kesav

AUSPI Media Release: Unprecedented and virulent attack by incumbent GSM operators on an Independent Regulator is an attempt to browbeat Government to accept the few remaining issues from their wish-list that TRAI has not accepted · AUSPI terms recommendations as well balanced, progressive and transparent unlike past instances of spectrum allocations well over legal entitlement to incumbent GSM operators. · AUSPI says recommendations are pro-consumer and will help bridge digital divide by linking spectrum allocation with roll-out obligations. · AUSPI says that while no Association or operator has got all issues from their wish-list accepted by TRAI, TRAI has accepted far more of the wish-list of incumbent GSM operators than AUSPI members. · Yet, vicious and unprecedented attack continues – this has never happened in the sector before and against an independent regulator in any sector, anywhere in the world. · AUSPI terms vicious attack by incumbent GSM operators an attempt to force the Government and Authority to give in on the few remaining issues from their wish-list that TRAI has not accepted. · Browbeating Government in line with past behavior of incumbent GSM operators, who have received huge largesse in the past – without any additional charges and without any checks. · AUSPI gives examples of previous gifts from Government to incumbent GSM operators – change of licencing regime to revenue share, doubling of licence period at no additional charge, allocation up to massive excess spectrum of 10 MHz in a totally non-transparent manner and with no additional charges, frequent reduction in licence fees etc. . AUSPI says, an attempt to stop the continuing largesse to incumbent GSM operators is the reason for the virulent attack. · AUSPI shows how TRAI recommendations are nearly totally in line with incumbent GSM operators’ wish-list – dropping of subscriber linked criteria (SLC) for additional spectrum, accepting of spectrum sharing, delinking of spectrum from licence, levying merger charges, no re-farming of 900 MHz immediately, increasing spectrum limit for GSM operators etc. · TRAI has rejected far more of AUSPI and its members wish-list – 20 year validity for dual technology, no licence fee on ISP and IP-1, no perpetuity of licence, no definite 3G forward path for CDMA, practically no increase in spectrum limits for CDMA etc. · Despite this, AUSPI says that, while it has expressed its disappointment in some areas where it believes TRAI has been unfair, it has broadly supported the TRAI and understands the Authority has to take a balanced view of various stakeholder needs for the good of the sector and of consumers. · AUSPI says that incumbent GSM operators had welcomed DoT’s Second Spectrum Committee Report. TRAI recommendations are very much similar but as these are now closer to implementation, they are being attacked by the very same operators who had earlier welcomed very similar recommendations. · AUSPI hopes TRAI and the Government will not buckle to this vicious and virulent blackmail and will continue to maintain independence. · One of AUSPI’s Member i.e., Tata TeleServices suggests that: Dual technology operators who are existing operators is a separate category and DoT action of placing Tata Tele after new UAS licensees is in-appropriate .Tata Tele which paid dual tech fee before 30 months has received partial spectrum in 9 circles and is yet to receive in Delhi and AUSPI requests that the order of priorities suggested by TRAI need a correction in as much as first priority should be given to Tata Tele as regards initial spectrum. As there is no 2G spectrum available and as it has been made available without paying market price, the spectrum above the permissible limits needs to be withdrawn and in case of mergers spectrum above the permissible level should not be allowed to be retained as it would encourage hoarding of spectrum. S. C. KHANNA SECRETARY GENERAL source:: http://auspi.in/news/AUSPI_Press-Release_18may10.pdf

TRAI says 3G auction bidding 'sensible' source:: http://bteubsnl.blogspot.com/2010/05/trai-says-3g-auction-bidding-sensible.html

2G spectrum pricing consultation to end mid-July source:: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/telecom/2G-spectrum-pricing-consultation-to-end-mid-July/articleshow/5953683.cms

Mobile number portability gets delayed for third time source:: http://business.rediff.com/report/2010/may/07/mobile-number-portability-gets-delayed-for-third-time.htm

Reactions Aircel says 3G win will aid companys data strategy source :: http://telecomtiger.com/3G_fullstory.aspx?storyid=9182&section=S208 Qualcomm statement on 3G auction completion source:: http://telecomtiger.com/3G_fullstory.aspx?storyid=9188&flag=1&passfrom=topstory&section=S208 Bharti admits that 3G bid prices unreasonable source:: http://telecomtiger.com/3G_fullstory.aspx?storyid=9183&flag=1&passfrom=topstory&section=S208 RCom claims best 3G footprint source:: http://telecomtiger.com/3G_fullstory.aspx?storyid=9189&flag=1&passfrom=topstory&section=S208 TTSL Statement on 3G auction completion source:: http://telecomtiger.com/3G_fullstory.aspx?storyid=9192&flag=1&passfrom=topstory&section=S208

If this is true "BSNL EVDO will not work is MTNL territory!" then it's horrible. Coming back to Topic, Mr. A.Raja....Where are you? Nation is crying for MNP.....Are the things are moving per plan?

As the 3G auction has ended now focus will be on BWA auction. I foresee Qualcomm and TATA communications to bid very agressively. There are 11 players bidding for 2 slots in each circle. It'll be really interesting. I'm sure there'll be background funding by Intel for the players to pip Qualcomm. Background:: Intel wants to push Wimax and Qualcomm wants to push LTE We'll wait and watch.....

Here are the statistics at the end of 3G auction 1 Pan-India License cost :: 16,750.58 Cr Total revenue to Govt :: 50,968.37 Cr (without including BSNL & MTNL) :: 67,718.95 Cr (if BSNL and MTNL pays at auction price) Contribution by operator-wise Airtel :: 12,295.46 Cr (for 13 circles) Vodafone :: 11,617.86 Cr (for 9 circles) Reliance :: 8,585.04 Cr (for 13 circles) Aircel :: 6,499.46 Cr (for 13 circles) TATA :: 5,864.29 Cr (for 9 circles) Idea :: 5,768.59 Cr (for 11 Circles) STel :: 337.67 Cr (for 3 circles) Aircel has done the cleverest move of all the operators. Aircel is the only operator who has acquired the spectrum in contiguous geography. They have spectrum for all the service areas in East and South. In the East, from UP(E) to Arunachal Pradesh ( UP(E),Bihar,WestBengal,Kolkata,Assam,NorthEast) In the South, From Orissa to Tamilnadu ( Orissa, AndhraPradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, TamilNadu) Aircel is the only operator to have got spectrum in all south Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, TamilNadu and AndhraPradesh :clap: TATA & Reliance can go in for roaming agreement. Unfortunately both of them have not won in TamilNadu, AndhraPradesh and UP(E).

If you want pan-India coverage go for BSNL or MTNL

I'm really really surprised by Aircel. Aircel is the player to watch for future.

Airtel, Reliance, Aircel - 13 each Idea - 11 Vodafone, TATA - 9 each Stel - 3

As expected TATA and Reliance were not agressive since they've EvDO route. Good to know that 3G auctions have been completed. :clap: :clap:

When Cartel(Airtel, Vodafone & Idea) can throw in 16,534.31 crore for 3G (as on 18-05-2010, Pan-India license cost). why can't they pay just Rs 1,184 crore(Airtel), Rs 1,462 crore(Vodafone),Rs 1,066 crore(Idea) as one-time charge for 2G for following reasons.(net hit value as per TRAI) 1) Their advantageous position of holding on to excess 2G spectrum beyond cap (8 MHz for non-metro and 10MHz for Metro circles)till next 6 months ? 2) Their advantageous position of using 900 MHz against others in 1800 MHz ? ( TRAI should have refarmed the 900 MHz immediately and thrown the incumbents into 1800 Mhz instead showing undue sympathy(waiting till license renewal) for these looters) 3) Their advantageous position of having to pay for only 3 years in retrospect for the spectrum held beyond 6.2 MHz till date(although for some operators these spectrum have been provided 10 yrs ago) ? To put it simply, how can they explain to their shareholders in their AGM what business case they had in their mind when they were pouring in 16 times more money than what they had worried and cried for......... I feel this is vicious move on the part of big thugs to cause flurry in the secondary market to put government under pressure. Secondary market is not a concern for them after all.

BSNL Crosses 100 Million Subscriber Mark source :: http://telecomtalk.info/bsnl-crosses-100-million-subscriber-mark/27675/ Kudos to BSNL :clap: It's greatest achievement on part of BSNL. They are now fourth operator to do so after Airtel, Reliance and Vodafone. It's not fair to compare with them since BSNL does not have operations in lucrative circles of Delhi & Mumbai. If you remove aubscriber count of Delhi& Mumbai then surely Reliance and Vodafone will fall below BSNL.

TRAI rules out backtracking on 2G price decision source:: http://www.domain-b.com/links/regulatory_agencies/trai/20100519_2g_price_decision.html TRAI slams Cartel (Airtel, Vodafone and Idea) that the skeleton of the framework will not be touched only the parameters may be modified as per the upcoming 2 recommendations. It's unhealthy for the Regulator to budge under pressure from just 3 operators when rest of the telecom industry welcomes the move. Regulator should and must hold firm against this paid media campaign by big 3 economic thugs who never in past made any single pro-consumer move. They will never ever do. Regulators throughout the world will always come under vicious pressure created by looters in the domain whenever they make pro-consumer and pro-competitive move. The best Regulator is the one who withstands that. TRAI has always proved in the past that they can never be pressured and they will prove again this time too. TRAI is the benchmark regulator for any Indian regulatory body(for IRDA,SEBI and so on). In many cases, TRAI has been a benchmark for even global regulators. We pray as Indian citizens that this sanctity achieved by the fearlessness of those who headed TRAI in the past is not diluted even 1%.

TRAI had shoot a letter to DoT yesterday mentioning the following details 1) Requesting DoT not to make any unilateral decision without referring back the doubts/queries on recommendations to TRAI as per TRAI Act. 2) TRAI has mentioned that regarding the 'current price' of 2G spectrum, TRAI will initiate a wider consultation and apprise DoT on the final values 3) TRAI has mentioned that it will do wider consulation on refarming of 800/900 MHz spectrum and provide the recommendations to DoT 4) TRAI has requested DoT to wait till the above 2 recommendations are submitted to DoT for to make any decision on the topics of 'current price' and 'Refarming' source :: http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/trai/upload/misc/143/lettertoSecDot19may10.pdf A welcome move by TRAI.

As expected there's no information whether IOT has been completed by all the service providers by the scheduled date (15th May). Disgusting and Irritating :'( :'( :'(

No doubt about that That's biggest worry. Insensitive and anti-customer organization like Airtel being in the top. That too difference between Airtel and second position is inexplicably huge.

TRAI gives Rs 6,440 cr bonanza on lower annual licence fee source:: http://www.hindustantimes.com/TRAI-gives-Rs-6-440-cr-bonanza-on-lower-annual-licence-fee/Article1-544930.aspx By reading through the above article and the recommendations carefully everyone will realize these recommendations are the best in many ways. The amount which incumbents going to pay as one-time charges is very very minute when compared to the amount they're pouring into the 3G auction. I want to understand what is that special brain made up of which thinks that company will collapse if they pay one-time very minute amount for 2G but thinks it's healthy to pour acrimonious amount of money into 3G spectrum. I request DoT to accept the recommendations as quickly as possible and in totality.

As expected, other than cartel (Airtel,Vodafone and Idea) all other operators welcome TRAI's recommendations. AUSPI Welcomes TRAI’s 2G Spectrum Recommendations source :: http://telecomtalk.info/auspi-welcomes-trai-s-2g-spectrum-recommendations/27839/ Etisalat welcomes TRAI’s new recommendations source :: http://www.telecomtiger.com/PolicyNRegulation_fullstory.aspx?passfrom=PolicyNRegulation&storyid=9137&section=S174

Amazingly fantastic Rev. A phone. Only drawback is this phone is not OMH complaint.

The details of the unlimited plans are now available in TATA's website. http://www.tataindicom.com/t-prepaid-rechargevouchers.aspx

In a closely related development, TTSL asks DoT to spell out precise nature of problem with Chinese gear source:: http://telecomtiger.com/PolicyNRegulation_fullstory.aspx?storyid=9145&flag=1&passfrom=topstory&section=S174

TRAI hits back at telcos, says read the fineprint source :: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/cnbc-tv18-comments/trai-hits-back-at-telcos-says-readfineprint_457604.html A fantastic and fitting reply from TRAI. :clap: :clap: It's ridiculous on the part of Bharti to shed tears for spending just Rs 1,184 crore. They've been looting customers year after year without any pro-consumer move. They've known only for milking customers by forming cartel with Vodafone and Idea. Hope they realize that the current level of teleom tariff is only due to competitive operators like TATA and Reliance. As expected only Airtel, Vodafone and TATA have responded in negative to the recommendations. Even Idea, Airtel's cartel partner have not responded against. This in itself clearly says that recommendations are pro-consumer and pro-competitive. Even TATA's objection to the recommendations are only related to the missing chapters on dual-tech operators and certianly not on the points Airtel and Vodafone are barging about. Hope DoT will do proper homework and appreciate the spirit behind the recommendations and implement all the recommendations in totality. DoT, it's time for you to act swift and decisive.

Vodafone Essar: TRAI recommendations simply unworkable source :: http://www.telecomtiger.com/PolicyNRegulation_fullstory.aspx?passfrom=PolicyNRegulation&storyid=9130&section=S174 As expected Vodafone started shedding crocodile tears. They are always willing to make cartel with Airtel and Idea to loot customers but when it comes to paying to the India's exechequer they'll start making irritating sounds.