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Tag: Idea

  • Vodafone Idea Expands 5G Network to 23 New Cities – What It Means for Customers!

    Vodafone Idea Expands 5G Network to 23 New Cities – What It Means for Customers!

    Vodafone Idea (Vi) is on an ambitious path to strengthen its 5G network, announcing plans to expand services to 23 additional cities across India. The targeted cities for this rollout include prominent locations like Ahmedabad, Agra, Aurangabad, Kozhikode, Cochin, Dehradun, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, and many more, demonstrating the company’s commitment to improving connectivity in both urban and semi-urban areas.

    Building on Recent Success

    This latest announcement follows the successful launch of 5G services in major hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Patna, marking a significant step in Vi’s strategy to cover 17 key regions where it holds 5G spectrum rights.

    Innovation Through Collaboration

    To enhance its network capabilities, Vodafone Idea is not just resting on its laurels. The company is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) through self-organizing networks (SON) and is teaming up with industry giants including Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung. This collaboration aims to boost both its 4G and 5G infrastructures, aptly showcasing how partnerships can supercharge technological advancements in the sector.

    CTO’s Vision for the Future

    Jagbir Singh, CTO of Vodafone Idea, expressed his enthusiasm for the ongoing rollout. “Our 5G rollout is progressing steadily in a phased manner, and we’re excited to bring next-gen connectivity to more users. At the same time, we’re strengthening our 4G network to ensure a seamless experience for our users. With enhanced indoor coverage, increased capacity, and 84% population coverage with our 4G network, we remain focused on delivering superior digital experiences to Vi users,” he noted. It’s a promise that not only aims to keep users connected but also to enhance their overall digital experience — because who wouldn’t want to binge-watch their favorite shows in superfast 5G?

    Questions & Answers

    What cities will see the expansion of Vodafone Idea’s 5G network?
    Vodafone Idea plans to expand its 5G network to 23 cities, including Ahmedabad, Agra, Aurangabad, Kozhikode, and Kolkata, among others.

    What technology does Vodafone Idea employ to enhance its networks?
    The company is utilizing AI-based self-organizing networks (SON) and collaborating with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung to bolster both its 4G and 5G networks.

    What is the current coverage of Vodafone Idea’s 4G network?
    Vodafone Idea boasts an impressive 84% population coverage with its 4G network, aiming to provide a seamless experience for its users.

  • Vodafone Idea and AST SpaceMobile Launch Groundbreaking D2D Satellite Connectivity in India

    Vodafone Idea and AST SpaceMobile Launch Groundbreaking D2D Satellite Connectivity in India

    Vodafone Idea (Vi) is set to embrace a new frontier in connectivity by partnering with U.S.-based AST SpaceMobile to roll out direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity in India. This bold move places Vi in a strategic race alongside competitors Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, both of which have recently struck deals with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to deliver Starlink services to Indian consumers.

    Innovative Satellite Solution for Enhanced Connectivity

    The partnership aims to synergize Vi’s extensive mobile network with AST’s state-of-the-art satellite technology, allowing users to receive signals directly to their standard smartphones—no special apps or hardware needed. While most smartphones aren’t currently equipped to communicate with low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, AST’s innovative approach aspires to change that dynamic.

    Building a Breakthrough Communication Network

    Together, the companies will create the ‘SpaceMobile Satellite System,’ a revolutionary space-based cellular broadband network intended to expand Vi’s reach into remote and inaccessible areas. AST SpaceMobile will oversee the design, manufacture, and management of the satellite constellation, while Vi will manage spectrum operations and regulatory access in India, seamlessly integrating satellite capabilities into its terrestrial network.

    “Vi is committed to harnessing technology to connect every Indian, and we view satellite communication as an essential enhancement to terrestrial connectivity,” remarked Avneesh Khosla, Chief Marketing Officer at Vi. He expressed enthusiasm about ushering in a new era of reliable connectivity through this innovative solution.

    Addressing Diverse Market Needs

    The partnership between AST and Vi extends beyond connectivity, as they plan to co-develop commercial solutions targeting various sectors, including consumer mobile, enterprise services, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. “India, with its vast and dynamic telecom market, is the ideal place to demonstrate how our space-based cellular broadband can seamlessly complement terrestrial networks,” noted Chris Ivory, Chief Commercial Officer of AST SpaceMobile. He added, “We’re not just expanding coverage; we’re breaking down barriers to connectivity, making it possible for everyday smartphones to connect to 4G and 5G networks directly from space.”

    AST SpaceMobile envisions deploying 60 LEO satellites between 2025 and 2026, with ambitions stretching to markets like the United States, Europe, Japan, and of course, India. While Starlink boasts a significantly larger fleet of over 6,000 satellites, AST’s direct smartphone connectivity focus offers a compelling and unique advantage.

    Sky’s the Limit for India’s Mobile Users

    With India’s mobile subscriber base soaring past 1.1 billion—predominantly making use of 4G and emerging 5G networks—satellite connectivity promises to extend services into rugged terrains and remote locations, thus becoming a crucial support to the existing ground networks. As they say, in the world of connectivity, the sky may not be the limit—it could be just the beginning.

    Questions & Answers

    How will the partnership between Vi and AST SpaceMobile enhance mobile connectivity in India?
    The partnership will integrate Vi’s network with AST’s satellite technology, enabling direct connectivity to smartphones, thereby expanding coverage in remote and challenging locations.

    What unique advantage does AST SpaceMobile offer compared to Starlink?
    AST SpaceMobile focuses on direct-to-device satellite connectivity, allowing standard smartphones to access 4G and 5G networks directly from space, offering a unique proposition in the market.

    When does AST SpaceMobile plan to deploy its satellites, and how many will there be?
    AST SpaceMobile plans to deploy 60 low-Earth orbit satellites between 2025 and 2026, targeting regions including the United States, Europe, Japan, and India.

  • Vodafone Idea acquires spectrums in five telecom circles to enhance 4G capacity

    Vodafone Idea acquires spectrums in five telecom circles to enhance 4G capacity

    Being India’s third-largest telecom operator in the 4G spectrum auctions, Vodafone Idea entered with the largest quantum of spectrum with a very small fraction. “This was administratively allocated and used for GSM services, coming up for renewal,” the company said.

    With the telecom industry gearing up for the 5G revolution, VI hopes that a large quantum of spectrum would be made available for all operators in the future at fair prices. The operator had reportedly submitted an earnest money deposit of Rs 475 crore. Yet, the company did not disclose the exact quantity of spectrum bought.

    In line with the government’s effort to innovate the country’s telecom sector, Vodafone Idea claimed that the Indian telecom segment is well-positioned to drive the Digital India agenda, as long as sufficient spectrum availability and an adequate number of market players are involved.

    Broadly speaking, India has 22 telecom circles. All major telecom operators — Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, Bharti Airtel Ltd, and Vodafone Idea — participated in the auction. According to the department of telecommunication (DoT), they put on the block 2,308.8MHz of spectrum at a base price of ₹3.92 trillion in the auction. Moreover, spectrum in the 700MHz, 800MHz, 900MHz, 1,800MHz, 2,100MHz, 2,300MHz, and 2,500MHz bands were put up for sale.

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  • Vodafone Idea taps Ericsson for cloud packet core

    Vodafone Idea taps Ericsson for cloud packet core

    India’s Vodafone Idea has contracted Ericsson to deploy a cloud packet core to enhance its existing core network.

    The deployment forms part of the operator’s ongoing network modernization program. It is aimed at enabling speedier introduction of new services and providing full-service continuity over the operator’s network.

    Under the agreement, Vodafone Idea will deploy Ericsson core network applications and network functions including the Ericsson virtual Evolved Packet Gateway (vEPG), Service Aware Policy Controller (vSAPC) and Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVi) solutions.

    The NFVi solution is designed to enable operators to deploy virtual telecom, OSS, BSS, IT and media applications at a low total cost of ownership.

    “Data consumption in India is growing rapidly and users are looking for new, richer experiences every day,” Vodafone Idea CTO Vishant Vara said.

    “At Vodafone Idea, we endeavor to stay ahead of the curve by investing in technologies and solutions to address the evolving demands of millions of our customers in India. We are confident that Ericsson’s vEPC solution will enable us to meet our strategic goals.”

    Ericsson head of digital services for SEA, Oceania and India Alvise Carlton added that the project is one of the vendor’s largest virtual evolved packet core deployments globally to date.

    “This will not only provide VIL the scale and reach to address the growing data traffic levels in India, but the advanced cloud infrastructure will also enable VIL to tap new revenue streams in SMEs and IoT.”

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  • Jio raising $3.89b for tower unit spinoff:

    Jio raising $3.89b for tower unit spinoff:

    The fiber network unit Reliance Jio Infocomm is reportedly planning to raise around 270 billion rupees ($3.89 billion) in syndicated loans to help expand the newly created infrastructure business.

    Jio Digital Fiber plans to use the proceeds to expand its business and allow it to serve external customers from the telecom, ISP, power and other sectors.

    Reliance Jio is spinning off its fiber business as well as its tower business into standalone subsidiaries in an attempt to monetize the assets. The tower business is being spun out into Reliance Jio Infratel.

    Reliance Jio received approval for the demerger plan from the National Company Law Tribunal last month.

    Meanwhile Reliance Jio has reportedly also crossed the 300 million subscriber mark after just two and a half years in operation, putting it close to second-placed rival Bharti Airtel, which has around 340.3 million customers.

    According to Indian media, it took Airtel 19 years to pass the 300 million subscriber mark. If Reliance Jio continues its trajectory, it will knock former market leader Airtel into third place. The 2018 merger between Vodafone India and Idea Cellular created the current market leader Vodafone Idea, which has over 400 million customers.

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  • Vodafone Idea contracts Nokia for LTE expansion

    Vodafone Idea contracts Nokia for LTE expansion

    India’s Vodafone Idea has awarded Nokia a contract to improve the operator’s LTE coverage and capacity.

    Under the contract, Nokia will provide Single RAN Advanced, massive MIMO and small cell technology across multiple Indian telecoms circles to support the operator’s network consolidation and modernization program.

    The small cell deployment will help improve both indoor and outdoor coverage and capacity in the circles. Vodafone Idea will also adopt dynamic spectrum sharing technology to make the most productive use of the converged company’s spectrum.

    “Vodafone Idea is undertaking the world’s biggest telecom network integration in India [following the merger between Vodafone India and Idea Cellular], and creating India’s most advanced, secure and cost-efficient network,” Vodafone Idea CTO Vishant Vora said.

    “Extensive use of UBRs, dynamic spectrum sharing, massive MIMO and HetNets are key to our plan in this integration exercise, and we are very happy to partner with Nokia to deploy these futuristic, next generation technologies to prepare a future-proof network for the digital era.”

    Last month Vodafone Idea also contracted Ericsson to deploy LTE equipment for the network integration program, including radio systems and transport equipment from Ericsson’s 5G-ready Ericsson Radio System portfolio.

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  • Vodafone Idea doubles 4G speeds in Mumbai

    Vodafone Idea doubles 4G speeds in Mumbai

    India’s Vodafone Idea has announced it has doubled 4G download speeds in the Mumbai metro area as part of a major network modernization program in the city.

    The operator is deploying new technologies in the metro area including Massive MIMO, small cells and more TD-LTE cell sites, and has so far deployed more than 5,000 such sites across several regions.

    As part of the network upgrade, Vodafone Idea has also installed over 1,900 pieces of dedicated indoor coverage equipment at high rises and commercial buildings.

    Vodafone Idea’s capacity and coverage in Mumbai has also benefited from 4G spectrum refarming conducted as part of the network consolidation between the former Vodafone India and Idea Cellular, which combined to become Vodafone Idea last year in a $23 billion merger.

    “I am happy to announce that ‘Mumbai just got two times faster’ which means that our customers will now experience two times the download speeds on the 4G network,” Vodafone Idea business head Sunil Tolani said.

    This is based on statistics from Valu Connex Telecom Services indicating that average download speeds in Mumbai have improved by 2.16 times compared to prior to the modernization program.

    “We will be utilizing multiple [advertising] media like OOH [out-of home], radio and digital to reach out to our audience and hope they will enjoy the benefits of our focused network initiatives in Mumbai,” Tolani concluded.

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  • Indian telco sector facing three more quarters of losses

    Indian telco sector facing three more quarters of losses

    India’s telecoms sector is facing at least three more quarters of losses due to the ongoing price war, according to industry body the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI).

    The Indian GSM industry body’s director general Rajan Mathews told that he believes the market’s current tariffs are unsustainable in the long term.

    The industry’s woes are being added to by high license fee and spectrum charges, including high upfront payments, which has guaranteed that the current fiscal year will be tough for the industry.

    The current situation commenced in 2016 when disruptive new entrant Reliance Jio Infocomm entered the market with entirely free services during an extended promotion period. The operator continues to charge only for data, at low rates.

    Jio’s strategy prompted established operators to cut prices to compete, and prompted a wave of consolidation that has seen the market reduced to just three private operators – Jio, Bharti Airtel and the combined Vodafone India and Idea Cellular (now Vodafone Idea).

    Mathews said that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and clarity I expected to emerge in the fiscal year 2019-2020, which begins in April next year.

    But he warned that if tariffs continue to decline it will be detrimental to the health of the industry as it will threaten operators’ ability to invest in emerging technologies and in expanding coverage.

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  • Idea Cellular plans to raise $1b

    Idea Cellular plans to raise $1b

    Indian operator Idea Cellular said Thursday that its board has approved plans to raise up to 67.5 billion rupees ($1.06 billion) in the sale of new shares, in a bid to strengthen its capital position ahead of completing its planned merger with Vodafone India.

    The company, which is poised to merge with Vodafone’s India unit to create the country’s biggest mobile carrier, will raise 32.5 billion rupees by selling shares to its controlling shareholder the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) and raise the remaining 35 billion rupees by selling shares to institutional investors or a rights issue, the company said.

    As a result, ABG will buy a minimum of 2.5% of the merged entity from Vodafone, or such higher stake as required in order for ABG to ultimately own at least 26% of the merged entity.

    The purchase of the 2.5% interest by ABG follows the increase in its ownership in Idea to 47% from 42%, as a result of a fundraising by the Indian carrier.

    Under the original merger agreement, ABG is expected to reach a shareholding of 26% in the merged entity.

    Vodafone will receive minimum proceeds of 19.6 billion rupees from such sale and its ownership in the combined entity is expected to be approximately 47.5% at the completion of the merger.

    The companies said such changes to the capital structure were already contemplated in the scheme of arrangement for the merger. Vodafone’s stake in the combined entity in excess of 45.1% will not be subject to any lock-up.

    The merger of Vodafone India with Idea Cellular — the country’s second and third-largest mobile operators, respectively–was announced in March 2017. The proposed deal has already been approved by shareholders and creditors and the Competition Commission of India, but still needs clearance from the Department of Telecom and the National Company Law Tribunal.

    The companies expect to complete the merger in the first half of calendar 2018.

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  • Idea taps ZTE for 100G WDM backbone

    Idea taps ZTE for 100G WDM backbone

    India’s Idea Cellular has contracted ZTE and other vendors to deploy a 100G WDM backbone and metro area network (MAN) for the operator.

    ZTE announced it has secured a 95% market share in the MAN project, and will deploy an OTN device with ultra-large cross-connect capacity.

    Idea Cellular is upgrading its existing transport network from a 10G system to a 10G-100G hybrid transport system to ensure it is able to meet the exponential growth in demand for traffic for its mobile services.

    The solution ZTE will deliver will cover all scenarios from the edge aggregation layer to the core backbone layer to meet Idea Cellulars’ requirements for transparent transmission, flexible scheduling, aggregation processing of mass data services and service management monitoring.

    Idea Cellular is India’s third largest mobile operator with around 189 million subscribers. The company provides GSM, UMTS and FDD-LTE services India-wide.

  • Idea swings to first net loss since 2007

    Idea swings to first net loss since 2007

    India’s third largest mobile operator Idea Cellular has swung to its first annual loss since its IPO in 2007, as the company felt the pressure being inflicted on the mobile industry by the entry of disruptive newcomer Reliance Jio Infocomm.

    The company reported a net loss of 4.07 billion rupees ($63.5 million) for the full-year ending in March. This compares to a 23.78 billion rupee profit for the previous year.

    Total revenue fell 1% to 355.75 billion rupees, marking the first revenue decline since the IPO. Revenue from established service areas fell 1.8% to 329.58 billion rupees but revenue from new service areas up 9.5% to 26.17 billion rupees.

    India’s mobile industry has been struggling since Jio burst onto the scene in September with an aggressive strategy of offering services for completely free for a six-month promotional period.

    “The October to April 2017 interval can be best described as ‘Period of Telecom Discontinuity’, permanently changing mobility business parameters. Consequently, the revenue KPIs & financial parameters for all mobile operators have sharply declined in [2H17],” Idea said in a statement announcing its results.

    “For the first time in its history, the flourishing Indian mobility industry is trending towards an annual revenue decline of ~2% in FY17. With the new entrant starting to charge for its services, albeit very slowly, the sector is expected to return to growth in the next financial year.”

    During the March quarter, revenue fell 6.2% sequentially to 81.26 billion rupees, even as the company added 6.2 million new customers to 198.3 million.

    The operator also strengthened its revenue market share for calendar year 2016 by 0.4% to 19% and maintained a subscriber market share of 19.4%.

    Idea Cellular meanwhile announced that it is making progress with its planned merger with Vodafone India, a deal expected to create the market’s largest telecoms operator.

    The two companies have initiated the steps required to gain regulatory approvals for the merger, including filing a joint notification with the Competition Commission of India.

  • Idea may offer unlimited free 4G data

    Idea may offer unlimited free 4G data

    India’s Idea Cellular is reportedly considering launching its own unlimited free 4G data offer to compete against disruptive new market entrant Reliance Jio Infocomm.

    Idea is considering offering unlimited data in certain plans with a validity of 1 to 1.5 years, potentially only for 4G customers, citing sources.

    According to the report, Idea may also introduce free incoming calls for international roaming and new loyalty plans for existing customers.

    The entry of pan-Indian 4G operator Reliance Jio has shaken up India’s telecoms market, due in part to the operator’s decision to offer free services for customers for its first six months of operation, ending in March 31.

    Rival operators have been pressed to respond with their own offers to attract and retain customers. Bharti Airtel recently introduced an offer for 3GB of extra data per month until December this year.

    In line with this development, Vodafone India has introduced a new prepaid plan offering unlimited 3G or 4G data roaming for an hour for just 16 rupees ($0.235). The company will also offer unlimited in-network local voice calls for an hour for 7 rupees. Vodafone’s 2G customers will be able to buy an hour of unlimited data for 5 rupees.

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  • Idea to expand 4G to nine more circles

    Idea to expand 4G to nine more circles

    India’s third largest mobile operator Idea Cellular has revealed plans to expand its 4G network to nine additional telecoms circles by March next year.

    The operator plans to add around 57,000 new 4G cell sites this year alone.

    With the expansion, Idea Cellular plans to launch of 4G in the circles of Uttar Pradesh East and West, Gujarat, Mumbai, Bihar, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam and Jammu & Kashmir.

    This will take Idea’s total 4G footprint to 20 of India’s 22 telecoms circles. The 20 circles together account for 94% of Idea Cellular’s revenue and 90% of all industry revenue.

    Idea is using the spectrum it acquired in the recent $9.8 billion spectrum auction to pursue the 4G expansion.

    India’s 4G market is heating up due to the entry into the market of disruptive Pan-Indian 4G operator Reliance Jio Infocomm.

    Idea’s wireless broadband network currently spans 17 circles, with the operator aiming to achieve a total of 250,000 sites this financial year.

    To better compete against Reliance Jio, Idea is also increasingly pursuing a content strategy, starting with branded games. The operator plans to expand to movie and music services in the near future.

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  • Idea Q1 profit slumps 36.1%

    Idea Q1 profit slumps 36.1%

    India’s Idea Cellular has reported a steep 36.1% decline in net profit for its fiscal first quarter to 4.97 billion rupees ($74.4 million), as spectrum and investment costs weighed down the operator’s bottom line.

    But Idea, the nation’s third largest mobile operator, also revealed that its efforts to cut down on promotional offers helped revenue grow 7.9% to 94.86 billion rupees.

    The operator lost around 700,000 mobile subscribers during the quarter, taking its total to 183.2 million, and voice MOUs declined by 1.1% sequentially to 199.3 billion.

    By contrast, due to its high investments in the mobile data segment, Idea reported its highest ever net mobile data user additions of 5 million.

    The operator also recorded mobile data volume growth of 13.2% to 93.1 petabytes, while mobile data revenue grew by 4.1% to contribute 20.6% of total service revenue.

    Over the period, the company added 5,296 4G sites, taking its total to nearly 20,000. The operator’s 4G network now covers a total population of over 150 million across nearly 2,000 towns and villages. The company ended June with over 1.8 million active 4G subscribers.

    Overall 2G, 3G and 4G mobile data penetration has reached 49 million, and Idea reported a blended mobile data ARPU for the quarter of 142 rupees.

    Idea’s capex for the quarter meanwhile reached 10.8 billion rupees, in line with the operator’s projected capex budget for the full financial year of between 65 billion and 70 billion rupees.

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  • Idea introducing carrier billing for Google Play

    Idea introducing carrier billing for Google Play

    India’s Idea Cellular is preparing to launch carrier billing for the Google Play store, bringing the capability to India for the first time for Android devices.

    A Google representative confirmed to India’s NDTV that the company is in the process of implementing carrier billing to Google Play for Idea Cellular customers.

    The capability will be progressively expanded to other Indian operators in the future, the report states.

    Carrier billing makes a lot of sense for Google in the Indian market, where only around 645 million debit cards have been issued but there are around 1 billion mobile users.

    Idea Cellular was the first Indian operator to offer carrier billing on the Windows Phone store back in 2014.

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