TELECOM
ET Graphics: Elon Musk’s Starlink: Redefining connectivity in India
With Elon Musk’s Starlink now appearing set to get permits to launch its satcom services in India soon, a look at how internet connectivity will change in the world’s second largest telecom market.
Airtel revenue mkt share surges in q3, closing gap with Rel Jio
Bharti Airtel led the growth in revenue market share among Indian telecom operators in Q3FY25, driven by solid performance across various markets. Meanwhile, Reliance Jio's revenue market share remained unchanged, and Vodafone Idea continued to struggle, hitting an all-time low in revenue market share.
Starlink's India tie-ups support view of satcom complementing telcos' offerings: Citi report
Starlink's collaborations with Jio and Bharti Airtel highlight that satellite communication services are seen as complementary to existing telecom offerings in India. These partnerships aim to enhance connectivity in remote areas and expand business services, easing concerns over satellite services being a competitive threat to traditional telecom firms.
Starlink's satellite broadband poses limited threat to Indian telcos: Report
Starlink's satellite broadband services won't significantly challenge Indian telecom leaders Jio and Bharti Airtel due to their competitive pricing, higher speeds, and unlimited data offerings. Starlink's service is more suited to expanding internet access in remote regions. Collaboration with Indian telcos focuses on distribution, with Jio and Bharti aiming to reach underserved areas.
Struggling to choose between RIL and Airtel? Hemang Jani explains how to approach both
Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to enter India's telecom sector with Starlink, intensifying competition between Bharti Airtel and Reliance. Market expert Hemang Jani suggests Reliance offers better value, while Bharti remains resilient but largely priced in. Investors must weigh risk and reward.
Govt sets tough conditions for Elon Musk's Starlink to enter India
The Centre has requested Starlink to establish a control centre in India. This will allow quick suspension or shutdown of communications for law and order. Starlink must also facilitate call interceptions through official channels. This move comes as Starlink nears its satellite communications licence approval, with agreements in place with Reliance Jio and Airtel.
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Ahead of IPL season, JioStar wants Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea to bundle its subscription with data plans
JioStar is negotiating with major telecom operators to bundle its streaming platform's subscriptions with their data plans ahead of IPL 2025. The partnerships aim to increase JioStar's viewership to over 1 billion and sustain its momentum following significant live sports events placed behind a paywall.
SoftBank, OpenAI to jointly run AI agents at ex-Sharp LCD plant in Osaka: report
The Japanese telecom giant is set to purchase the facility and a portion of the land at Sharp's shuttered TV liquid crystal display factory in Osaka for approximately 100 billion yen ($677.05 million), the report said.
Nokia wins multi-year IP backhaul upgrade deal from Vodafone Idea for 4G, 5G capacity
Finnish telecom company Nokia has secured a three-year contract from Vodafone Idea to upgrade its IP backhaul network. This upgrade aims to boost the capacity for 4G and 5G networks, addressing the growing demand for data-intensive services such as AI, immersive gaming, and business video conferencing.
Telcos move Telecom Secy against shift to authorisation regime
Telecom operators urge the DoT to retain the existing contractual licensing regime, emphasizing its importance in maintaining regulatory certainty and protecting investments. They argue that the new authorisation-based regime, part of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, introduces uncertainty and undermines their contractual rights.
Starlink services via Airtel and Jio to be cheaper than the companies' own channels: Experts
Industry experts suggest that Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio mobile users may find Starlink services more affordable when bundled with their existing offerings, making it cost-effective compared to purchasing directly from Starlink. By partnering with telecom operators, satellite connectivity can be offered as an added value proposition, minimizing the high costs of satellite equipment for consumers.
After Airtel, Jio lays out red carpet for Starlink
Elon Musk's Starlink has partnered with Jio Platforms and Bharti Airtel to provide high-speed satellite internet in India. These collaborations represent a significant shift in India's telecom sector and promise to deliver advanced technology without high spectrum costs, benefiting millions of Indian consumers.
TRAI plans to limit satellite permits to five years, defying Musk's Starlink
India's TRAI plans a five-year allocation of satellite broadband spectrum, differing from Elon Musk's 20-year request. Recommendations on pricing and allocation will be finalized within a month. Mukesh Ambani's Reliance and Bharti Airtel have partnered with Musk's Starlink for distribution in India. The shorter timeframe will help TRAI understand market dynamics and adjust pricing if needed.
From foes to friends: How Musk, Trump & Indian telcos aligned on Satcom deals
SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, has struck distribution deals with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, showcasing a surprising shift from their previous rivalry. The collaboration is prompted by various factors including US political changes and the realization that satellite communications complement rather than compete with existing telecom services.
MTNL shares soar 18% on Rs 2,135 crore asset monetisation
MTNL share price surged 18.4% after earnings of Rs 2,134.61 crore from asset monetization were disclosed. Since 2019, BSNL and MTNL together generated Rs 12,984.86 crore from monetizing assets. BSNL has earned Rs 2,387.82 crore, while MTNL earned Rs 258.25 crore from their unused assets' monetization.
Reliance Jio and Airtel link up with the Star while Vodafone Idea will face the heat on earth
Airtel and Jio are nearing a deal to bring Elon Musk's Starlink to India, promising super-fast internet services subject to government approval. This could impact Vodafone Idea (Vi) as its shares fell nearly 5% and it lags in 5G rollout. Vi faces challenges with subscriber churn and financial issues amidst this fierce competition.
BSNL, MTNL raise Rs 12,984 crore from asset monetisation
Since 2019, BSNL and MTNL have earned a substantial Rs 12,984.86 crore from monetising non-essential land, buildings, towers, and fibre assets. These state-owned telecom firms have utilised government-approved guidelines for selling assets they no longer require, ensuring close monitoring of the impact on their operations.
Govt not privatising telecom firms BSNL, MTNL, says Union MoS Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar
India has confirmed that it is not privatising state-owned telecom firms BSNL and MTNL, according to Deputy Communications Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar. The federal government recently approved substantial investments, including an 800 million dollar capital expenditure for BSNL and 60 billion rupees for the 4G expansion of both MTNL and BSNL.
Satellite new addition to tech mix to enable users carry mobiles to remotest part: Sunil Mittal
Sunil Mittal announced that satellite technology will soon join 4G, 5G, and 6G, enabling mobile connectivity in remote areas, including skies and oceans. Indian telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Jio have partnered with SpaceX's Starlink to offer high-speed internet in India. Mittal urged collaboration between telecom and satellite firms to connect underserved regions.
Reliance Jio continues to gain users, Airtel bounces back in December
Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel saw net subscriber additions in December, with Jio adding 3.9 million customers and Airtel 1.03 million. Vodafone Idea and BSNL continued to lose subscribers, with declines of 1.7 million and 0.32 million, respectively. Overall, the wireless user base grew by 2 million, reversing the negative trend, with Jio leading the market share.
Mahakumbh posed significant challenges for telcos; Jio led with speed, coverage: Ookla
Reliance Jio led 5G performance at the Mahakumbh 2025 event in Prayagraj, recording a median download speed of 201.87 Mbps, with Airtel following at 165.23 Mbps. Despite high user density, operators maintained robust network performance through strategic upgrades. Jio reported 83.9% 5G availability and managed significant voice and data service traffic during the event.
Airtel, SpaceX join hands: How will Indians be able to log on to Musk’s Starlink internet services?
Bharti Airtel has partnered with SpaceX for the launch of Starlink satellite internet in India, pending SpaceX's authorization. The collaboration aims to provide Starlink equipment through Airtel’s stores, offer services to businesses, and connect rural areas. The deal follows a clash between telecom companies and Starlink over satellite spectrum pricing. TRAI is still deliberating on spectrum allocation.
Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel lead subscriber growth in December 2024 amidst losses for BSNL and Vodafone Idea
Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel were the only telecom companies to experience net subscriber additions in December 2024, with Jio adding 3.9 million and Airtel gaining 1.03 million. In contrast, Vodafone Idea and BSNL saw subscriber declines, with the overall net increase in wireless subscribers reversing recent losses.
Airtel, Elon Musk's SpaceX join forces to beam Starlink’s super-fast internet to India
Bharti Airtel has partnered with SpaceX to provide high-speed internet in India via Starlink satellites. This collaboration aims to serve remote areas and enhance Airtel's network using SpaceX’s technology. The partnership includes offering Starlink equipment through Airtel’s outlets and focusing on underserved communities. Meanwhile, Indian telecom firms call for fair satellite spectrum pricing.
Airtel working on tech to wipe out scam, phishing
Bharti Airtel is developing technology to prevent online scams and phishing attempts for its 380 million mobile users. About 80% complete, this solution targets OTP misuse and scam links. However, it won’t control spam and scams on OTT apps due to encryption. Airtel urges regulatory intervention to tackle spam on OTT platforms.
Bharti Telecom needs much higher dividend income from Airtel to service loans: Analysts
Bharti Telecom Ltd, which holds a 40.47% stake in Bharti Airtel, needs higher dividend payouts from Airtel starting FY25 to service its rising interest costs. The mounting debt of BTL, now at nearly Rs 38,000 crore, has significantly increased its finance costs, necessitating an increase in Airtel's dividend to Rs 14 per share by FY25.
ET Awards: Without PM Modi's confidence, trust, and the opportunity that he has given, it wouldn't have been possible to be here on this stage, says Ashwini Vaishnaw
Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the essential support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in implementing significant reforms in the telecom and railways sectors. He emphasized the personal sacrifices his family made when he was given the responsibility. Vaishnaw expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the country's growth during The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence.
Bangladeshi firms join hands with US telecom giant Starlink
Several Bangladeshi firms have signed contracts with Elon Musk's Starlink to establish ground earth stations in Bangladesh. The collaboration will aid in providing reliable and high-speed internet across cities and remote areas, with ongoing discussions on location and implementation details.
New Telecom Act to be fully implemented by June-July: DoT's Neeraj Mittal
India’s Telecommunications Act 2023, aimed at reforming the telecom framework, will be fully operational by mid-2024. The new law simplifies licensing for service providers, reduces entry barriers for new players, and includes provisions for satellite spectrum allocation and optimal use of radio waves.
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