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DoT to discuss border area mobile services
March 26, 2009
Teams from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), state owned telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and the vigilance department met on March 27 to discuss the security implications of mobile services in India’s border areas i.e. areas bordering Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Nepal.
The main problem is that base trans-receiver stations (BTS) in border areas can be intercepted by intelligence agencies and even insurgents from neighboring countries. The repeated terror attacks in the country magnify the situation where different SIM cards can be purchased and used by militants under fake names.
Operators to disconnect non-IMEI handsets
March 25, 2009
Telecom operators have started warning their subscribers that services to mobile phones not bearing the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number will be disconnected soon.
The IMEI is a unique 15-digit number that identifies a mobile phone and appears on an operator’s network when a call is made. The code can prevent the use of a stolen handset for making calls and also allows for lawful interception to prove the use of a particular handset.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had asked operators to disconnect non-IMEI handsets and given them a deadline of March 31, 2009 to equip networks with an Equipment Identity Register (EIR) to check whether calls are made from genuine handsets.
ByCell moves HC against FIPB & DoT
March 24, 2009
Swiss telecom firm, ByCell, has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for their failure to grant the company a license to launch mobile services in the country.
ByCell’s stand is that despite getting all the requisite approvals and making substantial investments, it has still not received the license from the DoT on the grounds of security reasons.
Mobile cos. restrained from making multiple SIM handsets
March 23, 2009
The Madras High Court restrained several manufacturers and retailers like Samsung, Spice Mobile etc. from making and selling mobile handsets that can hold multiple SIM cards.
This is on the basis of a petition filed by Somsundaram Ramkumar, who has accused these companies of infringing his patent for multiple SIM handsets. The case will be taken up for hearing on April 13.
Govt. calls off license fee cut for telcos
March 23, 2009
The government has called off its decision to cut the license fee for telecom operators by upto a third, depending on their network presence. The decision had been opposed by the Finance Ministry.
Last year, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had announced that the portion of revenues paid by operators as license fee would be cut by 2% of total revenue if they prove that their services are provided in 95% of the residential areas in a state or telecom circle. This was to come into effect from April 1, 2009.
Demand for camera phones remains high
March 28, 2009
Even amidst a slowdown in overall growth in handset sales in the Indian market, the demand for mid to high-end camera phones continues to grow.
The share of camera phones in overall handset sales has risen from 34% to 38% over the last year. There is also a growing trend towards high-resolution phones. The growth in demand is primarily the result of a fall in the average selling price (ASP) of camera phones by 15-20%.
Cricket/Poll alerts may raise VAS awareness
March 24, 2009
Telcos are hoping that the Lok Sabha elections and IPL cricket matches will help to raise the usage of Value Added Services (VAS) in the country.
Poll alerts, smses asking for news updates are expected to rise for the duration of these upcoming events.
Airtel and Vodafone have tied up with NDTV to offer election related information as daily SMS alerts to their subscribers.
Acer launches pocket projector
March 29, 2009
Acer has launched a pocket projector in India, which is the first of its kind in India. The K10 pocket projector is one of the smallest and lightest projectors in the market, combining DLP technology with LED lamp technology. This would lower power consumption and practically make lamp replacement unnecessary.
The projector is available at a price of Rs. 36,673 in the Indian market.
First web-to-mobile ‘voice greeting’ service in India
March 23, 2009
As the first service of its kind in India, a pre-recorded voice greeting can now be sent from the web to a mobile handset – and at a lower cost than a phone call.
The service is provided through www.MoCoLife.com, where one can register and immediately start sending voice greetings to their family and friends on their mobile phones.
BSNL to add 1 mn. lines by next year
March 27, 2009
State owned telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is planning to add one million lines by next year through next generation soft switches.
The switches will provide converged voice, video/multimedia and data services. BSNL is shortly going to finalize the bids received for this purpose.
Hinduja-Sistema engage in strategic partnership
March 26, 2009
Outsourcing solutions firm, Hinduja Global Solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with telecom service provider Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd. to manage the latter’s customer care operations for its CDMA brand MTS.
NTT DoCoMo completes TTSL acquisition
March 26, 2009
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo has completed its acquisition of 26% of Tata Teleservices Ltd. (TTSL) for US$ 2.7 billion.
The deal had been announced in November last year. Now NTT DoCoMo is planning to buy 12% in Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd. through an open offer.
Bharti to extend cable connectivity
March 26, 2009
Bharti Airtel plans to offer under sea cable connectivity to countries across South-east Asia and West Asia. The company has invested over Rs 1,500 crore in the last two years in existing and upcoming cable routes.
In Asia, Bharti along with 15 other global telecommunications majors including South Africa’s MTN and British Telecom are constructing a 15,000 km undersea link connecting the United Kingdom and India and touching 13 countries across 3 continents.
The telco has also reached a deal with Australia Japan Cable (AJC) to interconnect their networks at the pacific Island of Guam.
Idea forays into long-distance biz
March 26, 2009
Idea Cellular is venturing into the international long distance business and negotiating with international operators in US, UK etc. for inter-connection agreements.
Idea had already started direct routing of ILD calls under an agreement with Sri Lanka’s Dialog Telekom.
BSNL to lease telecom towers in semi-urban areas
March 23, 2009
State owned telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has decided to lease out its towers to other telcos operating in the country’s semi-urban aeas.
BSNL plans to lease out its Ground Based Towers in circles such as Andaman and Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, North East, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (East and West), Uttranchal and West Bengal.
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