📶 Mobile network operators - Discussion Thread 📶

[BangaloreaN]

DoT, NDMA to conduct comprehensive testing of cell broadcast tech for emergency alerts

The Cell Broadcast Alert System technology enables the dissemination of time-sensitive disaster management messages to all mobile devices within specified geographical areas, regardless of whether the recipients are residents or visitors.

NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has collaborated with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to conduct comprehensive testing of the Cell Broadcast Alert System in the country.

“This initiative aims to bolster emergency communication during disasters and prioritize the safety and well-being of our esteemed citizens,” said the Ministry of Communications in a press statement Thursday.

The Cell Broadcast Alert System will undergo rigorous testing across various telecom operators. These tests will be conducted periodically in diverse regions throughout the country to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the emergency alert broadcasting capabilities of different telcos and cell broadcast systems, the statement added.

The Cell Broadcast Alert System technology enables the dissemination of time-sensitive disaster management messages to all mobile devices within specified geographical areas, regardless of whether the recipients are residents or visitors.

“This ensures that crucial emergency information reaches as many individuals as possible promptly. Government agencies and emergency services employ cell broadcast to keep the public informed about potential threats and to provide vital updates during critical situations,” as per the statement.

Common applications of cell broadcast include delivering emergency alerts such as severe weather warnings (e.g., tsunamis, flash floods, earthquakes), public safety messages, evacuation notices, and other critical information.


The technology is being tested in different states across India, with Punjab being the next state on the testing schedule for September 29, the Ministry of Communications said.

The technology has been developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics or C-DoT. The emergency alerts have been reportedly tested on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Reliance Jio’s networks, as well as, on Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea’s networks.

[BangaloreaN]

Setback for telcos: SC says licence fee is capex


Overturns Delhi HC order which had termed it as revenue expenditure.


X


In a setback for telecom operators like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, the Supreme Court on Monday held that licence fee paid by them post July 1999 should be treated as capital expenditure and not as revenue expenditure. The telecom operators had argued that since they have to pay licence fee yearly, it should be treated as revenue expenditure incurred for continuity of business.
The apex court’s order may lead to re-assessment which may result in higher tax burden on the operators, analysts said. Revenue expenditures are expenses that a company incurs in its normal course of business operations to generate revenue. The same is generally fully deductible from taxable income in the year they are incurred. On the other hand, capital expenditure are long-run investments that benefit the company for more than one year. Expenditure of a capital nature is not allowed as a deduction when calculating trading profits.

As per the National Telecom Policy 1999, telcos had to pay a one-time licence fee to start operations, along with a yearly licence fee based on their annual turnover. This was in contrast to the earlier policy, wherein they had to pay the entire licence fee upfront.

Since telecom operators usually defer their payment of licence fee or pay them in installments, the SC said the same does not change the nature of capital expenditure into revenue expenditure.
With its ruling, the SC overturned the Delhi High Court order of 2013, which was favourable to the companies as it had held that that such payments should be partly treated as revenue expenditure.
“The decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court could have a huge impact on the telecom industry as the High Court decision seemed to provide a reasonable basis to decide on the deductibility of the payments made by the telecom operators to obtain the telecom licence,” said Mihir Gandhi, partner, tax & regulatory services at BDO India.

“The various telecom operators who have incurred substantial expenses to obtain a licence will have to revisit the position taken with respect to the deductibility of the expense. The disallowance of the expenses would adversely impact the companies which are already suffering huge loss,” Gandhi added.

[BangaloreaN]

മൊബൈലിന് റേഞ്ച് കിട്ടുന്നില്ലേ? സ്ഥിതി ഉടൻ മെച്ചപ്പെട്ടേക്കില്ല, കാരണം ഇതാണ്

പുതിയ ടവറുകള്* സ്ഥാപിക്കാനുള്ള നീക്കത്തില്* നിന്ന് മൊബൈല്* കണക്ഷന്* സേവനദാതാക്കള്* പിന്മാറുന്നു




ഇന്ത്യ 5ജി യുഗത്തിലേക്ക് ചുവടുവച്ചെങ്കിലും ഇപ്പോഴും മൊബൈല്*ഫോണിന് ആവശ്യത്തിന് നെറ്റ്*വര്*ക്ക് റേഞ്ച് കിട്ടുന്നില്ലെന്ന പരിഭവം നിരവധി ഉപയോക്താക്കള്*ക്കുണ്ട്. സ്ഥിതി ചിലപ്പോള്* കൂടുതല്* മോശമാകുമെന്ന സ്ഥിതിയാണ് ഇപ്പോള്* ഉരുത്തിരിയുന്നത്. മൊബൈല്* ടവറുകള്* സംബന്ധിച്ച സുപ്രീം കോടതി അടുത്തിടെ പുറപ്പെടുവിച്ച വിധിയാണ് തിരിച്ചടി.

പെര്*മിറ്റ് ഫീസ് ഈടാക്കാം
പുതിയ മൊബൈല്* ടവറുകള്*ക്ക് പെര്*മിറ്റ് ഫീസ് ഈടാക്കാന്* സംസ്ഥാന സര്*ക്കാരുകള്*ക്ക് അധികാരമുണ്ടെന്നാണ് അടുത്തിടെ സുപ്രീം കോടതി വിധിച്ചത്. ഇതോടെ കൂടുതല്* ടവറുകള്* സ്ഥാപിക്കുന്നതില്* നിന്ന് മൊബൈല്* സേവനദാതാക്കള്* പിന്*വലിയുകയാണ്. ഇത് മൊബൈല്*ഫോണ്* ഉപയോഗ സാന്ദ്രത ഏറെയുള്ള കേരളമുള്*പ്പെടെയുള്ള സംസ്ഥാനങ്ങളില്* മൊബൈല്* റേഞ്ച് കണക്ടിവിറ്റി പ്രശ്നങ്ങള്* കൂടുതല്* രൂക്ഷമാക്കിയേക്കും.
ടവറുകള്*ക്ക് ഇനിമുതല്* സംസ്ഥാന സര്*ക്കാരുകളും ഫീസ് ഈടാക്കുമെന്നത് സാമ്പത്തികഭാരം കൂട്ടുമെന്ന് വിലയിരുത്തിയാണ് കമ്പനികളുടെ പിന്*വലിയല്*. കേരളത്തില്* കൂടുതല്* ടവറുകള്* സ്ഥാപിക്കാനുള്ള നീക്കത്തിലായിരുന്നു സേവനദാതാക്കളായ ബി.എസ്.എന്*.എല്*., എയര്*ടെല്*, വീ, ജിയോ എന്നിവ. അതേസമയം, കമ്പനികളില്* നിന്ന് പെര്*മിറ്റ് ഫീസ് ഈടാക്കുന്നത് സംബന്ധിച്ച് കേരള സര്*ക്കാര്* ഇനിയും പ്രതികരിച്ചിട്ടില്ല. എന്നാല്*, ഫീസ് ഈടാക്കാനായി കേരളവും സര്*ക്കുലര്* ഇറക്കാന്* സാദ്ധ്യതയുണ്ടെന്നാണ് വിലയിരുത്തല്*.

[BangaloreaN]

'കവറേജ്' എത്താതെ കെ ഫോണ്*; 6മാസമായിട്ടും കണക്ഷനെത്തിയത് 5300 വീടുകളില്*, പ്രതിസന്ധിയിലായി പൊതുവിദ്യാലയങ്ങള്*



14,000 കുടുംബങ്ങൾക്ക് ആദ്യ ഘട്ടത്തിൽ സൗജന്യ കണക്ഷൻ നൽകുമെന്ന് പറഞ്ഞിരുന്നെങ്കിലും ഇതുവരെ അതിൽ പകുതി പോലും നൽകാനായിട്ടില്ല. ഇന്*റര്*നെറ്റ് എത്തിക്കുമെന്ന കെ ഫോണിന്*റെ വാക്ക് വിശ്വസിച്ച പൊതു വിദ്യാലയങ്ങളും പ്രതിസന്ധിയിലാണ്.



തിരുവനന്തപുരം: ലക്ഷ്യം കാണാതെ പിണറായി സർക്കാരിന്*റെ അഭിമാന പദ്ധതി കെ ഫോൺ. പതിനാലായിരം കുടുംബങ്ങൾക്ക് ആദ്യഘട്ടത്തിൽ കണക്ഷനെന്ന പ്രഖ്യാപനം നടപ്പായില്ല. കെ ഫോണിന്റെ വാഗ്ദാനം വിശ്വസിച്ച പൊതുവിദ്യാലയങ്ങൾ ഗുരുതര പ്രതിസന്ധിയിലാണ്. കൊട്ടിഘോഷിച്ച് ഉദ്ഘാടനം കഴിഞ്ഞ് ആറ് മാസമായിട്ടും പ്രഖ്യാപനത്തിന്*റെ ഏഴയലത്ത് പോലും കെ ഫോൺ എത്തിയിട്ടില്ല. 14,000 കുടുംബങ്ങൾക്ക് ആദ്യ ഘട്ടത്തിൽ സൗജന്യ കണക്ഷൻ നൽകുമെന്ന് പറഞ്ഞിരുന്നെങ്കിലും ഇതുവരെ അതിൽ പകുതി പോലും നൽകാനായിട്ടില്ല. ഇന്*റര്*നെറ്റ് എത്തിക്കുമെന്ന കെ ഫോണിന്*റെ വാക്ക് വിശ്വസിച്ച പൊതു വിദ്യാലയങ്ങളും പ്രതിസന്ധിയിലാണ്.

ഇത്തിരി വൈകിയാലും ഇനി എല്ലാം വളരെ വേഗത്തിലെന്ന വാദ്ഗദാനം മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി തന്നെ നൽകിയാണ് കെ ഫോൺ ഉദ്ഘാടനം ചെയ്തത്. ജൂൺ അവസാനത്തോടെ പതിനാലായിരം ബിപിഎൽ കുടുംബങ്ങളിലേക്ക് കണക്ഷൻ നല്*കുമെന്നായിരുന്നു വാഗ്ദാനം. ഡെഡ് ലൈൻ കഴിഞ്ഞ് പിന്നെയും ഒരു ആറ് മാസം പിന്നിടുമ്പോൾ നല്*കിയ ബിപിഎൽ കണകക്ഷൻ 5300 മാത്രമാണ്. ലിസ്റ്റില്* കൃത്യമായ വിലാസമോ വിശദാംശങ്ങളോ ഇല്ല.നടത്തിപ്പ് കരാര്* എടുത്ത കേരള വിഷൻ കെ ഫോണിന് തിരിച്ച് നൽകിയിരിക്കുകയാണ്. നേരത്തെ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന കണക്കിൽ വലിയ വര്*ദ്ധനയൊന്നും സര്*ക്കാര്* ഓഫീസുകളുടെ കാര്യത്തിലും ഇല്ല. 30000 സര്*ക്കാര്* ഓഫീസുകളാണ് ആദ്യ ഘട്ടത്തിൽ ലക്ഷ്യമിട്ടെങ്കിൽ കെ ഫോൺ കണക്ഷനെത്തിയത് 19000 ഓഫീസുകളിൽ മാത്രമാണ്.
ഇനി കെ ഫോൺ എന്ന വാക്ക് വിശ്വസിച്ച് നിലവിലുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ബിഎസ്എൻഎൽ കണക്ഷൻ റദ്ദാക്കിയ പൊതു വിദ്യാലയങ്ങളും കടുത്ത പ്രതിസന്ധിയിലാണ്. കണക്ഷൻ നൽകേണ്ട 13957 സ്കൂളുകളുടെ ലിസ്റ്റ് കെ ഫോണിന്*റെ കയ്യിൽ കിട്ടിയിട്ട് ഒരു വര്*ഷത്തിലധികമായി. ഹൈടെക് ക്ലാസ് മുറികളിലടക്കം ഒക്ടോബറിന് മുൻപ് ഇന്*റര്*നെറ്റ് എത്തിക്കുമെന്ന വാദ്ഗാനം ഇത് വരെ നടപ്പാക്കിയിട്ടില്ലെന്നു മാത്രമല്ല ഇത്ര വലിയൊരു ആവശ്യം മുൻകൂട്ടി കണ്ടിരുന്നില്ലെന്നാണ് കെ ഫോൺ ഇപ്പോൾ പറയുന്നത്.

സ്കൂളുകളിലേക്ക് കണക്ഷനെത്തിക്കാൻ മാത്രമായി പുതിയ ടെണ്ടര്* വിളിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടെന്നും രണ്ടാഴ്ചക്കകം എല്ലാം ശരിയാകുമെന്നുമാണ് പുതിയ വിശദീകരണം. നിന്ന് പോകാനുള്ള വരുമാനം ലക്ഷ്യമിട്ട് ഗാര്*ഹിക വാണിജ്യ കണക്ഷൻ നടപടികൾക്ക് തുടക്കമിട്ടെങ്കിലും അതിനുമില്ല പ്രതീക്ഷിച്ച വേഗം. വാണിജ്യ ലക്ഷ്യത്തോടെയുള്ള ഗാര്*ഹിക കണക്ഷനുകൾ നൽകാൻ 1500 ഓളം ഓപ്പറേറ്റര്മാരെ കണ്ടെത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. നൽകിയ കണക്ഷൻ 796 മാത്രം. സാങ്കേതിക സൗകര്യങ്ങളിലടക്കം കെഫോൺ വരുത്തി വീഴ്ചകൾക്ക് പരിഹാരം കണണമെന്ന് ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടുള്ള പരാതികളും നവകേരള സദസ്സിൽ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയെ കാത്തിരിക്കുന്നതായാണ് വിവരം

[BangaloreaN]

New SIM card rules to be applicable from December 1. Here's a look at what will change


New sim card rules will be applicable from December 1, including barring sale of bulk sim cards and mandatory registration of PoS agents and distributors.




The new SIM card rules introduced by the government in August this year will finally come into force from December 1. The rules will bring in a slew of changes, including banning the sale of bulk SIM cards, mandatory registration of PoS franchisees, agents and distributors by telecom operators and police verification of SIM dealers, among others.

Here's a look at the changes that will be implemented from tomorrow:

1) Registration Process:

Under the new rules, PoS agents will have to sign an agreement with the telecom service provider or licensee to dissuade them from indulging in illegal activities. PoS agents could face a penalty of ₹10 lakh and their association with the telco would be terminated for a period of three years if they are found indulging in any illegal activity.
Sellers will have 12 months from December 1 to comply with the new registration requirements. The move is expected to help the government identify, blacklist and remove rogue sellers from the telcos' systems.

2) KYC rules:

Under the new rules, demographic details will be mandatory for purchasing new SIM cards or applying for a new SIM on an existing number. The required details will be captured by scanning the QR code on the Aadhar card of the person taking the SIM card.
Notably, the mobile number will be assigned to a new customer only after 90 days of disconnection by the previous user. The rules also note that a subscriber will have to go through the entire KYC process for SIM replacement and there will be a 24-hour bar on outgoing and incoming SMS facilities.

3) Bulk buying of SIMs:

The government has stopped the bulk sale of SIM cards to prevent digital fraud. However, connections or sims for businesses, corporates or events would be allowed with know-your-customer or KYC norms applicable to each of the individual sim card owners.
Meanwhile, customers will still be able to purchase up to 9 sim cards on one ID card.
Speaking about the misuse of bulk sim cards, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said in August, “Earlier, people used to buy (mobile) sim cards in bulk. There was a provision for this to buy sim cards in bulk. However, it has been decided to end this provision. Instead, we will bring a proper business connection provision which will help in stopping fraudulent calls,"

[BangaloreaN]

Vodafone Idea unlikely to get funding in FY24: Report

“We have made progress (in fundraising conversations) since the last earnings call. I expect that we will be able to conclude the discussions relating to the equity investor in this quarter, which I had indicated in the last quarter,” Moondra said at Vi’s fiscal second-quarter earnings call.



NEW DELHI: Debt-laden Vodafone Idea (Vi)’s plans to raise external funding of over Rs 20,000 crore may get further delayed, and there is a possibility that it may not conclude even in the quarter ending March 2024 (FY24), Mint reported Monday citing two sources familiar with the development.

The delay, in part, is due to a massive debt liability of Rs 2 trillion, besides a limited capital coming from the promoters, as per the report. Vi has been in discussions with investors, including from the US, to conclude the fundraising.

A Vodafone Idea spokesperson told the publication that “discussions are underway”.


“As a listed company, we shall make disclosures at the appropriate time,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report.


Vi’s chief executive Akshaya Moondra earlier said the telco is looking to close equity funding talks soon.

“We have made progress (in fundraising conversations) since the last earnings call. I expect that we will be able to conclude the discussions relating to the equity investor in this quarter, which I had indicated in the last quarter,” Moondra said at Vi’s fiscal second-quarter earnings call.

ET recently reported that Vi is in advanced discussions with private equity companies to monetise its fibre assets and in-building solutions (IBS) to raise Rs 10,000-12,000 crore.


India's only loss-making private telco had tried to sell its fibre assets and data centre business in 2019, but the deal could not be concluded due to differences over valuation. The government announced a relief package in September 2021 for the telecom sector, providing much-needed succour to the struggling operator.

The company has over 160,000 km of optic fibre and, since wired broadband is set to be a big revenue stream, Vi is hopeful of closing the deal at a good valuation.

The joint venture between UK's Vodafone Group Plc and India's Aditya Birla Group (ABG) has been battling cash flow issues, hindering capital expenditure and vendor payments. Hence, the company has been unable to seal 5G network equipment supply deals with vendors.


As a result, Vi has been rapidly losing its subscribers to rivals Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, which has cumulatively expanded their 5G network coverage to more than 10,000 cities and towns.

To be sure, the September quarter saw the company lose the least number of users since the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular in August 2018 to form Vodafone Idea.

[BangaloreaN]

Telecom Bill allows Centre to take over, suspend services over ‘national security’



The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The bill allows the government to take over, manage or suspend telecommunication services or a network over national security.




The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, aims to replace the 138-year-old Indian Telegraph Act that governs the telecom sector.

The draft Telecommunications Bill, 2023, introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, allows the government to take over, manage or suspend any or all telecommunication services or networks in the interest of national security.
The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, aims to replace the 138-year-old Indian Telegraph Act that governs the telecom sector.
The Cabinet had cleared the bill in August.

The draft Telecommunications Bill released in 2023 proposed to bring over-the-top or internet-based calling and messaging apps under the definition of telecommunications to enhance users' safety.
The bill had also proposed to curb the power of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), on which industry players had raised concerns.
According to government officials, the issues around over-the-top players and Trai were resolved before it was cleared by the Cabinet.
The draft had proposed to ease some of the rules like refund of fees for licence, registration etc. in case a company surrenders its permit.

The new bill proposes the government be vested with the power to waive off entry fees, licence fee, penalty etc. in the interest of consumers, ensuring competition in the market, availability or continuity of telecom networks, and national security.

[BangaloreaN]

Vodafone Idea denies Starlink talks

It further added that the company will comply with SEBI listing regulations and duly keep the stock exchanges informed of all the price sensitive information.



New Delhi: Vodafone Idea has said it is not in talks with Starlink for a tie-up, amid a continuous rally in its stock price for the past few weeks.

The company clarified after some media reports stated that Vodafone Idea (Vi) was exploring a tie-up with Elon Musk-owned Starlink for a stake sale.

“In this regard, we would like to submit that the company is not in any such discussion with the named party. We are not aware of the basis of the said news item,” Vodafone Idea said in a regulatory filing.

It further added that the company will comply with SEBI listing regulations and duly keep the stock exchanges informed of all the price sensitive information.


The loss-making telco has been trying to raise funds from financial investors as well as banks but so far, no announcement has been made. In anticipation of a fund-raise, the share price of the company has been rallying for the past few weeks, touching over Rs 17 apiece last week.

The company's cash and cash equivalents declined to Rs 119.6 crore at the end of September from Rs 250 crore at the end of June.

Vi chief executive Akshaya Moondra had earlier said that discussions with potential investors will close in the December quarter, followed by debt funding from banks.

While Vi had earlier announced that it was looking to mobilise about Rs 20,000 crore from a mix of debt and equity but lately, the company has refrained from giving an update on its fundraising plans.

[BangaloreaN]

Telecom Diary: Time slipping like sand for Vodafone Idea!

The recent numbers show Vodafone Idea continues to witness subscriber churn with a 2 million (month on month) decline in gross subscriber base to reach at 225 million in October while active subscribers base declined by 1.4 million (month on month) to reach 198 million in the same month. It’s 4G subscriber base came down as well 0.8 million (month on month) to 126 million.




The year has not started off on a positive note for Vodafone Idea. No headway on fundraising, a key exit from the company and constant subscriber loss paints a grim picture for the third largest Indian telecom player.

The exit of a key official, who was directly responsible for liaisoning with the government - a major shareholder in the Vodafone Idea, comes at a time when the operator has been struggling to close a funding deal with banks or any investor. With aggressive competitors - Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel - around, the funding is critical to the survival of ailing telco to expand existing 4G services and launch 5G. Pertinent to mention here that, both its competitors have launched 5G services over a year back and will be covering pan India soon.


The company’s CEO Akshay Moondra had said it will likely raise funds by the end of the December 2023 quarter, but the self imposed deadline has also passed with no update. There have been reports suggesting that Vodafone Idea was in discussions with Elon Musk's Starlink for a stake sale but it was denied by the telco. Though, it did send Vodafone Idea’s shares buzzing. It has been looking to raise about Rs 20,000 crore from a mix of debt and equity since the last three years.

The government had acquired a 33 per cent stake in the telco converting a part of the debt into equity last year which raised hopes of a fund closure soon but no investor apparently got convinced of its long term survival with declining financial performance and mounting debts. The recent numbers show Vodafone Idea continues to witness subscriber churn with a 2 million (month on month) decline in gross subscriber base to reach at 225 million in October while active subscribers base declined by 1.4 million (month on month) to reach 198 million in the same month. It’s 4G subscriber base came down as well 0.8 million (month on month) to 126 million.


The loss-making company's cash and cash equivalents declined to Rs 119.6 crore at the end of September from Rs 250 crore three months earlier. It has not posted a profit since the entity was formed post the merger of UK-based Vodafone's Indian unit with Aditya Birla Group's Idea Cellular creating the largest telecom player back then. However, the company could not sustain as pressure mounted with competition and lack of funds with even promoters refusing to pump in more money into the venture.

The company is standing on a slippery slope and it may require a concerted effort even if it receives funding anytime soon. But who will rescue the ailing telco? Or will the fears of a duopoly in the India telecom industry come true? The big question remains.

[BangaloreaN]

Jio says Centre should devise policy to shut down 2G; Vodafone Idea seeks migration of users to 4G/5G

Vi, in its Q3FY24 earnings report released Monday (January 29), said that the company has “shut down 3G completely” across five circles of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai and Kolkata by refarming the spectrum in these circles.



NEW DELHI: India’s top telecom operator has urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to push the Central government to devise a policy for shutting down legacy 2G and 3G technology in India so that unnecessary network costs can be avoided and all customers be migrated to the newer 4G and 5G mobile networks.

Vodafone Idea (Vi) has backed Jio’s views and suggested that the government can tap the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to finance a smartphone subsidy scheme so that the rural masses – who cannot afford a modern handset – can also upgrade to newer technologies like 5G. At present, around Rs 77,113 crore remains unused under the USOF corpus.

“The government should come out with a policy and glidepath for closing down the 2G and 3G networks completely so that unnecessary network costs should be avoided, and all customers can be migrated to 4G and 5G services. This will also give great impetus to developing ecosystem to 5G use cases,” Jio said in its response to the telecom regulator’s consultation paper on ‘Digital Transformation through 5G Ecosystem’.

Jio is the only telecom carrier that does not have a 2G network, and in the past, it has reiterated that 250 million-odd 2G users need to be upgraded to 4G. To this extent, the company has launched affordable 4G feature phones and smartphones to drive upgradation of basic feature phone users to 4G devices.

The country’s second-largest telco Bharti Airtel did not make a submission to the regulator on the consultation paper. However, Airtel’s CEO Gopal Vittal has previously ruled out any plans to switch off its 2G, reasoning that a decision to that extent could only be taken when those services entirely stopped generating meaningful revenue for the company. It is to be noted that Airtel had switched off its 3G networks around four years back.

Vi, in its Q3FY24 earnings report released Monday (January 29), said that the company has “shut down 3G completely” across five circles of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai and Kolkata by refarming the spectrum in these circles.

“A substantial part of the citizens in the country are generally using older technology i.e. 2G and are not able to access the new generation technology i.e. 4G and 5G despite availability of connectivity,” Vi separately said in its submission.

Vi pointed out that the inability of users to switch to smartphones on account of the cost of these devices also leads to the users continuing on older technology and being unable to use digital services and “most likely ending up being not updated on latest digital technologies and services”,

“One of the alternatives could be that the government provide funds as handset subsidy to consumers at large, through their concerned TSP (telecom service provider), for giving up feature phones and purchasing subsided smartphones. This can help such consumers to start digital journey thereby, bridging the digital divide,” Vi said.

According to Vodafone Idea, the shift of users from feature phones to smartphones will increase the ability of the rural masses to benefit from newer technologies, such as 5G and participate in the market economy “directly leading to better earnings and also bridging digital divide”.

Jio further said that the allocation of spectrum is critical for the development of the development of the 5G use cases ecosystem in India, and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) should plan to auction the 6GHz band, full C-band, and the 28GHz band (on a flexible use basis), in addition to all the already auctioned airwaves and plans to auction E-band and V-band.

Jio has concluded its pan-India 5G rollouts, while Airtel aims to do so by March. Vi, however, has not been able to launch commercial 5G services as it is unable to close its much delayed fundraise.