Broadcasting, Cable, Satellite & Entertainment

Videocon to start DTH services in May
April 28, 2009

Videocon Group is entering the direct-to-home services segment with its commercial rollout from May 1 through 2,500 dealers having 15000 showrooms across the country.

The Videocon D2H service will also be offered through TV sets with built-in set-top boxes, which no one else in the market is currently offering. Videocon is looking at adding 15 lakh subscribers in its first year.

BT to distribute NDTV channels in the US
April 27, 2009

British Telecom’s (BT) media and broadcasting division Global Media Network (GMN) has tied up with news and entertainment company NDTV for distributing the latter’s lifestyle and business channels in the United States.

According to the agreement, BT will distribute NDTV Good Times and NDTV Profit in the US.

DTH services on the go – by Airtel
April 18, 2009

Bharti Airtel is in talks with various automobile companies to launch its DTH mobile services for luxury cars, buses and trains.

The mobile DTH service works through an auto-tracking antenna placed on the roof of the vehicle which tracks the company’s satellite. Through this, signals will be transmitted to the set top box inside the vehicle.

The installation costs of setting up DTH inside a vehicle exceed Rs. 1.5 lakh.

Sun Direct rolls out high-def services on DTH
April 9, 2009

Direct to Home (DTH) provider Sun Direct has launched its first high definition (HD) broadcasting services on DTH in India.

HDTV has a higher resolution than traditional TV with sharper images and better sound quality. Sun Direct is planning to spend around Rs. 150 crores for marketing its product.

DTH providers rescue film producers
April 5, 2009

Films losing out on revenues in multiplexes are being rescued by Direct-to-Home (DTH) providers who are willing to offer the film ‘on demand’ for DTH subscribers.

After ‘Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’ was aired on DTH, Eros International’s new release ‘Aa Dekhe Zara’ will be available to Dish TV subscribers less than two weeks after its release in the cinema halls. Eros has entered into a revenue-sharing deal with Dish TV for airing the movie to make up for the film’s losses at the box office.

Hathway’s new PVR service
March 16, 2009

Digital cable provider Hathway has now introduced a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) technology, which will allow subscribers to record, pause, rewind, fast-forward, re-play live TV.

The PVR would also allow subscribers to watch one channel while simultaneous recording a program running on another channel. This opens up a whole new opportunity to deliver on-demand television programming to viewers.

Information Security

India sees 250% rise in bots in 2008
April 21, 2009

According to the Internet Security Threat report from Symantec Corp., malicious code activity saw fast paced growth during 2008, mainly attacking confidential information of computer users. India reportedly had the third highest volume of malicious activity in the Asia-Pacific-Japan (APJ) region.

With an average of 836 bots per day and 1,03,812 distinct bot-infected computers, India faced an increase of nearly 250 percent over the previous Internet Security Threat report. Mumbai was the worst affected followed by Chennai and Delhi.

BT opens Asia-Pac security centre in India
April 14, 2009

BT India has announced the opening of its first ever Asia Pacific Security Operations Centre (SOC) in India. The SOC will provide security device management services involving firewalls, intrusion detection devices and bluecoat proxy devices used for securing networked IT environments.

The new SOC will employ over 30 skilled specialists initially to manage their customers’ security environments 24/7.

Micro Technologies to enter Japanese mkt
April 01, 2009

Security solutions vendor Micro Technologies is close to signing a memorandum of understanding with Tokyo-based Japan Homeland Security Corporation (JHSC) for deploying its security products in Asia and the West African region.

The BSE-listed company will integrate its hardware and software security products at JHSC’s ongoing security projects in Japan, China, Singapore Taiwan, South Korea and Ghana.

Net-based rip offs cause $265 mn in losses
March 31, 2009

India is reported to be at the 5th position worldwide in terms of number of complaints about Internet rip offs, which have globally caused losses of US$ 265 million in 2008.

The United States has the largest number of complaints followed by Canada, Britain, Australia and then India.

BSNL, MTNL says no to stop 3G services
March 19, 2009

Though the security agencies have raised concerns about lack of adequate monitoring facility, state owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has told the Government that it will not stop offering third generation services.

According to authorities at BSNL, the monitoring was possible for 3G services and therefore there is no need to stop the service.

The Department of Telecom had asked state-owned BSNL and MTNL to stop their third generation (3G) services till the security agencies put in place suitable monitoring system to track traffic on their network.

Telecom & Mobility

Bharti Airtel working on ‘virtual phone’ technology
April 30, 2009

Bharti Airtel is planning to launch ‘Virtual Phones’ – a technology that will allow mobile handset users to use as many as 10 different numbers from a single phone.

Developed by Bharti-owned Comviva Technologies, the application has an embedded SIM card and allows users to opt for different numbers. Each user will have his own password to access his phone.

While Singapore’s SingTel and UAE’s Etisalat already allow users to operate two numbers from the same SIM card, Airtel’s Virtual Phone will be the first technology to allow as many as ten different numbers on the same SIM.

DoT slams defence ministry for delay in spectrum vacation
April 29, 2009

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has blamed the defence ministry for causing delays in the availability of spectrum for telephony services since the later has not yet signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) specifying the roadmap for vacation of spectrum.

The communications ministry and the defence ministry were supposed to sign the MoU last month according to which, the defence ministry will vacate spectrum in a phased manner while the communications ministry will build an alternative network for the Air Force, Army and Navy.

Inadequate spectrum can cause a lot of problems in quality of services as well as leading to some states missing out on 3G services. The DoT has complained that the defence forces are now seeking a waiver of spectrum usage charges, which was decided in 2002.

User consent needed for VAS: TRAI
April 28, 2009

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has directed telecom operators to seek consent from handset users before activating value-added services on mobile phones. The move follows increasing complaints from customers over ring-tones, hello tunes etc. activated without the subscriber’s consent.

A TRAI statement mentions that explicit consent is need by means of a customer originated call or SMS to a specified number or a request made by the customer in writing or by fax or e-mail.

The regulatory body has also noted that pressing a button (*) is a not the correct way for activating VAS since this can lead to accidental activation. Telcos have been asked to comply with the directive in 45 days.

According to the directive, telcos need to make provisions for consumers to lodge complaints and unsubscribe to any VAS that has been offered without their consent. Telcos would also need to keep complete records on complaints registered and consent obtained.

BSNL ties up with Nokia for 3G
April 26, 2009

State owned telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. has tied up with Finnish mobile handset maker Nokia for bundling its 3G enabled handsets with BSNL’s 3G services.

BSNL’s 3G services will be offered on the following Nokia handsets – Nokia 3120 Classic, Nokia 5320, Nokia E71, Nokia N79, Nokia N81 and the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music.

Auction model may be adopted for additional spectrum allocation
April 26, 2009

A Government panel that was set up to look into the issue of additional spectrum allocation may adopt the auction model as opposed to the current methodology which allocates spectrum on the basis of number of subscribers.

Currently GSM operators get 6.2 MHz of spectrum each up to a maximum of 15 MHz, while CDMA operators get 5 MHz each up to a maximum limit of 7.5 MHz.

The Government panel, headed by Additional Secretary Subodh Kumar, was set up to formulate a model for spectrum allocation beyond 6.2 MHz and 5 MHz. Operators like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar already holding over 6.2 MHz may have to pay a one-time fee for the excess spectrum as recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

ISPAI files petition against DoT over spectrum surrender
April 24, 2009

The Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) has filed a petition with the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for making ISPs surrender 2.5 GHz of WiMAX spectrum.

The DoT had allotted WiMAX spectrum to these companies in 2003 and has now asked them to return the spectrum, which is to be put up for auction at a base price of Rs. 550 crore. ISPAI has told TDSAT that the reserve price should not be more than 20-25% of the highest bid for ISPs.

Sistema Shyam to complete all-India launch by 2010
April 23, 2009

Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd. (SSTL) has announced that it plans to expand its services to the entire nation by the third quarter of 2010. SSTL has licenses and spectrum to provide mobile phone services in all 22 telecom circles in India.

Currently, the company offers services in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

15.64 mn wireless users added in March
April 22, 2009

A world record-breaking figure of 15.64 million new mobile subscribers were added in the Indian telecom industry in March 2009.

The total number of phone connections in the country (mobile and landline) has now crossed 429 million with the March addition and the teledensity is now 37%.

The growth was led by Reliance Communications who added 3.2 million subscribers (GSM and CDMA combined). Vodafone Essar added 2.85 million subscribers followed by Bharti Airtel who added 2.81 million.

DoT seeks legal opinion on additional GSM spectrum allocation
April 20, 2009

The communications ministry has sought legal opinion on the allotment of additional frequencies to GSM players beyond the limit of 6.2 MHz.

Under the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) spectrum allocation policy, GSM operators are entitled to upto 15 MHz of radio frequencies depending on their meeting pre-defined subscriber targets.

However the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has stated that GSM players do not have ‘vested right’ to spectrum beyond a limit of 6.2 MHz.

Tatas demand govt. process its GSM application in 3 circles
April 20, 2009

Tata Teleservices Ltd. (TTSL) has demanded that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) process its application for GSM license in the three circles of Assam, Jammu & Kashmir and the North East.

TTSL, which is a CDMA operator, had decided to launch GSM services in 2009 and has received licenses and spectrum in 19 of the country’s 22 telecom circles. The Department of Telecommunications has not processed its applications for the remaining three circles and has proposed bundling them with 343 other pending applications for telecom licenses. The DoT says that it was because TTSL had applied late for licenses and spectrum in these three circles.

The Ministry of Communications had decided not to grant new telecom licenses since the market is getting overcrowded with new telcos. After September 25, 2007 the government has received 343 applications for licenses.

Around 24 companies including AT&T, DLF, Ispat and Tulip, which had applied for licences between September 26, 2007 and October 1, 2007, will not receive 2G licenses.

3G services to be launched in Mumbai by May
April 17, 2009

State owned telecom company Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) has announced that it will launch 3G mobile services in the city of Mumbai next month. MTNL has already launched 3G in certain pockets of Delhi.

The telco, which has about 500 3G subscribers in Delhi, is targeting a user base of around 1 lakh for 3G mobile services by the year-end.

Telcos may face ban for pledging shares during lock in period
April 18, 2009

Owners/promoters of new telecom companies (which had acquired licenses only last year) may be banned from pledging their shares to raise capital during the three year lock in period. The Department of Telecom (DoT) has sought approval from the finance ministry to implement the ban and also whether it can be implemented in retrospect since many companies may have already pledged their shares.

Earlier the Ministry of Corporate Affairs had approved DoT’s plan to impose a three year lock in period on the sale of equity by owners of these new telecom companies.

TCL joins int’l consortium for Africa cable project
April 17, 2009

Tata Communications (TCL) has joined an international consortium to build a cable system linking countries in South and West Africa and Europe.

The 14000 km long West African cable system (WACS) will be ready by 2011 at a cost of US$ 600 million. Other members of the consortium include Angola Telecom, Broadband Infraco, Cable & Wireless, MTN, Telecom Namibia, Portugal Telecom, Sotelco, Telkom SA, Togo Telecom and Vodacom.

COAI to challenge TDSAT order in SC
April 14, 2009

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) is set to challenge the order of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) in the Supreme Court. The TDSAT order had rejected the association’s appeal against the government’s dual spectrum allocation policy.

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) had upheld the government’s decision to allow CDMA players to offer GSM services on a single license. TDSAT had also said that GSM players are not entitled to more than 6.2 MHz of spectrum – an observation that allows the government to impose a one time fee on GSM players like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar for radio frequencies exceeding this limit.

COAI had appealed against this TDSAT judgement, which stated that GSM operators did not have the right to hold spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz.

DoT exempts foreign telcos from paying tax twice
April 9, 2009

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has decided to do away with the current system of license charges whereby international long distance telecom carriers using the infrastructure of existing operators were paying tax twice to the government.

Carriers like AT&T, British Telecom and Verizon currently pay license fees twice to the government – once when they buy bandwidth from existing operators and once when they resell the bandwidth to enterprises and customers.

Services to non-IMEI phones stopped from Apr 15
April 5, 2009

GSM service providers are ready to stop connectivity to mobile handsets not bearing the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number from April 15 onwards.

The IMEI is a unique 15 digit code that appears on an operators network whenever a call is made. The number would help to prevent the use of stolen handset and to identify when a call is made from a stolen handset.

National security concerns had prompted the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to ask operators to disconnect non-IMEI handsets.

Telecom MNCs face penal action
April 5, 2009

Four telecom MNCs – AT&T, British Telecom (BT), MCI Worldcom and Equant – may face legal action for providing long distance services in India without having the requisite license.

These MNCs are alleged to have deprived the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of the license fee plus a percentage of the telco’s revenue.

India soon may have 11-digit mobile numbers
April 4, 2009

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is considering an 11-digit number system for mobile phones, since operators may run out of 10-digit numbers soon.

The rapid growth in the mobile phone subscriber base has forced a re-think of the 30 year numbering plan that the DoT had come out with in 2003.

Now FIPB has approved its investment plans worth Rs. 2500 crore.

TDSAT against preferences to state telcos
April 2, 2009

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has told the government that it cannot show preferential treatment to state owned telcos MTNL and BSNL as regards spectrum allotment. It has asked the government to take immediate corrective action.

The TDSAT has directed the government to withdraw such additional spectrum allotted to BSNL and MTNL that exceeds the criteria specified by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in January 2008.

The DoT’s criteria for allotting additional spectrum to telcos mandated that players increase their subscriber base by 2-6 times in order to get additional spectrum. But even before implementing these norms, the DoT had allotted additional frequencies to BSNL and MTNL based on 2006 norms.

TRAI criticizes DoT for restricting net telephony
March 31, 2009

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has criticized the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for suggesting that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) pay a higher entry fee (matching the fees paid by telecom operators) to be able to offer unrestricted Internet telephony services.

TRAI pointed out that the entry fees paid by telecom operators include spectrum charges while the license for ISPs does not give them any spectrum, so any direct comparison between ISPs and telecom companies is unfair.

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.

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 has come into effect from April 1, 2009.

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.

Telcos may be hauled up for poor QoS
March 21, 2009

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has specified norms for monitoring of quality of service (QoS) on mobile and landline services. The QoS regulations already in place since 2005 have now been tightened and cover the pre-paid segment as well.

TRAI has also recommended financial penalties on the non-compliance of these norms. The regulations will take effect from July 1, 2009.

Ericsson comes up with energy-efficient tower construction
March 20, 2009

Equipment manufacturer Ericsson, has come up with a tower tube construction that is optimized in terms of energy efficiency.

The tower houses all equipment at the base in a self-contained site with a diameter of 5 meters. This tower does not require a feeder or a cooling system, which would result in 40% lower consumption of power, which is the biggest operating cost.

Number portability within a year: Behura
March 20, 2009

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) will be launched across India within a year, according to Siddhartha Behura, Secretary, Department of Telecom (DoT). The DoT has already issued licenses to implement MNP to two US-based companies – Telcordia and Syniverse.

MNP allows mobile phone users to change their operators while retaining their mobile phone number upon paying a certain fee. MNP is expected to be introduced within 6 months in the 4 metros.

BSNL launches BlackBerry services
March 20, 2009

State-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) has launched Blackberry services in India in collaboration with Canadian Research In Motion (RIM), the manufacturers of the device.

With this move, BSNL joins the ranks of Airtel, Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices and Vodafone who also provide Blackberry services.

Separate USOF from DoT: TRAI
March 19, 2009

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has suggested separating the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) from the purview of the Department of Telecom (DoT) on the grounds that it is poorly utilized under DoT administration.

Since 2002, telecom operators have been contributing 5% of their annual revenue towards the fund and its size has now crossed Rs. 25,000 crore. But only 27% of the amount has been utilized so far, as of September 2008.

TRAI has recommended a framework similar to the National Highway Authority of India to administer the USOF, since it has not spurred investments in rural areas to the desired level.

BSNL shuts towers along Indo-Nepal border
March 1, 2009

State owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) has shut down more than a dozen cell phone towers along the Indo-Nepal border.

The move is in light of security concerns arising from increased activities of the ISI, and smuggling of arms, counterfeit currency and drugs across the border.