Telecom Sector

Wireless market’s astounding March figures; 15.87 million subscriber-additions

Telecom Regulatory Authority of IndiaAs per the most recent data from TRAI - Telecom Regulatory Authority of India - mobile operators in India added an all-time high of 15.87 million subscribers in March, largely because of spreading out of mobile networks in smaller towns and rural areas. The record marks a step ahead of the February subscriber-addition figures of 13.82 million, and the January figures of 15.41 million.

OnMobile Global signs deal with Vodafone Group

OnMobile Global signs deal with Vodafone GroupOnMobile Global Ltd and Vodafone Group have entered into an agreement to deploy OnMobile's Ringback Tones, Voice Portal and Speech-enabled Value Added Services to the Vodafone Group emerging markets operating companies.

The agreement enables Vodafone operators and Partner Networks across the world to rapidly deploy OnMobile's products which have achieved remarkable success for Vodafone in the fast growing Indian VAS market

Tata Teleservices launches location-based A-GPS service

Tata-TeleservicesA new, location-based service has been launched by Tata Teleservices Ltd on Monday. Called the 'Quickfinder Assisted Global Positioning System' (A-GPS) service, it aims at facilitating for the CDMA subscribers the pin down of locations of interest, and the en-route tracking of vehicles and consignments.

The latest offering from Tata Teleservices is powered by Qualcomm's 'QPoint' solution and 'gpsOne' technology incorporated into its chipsets. The Navigator application of the service will provide end-users with driving instructions, and information about the shortest route to a preferred destination.

MTNL to launch 3G services in Mumbai by next month

MTNL to launch 3G services in Mumbai by next monthState-run telecom service provider MTNL intends to launch its third generation (3G) services in Mumbai next month as it targets a user base of 1,00,000 for the third generation mobile service by the year end.

The company has already embarked Rs 200 crore for building optic fiber networks in Delhi and Mumbai for providing fiber-to-the-home, or FTTH services.

The company had recently launched its 3G services `Jadoo' in central and some of parts of South Delhi. The company plans to expand its 3G services to the remaining parts of Delhi in the next two-three months.

SBI sanctions Rs 10000 crore loan to Vodafone

SBI sanctions Rs 10000 crore loan to VodafoneState Bank of India, the country's top lender, has agreed to lend Rs 10,000 crore to Vodafone-Essar, the Indian arm of UK-based telecom firm Vodafone Group to finance the company’s entry into 3G (third generation) telecom services and expansion of its operations.

According to sources, the five-year loan carries an interest rate of 13.25 per cent for the first two years; thereafter, it will be re-adjusted on the basis of the average prime lending rate.

The company intends to use the funds for network rollout, broadband operations, and to pre-pay part of its previous debt.

Telecom, insurance companies allowed to access credit data

CIBILIn line with the stipulations of the credit flow-regulating Credit Information Companies Act (CICA), 2005, the Credit Information Bureau India Ltd - CIBIL - has been granted 'in-principle approval' for Certificate of Registration by the Reserve Bank of India.

The certification allows companies in the telecommunications and insurance sectors to access credit data. Previously, the credit data could be accessed and shared by financial institutions such as banks and NBFCs.

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