Tata Communications is also looking to enter 4G space

India’s
leading
telecommunication
company
Tata
Communications is
also
looking
to enter 4G space in coming days. Tata Communications took part in the BWA auction but left with no win. In 2G & 3G space Tata Teleservices is not even in top 3 slots, but India’s iconic business group cannot ignore the potential of 4th generation wireless broadband services in India and targets an entry into 4G segment. Now some reports indicates that Tata may enter into a tie up with Reliance Infotel, country’s only pan India 4G spectrum winner as there are some talks between them. It should be noted that Tata Communications owns prominent tower company Viom Networks (earlier known as Tata-Quippo). So Tata Communications can offer towers, optical fiber network & international gateway to Reliance Infotel. Similar prospectus also comes from Reliace Communication, owned by Anil Ambani. It also peeps the fact Reliance Industries is in talks with several passive infrastructure providers and can enter into agreements with more than one companies. Tata Communications is also looking to enter 4G space directly by buying Qualcomm’s asset of four circles’ BWA spectrum as hinted by NDTV. But as Qualcomm is messed up with the four companies for four circles and one ISP license the buy-out will be delayed for months. Qualcomm entered the BWA auction to ensure LTE roll out and also announced that eventually they will leave the Indian ISP market. Industry rumor is Airtel is keen to buy Qualcomm’s wireless broadband business as Qualcomm holds lucrative circles like Delhi & Mumbai. Mumbai and Maharastra are like den of Tata Communications, where they have great base. It is expected that Tata Comm will try their best to buy out atleast Mumbai’s 4G license from Qualcomm.

Tata
Docomo
has
launched
a
new concept “Rent-free Plan” for postpaid customers in selected Cities. Tata is the first telecom to launch the plan for customers based on the concept of “PAY AS YOU USE ”. Under the rent-free plan. A new customer will be acquired under a rental plan of Rs. 149 ,based on his outgoing usage (OG calls+SMS+VAS+Data +net of FAT) the customer will
be eligible for Zero rental as below: If customer Usage is more than>499, Rental of Rs. 149 will be discounted from his bill. If Usage is <500 rental will be charged The Unique point in the newly launched Rent-Free Plan are a. No rental (Depending on Usage ARPU > 499). b. Local calls at 1p/2sec. STD calls @ 5ps/6secs. c. 100 Local+ 100 STD mins free per month. d. SMS Charges (Local/ National/International) – 60p/120p/500p e. ISD – Standard rate apply f. Roaming – incoming-Re 1/ min, Outgoing Local-Re 1/min, Outgoing STD-Rs 1.5/min This plan is available for both new customers and existing customers and is currently available on GSM customers & will be available very shortly for CDMA customers also. If any other customer who is ported in from other operator can also choose this tariff plan. Customers can choose various add on packs as per the usage.Fore more details customers can call on 1800-266-0000 for the details on the Rent Free plans.

Airtel Raises Prepaid Mobile Tariff

India’s
largest
Mobile
Service
operator
Bharti Airtel
surprisingly
once again hikes its prepaid tariff by decreasing the validity period and offerings under certain STVs in all telecom circles across India. Airtel increased the 2G GPRS Data rates by reducing the data benefit offered under its most popular monthly GPRS Pack of Rs. 98 which is now giving only 1 GB data download instead of 2 GB offered earlier. The operator also has also reduced the tariff validity of some special tariff vouchers (STV) and Reduced Call Rate benefits by 50% like 180 days from the existing 365 days. Airtel also announced one small revision of its prepaid ISD tariff. Now ISD call rates are increased by up to 10 per cent for some destinations. In July-2011, Airtel had hike 20% in prepaid tariff as earlier we shared on TelecomTalk. Later, other leading mobile service providers live Vodafone, IDEA and BSNL also increased rates of their prepaid mobile services.

Exclusive: BSNL Launches New SMS Packs

India’s
National
Telecom
Backbone
and
Pan India
3G
Mobile
Service operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) today announced the new ‘attractive’ SMS Packs for its prepaid mobile subscribers (2G and 3G) across all circles. BSNL has withdrawn its existing SMS pack of Rs.53 Rs.32 and introduced NEW attractive SMS packs at Rs.36, Rs.46 and Rs.56 with more free sms and longer validity period. The New SMS STVs will be available via Ctopup and through SMS based activation from 17th November 2011. BSNL’s New SMS Pack of Rs.36 will offers 3000 Local/ National/Roaming SMS FREE valid for 30 Days. While Subscriber can send 4500 Local/National/Roaming SMS FREE (200 SMS per Day) at Rs.46 valid for 45 days. With new SMS Pack of Rs.56 subscriber will get the benefits of 6000 Local/ National/Roaming SMS valid for 60 days from the date of activation. All new SMS Pack comes with the cap of 200 SMS/day as per TRAI regulation and will be available from 17th November
2011. Please Note : Presently all new SMS pack are available for subscriber in Tamilnadu and Chennai TDM.These plan will be implemented in other circle soon. All SMS Packs are applicable while in HOME LSA as well as National Roaming across India.
The SMS STVs under 2G & 3G Prepaid mobile services will not be applicable on “Blackout days”. Normal SMS charges as per plan will be applicable on “Blackout Days.