Telecom News
Reliance Jio takes the lead, hikes tariff by 12-25 per cent
Jio’s rate hikes start from the Rs 155 plan, which will now cost Rs 189. The price of one of the most popular monthly plans — Rs 239, which comes with 1.5 GB data per day — has been revised to Rs 299, an increase of over 25%. But the rates for users of Jio’s 4G feature phone and smartphones will continue to be the same, as the company continues to woo 2G users to its services with the JioBharat and JioPhone offerings. “Even today, 250 million feature phone users in India remain stuck in the 2G era, unable to access digital service,” Jio said in a news release.
Vodafone Idea's 'big' spectrum spend to help plug user exodus
Analysts added that Vi's spectrum spends of about Rs 3,510 crore - almost 12 times its Rs 300 crore earnest money deposit (EMD) - on the heels of a recent fundraise of about Rs 23,000 crore suggests the telco is preparing for network rollouts and plans to use its fresh 900 MHz spectrum to enhance 4G experience and rein in customer losses.
Airtel's Nxtra to become 100 pc renewable energy data centre company
According to the statement, Nxtra has become the only data centre organisation in India to have pledged to RE100 and the 14th Indian company to achieve this milestone.The company claims to have increased its renewable energy use and has contracted 422,000 MWh renewable energy till date.
Jio hikes tariff by 12.5 to 25%; launches new plans
On Thursday, Jio, owned by Reliance, revealed a tariff increase ranging from 12.5% to 25% alongside the introduction of new plans. In the recent spectrum auction by the Department of Telecommunications, Jio secured additional 1800 MHz band spectrum for Bihar and West Bengal, as informed by Reliance Industries to the exchanges on Wednesday.
ET Explains: All about vRAN and what it means for Vi
Vodafone Idea (Vi) has completed trials using Samsung's virtualised RAN (vRAN) technology, which is expected to bring substantial cost savings to the telco compared to legacy hardware infrastructure. vRAN is a technology that allows for the complete running of baseband functions as software on commonly available hardware, reducing server or processor capacity at sites. It also allows for the centralisation of some processing functions to local nodes, reducing server or processor capacity at sites.
Dialog acquires 100% in Airtel Lanka via share swap deal
Sri Lanka’s leading telecom company, Dialog Axiata, has acquired 100% of Bharti Airtel’s subsidiary, Airtel Lanka, following the completion of an all-stock deal. Bharti Airtel now holds a 10.355% share in Dialog Axiata as a result of the share swap transaction.
Airtel spends Rs 6,857 cr for 97 MHz of airwaves, mostly to renew permits; Jio picks up 14.4 MHz for Rs 973.62 cr
Airtel and Jio expand networks with new spectrum acquisitions, focusing on enhancing services for improved customer experience and increased coverage. Jio solidifies leadership position with the largest spectrum footprint, deploying advanced technologies for efficient bandwidth usage.
Jio pays Rs 973.63 cr to buy 1800 MHz in Bihar, West Bengal
Reliance Jio has acquired additional spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in Bihar and West Bengal, spending Rs 973.63 crore. The acquisition aims to address geography-specific demand and ensure quality of service. Jio's spectrum footprint increased to 26,801 MHz (Uplink + Downlink), solidifying its leadership position. The technology-agnostic band, which includes 5 MHz in Bihar and 9.4 MHz in West Bengal, can be paid over 20 annual instalments at 8.65% interest per annum.
Jio acquires additional spectrum in 1800 MHz band for Rs 973 cr in two circles
Reliance Industries has secured additional spectrum in the 1800 MHz band for Bihar and West Bengal in a recent spectrum auction. The acquisition aims to meet geography-specific demand and ensure a high-quality customer experience. The total cost of the spectrum is Rs 973.63 crore. The acquisition expands Jio's spectrum footprint to 26,801 MHz and enables the company to deploy the largest amount of spectrum across India on bandwidth-efficient technologies like 4G and 5G.
Vodafone Idea acquires Rs 3,510 crore worth of airwaves in 11 circles
India's Vodafone Idea has spent Rs 3,510 crore to acquire 50MHz of spectrum in 11 circles, strengthening its 4G portfolio and launching 5G services. The acquisition will enable the use of dedicated sub-GHz spectrum for advanced technologies and customer experience. Vodafone Idea has also held 5G trials in three network circles using Samsung's virtual Radio Access Network (vRAN) solutions.
Must Watch
Bharti Airtel spends Rs 6,857 cr in 5G auction, secures spectrum for 20 years
In the latest spectrum auction, Bharti Airtel secured 97 MHz of spectrum in key circles for 20 years at Rs 6,857 crore, including 15 MHz acquired by Bharti Hexacom for Rs 1,001 crore. This move bolsters Airtel's sub-giga hertz and mid-band holdings, enhancing coverage and customer experience.
Vodafone Idea in talks with Samsung to expand 4G networks, roll out 5G
Vodafone Idea (Vi) has initiated 5G trials in three network circles using Samsung's virtual Radio Access Network (vRAN) technology on a non-standalone architecture. The trials, aimed at expanding its 4G and introducing 5G services, took place in Chennai, Karnataka, and Bihar. Despite its financial challenges and lagging behind rivals Airtel and Jio in 5G rollout, Vi fulfills its 5G spectrum obligations from the 2022 auction with these trials.
5G spectrum auctions: Bharti Airtel likely largest bidder, govt mops up around Rs 11,300 crore
India's second 5G spectrum auction concluded around Wednesday noon after seven rounds, lasting just over a day, with the government collecting approximately Rs 11,300 crore. Bharti Airtel is likely the largest bidder, acquiring airwaves in the sub-GHz 900 MHz band as well as in the 1800 and 2100 MHz bands. Market leader Reliance Jio likely bought 5G bandwidth in the 1800 MHz band.
Telcos bid for 5G worth ₹11,000 crore on first day of India's second spectrum sale
All three private carriers — Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea – are believed to have bid for sub-GHz (900 MHz) and select mid-band airwaves (1800 MHz, 2100 MHz) as they look to bolster their respective 5G spectrum holdings. High-band 5G airwaves in the 26 GHz band appear to have been given a miss on the opening day of the airwaves sale. In this year’s auction, the government has put 10.5 GHz of 5G spectrum in eight bands — 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3.3 GHz and 26 GHz — worth around Rs 96,238.45 crore at reserve prices on sale.
Auction of 5G spectrum worth over Rs 96,000 cr starts
India's second 5G spectrum auction began on June 25, 2024, with bids from Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea. The auction, offering spectrum worth Rs 96,238 crore, excludes pricey sub-GHz bands. Analysts anticipate a low-key affair with modest government revenue, as telcos plan limited purchases.
5G auction: All you need to know about Rs 96,000 crore spectrum battle
5G auction: India is gearing up for its latest 5G airwaves auction starting Tuesday, valued at over Rs 96,000 crore. Telecom giants like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea will compete for crucial radio frequencies essential for 5G services. The previous auction in August 2022 set a record with the government earning Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
