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Frequent internet bans hurdle for J&K’s telecom growth story

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

Frequent internet bans hurdle for J&K’s telecom growth story

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Even as Jammu and Kashmir has added almost 2 lakh new mobile subscribers every month between February 2017 to April 2017, Kashmir has already faced four internet bans in last six months causing huge losses to telecom companies operating in this region and bringing inconvenience to common people, particularly business community and students.

According to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) J&K had total number of of 1.2 crore mobile subscribers at the end of April.

 

An executive of a private mobile company, wishing not to be named said “it is  ironical” that on one hand the state has managed to cross 1.2 crore active mobile subscribers recently and on the other hand frequent internet bans is proving to be a dampener for mobile companies who continue to suffer huge losses due to internet bans.

According to Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) mobile service providers suffered losses worth Rs 180 crore during the 3 months of complete communication ban with daily losses of almost Rs 2 crore when both calling and data services were banned in Kashmir. “The companies continue to suffer losses every time there is internet ban as data consumption in Kashmir is massive,” he said.

While internet was suspended twice between January 2016 and April 2017, it was again suspended in last week of May when Hizb Commander Sabzar Ahmad was killed by government forces.

While 2G, 3G, 4G internet services were suspended during May end, the latest internet ban- in place since Friday- has witnessed suspension of even BSNL Broadband services, which otherwise used to be the only source of internet operational during previous internet shutdowns.

“This time around the authorities have managed to suspend even Broadband which was quite useful during the last internet ban,” said a young techie who had launched an alternate online social media network during the last internet ban.

The ongoing internet suspension is 33rd since 2012. Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC), a Delhi-based not-for-profit organisation in its recently released figures had claimed that internet services were shut 31 times in J&K between 2012 to April 2017 and again banned in May 2017.

Even as the telecom in J&K seems on a growth trajectory, the impact of internet ban has been silently taking a toll on overall growth of J&K as a telecom hub. As per latest TRAI figures, JK had witnessed a growth of 1.73 percent in new mobile subscriptions in March, 2017 which was the most added by any state. However, the state witnessed a drop in its position in April 2017 as it featured at second slot after neighbouring Punjab in terms of additions of new mobile subscribers. It witnessed a growth of 0.91 percent in April adding more than one lakh subscribers while in March J&K had added more than 2 lakh subscribers.

“Had the internet bans and communication gags not taken place, J&K has the maximum potential to emerge as the fastest growing state in telecom industry. It keeps on losing its top slot as the state with maximum monthly growth of mobile subscribers as the internet gag literally backs the break of this industry,” the executive said.

[“Source-greaterkashmir”]

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Internet

India May Get 5G Networks With the Rest of the World: Telecom Secretary

by Rajdeep
written by Rajdeep

India May Get 5G Networks With the Rest of the World: Telecom Secretary

India stands a chance to get 5G technology with the rest of the world as the country enters an era of Internet of Things (IoT), Telecom Secretary J S Deepak said in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

“…We got 2G 25 years after the rest of the world, at least after the developed world. We got 3G more than a decade after it became ubiquitous in US, Europe. 4G may be, five years after its global launch. In 5G, we have the chance of being there with the rest of the world,” Deepak said.

He added that the probable simultaneous launch of 5G in India along with the rest of the world could be from bridging the gap that had prevailed and the country might as well take a step forward and acquire a leadership position in certain areas as it enters into an era of Internet of Things with connected devices and machines.

Deepak was speaking after inaugurating the first edition of ‘IoT India Congress’ that aims to bring together key stakeholders across the value chain and verticals to collaborate.

“The IoT, which is estimated to have…something like 50 billion connected devices in the next 5-6 years, will unleash a business opportunity for India, at least of USD 15 billion,” he said.

In a recorded video address to the Congress, Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, IoT is important because connected devices are going to become the order of the day.

“IoT is important more for the poor, for the farmers, for healthcare, for education sectors, to make the quality of life better…,” the Minister said. Deepak said a very ‘vibrant’ IoT ecosystem would be seen in India very soon.

The Department of Telecom has come out with a machine- to-machine (M2M) roadmap which seeks to synergise regulators, bodies involved in development of standards, manufacturers and perspective users so that associated industries could benefit.

Pointing out the initiatives like Telecommunications Standards Development Society India and others by the Department of Telecom, he said “Leveraging technology is an objective which pervades the whole of government. The Department of IT has developed an IoT policy which is in the draft stage and under consultation…”

Stating that there is lot of work in progress like KYC norms for SIM embedded M2M devices, 13 digits numbering scheme for IoT – for SIM embedded M2M devices, he said, “The Department of Telecom has requested the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India for recommendations in the area of quality of service standards of international roaming system and requirement of additional spectrum for an IoT ecosystem in India.

“As soon as the recommendations are received we hope to come out with specific decisions…” he said.

[Source:- gadgets.ndtv]

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Internet

EU Telecom Regulators Take Strict View of Net Neutrality Rules

by Rajdeep
written by Rajdeep

EU Telecom Regulators Take Strict View of Net Neutrality Rules

EU regulators on Tuesday adopted a strict interpretation of rules limiting how telecoms firms like Vodafone and Orange can prioritise some types of internet traffic, aiming to protect the principle that all web traffic be treated equally.

The guidelines on net neutrality were welcomed by internet activists as ensuring the web remains an open platform and not a two-speed highway, benefiting only companies with deep pockets that can pay for prioritised delivery.

“Because of this law, telecom companies won’t be able to sell a first-class Internet to the mega-rich while the rest of us travel coach,” said Luca Nicotra, a senior campaigner for citizens’ group Avaaz.

The European Union adopted its first-ever net neutrality law last year and the latest guidelines will help determine how regulators enforce those rules.

The telecoms industry has been seeking to increase revenues by offering specialised services that need a guaranteed level of quality, to offset declining turnover from its traditional telephony business.

Companies had pushed for leeway allowing them to prioritise some types of data over others, but under the latest guidelines they will only be able to offer so-called specialised services – such as connectivity for driverless cars and internet-connected devices – over dedicated network capacity if it is “objectively necessary” and only if it does not negatively affect the Internet.

“We encourage national regulators to maintain the pragmatic and flexible approach that was intended by the EU regulation and that has served customers, innovation and industry in Europe well to date,” said a spokesman for cable operator Liberty Global .

Services such as high-quality voice calling on mobile networks, live television delivered over the Internet and remote surgery, or telesurgery, are likely to be allowed as specialised services, according to the guidelines.

The telecoms industry said it was essential to avoid “restrictive interpretations” of the net neutrality law.

“Let’s make sure the implementation of net neutrality rules does not hamper new applications and services,” said Lise Fuhr, director general of ETNO, a telecoms lobbying group representing operators including Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and Telecom Italia.

Regulators also limited the extent to which telecoms operators may exempt some applications, for example Facebook, from a customer’s data usage, a practice known as zero-rating.

Customers would not be able to continue using Facebook or, say, Spotify, for free once they have used up all the data in their subscription.

[Source:- gadgets.ndtv]

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Gadgets News

Jio Phone to Hit Telecom Sector, Erode Revenues: Vodafone to DoT

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

Jio Phone to Hit Telecom Sector, Erode Revenues: Vodafone to DoT

The country’s second largest telecom player Vodafone expects Jio’s ‘effective free phone’ with unlimited calling to erode operators’ revenues which are already under pressure and sought reduction in various levies imposed by the government as a breather to the industry.

“…the new operator continues to aggressively under-price its services, including announcing launch of ‘Effective Zero Price Feature Phone’ with unlimited voice.

“This is likely to cause further erosion in revenue for existing operators,” the company in a letter to the Telecom Commission Member (Finance) Anuradha Mitra.

RIL Chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani recently launched JioPhone, a 4G feature phone at a one-time fully refundable deposit of Rs. 1,500 per unit. JioPhone beta testing starts from August 15. The booking will start from September 24 online as well as through Reliance Retail and Jio stores.

Vodafone said there is continuous decline in its revenue from telecom services and it has recorded further decline of 3.41 percent in the the quarter ended June 2017.

It also called for reducing the interest rate applied for deferred spectrum payments.

“…a reduction in the interest rate applied for deferred spectrum payments is necessary to reduce burden on operators.

Hence, we have requested reduction from 10 percent to G Sec rate of 6.25 percent – 6.5 percent on deferred payment,” the letter said.

Vodafone said that revenue share with the government imposes huge burden on telecom operators even though companies purchase spectrum at market price.

The company requested the DoT to consider recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India for reducing Universal Service Obligation Fund from 5 percent to 3 percent as private operators have already rolled out services in rural areas and current call termination rates are very low.

“…despite having rolled out in rural areas, we still have to pay USO and the mobile termination rates are also below cost which adversely impact us since majority of the calls in the rural areas are incoming,” the letter said.

At present, a telecom operator charges 14 paise for every incoming call that it gets from network of other operators.

“Therefore, we earnestly request kind consideration and early decision on reduction in the USO levy from 5 percent to 3 percent and reduction of interest charges along with rescheduling the payment period, which has been tabled before DoT and IMG (inter-ministerial group),” Vodafone said.

As per official data, revenues of telecom operators from services dipped by about 15 percent to Rs. 40,831 crores in the January-March quarter this year compared to Rs. 48,379 crores in the same period of last year.

The government has formed an IMG which is expected to submit its recommendation very soon to address financial woes of the telecom sector.

[“source=gadgets.ndtv”]

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