Cell Tower News

Norway-based Telenor Group has said that the strategic partnership with Unitech Limited does not have a future, and it therefore will start the process of looking for a new Indian partner. 

Uninor, in its response, has stated that only Private Respondents (whose licenses have been quashed by the SC judgement) and fresh applicants (well funded entities with no link to incumbent operators) should be eligible to take part in the auction of spectrum that has become available after the SC cancelled 122 2G licenses.

The Indian government has set up a committee to select the new chairman for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

The company Tuesday announced the launch of end-to-end managed video conferencing services for enterprises across the globe.

Bharti Airtel Monday announced the launch of India’s first online self care services for its prepaid mobile customers across the country.

Anil Ambani led Reliance Communications Friday reported 61% fall in its net profit at $37.69 million for Q3 of the FY2012 against $97.27 million in the same quarter of the previous financial year.

United Kingdom-based telecom major Vodafone Friday announced that Analjit Singh will be appointed as non-executive Chairman of its India operations.

The decision by The Supreme Court of India to cancel 122 2G spectrum licenses has impacted foreign players who have considerable stake in those Indian telcos impacted by the decision.

United Kingdom-based Vodafone Group, the world’s second largest mobile phone operator, reported that revenues from its India operations grew 6.3% year-over-year from $1.5 billion to $1.6 billion for its third fiscal quarter ended Dec. 31.

Bharti Airtel reported a 22% decline in its consolidated net profit to $206.6 million in Q3 (October-December) of the FY12 due to 3G roll-out costs and higher interest costs.

TRAI Chairman Dr J S Sarma stated that some of the recent developments have indicated there is perhaps a need to review the policy of forbearance in telecom tariffs.

While the real impact of the Supreme Court of India’s 2G case verdict will be felt in the months to come, initial media reports suggest that around 10,000 jobs in the telecom sector are likely to be impacted due to the court order.

The Indian banking sector should be able to absorb loan-losses stemming from the cancellation of second-generation mobile licenses without materially impairing credit quality, though annual profits will still take a hit, according to Fitch Ratings.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Friday released a pre-consultation paper on ‘Allocation of Spectrum in 2G band in 22 Service Areas by auction’ following the Supreme Court of India’s order cancelling 122 2G licenses.

Amidst all the talk of an impending rise in telecom tariffs in the last week, Thursday’s verdict of the Supreme Court of India in the 2G case has further strengthened that possibility.

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday cancelled 122 2G spectrum licenses controversially handed out by former Telecom Minister A Raja.

The company established its India presence to cater to the Indian mobile user with technology to help overcome and disregard usage barriers and unfamiliarity of the mobile phone, it said in a statement.

The latest figures reveal that the total wireless (GSM, CMDA and FWP) subscriber base in the country has increased from 884.37 million in November 2011 to 893.84 million at the end of December 2011.

Ruckus Wireless, a US-based global Wi-Fi technology company, Friday announced the opening of a new R&D centre in Bangalore, India.

The Indian consumers will have to be prepared for higher tariffs if the government goes ahead with the proposal to charge extra 2G spectrum held by telecom companies, says Bharti Airtel’s Sunil Mittal.

Tata Communications’ consolidated gross revenues were at $719.7 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2011 as against $673.7 million in the same quarter last year, according to the company’s results for FY2012.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Wednesday exempted the machine to machine and person to machine messages from the limit of 200 SMS per day per SIM.

A new report by CyberMedia Research states that the overall Indian mobile handsets market recorded sales of 15.4 million units during November 2011, taking the total handset shipments during the first eleven months of calendar year 2011 to nearly 166 million units.

Top executives of India’s telecom companies Tuesday met the country’s Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal to discuss contentious issues plaguing the sector.