Rishi Ranjan Kala
-
Appetite for data, better device fuel refurbished handset mkt
The growing penetration of mobile broadband services and a rising appetite for data are fuelling the refurbished mobile phone market in the country, which analysts peg will grow in double digits annually as price-conscious consumers experiment with second-hand premium smartphones.
-
Reliance JioPhone: Rs 500 device now gives half of total subscriptions to company
Almost 50% of the new subscriber additions on Reliance Jio’s network have come from JioPhone since July 5, when the price of the 4G feature phone was slashed from Rs 1,500 to Rs 501 by exchanging it with an old feature phone.
-
Boosting digital economy: Google CEO Pichai urges India to allow cross-border flow of data
In a letter, Pichai said free flow of data with focus on user privacy and security will encourage start-ups to expand globally and encourage international companies to contribute to India’s digital economy.
-
Getting 5G ready: DoT forms panel on road map for spectrum auction
The DoT has set up an internal committee, comprising senior officials from the access services, spectrum management and licensing finance divisions, to prepare a road map for the next spectrum auction.
-
Trai numbers: Aggressive entrant Jio tops the telco tables in terms of AGR
Reliance Jio has emerged as the country’s biggest telecom service provider on the basis of adjusted gross revenue (AGR), pipping Bharti Airtel, during the April-June quarter, according to data sourced from the Trai.
-
WhatsApp CEO Chris Daniels to meet IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad; spread of fake news, digital payments on agenda
With the government hardening its stand on fake and provocative content circulated on WhatsApp, top officials from the instant messaging app including chief executive officer (CEO) Chris Daniels have sought time from IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and the meeting is expected this week.
-
IT ministry norms to check fake news soon
The ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) is now in the process of drafting detailed guidelines as to how social media platforms should react in situations where rumour-based content threatens to disturb law and order.
-
Mobile connectivity: BSNL plan for uncovered areas promises savings of Rs 6,000 cr
BSNL says its cost is Rs 78.23 lakh per tower as against the DoT’s finalised cost of Rs 1.8 crore per tower.
-
Data protection: DoT may be stricter than Srikrishna panel
Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan says since mobiles used for many transactions, privacy norms need to be stricter.
-
Government exploring tech interventions to curb fake news
The government is considering steps to control the spread of fake news and provocative content on the internet, especially social media platforms, which is believed to instigate incidents like lynching in many parts of the country.
-
Net neutrality: DoT to seek Trai views on monitoring & enforcement body
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will soon approach the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) for its recommendations on setting up a multi-stakeholder body for monitoring and enforcement of recently-approved Net neutrality principles.
-
Cambridge Analytica flouted law by illegally acquiring user data, says ASG
The government has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe Cambridge Analytica.
-
Call drops worsen in May, situation poor in Delhi, Mumbai, UP and Bihar, says TRAI
Call drops deteriorated in May with the percentage inching up to 0.60% during the month compared with 0.52% in April 2018, latest Trai data show.
-
WhatsApp COO Matthew Idema meets top government officials; Centre says company not doing enough to curb fake news
Top officials from WhatsApp, including chief operating officer Matthew Idema, met ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) secretary Ajay Sawhney, but it is not clear whether the government is satisfied with what the company is doing to curb fake and provocative content.
-
$23 bn merger of Vodafone, Idea to soon get Centre’s nod, both companies pay Rs 7268 cr towards spectrum charges
The $23-billion merger of Idea Cellular and Vodafone India will soon get the final approval of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as both the companies have paid Rs 7,268-crore dues towards spectrum charges.
-
Spread of fake news: IT ministry may consult PMO before sending second notice to WhatsApp
Fake and provocative rumours circulating on WhatsApp have triggered a spate of violent incidents involving mob fury.
-
COAI to Trai: Keep norms on spam calls on hold for now
The industry body wants Trai to first address the concerns related to deployment of blockchain technology and regulating apps, among others, before rolling out the new regulations.
-
For 2 straight quarters: Jio fails to meet TRAI norms on customer satisfaction
The performance is said to be ‘worrisome’ and the regulator has directed Jio to ramp up its call centre operations at the earliest.
-
Mobile telephony: Numbers speak, and data rules – Rates drop by 90%, average time spent on device up to 240 mins from 190 mins
Rates drop by 90%; average time spent on mobile device up to 240 minutes from 190 minutes.
-
Our focus is on partnerships for content, says MD & CEO of Bharti Airtel
With data usage exploding, the competition in the telecom landscape has moved away from tariff, which in anyway is at its lowest, to content as a majority of subscribers use mobile data to watch video.
-
Bharti Telecom working on exit route for minority shareholders
Bharti Telecom (BTL), the promoter firm of Bharti Airtel, is working on a capital reduction programme, which provides the company’s minority shareholders an exit route.
-
Internet calls plunge 20% in January-March
Data sourced from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) show that during January-March 2018, such calls with total outgoing minutes of 258 million saw a sharp decline of around 20% compared to the preceding quarter.
-
‘Making E, V bands licence-exempt can lead to higher economic benefits’
The institute added that many potential users may be individuals and organisations, who would be outside the regulated telecom sector, and placing licensing requirements on them may restrict innovative uses.
-
Telecom Commission to take up national telecom policy today
Sources said the meeting of the Telecom Commission will review the NDCP among other issues including some additions to the public Wi-Fi project by the DoT.
-
Telecom operators’ AGR drops to five-year low
According to Trai’s latest revenue collection numbers for the period, even though the gross revenue (GR) rose 1.82% Q-o-Q to Rs 62,198 crore, it fell 1.76% on a year-on-year basis.
-
Reliance Jio enters a new league, crosses 200 million user mark
Fastest by far to reach the mark; also leads in data but is largely a second connection for most.
-
Vodafone-Idea merger to be approved soon
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is expected to clear the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular early next week. Both the companies, however, may have to pay one-time-spectrum-charges (OTSC) dues, though these are under challenge in the court.
