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| Friday, October 26, 2007 |
| TRAI Declines to Review + No auction of 2G |
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Telecom regulator TRAI said it has no plans to review the telecom guidelines, including the one allowing operators to use dual technology, and expects the dispute between GSM players and the government on this issue to be resolved soon.
On the spectrum issue development, IT Minister A.Raja, ruled out the possibility of auctioning 2G spectrum for mobile services, even as it looks on the process of implementation of mobile number portability across the country. Further the proposed merger between two state-run telecom giants - BSNL and MTNL - might have hit a roadblock, but both the companies are now planning to synergise their operations across the country.
Aditya Birla group company Idea Cellular and US-based wireless operator Verizon are all set to get the Letters of Intent for long distance services following clearance of their applications by the Department of Telecom (DoT). |
Published on Friday, October 26, 2007 at 10:54 AM  |
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| Monday, October 22, 2007 |
| Spectrum + License Application Queue in India |
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Here is an update on how various Telcos have stacked up for Spectrum in India. Idea Cellular is the worst affected because of its late application for seeking PAN India operations.
 Swan and Cheetah are Anil Ambani's dummy companies and maybe pushed out since Reliance GSM has acquired the license and is at 3rd position for spectrum. More spectrum to be made available likely by the end of Dec. [~20Mhz, if the defence vacates it] |
| Published on Monday, October 22, 2007 at 11:11 AM |
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| Friday, October 19, 2007 |
| Reliance gets nod for GSM foray in other circles |
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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has granted three companies - Reliance
Communications, HFCL and Shyam Telelink - the right to use GSM technology in their existing licence areas, where they currently offer mobile services using CDMA technology. HFCL and Shyam Tele are hardly serious players and are beyond the scope of discussion here.
RCOM currently has GSM operations in 8/22 circles and had applied for GSM spectrum (under its existing UASL licence) in the other 14 circles where it currently operates a CDMA network. The company has confirmed this development and expects to get the GSM spectrum soon. This means that Reliance GSM will get the spectrum sooner in the remaining circles. This hasn't gone too well with other players, especially Kumar Birla of Idea Cellular who has raised objection and through COAI is has sent letters to TRAI and DoT.
Additionally, the COAI lobby representing GSM operators have approached Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh to protect the interest of existing players since more than 40 companies are in queue for the precious spectrum. COAI said,
It may first be pointed out that crossover is not permissible under the present policy and the license regime has been recognised by both DoT as well as TRAI. TRAI has recorded the same in both the recommendations that such crossover is not permissible , however, the same may be allowed through an amendment in the license. The battle will now intensify and the whole; issue should be re-examined. |
| Published on Friday, October 19, 2007 at 3:55 AM |
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| Thursday, October 18, 2007 |
| Bharti Airtel IPTV + CDMA 3G Trials |
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 The much awaited IPTV from Bharti Airtel will finally go live in Delhi and NCR. The company will position it as a premium service which is likely to be priced on the higher side.
The Government of India can't do things without creating controversy. After IT & Telecom Ministry ruled out the auction of 2G spectrum, the Competition Commission has approached the department of telecom (DoT), finance ministry, Planning Commission and corporate affairs ministry seeking a suitably-designed auction for 2G spectrum in the wake of 500 new applications for Telecom licenses. Read What the Indian Telecom industry really needs.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) has supervised the 3G trials by CDMA companies using 1900 MHz band. The companies had conducted the trials in Andhra Pradesh on 12- 13 Nov 2007. The DoT intends to use the feedback to formulate the 3G policy. The department is planning to offer the 800 MHz band for CDMA operators. CDMA operators [Reliance and Tata Indicom] are asking for 1900 MHz band.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is seeking further liberalisation of the Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocation (SACFA) policy to enhance tele-density. |
| Published on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 11:53 AM |
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| Monday, October 15, 2007 |
| American Tower + Spectrum Debate + Mobile TV |
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American Tower eyes Indian acquisition - US-based American Tower International Inc., a unit of one of the biggest wireless tower operators in the US, is exploring acquisition options in Indian tower companies. It was earlier reported that Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular would pool all their towers together to form a single entity. However, the goal of common company has hit a hurdle because of Bharti Airtel demanding proportionate stake equivalent to the number of towers they will contribute ~ likely to be more than 51%.
Bharti, Vodafone, Idea May Be Allotted More Airwaves - Bharti Airtel Ltd., Idea Cellular Ltd., Vodafone Essar Ltd. and Aircel Ltd. may be given additional airwaves, or spectrum, in the 1800 megahertz band to expand their networks by the end of the year.
Differences emerge in DoT over spectrum allocation - Sharp difference are believed to have emerged in the Department of Telecom over TRAI's proposal to change existing subscriber-linked criteria for allocating additional spectrum, with Communication Minister A Raja in favour while the Telecom Commission opposing it.
Private players may get mobile TV connection - The government is planning to open the terrestrial TV broadcasting space so that operators are able to offer mobile TV services. |
| Published on Monday, October 15, 2007 at 10:02 AM |
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| Thursday, October 11, 2007 |
| GSM Mobile Subscriber in India - Sept-2007 |
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 goBroadband reports that the Wireless subscriber growth in India slowed down during Sept-2007.
However, India had 149 million GSM subscribers at the end of Sept-2007. Mobile teledensity is close to 21% [includes CDMA]
Bharti Airtel is the market leader in the GSM segment with 32.8% market share followed by Vodafone India at 23.9%. Bharti Airtel, once again led the industry, with net additions of 2.06m subscribers, up marginally on MoM basis. Strong performance in Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Maharashtra led to another strong month for Bharti.
Metro circles witness 0.8m additions in spite of high penetration rates. This comes as a positive surprise to us.
Category A circles saw a fall in performance, adding 2.3m subscribers. This compares with the record net adds of 2.6m subscribers in August and 2.3m added in July.
Category B circles saw a steady month, with the addition of 2.1m subscribers in September. |
| Published on Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 11:48 PM |
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| Wednesday, October 10, 2007 |
| 10% Cap on Crossholding + Auction of 2G Spectrum Unlikely |
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The Department of Telecom (DoT) has rejected a key recommendation of the telecom regulator TRAI, that aimed to increase the threshold cap of equity crossholdings to 20 per cent by the same promoter in two separate companies offering services in the same licence area.
The Centre is close to finalising the guidelines for new entrants in the Telecom sector, with a possibility of existing players getting priority in allocation of radio wave spectrum. The subscriber-linked criterion is likely be increased by many multiples before existing operators are given more spectrum.
Private GSM Mobile operators have opposed the government's move to allot additional spectrum to state-run telecom company BSNL, saying it is a clear violation of the contractual and legal rights of the private operators. |
| Published on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 9:16 AM |
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