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Tag: Vodafone

  • Supreme Court Allows Reassessment of Vodafone Idea’s AGR Dues: A Win for 200 Million Consumers

    Supreme Court Allows Reassessment of Vodafone Idea’s AGR Dues: A Win for 200 Million Consumers

    Vodafone Idea (Vi) recently experienced a substantial win in the Supreme Court after the government agreed to revisit its request for additional adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues from the corporation. The government’s decision is expected to be in accordance with the law.

    Government’s Interest in Vi

    Tushar Mehta, the Solicitor General representing the Union government, presented the case before a bench chaired by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai. Mehta noted an extensive shift in circumstances since the most recent AGR litigation involving Vi in the Supreme Court.

    He informed the Court of the government’s significant 49% equity investment in the company, suggesting that the government’s interests were now tightly intertwined with those of the company and, in turn, the public. He added that the company’s decisions directly affect its 200 million consumers, and the government intended to thoroughly examine any issues, such as over-invoicing, to ensure they are adequately addressed.

    Entering the “Policy Domain”

    According to the Court, the matter has transitioned into the “policy domain” due to the government’s substantial equity investment and the involvement of 200 million customers. The Court had no objections to the government’s decision to revisit its demand for additional AGR dues for the fiscal year 2016-2017 and to make an appropriate decision that would serve the larger public interest.

    Vi’s Appeal to the Supreme Court

    Vi had approached the Supreme Court to contest the additional AGR demand issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the 2016-2017 period. The corporation argued that the liabilities had already been calculated and shouldn’t be altered or increased. It sought the Court’s dismissal of the additional DoT demand and requested a comprehensive reassessment and reconciliation of AGR dues up until FY 2016-17.

    Previous Rejections

    This most recent litigation follows only months after the Supreme Court denied earlier appeals by Bharti Airtel, Vi, and Tata Teleservices. These companies were seeking relief from paying interest on dues, penalties, and interest on penalties related to their AGR liabilities, citing significant financial constraints.

    In its May verdict, the Supreme Court labelled their pleas as “misconceived.” The Chief Justice had previously stressed the necessity for a conclusion in the AGR litigation. About a year ago, the Supreme Court rejected a curative petition filed by telecom companies, including Bharti Airtel and Vi, against the court’s October 2019 ruling that upheld the DoT’s move to recover approximately INR 92,000 crore in AGR from them.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the government’s stake in Vi?
    The government holds a significant 49% equity investment in Vi.

    What significant shift in circumstances was noted by the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta?
    Tushar Mehta observed a major change in circumstances since the last AGR litigation involving Vi in the Supreme Court, particularly the government’s large equity investment in the company.

    What was Vi’s argument to the Supreme Court against the additional AGR demand?
    Vi argued that the liabilities had already been calculated and should not be altered or increased. The company sought a comprehensive reassessment and reconciliation of AGR dues up until FY 2016-17.

  • Vodafone Idea and IBM Unveil Exciting New AI Innovation Hub to Transform Retail Experience

    Vodafone Idea and IBM Unveil Exciting New AI Innovation Hub to Transform Retail Experience

    Vodafone Idea (Vi) is embarking on a transformative journey, partnering with IBM to streamline its operations and enhance customer experiences through cutting-edge technology. This strategic alliance aims to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and a unified DevOps model, ultimately accelerating Vi’s digital initiatives.

    Navigating the Digital Landscape with an AI Innovation Hub

    At the heart of this initiative lies the newly established AI Innovation Hub, designed to continually modernize Vi’s IT and business processes. This hub will unite experts from both Vi and IBM Consulting, who will co-develop AI solutions, automation tools, and digital accelerators utilizing IBM’s state-of-the-art AI technologies. The collaboration will ensure seamless integration of AI into Vi’s development and operational frameworks, forging new pathways for efficiency.

    Commitment to Intelligent Innovation

    Jagbir Singh, Chief Technology Officer of Vodafone Idea Limited, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “Our collaboration with IBM marks a pivotal milestone in Vi’s digital journey. It reflects our commitment to AI-led innovation and our ambition to drive accelerated growth through intelligent decision-making and automation. The AI Innovation Hub will play a critical role in modernizing our operations and expediting our go-to-market execution of critical business initiatives through faster software development cycles, setting new benchmarks for the telecom industry.”

    Enhancing Agility and Exploring New Horizons

    This alliance is not merely about technology; it’s also about envisioning smarter digital experiences and enhancing IT agility to tap into new revenue streams. By leveraging IBM’s extensive global partner ecosystem and industry expertise, Vi aims to reinforce its long-term digital resilience while driving ongoing innovation.

    IBM’s Role in India’s Telecom Evolution

    Juhi McClelland, Managing Partner at IBM Consulting for Asia Pacific, highlighted the significance of their collaboration with Vi, stating, “India’s telecom sector stands at the crossroads of surging data consumption, rapid digital transformation, and large-scale 5G deployments. Our collaboration with Vi allows IBM to serve as a strategic enabler to help modernize the organization’s IT ecosystem and fast-track their digital transformation.” The AI Innovation Hub exemplifies the potential of co-creation, as IBM consultants lend their expertise to build a future-ready digital foundation.

    Strengthening a Long-Standing Partnership

    Rishi Aurora, Managing Partner at IBM Consulting India & South Asia, noted that their partnership with Vi spans more than 17 years. “This recent collaboration marks a significant step in redefining how AI and automation can transform telecom operations at scale. With the AI Innovation Hub and unified DevOps execution, we’re bringing together the best of IBM’s global expertise to help Vi deliver superior customer experiences, drive innovation, and strengthen digital resilience for the future.”

    With these collaborative efforts, Vi is set to design and adopt rapid and seamless digital experiences, underscoring the pivotal role of AI in enhancing customer-focused service delivery. As this partnership unfolds, the telecom landscape in India may soon witness a blend of creativity and technology that could spark a revolution.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the main goal of Vi’s partnership with IBM?
    The partnership aims to optimize operations, enhance service reliability, improve customer experiences, and accelerate digital initiatives using AI and a unified DevOps model.

    How will the AI Innovation Hub benefit Vi?
    The AI Innovation Hub will modernize Vi’s IT and business processes by co-developing advanced AI solutions and automation tools with expertise from both Vi and IBM Consulting.

    What does this collaboration signify for the future of India’s telecom sector?
    This collaboration positions IBM as a strategic enabler for Vi, helping to modernize its IT ecosystem, enhance operational efficiencies, and fast-track digital transformation amidst rising data consumption and 5G deployments.

  • 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 Launches AI-Powered Spam Detection Solution

    Vodafone Idea Launches AI-Powered Spam Detection Solution

    ages, according to a statement from the company on Monday.

    “As more customers embrace digital communication, we recognize the growing threat posed by SMS-based spams and potential scam attempts,” said Jagbir Singh, CTO, Vodafone Idea Limited.

    “Our AI-powered spam detection technology reinforces our commitment to customer safety by delivering proactive, real-time protection,” he added.

    Vi’s AI algorithms are trained on millions of SMS examples to detect potential threats, such as fraudulent links, unauthorized promotions, and identity theft attempts. The predictive AI system learns from patterns in incoming data, including phishing links, unusual sender information, and common spam phrases, improving its detection accuracy over time.

    In September, Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom service provider, introduced an AI-powered solution to notify smartphone users about potential spam messages. Airtel’s solution analyzes one trillion records in real time and has demonstrated its ability to accurately predict more than 99% of spam messages and 97% of spam calls, according to the company.

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  • UK carrier Vodafone achieves its fastest speeds

    UK carrier Vodafone achieves its fastest speeds

    UK carrier Vodafone has accomplished yet another milestone. In a new blog post, the mobile operator announced that it achieved its fastest-ever speed throughout the home during a trial with CityFibre — a company that owns, operates, and maintains fiber-to-the-building infrastructure in cities throughout the UK.

    Thanks to CityFibre’s upgrade of its York network to XGS-PON, which should be able to support speeds of up to 10Gbps, and Vodafone’s Ultra Hub modem and Super WiFi 6E Booster, the carrier’s Pro II Broadband plan managed to reach broadband speeds of up to 2Gbps. Vodafone stated that these speeds are twice as fast as the fastest services currently available on CityFibre’s network.

    But what does that mean for the end user? Well, with a 2Gbps Full Fiber service, you can download a 50GB game on your console in around three minutes and 20 seconds, which is more than 50% faster than Vodafone’s 910Mbps broadband. Or, if you prefer watching TV series, you can download a 3.53GB HD TV show in about 15 seconds, which is just incredible.

    However, in order to fully take advantage of such a fast broadband connection, you also need a powerful smartphone. And if you are in the market for one, feel free to check out our best Vodafone phone deals article and get one from there with a great discount. In case you are rocking with another carrier, you can see our best O2 phone deals, best Three phone deals, best EE phone deals, and best Virgin Media deals articles.

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  • Vodafone launches Business Pro II, broadband made for small businesses

    Vodafone launches Business Pro II, broadband made for small businesses

    If you have a small business in the UK and need a new broadband connection, you might want to check out Vodafone’s latest offering. As the mobile operator announced in a blog post, it has launched a new broadband service called Business Pro II.

    Depending on the tariff, Business Pro II has average download speeds ranging from 67Mbps to 900Mbps. It starts at £32.50 a month — for the 67Mbp plan — and can go up to £53.50 — for the 900Mbps tier. Business Pro II customers also receive free unlimited landline and mobile calls, 4G backup, and Wi-Fi support from technical experts.

    Something that distinguishes the Business Pro II from the rest of Vodafone’s business broadband options is that it comes with Vodafone’s Ultra Hub router and Super Wi-Fi 6E Booster — a device you can use to eliminate Wi-Fi dead zone

    Both the router and the booster support the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology and let you connect over 150 devices simultaneously. Wi-Fi 6E offers faster speeds, and since devices that support it utilize the still-uncongested 6GHz frequency, you should also have a more reliable connection with less interference when using Vodafone’s Ultra Hub router and Super WiFi 6E Booster.

    Only new and existing small business customers with between one and nine employees can sign up for Vodafone’s Business Pro II broadband. If your company is eligible and you want to get Business Pro II broadband, dial 191 from your Vodafone mobile, go to a retail store, or visit Vodafone’s official website.

    In case you want a new phone as well, feel free to check out our best Vodafone phone deals and get one from there with an amazing discount. Or, if you are rolling with another carrier, you can visit our top Virgin Media phone deals, best O2 phone deals, best Three phone deals, and best EE phone deals.

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  • Vodafone and Kacific Partner for Satellite Mobile Backhaul in Papua New Guinea

    Vodafone and Kacific Partner for Satellite Mobile Backhaul in Papua New Guinea

    Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) has partnered with Vodafone PNG to deploy the satellite operator’s mobile backhaul services, helping to greatly expand Vodafone PNG’s voice and 3G/4G data network into rural areas of Papua New Guinea.

    Vodafone PNG, based in Papua New Guinea and part of the Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH) Group of companies from Fiji, successfully launched in April 2022, disrupting the nation’s telecommunications market. It is now in the process of rapidly expanding its network and customer base.

    Vodafone PNG has committed to wholesale bandwidth delivered by Kacific’s high-speed Ka-band satellite, Kacific1. The cost-effective mobile backhaul bandwidth will primarily be used for voice and data and will serve both residential and enterprise end-users.

    “Kacific and Vodafone PNG see huge potential for growth in Papua New Guinea, as well as a genuine thirst from the country’s citizens for affordable and reliable mobile and data services. Together, we aim to disrupt the market in a way that brings more choice and better connectivity to everyday people,” says Brandon Seir, chief commercial officer, Kacific.

    “There is real potential for satellite-based communication services to help Papua New Guinea increase access to communications services from 10 percent (in 2009) to 100 percent of the population – a goal of the nation’s strategic development plan, Vision 2050,” he adds.

    “In every market, we aim to be the best. With Kacific, Vodafone can provide the best coverage and increase local people’s access to reliable, high-speed voice and data services,” says Nirmal Singh, managing director, Vodafone PNG. “Kacific satellite services vastly reduce the cost and complexity of remote terminal installation, allowing Vodafone to rapidly deploy our network across the nation, including to the underserved rural areas. Together we are providing greater access on a large scale, helping increase Papua New Guinea’s basic infrastructure in order to grow and prosper.”

    Papua New Guinea is a nation of 9 million inhabitants using over 3.3 million mobile connections, amounting to a mobile penetration of 36%2. 3G coverage currently reaches around 73% of the population.

    It is the world’s third largest island country by size, with an area of over 460,000 km, with the vast majority of its population residing in rural areas. It also has one of the lowest population densities in the world, with citizens scattered between islands, coastal areas and mountainous highland terrains. These characteristics add significant costs and impediments to deploying mobile and data services via terrestrial networks. However, satellite services are well-placed to meet the challenges of the varied geography and dispersed population.

    The Kacific1 satellite provides widespread coverage in Papua New Guinea, including the main islands of New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville as well as the surrounding smaller islands and waters.

    Vodafone PNG is the latest customer in the wider Pacific to benefit from Kacific’s affordable, high-speed mobile backhaul services.

  • Tesco Mobile introduces roaming charges for EU travel

    Tesco Mobile introduces roaming charges for EU travel

    After Brexit became a reality, UK mobile operators were quick to promise that roaming charges for calls and data from within EU countries will not make a return. But, after the EU Trade Deal was finalized in 2021, it seems things changed.

    EE was first to cave and reintroduced EU roaming charges for its customers. Three, Vodafone, and Sky followed suit. Now, Tesco joins in.

    No announcement, no fanfare, Tesco changed its Terms & Conditions to include this change. Come January of 2023, any customers that have signed a new contract with the provider after June 6th 2022 (including) will need to pay for their mobile usage from within EU countries as follows — 10p per MB of data, 20p per SMS (no MMS while roaming), 55p per minute of regular voice calling.

    If you have entered a contract with Tesco before the aforementioned date, you will not be affected by the roaming charges until you renew or upgrade your service.

    Frequent travellers will be able to make use of various roaming bundles that Tesco will have on offer, making it cheaper for those that find themselves abroad more often.
    Out of all major carriers in the UK, Virgin Media and O2 have yet to introduce roaming fees for EU countries. In fact, so much so that you may be feeling tempted to check out some phone deals on Virgin or phone deals on O2. Vodafone’s Xtra plans can also include no-fee roaming for the EU and other countries abroad, so it’s great if you can find your favorite phone bundled with the right plan (Vodafone refreshes its phone deals once per month or so).
    By this point, EU roaming fees for all UK residents seem like an inevitability, with the only question being “when” the last operators will cave.

     

  • India Approves 5G Spectrum Auction, Includes Bandwidth for Private Networks

    India Approves 5G Spectrum Auction, Includes Bandwidth for Private Networks

    India will be holding a 5G spectrum auction by the end of July, with frequencies set aside for private mobile networks.

    This was announced by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 72 GHz of spectrum will be auctioned for a 20-year tenure across frequency bands including 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz. According to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), 5G will be rolled out first in 13 major cities including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Jamnagar, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

    All three telecom operators, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel are expected to participate in the upcoming auction. In addition, enterprises can acquire spectrum directly from the DoT to set up private networks to support applications in IoT and AI.

    Bandwidth reserved for private networks has been met with mixed sentiment. On one hand, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) argues that this could diminish revenue. On the other hand, the Broadband India Forum (BFI) claims that this is a misconception.

  • 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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  • Shocking AGR debts could spell doom for Vodafone Idea

    Shocking AGR debts could spell doom for Vodafone Idea

    Following a Supreme Court ruling made last week, India’s Vodafone Idea could be facing potential bankruptcy for failing to pay billions in outstanding government fees in the next few days.

    Vodafone Idea, the brainchild of a collaboration between Britain’s Vodafone Group Plc and India’s Idea Cellular has been hit the hardest by the court’s order that telcos would need to clear their AGR fees; a ruling made last October which resulted in unpaid debts for operators going back a few years.

    Vodafone Idea has stated that it is unable to pay the $3.9 billion owed but is assessing the amount and is hoping for a timeline extension to keep their business afloat.

    Additionally, the multi-billion-dollar debt incurred by the telco could put a dampener on India’s economy and reputation as an investment hub for multinationals, unless business continuation was secured.

    The company announced, “As disclosed in the company’s financial statements for the quarter ending December 31, 2019, the company’s ability to continue as a going the concern is essentially dependent on a positive outcome of the application for modification of the Supplementary Order.”

    An anonymous spokesperson for Vodafone Idea said, “”They have been beaten down by the environment here. We’re sending investors a very negative signal – it says the trust factor between the government and the industry doesn’t exist.”

    Since news of the ailing telco broke, analysts have already begun to predict the growth of Bharti Airtel’s and Reliance Jio’s opex and capex levels if Vodafone Idea were to shut down permanently.

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  • Vodafone is the latest partner to bail from Facebook’s Libra project

    Vodafone is the latest partner to bail from Facebook’s Libra project

    Facebook’s digital currency initiative Libra continues to fall apart as British telco Vodafone becomes the latest partner to bail from the project.

    In a statement, Vodafone said: “Vodafone Group has decided to withdraw from the Libra Association. We have said from the outset that Vodafone’s desire is to make a genuine contribution to extending financial inclusion.

    “We remain fully committed to that goal and feel that we can make the most contribution by focusing our efforts on M-Pesa. We will continue to monitor the development of the Libra Association and do not rule out the possibility of future cooperation.”

    Digital currencies are beginning to gain traction following the success of Bitcoin. The king of cryptocurrencies is quickly becoming a modern store of value but it’s looking unlikely to be adopted by many average consumers for daily purchases.

    Part of the reason for the lack of day-to-day use of Bitcoin is its slow transaction times and poor scalability. Advancements, particularly off-chain “layer two” solutions like Lightning Network, are helping to fix these problems but at the cost of decentralization and security.

    Behind most digital currencies is a blockchain. The so-called “trilemma” with blockchains is that, in order to achieve scalability, you must sacrifice decentralization or security. Bitcoin is seen as a reliable store of value because it’s secure and its decentralization properties also make it appealing in a world of global uncertainties, censorship, and currency manipulation.

    Your average consumer only cares that a transaction is fast and cheap while also adequately secure, especially when dealing with predominantly smaller transactions like buying a coffee. Currencies like Ripple are criticized by cryptocurrency enthusiasts as being “centralized” but they fulfill the needs of your typical person.

    Facebook’s Libra intends to be a centralized currency along the lines of Ripple. Taking advantage of Facebook’s massive global userbase, Libra could potentially scale very quickly.

    Many partners initially jumped on the Libra project including Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, and eBay. Not long after Facebook released its whitepaper for Libra did it come under intense regulatory scrutiny. All the aforementioned partners decided to leave the project.

    Several central banks are looking to issue their own digital currencies for their advantages like fast international payments and lower fees. And, of course, they’ll persuade most people to adopt centralized alternatives to cryptocurrencies.

    China looks set to be the first major country to issue its own digital currency. The country already uses mobile payments extensively, with the ability to pay for pretty much everything through apps such as WeChat and Alipay. If China goes ahead with a digital yuan, you can bet the US won’t be far behind with a digital dollar.

    On Tuesday, the Bank of England announced it too is exploring central digital currencies alongside the Bank of Canada, Bank of Japan, the European Central Bank, the Sveriges Riksbank, and the Swiss National Bank.

    While digital currencies are pretty much inevitable, Libra is looking more uncertain by the day.

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  • Australian telco undertakes crucial restructuring of senior management

    Australian telco undertakes crucial restructuring of senior management

    Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has carried out a major overhaul of its senior management, with two of its top executives resigning just a few days before the Federal Court’s ruling on its halted merger with TPG Telecom.

    Vodafone stated that both Kevin Millroy and Ben McIntosh, CTO and CCO of the company respectively, were already planning to depart the company this month, citing mutual decisions.

    Millroy will be replaced by Barry Kezik who has been part of the network team for almost a decade, while Ana Bordeianu will take over McIntosh’s responsibilities.

    Vodafone CEO Inaki Berroeta stated, “It’s going to be an exciting year for Vodafone and our customers with the launch of 5G and continuing to drive competition in the market at every opportunity.”

    He added, “Kevin and Ben have been key players in one of the most successful turnarounds in Australian corporate history, and they are handing over to extremely capable leaders, so I wish them both all the best for the future.”

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  • Mavenir extends alliance with Vodafone Idea to fortify presence in India

    Mavenir extends alliance with Vodafone Idea to fortify presence in India

    This partnership will focus on three thrust areas. First, building a universal secured Cloud capable of hosting multiple tenants and third-party applications. Second, building a fully automated platform that enables self-provisioning of various workloads. Third and most importantly, setting up a joint innovation lab and a team that will consistently innovate on Chipset, Operating System, and work at the Application level to offer unique APIs and enables new use cases and delightful experience to VIL customers.

    “Vodafone Idea has the largest Edge Cloud deployment in India. Our partnership with Mavenir will enable continued innovation in optimizing data path algorithms for VOLTE. We look forward to setting up a joint lab and an agile team that will enable onboarding third-party applications on our distributed cloud”, said Vishant Vora, CTO, Vodafone Idea Limited whose team is spearheading this initiative.

    The partnership has led to the contextualization of software algorithms, leading to unprecedented efficiencies. VIL and Mavenir partnership has been extended to include collaboration with chipset manufacturers and Operating System providers. The stack being deployed is all open sourced and benefits from consistent innovation led by global open community.

    “Next frontier in our partnership will be to extend the platforms deployed to host new applications serving IOT and CDN use cases. We plan to build platforms that can host varied OS and varied workloads. We aim to automate deployment and assurance and thereby extend self-provisioning capability for VIL customers. We are excited to set up a joint lab and team, consistently innovate and work with VIL and its customers in an agile manner to turn around new solutions fast,” said Pardeep Kohli, President and CEO Mavenir.

    Mavenir has partnered with VIL in IMS-VOLTE deployments. In future, the partnership aims to extend the platform being deployed for IMS-VOLTE applications to host other Captive and third-party workloads. Mavenir will partner with VIL to extend its distributed Network cloud as secured platform to multiple retail, SME users and start-ups.

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