1. Tata Teleservices launches Mobile Social Network Platform.
Tata Teleservices along with IIT Bombay’s centre of excellence in telecom (TICET) has launched the Mobile Social Network Platform (MSNP).
This is a unique and powerful social recommendation to develop personalized applications. MSNP is operator agnostic and helps to provide the right information to the right person at the right time.
2. Smart phones running on EV-DO launched.
The competitive smart phones market just keeps getting more and more competitive with new smart phones being launched almost every day.
HTC announced the launch of HTC EVO 3D smart phone powered by Qualcomm snapdragon S3 processor. It offers the ultimate glasses free 3D experience. It runs on the Gingerbread (2.3) version of Android.
MTS, CDMA mobile service of Sistema Shyam Teleservices, has launched two new low cost Android phones MTS MTag 3.1 and MTS Livewire. These two phones also run on the state-of-the-art CDMA EV-DO technology.
3. MTS and TTSL launch broadband services on EV-DO Rev2 network.
MTS India CDMA mobile and EVDO data service operator created history by launching world’s first CDMA EV-DO Rev B network in India.
To experience the full potential of EVDO, MTS has introduced MBlaze Ultra – a special dongle providing data download speeds of 9.8 megabytes per second. It enhances the BTS cell capacity, spectrum efficiency and peak rate, achieving high speed rate as high as 4.9 Mbps in single frequency carrier and 9.8 Mbps in two frequency carrier bundle. It is to be launched in Jaipur initially.
Within hours after MTS announced the launch of MBlaze, TTSL announced the launch of Tata Photon on EV-DO network.
EVDO is an acronym is “Evolution Data Optimized”. It is a standard defined by the Telecommunication Industry and the official name is CDMA2000, High Rate Packet Data Air Interface. It was developed by Qualcomm.
4. Tata Docomo’s quality up with TRAI bench markings.
In the last few weeks Tata Docomo’s new ad with the theme “No getting away from the network that connects always” has been doing the rounds. This new message is also reinforced from none other than TRAI. As per the report from TRAI, Tata Docomo network has delivered on all network quality parameters, as set by TRAI.
Since the launch of 3G services in India, network connectivity has left a lot to be desired. So continuity of network is emerging as a strong customer satisfaction than the geographical expanse of coverage.
5. Micromax is 12th largest Mobile Phone Brand.
Micromax, third largest mobile brand in India, has achieved the milestone of being the 12th largest handset manufacturer with 1% share globally.
As per the report by Strategy Analytics for Q2-2011, Micromax topped the micro vendor rankings, shipping an impressive 4 million handsets worldwide. It is now larger than Japanese brands such as NEC and sharp. It is also ahead of Lenovo and closing on Samsung.
Micromax has a market share of 8% in India and third in Indian market after Nokia and Samsung.
The report tracks the world’s 30 largest handset vendors on a quarterly basis. Also, with the entry of 25 new micro vendors this quarter, the global legitimate handset shipments increased 12% annually to reach a record second quarter total of 358 million units in Q2 2011.
6. MNP has had a negligible impact in India.
Mobile Number Portability has had a limited impact in India since its launch in November 2010 by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in Haryana.
MNP requests handling has been entrusted to Syniverse and Telcordia for Zone I and Zone II. As per TRAI reports, these two companies have received 129.85 lakh requests at the end of June 2011.
The requests have been very low due to low prices, high competition and very high level of prepaid customers. The maximum number of MNP requests has come from Gujarat (12.98 lakhs) followed by Maharashtra (10.32 lakhs), which are in Zone 1. Karnataka is leading in MNP requests in Zone 2 with 9.83 lakh numbers.
7. Two new mobile services launched at India Telecom 2011.
Communications and IT Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal launched two new mobile applications on the occasion of India Telecom 2011. Digital Mandi, developed by BSNL in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, will give the latest information to farmers about market prices of their produce.
The other application developed at IIT Bombay is an intelligent mobile social networking platform (MSNP) similar to Facebook or Orkut based completely on mobile phones.
8. Dish TV introduces DTH portability.
Dish TV has launched Dish Freedom, a conditional access module (CAM) device which enables DTH portability. The concept is similar to number portability in the telecom sector.
About 20% of the 33 million DTH subscribers are inactive and therefore these inactive subscribers form a substantial market segment.
The device being launched in select key markets is priced at Rs 990 and this device can be plugged into the port of all BIS compliant set top boxes.
9. BSNL pushes for common wireless network.
BSNL has proposed setting up a common wireless network for making available broadband services in rural areas. BSNL is of the view that instead of multiple operators setting up their own infrastructure, a single network should be setup with the help of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) from the government. This was however rejected by the Finance Ministry on grounds of anti-competitive behavior.
The suggestion by BSNL is similar to the National Optic Fibre Network (NOFC) project being undertaken by the government of India to create a pan-India wireless broadband infrastructure. The cost of the infrastructure is around Rs 20,000 Crores.
The rural tele density is around 36% and urban tele density around 163%. So the telecom revolution has still not reached the Indian rural hinterland.
10. Tata Docomo opts for Vanu’s radio access network.
Tata Teleservices has joined hands with wireless network infrastructure provider Vanu for deploying the latter’s radio access network in the former’s network.
TTSL wants to improve the quality of its services to its urban customers.
11. Qualcomm announces initiatives to boost broadband uptake.
Qualcomm has announced a slew of initiatives with its partners in India. It has announced the launch of a new 3D navigation device with Mapmy India. The device named CarPad, is a 3D navigation device designed for car travelers. It has in built 3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth capability.
The mid Rs 5000 Smart phones with SSTL, EVO 3D devices with HTC, and with Sony Ericsson have been launched. The phones are running on Gingerbread 2.3 version of Android.
Qualcomm with Huawei, ZTE, Quanta and BandRich, has announced the launch of LTE TDD multi mode devices which will enable mobile subscribers to use the same device for 3G and 4G services. This assumes great significance to the operators in India.
Qualcomm has also launched the Radiophone project with Sesame Workshop India Trust to offer community radio services on mobile phones. Piloting in Gurgaon, it broadcasts high quality education content through radio. This service will reach the rural hinterland with the participants being children of age group from four to eight.
12. Vodafone to market SSTL data services.
Vodafone has signed an agreement with Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd to sell CDMA based data services on a revenue sharing basis.
Vodafone will market the CDMA dongle under Netcruise brand. The service will ride on SSTL network and infrastructure. Billing will be done by SSTL but Vodafone will get a share of the revenue generated.
Vodafone, which is predominantly a GSM based service provider, has said that the CDMA dongles would help it address a wider customer base. However the Netcruise tariffs are higher than the data plans under MTS’s own brand mBlaze.
13. Etisalat woes continue.
Etisalat DB’s international long distance telephony plan is in a soup with security agencies yet to give clearances to set up gateways in the country.
Intelligence agencies have raised security concerns about Etisalat DB’ parent body – Emirates Telecommunications Corp. This comes even as the company’s mobile licences are under the scanner for alleged involvement in 2G spectrum scam.
According to International Long Distances (ILD) licence conditions, Etisalat DB should set up at least on gateway within three years to fulfill its rollout obligations. Failing to do so, DOT has the rights to encash the bank guarantee submitted by the company.
The final decision is being entrusted upon the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) by DOT.
14. TDSAT dismisses Idea’s plea against DOT notices.
The telecom tribunal, Telecom Dispute Settlements and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has dismissed the petition filed by Idea Cellular challenging the show cause notices issued by the Government on merger of Spice Communication with Aditya Birla group firm.
TDSAT is of the opinion that till DOT comes up with its decision, it would be improper to comment about the issue for now.
DOT has said that the merger went ahead despite it rejecting the merger on January 2010 and also alleged that Idea Cellular suppressed this information in its application for amalgamation of Spice Communication with Idea Cellular.
The Delhi High Court on July 4, 2011, dismissed Idea's plea and had directed the company to surrender the spectrum to DOT along with a penalty of Rs 1 crore penalties for suppressing fact. This was challenged by Idea Cellular before a division bench, which had on July 21 directed to maintain status quo over the licences of Karnataka and Punjab. It had also directed the DOT not to take any coercive step.
15. S Tel charges Tech Mahindra for service discontinuation.
New telecom S Tel has accused its IT partner Tech Mahindra of discontinuing its services without prior notification and S Tel has sought the intervention of the Telecom Ministry.
S Tel has being having discussions with its vendors for a moratorium on payment of dues due to a funds crunch. But the vendors have resorted to discontinuation of network equipment thereby resulting in network connectivity problems for its customers.
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