, and internet surfing while calling.

    LYF handsets are currently available in the price range of Rs 5,599 to Rs 19,499.

  • Q2-2016: Reliance Jio to ramp beta program; organized retail on growth path

    Q2-2016: Reliance Jio to ramp beta program; organized retail on growth path

    BENGALURU: The Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) organised retail segment – Reliance Retail, continued its growth momentum and profitability in the quarter ended 30 September, 2105 (Q2-2016, current quarter).

     

    RIL chairman and managing director Ambani said, “Reliance Retail achieved a milestone of Rs 5,000 crore quarterly turnover mark for the first time, reflecting continuing growth momentum in physical retailing. In Digital Services, we have substantially completed the network roll-out across the country and initiated the process of beta testing of our network and platforms.”

     

    “We achieved record levels of EBITDA and profits for the quarter, underscoring our ability to optimally utilise our assets across the value chain to leverage favourable market conditions. Refining business performance was notable, as it benefited from a combination of high utilisation levels, advantageous crude market opportunities and strong global fuels demand. Petrochemicals segment performance reflects strong volume growth, product mix improvement and lower energy costs,” he said.

     

    “We maintained a rapid pace of construction activity during the quarter. The company’s world-scale petroleum coke gasification facility and ethylene cracker complex remains on track for its planned 2016 start-up,” added Ambani.

     

    Revenues for Q2-2016 grew by 22 per cent Yo-Y to Rs 5,091 crore from Rs 4,167 crore and 8.4 per cent QoQ from Rs 4698 crore. RIL says that all format sectors grew through store additions as well as like for like growth ranging up to 16 per cent. The business delivered PBDIT growth of 12.9 per cent at Rs 210 crore in Q2-2016 as against Rs 186 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year, and PBIT growth of 3.4 per cent from Rs 203 crore in Q1-2016.

     

    Further, Reliance Retail expanded its reach with a net addition of 110 stores during the quarter. As on 30 September, 2015, Reliance Retail operated 2,857 stores across over 250 cities in India.

     

    The company says that Reliance Retail 2.0 initiatives encompassing fashion and lifestyle e-commerce, development of market place platform and building distribution ecosystem for Reliance Jio devices are on track and gearing up for rollout in a staged manner.

     

    Reliance Retail would soon launch its own brand of 4G LTE smartphones under the brand LYF. The brand built on the premise of unmatched user experience will offer high performance handsets that deliver a true 4G experience comparable to the best in the world. LYF range of smartphones with features like Voice over LTE (VoLTE), Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-FI), HD Voice and HD quality video calling will enable users to experience a new digital life.

     

    LYF phones will reach consumers across the country through one of the widest distribution and retail network for smartphones. The devices will soon be available at multi-brand outlets (MBOs) and modern trade including Reliance Retail stores across India.

     

    RIL numbers

     

    For Q2-2016, RIL achieved a turnover of Rs 75,117 crore, a decrease of 33.8 per cent, as compared to Rs 113,396 crore in Q2-2015 and 9.6 per cent lower than the Rs 83064 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    However, RIL’s net profit after tax (PAT) increased 12.5 per cent in Q2-2016 to Rs 6720 crore as compared to the Rs 5972 crore in Q2-2015 and increased 8 per cent as compared to the Rs 6222 crore in the previous quarter.

     

    Sale of Network18 shares

     

    In July 2015, RIL sold 3.25 crore shares of Network18 Media & Investments Limited, (representing 3.10 per cent of the equity capital of NW18) to bring down the aggregate shareholding of the promoter and promoter group to 75 per cent and increase the public shareholding to 25 per cent as mandated by Clause 40A of the listing agreement pursuant to Securities Contract (Regulation) Rules, 1957.

     

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited

     

    Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL), a subsidiary of RIL, has substantially completed its network roll-out across the country. The network is currently being tested and optimised. Most of the business platforms have been rolled out and are being tested in a limited use environment. Large number of testers have been employed by the company across the country to facilitate extensive testing of network and business platforms.

     

    The company expects to ramp up its beta program over the next few weeks to further optimise the network, prior to commercial launch of operations. Financial year 2016-17 is projected to be the first year of commercial operations for RJIL.

     

    RJIL has launched Wi-Fi hot spots across several locations in the country and has entered into agreements with some of the State and Local Authorities to provide Wi-Fi services. RJIL has also started rolling out last-mile connectivity for its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) business.