Category: telecom
CDMA players to match highest GSM bidder in 3G auction
In a move that will affect the CDMA operators in India, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) CDMA operators will have to match the highest bid by their GSM counterparts during the forthcoming third generation (3G) spectrum auction. 3G spectrum is vital for providing high-end telecom services such like…
MTNL to launch 3G mobile services today
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd – MTNL is all set to launch its third generation (3G) mobile services commercially on February 5, 2009. The company will compete with Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance Communications, Idea Cellular and Tata Teleservices in India. Motorola is setting up the core network for MTNL for this…
Calling Cards a Reality – No VoIP Yet
Last week we had covered about TRAI criticizing the DoT for not taking up the issue of Intra Operator NLD by means of Calling Cards and VoIP Inland long distance services. Today, the Telecom Commission has given the necessary approval and the DoT will very soon allow NLD / STD…
VoIP + Inter Operator NLD + IPv6 – To be Reviewed
The Telecom Commission [Upper decision making body of the DoT] which came under criticism from outgoing TRAI Chairman, Mr. Misra has said that they will take up the following recommendations of TRAI for implementation. VoIP – VoIP calling within India is currently il-legal. However, ILD VoIP is legal and TRAI…
Idea Cellular – Lags GSM Peers – Airtel & Vodafone
We attended the conference call of Idea Cellular and here is the highlights of the same. Idea, including service areas of Spice (Punjab and Karnataka), added 4.03 million subscribers during the quarter with total subscriber base of 38.01 million at the end of 31st December 2008, reflecting a national market…
Batelco takes stake in S Tel
Batelco, Bahrain’s telecom operator has partnered with Millennium Private Equity to pick up 49% stake for $225m in new Indian operator S Tel. The deal values S Tel at $459m, which has license to operate in 6 circles in India. Given that these 6 circles account for 11% of total…
3G auction – Battleground for DoT + Trai
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the telecom regulator TRAI are in confrontation regarding the auction of third generation (3G) spectrum. The DoT has now written a letter to Cabinet stating that Trai was going out of its jurisdiction to make recommendations on 3G spectrum while it was only asked…
Airtel eyes 10 mn subscribers in UP
Private sector telecommunication services major, Bharti Airtel, aims to boost its subscriber base in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand by adding another three million subscribers by the fiscal end. The company eyes a customer base to 10 million by March 2009 from 7 million at present in the two states. Bharti…