Telecom News
As attacks by Houthi rebels rise, cable operators in Red Sea of trouble
Red Sea tensions are threatening India's internet connectivity as major cable networks pass through this corridor. Cable operators are investing in redundancies like additional fibre pairs and land routes to avoid blackouts, significantly increasing costs for data centers. Repair delays and ship shortages exacerbate the problem, prompting exploration of alternative routes like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
BSNL rolls out one month 4G service plan offer for Re 1
BSNL has launched the 'Freedom Plan,' offering a one-month 4G service trial for just Re 1 to attract more customers. This initiative celebrates India's Independence Day and allows users to experience the indigenously developed 4G technology. The plan includes unlimited voice calls, 2 GB of daily high-speed data, and 100 SMS per day, along with a free BSNL SIM.
Bring OTT communication services under regulatory framework: COAI
COAI advocates for regulating OTT communication services. They highlight security vulnerabilities and the need for oversight. SP Kochhar emphasizes the importance of timely communication data access for law enforcement. COAI suggests a dedicated OTT authorization under the Unified License. This would ensure fairness and enhance security. It would also balance innovation with national security needs.
India will remain competitive: Scindia on US tariff impact on telecom equipment exports
Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed confidence that Indian telecom equipment exports to the US will remain competitive despite potential tariff hikes. He highlighted the significant production and export figures under the PLI scheme.
Elon Musk's Starlink gets licence for satellite internet in India
Starlink has secured a license to launch satellite internet services in India, with spectrum allocation frameworks in place. This announcement coincides with the 30th anniversary of India's first cellular call. The country's digital transformation includes a surge in internet subscriptions, affordable data, and advancements in 5G technology, positioning India as a global leader in the telecom sector.
June active user additions led by Metro, A circles: Jefferies
Active mobile subscribers in India saw a rise in June, driven by gains in Metro and A circles, offsetting losses in smaller cities. Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel led subscriber additions, while Vodafone Idea continued to experience losses. The industry witnessed overall growth, indicating strong potential, though mobile number portability requests remained high.
India adds 2.46 mn wireless subscribers in June 2025, led by urban growth
India's wireless subscriber base experienced growth in June 2025, reaching 1170.88 million, driven primarily by urban areas. Mobile subscriptions also increased, with private providers dominating the market. While most regions saw growth, some experienced declines, and rural areas witnessed a slight decrease in subscriptions and tele-density. The adoption of 5G Fixed Wireless Access continued to expand.
Reliance Jio races ahead in June user gains; Airtel trails, Vi and BSNL lose ground
In June, Reliance Jio significantly outpaced Bharti Airtel in subscriber additions, gaining 1.9 million users compared to Airtel's 763,482. Vodafone Idea and BSNL continued to lose subscribers, while the overall wireless user base in India grew to 1163 million. Jio also leads in wireless broadband subscribers and maintains the highest proportion of active users.
Satcom won't be a threat to telcos: MoS Pemmasani
Satellite communication is unlikely to threaten Indian telecom operators. High tariffs and limited capacity of satellite services are the reasons. Starlink's potential reach is capped at 2 million connections with limited speed. The government is expected to release satcom airwave allocation rules soon. The upfront cost for satellite services is high.
Jyotiraditya Scindia tasks BSNL to grow mobile service business by 50% next year
Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has set ambitious growth targets for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. He wants a 50 percent increase in BSNL's mobile service business next year. Scindia also expects enterprise business to rise by 25-30 percent. Fixed line business should grow by 15-20 percent. The focus is on boosting average revenue per user through improved customer satisfaction.
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Satcom spectrum allocation rules likely to be in place within two months
India is set to finalize spectrum allocation rules for satellite communication services soon. This will allow companies like Starlink, Eutelsat Oneweb, and Jio SES to apply for spectrum. Trai has recommended allocating spectrum without auction. Spectrum charges will be 4% of adjusted gross revenue. Starlink will be limited to 2 million connections in India.
Starlink can give only 20 lakh connections pan-India: MoS Telecom
Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar stated that Starlink, led by Elon Musk, is limited to 2 million connections in India, offering speeds up to 200 Mbps. He downplayed the potential impact on BSNL and other telecom providers, noting the high upfront and monthly costs of Starlink's satcom services.
BSNL plans 4,000 new mobile towers in Naxalite-affected areas of Chhattisgarh: MoS Telecom
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited plans to install four thousand mobile towers in Chhattisgarh. These towers will be in Naxal-affected areas. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar shared this during his Chhattisgarh visit. The project aims to boost digital communication.
India-UK FTA to pave way for transborder telecom operations in non-discriminatory manner
India and the UK have signed a telecom deal as part of their free trade agreement, granting non-discriminatory market access for telecom services. This move could potentially lead to Indian telecom operators expanding into the UK market.
Airtel Africa Q1 net profit jumps 5 times to $156 million
Airtel Africa's net profit surged five-fold to $156 million in Q1, fueled by operational momentum and currency gains. Revenue climbed 24.9% to $1.41 billion, driven by tariff adjustments and strong performance in Francophone Africa.
Tower growth may hit a plateau as 5G nears completion
Telecom tower companies in India face a period of slow growth as 5G network expansion nears completion and capital expenditure decreases. New tower additions have significantly declined, and tower rentals have fallen. Vodafone Idea's 5G rollout and 4G expansion may offer short-term support, but analysts anticipate a lull in the sector for the next five years.
