Bharti Goes Big Into African Wireless Market
Christian Science Monitor
How much would you pay for a cellphone company in 15 countries, serving 45 million Africans? The answer, for Indian cellphone entrepreneur Sunil Mittal, is $9 billion.
Topics: Airtel, cellphone, India, Nigeria, Bharti, phone, telecom, Zain, Africa
Sunil Mittal’s Credibility Tested in Bharti Bid for Zain Africa
BusinessWeek
For Sunil Mittal, Bharti Airtel Ltd.’s founder and chairman, there’s a lot riding on the planned $9 billion purchase of the African assets of Kuwait’s Zain, not least of which is his credibility.
Topics: phone, Zain, India, wireless, telecom, Bharti, phone company, Africa, government, Airtel
India Poised to Help Bharti Airtel in Zain Deal
Wall Street Journal
The Indian government will help Bharti Airtel Ltd. in its bid to buy most of the African assets of Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications Co., or Zain, if the Indian mobile-phone operator …
Topics: Zain, Bharti, Airtel, Africa, phone company, telecom, phone, Google, India
Pakistan Minister Says Cellphones Should Only Be For “Influential People”
TMC.Net
Provincial Minister for commerce, investment and prisons Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor has suggested banning mobile phones in the country, as he believes that only influential people such as government officials are apt to use the cellular phone services.
On one hand, Pakistan was considered to be a poverty-hit nation, yet on the other hand, even men on [...]
Why Telcos Are Fearful of India’s 3G Auctions
BusinessWeek
While the government still hopes to collect a total of $5.5 billion for four national and 22 regional licenses, a price war has driven calling rates to well under 1 cent per minute, slowing the industry’s profit growth and denting stock prices.
Topics: telecom, India, 3G, phone
Next 3G Auction In India Will Set Precedent
TMC.Net
The auction of spectrum for third generation, or 3G, mobile phone services will set an interesting precedent in India’s telecom sector that could push up bid prices at the next sale of the precious radio waves needed for faster data transfer and better voice quality. The highest winning bid in the auction, whenever it takes [...]
DoT May Only Allow 3 Private Telcos Offer 3G In India
TMC.Net
In yet another twist to the upcoming third generation (3G) spectrum auctions, the department of telecom’s (DoT) draft notice for inviting applications (NIA) for the spectrum sale said that the process will be limited to three private GSM operators.
Topics: India, telecom, phone, 3G
Unitech India Adds 1.2M Subs In First Month
Interactive Investor
India’s Unitech Wireless, majority owned by Norway’s Telenor, added 1.2 million mobile users in December, its first month of operations, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
Topics: wireless, India, phone, telecommunications, Unitech, PDA, telecom
Smartphones to Cost Less by 2015
TMC.Net
SMARTPHONE prices have been slipping fast. And with the number of smartphone users witnessing an upswing, prices are expected to see a phenomenal dip, going forward. According to a new study by ABI Research, a firm that provides indepth analysis and quantitative forecasting of emerging trends in global connectivity, by 2015, about 45 per cent [...]
Commerce Ministry Prohibits Import of Handsets Without Valid IMEI
Telecom Tiger, India
The Commerce Ministry has prohibited import of mobile phone handsets (classified under ITC (HS) Code ‘8517’) without International Mobile Equipment Id.
Topics: telecom, phone, handset, India
Google Foraying Into Handset Manufacturing?
Telecom Tiger, India
Google may no longer remain just a services company as speculations suggest that the firm is considering launching own-brand name Android-based phones
Topics: phone, telecom, India, handset, Google, Android
Etisalat to Launch Own Branded Phones Next Week
Telecom Tiger, India
Etisalat is all geared up to launch own-branded mobile handsets in its domestic market starting next week reports the Emirates Business.
Topics: India, Etisalat, handset, telecom, phone
Bharti: Won’t Respond to Rivals’ Tariff Cuts
Wall Street Journal
Bharti Airtel Ltd., India’s largest mobile phone operator by subscribers, said Tuesday it won’t respond to aggressive reduction in call charges by rivals and will continue to explore options for growth outside the country.
Topics: MTN, telecommunications, Airtel, 3G, India, Bharti, Reliance Communications, phone, call, telecom
Rural India Set to Ring in 3G Mobile Technology
Inter Press Service
As India prepares to roll out third-generation (3G) mobile services in the world’s fastest growing telecom market, there are high expectations that it will benefit people in the vast, impoverished rural hinterland most.
Topics: India, 3G, telecom, PDA, telecommunications, phone
MTN Ends Talks With Bharti On U.S. $24 Billion Deal
TMC.Net
TALKS to create the world’s third- biggest cellphone group through a $24bn tie-up between MTN and India’s Bharti Airtel collapsed yesterday after the Indian telecoms group said the South African government did not accept the deal as it stood.
Topics: telecoms, Airtel, India, cellphone, phone, MTN, government, telecom, Bharti, Africa
