Second generation (2G) telecom base stations, which are currently
installed on 3,76,000 towers in the country are likely to increase to
4,20,000 by 2017, according to a report.
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Showing posts with label telecom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label telecom. Show all posts
Monday, 10 December 2012
Saturday, 8 December 2012
Bharti Infratel looking at acquisition opportunities
Friday, 7 December 2012
RCom seeks partners for distributing ICC mobile content rights
Telecom major Reliance Communications (RCom) on Thursday said it is looking
for partners for distributing rights for mobile content for ICC Women
World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy.Thursday, 6 December 2012
Government got Rs. 5.7 crore fine from RCom for USOF rule violation
"A financial penalty of Rs.
4,63,22,000 has been imposed and recovered from RCom and Rs. 1,07,67,500
from RTL for the period of interruption in mobile services caused due to
shutting down of services by these companies," Minister of State for
Communications and IT Milind Deora said in a written reply to the Lok
Sabha.
He said RCom and RTL switched off their mobile Base Transceiver Stations, also known as mobile towers, at Universal Services Obligation Fund supported sites from November 2010 to February 2011.
The Government has received total penalty of Rs. 11.04 crore between Financial Years 2007-08 and 2011-12 (up to October 30, 2011).
Funds collected under USOF is utilised by central government from telecom companies in various schemes for provision of telecom services in rural and remote areas of country.
USOF data presented by the minister shows that Bharti Airtel is highest contributor to this fund followed by state- run BSNL in the last three year.
During the current financial year, the leading contributors to the fund have been Bharti Airtel with Rs. 897.86 crore, BSNL Rs. 364.96 crore, Idea Cellular Rs. 346.34 crore, Vodafone Essar South Rs. 286.24 crore and RCom with Rs. 188.84 crore.
He said RCom and RTL switched off their mobile Base Transceiver Stations, also known as mobile towers, at Universal Services Obligation Fund supported sites from November 2010 to February 2011.
The Government has received total penalty of Rs. 11.04 crore between Financial Years 2007-08 and 2011-12 (up to October 30, 2011).
Funds collected under USOF is utilised by central government from telecom companies in various schemes for provision of telecom services in rural and remote areas of country.
USOF data presented by the minister shows that Bharti Airtel is highest contributor to this fund followed by state- run BSNL in the last three year.
During the current financial year, the leading contributors to the fund have been Bharti Airtel with Rs. 897.86 crore, BSNL Rs. 364.96 crore, Idea Cellular Rs. 346.34 crore, Vodafone Essar South Rs. 286.24 crore and RCom with Rs. 188.84 crore.
Government notices to 12 telcos for violating BTS radiation norms
The Telecom Ministry has found that 83 mobile towers belonging to 12
telecom operators were not complying with new radiation rules and
notices have been issued to them."Till November 30, 2012, a total of
83 number of BTSes (mobile towers) of various operators have been found
to be non-compliant to the prescribed radiation norms. Notices have been
issued to the concerned telecom service providers," Minister for
Communications and IT Kapil Sibal informed the Lok Sabha.
According to rules, if a site (mobile tower) fails to meet the radiation norms then there is provision of levying a penalty of Rs. 5 lakh per BTS per service provider.
Details provided by the minister show that Bharti Airtel had 14 mobile towers, the maximum among operators, that were not complying with the new radiation norms, followed by Reliance Communications and Vodafone with 13 mobile towers each.
Tata Teleservices' 11 mobile towers, Aircel's 10, six each of Idea Cellular and Loop Mobile, Sistema Shyam's 2 and one mobile tower each of Videocon, S Tel (which has stopped operation in India) and state-run MTNL were found to be non- compliant with the new radiation norms.
The norms implemented from September 1, 2012 mandated operators to reduce radiation emission from telecom towers to 1/10th of the present level to mainly address concerns related to public health.
Among various other provisions, the new radiation norms call for minimum distance of a tower (with two antennas) at 35 meters from a residential building.
According to rules, if a site (mobile tower) fails to meet the radiation norms then there is provision of levying a penalty of Rs. 5 lakh per BTS per service provider.
Details provided by the minister show that Bharti Airtel had 14 mobile towers, the maximum among operators, that were not complying with the new radiation norms, followed by Reliance Communications and Vodafone with 13 mobile towers each.
Tata Teleservices' 11 mobile towers, Aircel's 10, six each of Idea Cellular and Loop Mobile, Sistema Shyam's 2 and one mobile tower each of Videocon, S Tel (which has stopped operation in India) and state-run MTNL were found to be non- compliant with the new radiation norms.
The norms implemented from September 1, 2012 mandated operators to reduce radiation emission from telecom towers to 1/10th of the present level to mainly address concerns related to public health.
Among various other provisions, the new radiation norms call for minimum distance of a tower (with two antennas) at 35 meters from a residential building.
Government: BSNL, MTNL hit by competition, rising costs
Government on Wednesday said state-run BSNL and MTNL suffered losses to the
tune of Rs. 12,960 crore in 2011-12 as a result of stiff competition in
mobile sector, high staff cost and payment of spectrum charges."The
loss of BSNL during 2011-12 stood at Rs. 8,851 crore and MTNL at Rs. 4,109
crore," Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology
Milind Deora said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
BSNL suffered a loss of Rs. 1,823 crore in 2009-10 and Rs. 6,384 crore in 2010-11 while MTNL's loss stood at Rs. 2,611 crore in 2009-10 and Rs. 2,802 crore in 2010-11, Deora added.
Citing reasons for losses of the two state-run telecom companies, Deora said the revenue has decreased because of fixed to mobile substitution and stiff competition in mobile sector.
"Staff cost is very high as compared to the other private operators. In case of BSNL, it is around 50 percent and in case of MTNL, it is more than 70 percent of the revenue," Deora said.
He added both BSNL and MTNL have paid Rs. 18,500 crore and Rs. 11,098 crore respectively as upfront spectrum charges for 3G (third generation) and broadband wireless access (BWA).
The market share of two telcos has also declined in the last two years.
"Market share of BSNL stood at 17.34 percent as on March 31, 2010 which has declined to 14.14 percent as on September 30, 2012 while that of MTNL has declined to 10.67 percent from 14.21 percent in the same period," Deora said.
On a query if both PSUs have taken loan and sold their properties to meet administrative expenses, Deora said BSNL and MTNL have not sold land assests but have taken loans.
"During the last three years, BSNL has taken a loan of Rs. 1,320 crore for capex and has paid Rs. 99 crore as interest on loan whereas MTNL has taken a loan of Rs. 11,264 crore and has paid Rs. 2,064 crore as interest on loan till October 2012," Deora said.
He added both the PSUs have taken a number of steps to improve their financial position.
In order to strengthen its sales and distribution channel of mobile, BSNL has started Project Vijay and also plans to augment capacity by 15 million in phase VII.
The telecom PSU holds weekly meetings with retailers and sales team at district level and also fixes targets to sales team.
In the same way, MTNL is reviewing its tariff for various products and services so as to make them customer friendly and has launched loyalty scheme and special care services of corporate customers.
BSNL suffered a loss of Rs. 1,823 crore in 2009-10 and Rs. 6,384 crore in 2010-11 while MTNL's loss stood at Rs. 2,611 crore in 2009-10 and Rs. 2,802 crore in 2010-11, Deora added.
Citing reasons for losses of the two state-run telecom companies, Deora said the revenue has decreased because of fixed to mobile substitution and stiff competition in mobile sector.
"Staff cost is very high as compared to the other private operators. In case of BSNL, it is around 50 percent and in case of MTNL, it is more than 70 percent of the revenue," Deora said.
He added both BSNL and MTNL have paid Rs. 18,500 crore and Rs. 11,098 crore respectively as upfront spectrum charges for 3G (third generation) and broadband wireless access (BWA).
The market share of two telcos has also declined in the last two years.
"Market share of BSNL stood at 17.34 percent as on March 31, 2010 which has declined to 14.14 percent as on September 30, 2012 while that of MTNL has declined to 10.67 percent from 14.21 percent in the same period," Deora said.
On a query if both PSUs have taken loan and sold their properties to meet administrative expenses, Deora said BSNL and MTNL have not sold land assests but have taken loans.
"During the last three years, BSNL has taken a loan of Rs. 1,320 crore for capex and has paid Rs. 99 crore as interest on loan whereas MTNL has taken a loan of Rs. 11,264 crore and has paid Rs. 2,064 crore as interest on loan till October 2012," Deora said.
He added both the PSUs have taken a number of steps to improve their financial position.
In order to strengthen its sales and distribution channel of mobile, BSNL has started Project Vijay and also plans to augment capacity by 15 million in phase VII.
The telecom PSU holds weekly meetings with retailers and sales team at district level and also fixes targets to sales team.
In the same way, MTNL is reviewing its tariff for various products and services so as to make them customer friendly and has launched loyalty scheme and special care services of corporate customers.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Report: Bharti Airtel seeking South African partner again
Bharti Airtel is trying to get a South African partner again, 3
years after its failed bid to link up with local giant MTN, a media
report has said.The weekly Sunday Times, citing an unnamed source close to Bharti Airtel Africa, said the company is still seeking expansion on the African continent after it gained a presence in 15 north, west and east African countries following its acquisition of Zain Telecom's business on the continent soon after the MTN deal fell through.
Industry speculation has been that Bharti Airtel wants to make a bid for either Cell C, the third largest mobile company in South Africa, or latest entrant 8ta, an offshoot of former state monopoly Telkom, the report said.
With 8ta battling to gain a foothold, analysts felt that any bid by Bharti would be for Cell C instead, it added.
The report said Cell C and Bharti Airtel did not comment on the latest speculation, while Telkom said there had been no approach made to it.
There has also been speculation in recent weeks about a merger between Cell C and 8ta after Cell C Chief Executive Officer Alan Knot-Craig hinted that a consolidation within the industry in South Africa was inevitable for it to be viable.
Analyst Chris Gilmour told the weekly that although Cell C would be a likelier acquisition for Bharti Airtel than 8ta, it would probably be more expensive as it had a well-established infrastructure and customer base.
8ta's main attraction to Bharti Airtel would be the access it currently has to a lot of 2.3GHz spectrum, which was a legacy from Telkom.
But the industry regulator was unlikely to approve 8ta selling off this spectrum to anyone buying the company, especially since it was awarded to Telkom and not 8ta directly after hot contestation and protests by the other operators in the industry, according to analyst Arthur Goldstuck of Worlwideworx, who advised Bharti Airtel to look at other ventures in South Africa instead.
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