Vodafone offers more than full talk in Jammu and Kashmir

Vodafone, India’s one of the leading telecommunications service providers, today launched the ‘More Then Full Talk Time Recharge’ offer for its pre-paid customers in Jammu and Kashmir.

The offer includes a bouquet of five recharge vouchers starting from ` 220.

On the launch of the service, Asit Shekhar, Business Head Punjab-J&K said "we at Vodafone always endeavour to provide the best value offerings to our customers in Jammu and Kashmir. With these recharges, we hope to provide them a great opportunity to talk more with their loved ones".

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Mobile tariff to rise if spectrum is charged

Indian mobile phone users will have to pay more if the service providers are charged for spectrum, which was earlier given free to the operators,Sunil Mittal, Chairman of the country's largest telecom company Bharti Airtel has said.

"We have been offering services with lower tariffs when we have not been charged for spectrum. Going ahead, if it (spectrum) will be charged, we will also have to charge the customer," Sunil Mittal said.Old operators have been contesting the proposed one-time charge for the extra spectrum held with them.He was here for the annual global telecommunications event -- Mobile World Congress -- which concluded yesterday.Most of the mobile operators including Bharti Airtel, have already raised user charges by about 20 per cent in the wake of rising cost of operation and cut-throat competition.

Mittal said while the industry is for providing affordable service, its own interest must also be safeguarded.
"We will favour affordable service which should be viable for industry... Who will gain if our business is shut down?... This has to be balanced," he said.

The government proposes to delink allocation of airwaves from licences in the New Telecom Policy (NTP), which is expected to be unveiled next month.

The existing operators were given spectrum bundled with licences, which only were charged.The Bharti chief said India's telecom tariffs are still among the cheapest in the world -- even lower than Africa.
"(Tariffs in India) are still best in the world. Rates in Africa are 7 cents which is Rs3.5 per minute," Mittal said.

Telecom companies earnings in j&k

The total revenue of the private GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) cellular service providers for the 2ndquarter (Q2) April-June 2011 has gone up by Rs 22.19 crores from the previous quarter to reach Rs 187.99 crores in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the latest figures released by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) —the society dedicated to advancement of modern communication through cellular mobile telephone services— the telecom service providers managed total revenue of Rs 165.80 crores for the quarter January-March 2011 (Q1) in the state.

The Average Revenue Per user (ARPU), a measure used primarily by consumer communications and networking companies, for Jammu and Kashmir has gone up from Rs 133.12 in Q1 to Rs 144.52 in Q2, registering a growth of 8.56 per cent.“ARPU in J&K would be higher as people over here have more disposable income, entertainment expenditure, compared rest of circles in India, which they usually spend on telecom services,” said renowned global telecom analyst Jahangir Raina, who is CEO and director of research at iLocus, Research Company focused on the telecom industry.

The Bharti Airtel ltd., major telecom player in the state which has a base of 1,949,520 mobile users, has managed revenue of Rs 97.46 crores in the Q2 registering a growth of 11.98 per cent up from Rs 87.07 crores in Q1, 2011. While, ARPU of Airtel has gone up from Rs 150.51 for Q1 registering a growth of 12.29 per cent to reach Rs 169.01 for Q2, 2011.

The Dishnet Wireless, which has a 1,496,257 subscriber base in the state, has secured revenue of Rs 74 crores in the Q2 registering a growth of 14.07 per cent up from Rs 64.87 crores in Q1, 2011. While, the ARPU of Dishnet has gone up from Rs 128.31 for Q1 registering growth of 9.64 per cent to reach Rs 128.31 for Q2, 2011.

While, Vodafone Essar, which has a 607,948 subscriber base in J&K, manages revenue of Rs 13.48 crores in the Q2 registering a growth of 21.72 per cent up from Rs 11.08 crores in Q1, 2011. While, the ARPU of Vodafone has gone up from Rs 85.62 for Q1 registering negative growth of 1.48 per cent to reach Rs 84.35 for Q2, 2011.

IDEA Cellular, which has a 154,241 subscriber base in J&K, secures revenue of Rs 3.05 crores in the Q2 registering a growth of 8.24 per cent up from Rs 2.82 crores in Q1, 2011. However, the ARPU of IDEA has gone down from Rs 87.32 for Q1 registering decline of 8.83 per cent to slip Rs 79.61 for Q2, 2011.

To mention, the latest mobile subscriber figures of the telecom operators in the state have heavily gone down. Over three lakh mobiles subscribers have been barred here in the month ending September, 2011.

3 lakh mobile connections barred in J&K

The latest mobile subscriber figures with the telecom operators in Jammu and Kashmir have heavily gone down. Over three lakh mobile subscribers in the state have been barred here in the month ending September, 2011, latest report released by the Cellular Operators Association of India reveals.

According to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)—the society dedicated to advancement of modern communication through cellular mobile telephone services, 3,10,627 mobile subscribers had been disconnected in the state. However, few companies have expanded their customer base and this has brought the total number of disconnected subscribers down to 264,407 cell users.

The total telecom users have gone down from 5,343,800 to 5,079,393 subscribers, which is a loss of 4.95 per cent in September, 2011. “Most of the connections that had been barred were prepaid SIM services,” said a telecom operator here.

During the month, Dishnet Wireless saw the highest disconnections of 287,393 cell users and the companies’ subscriber base has gone down from 1,783,650 to 1,496,257 users. BSNL faced a cut of 23,234 subscribers and its base was reduced from 894,661 to 871,427 users during the same period.

However, Bharti Airtel added 12,234 users in September and its total base had gone up from 1,937,286 to 1,949,520 users. While, Vodafone Essar gained 19,800 subscribers and its base had grown from 588,148 to 607,948 users. Idea too has added 14,186 users and its figures had gone up from 140,055 to 154,241 mobile subscribers.

The decision would have an impact on over all market size of the mobile service providers, believe authorized telecom kiosks.“Most of the customers come to us for pre paid connections but now with the stringent procedure in place for new connections we would not be able to make much sales,” a local dealer said who wished not to be named.

A prepaid SIM subscriber, Mushtaq Ahmad said, “Most of the barred connections were from the poorer section of the society. As most of the persons from the poor strata possess prepaid SIM cards,” adding, "The prepaid scheme is meant mainly for below poverty line section.” The stern procedure for issuance of new SIM cards would hamper the growth of the mobile subscribers in remote rural areas, Ahmad lamented.

Airtel launches Ramzan pack

Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunication company with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa, today announced the launch of a unique VAS pack - LiveWell Ramzan - for its mobile customers in J&K.

Powered by PurpleTeal Technologies, this pack is available at a subscription charge of Re 2 per day and is offered in both English and 'Hinglish'.

The LiveWell Ramzan pack offers customers Daily Message Alerts to inform, prepare, encourage and assist them in observing fast during the holy month of Ramzan. It will additionally provide followers of the fasting season with Alerts on charity and forgiveness - the essence of the month long Ramzan period.

To subscribe, customers can SMS 'Ramzan' or 'RMD' respectively to 54444.

3G Services in j&k

BSNL to launch 3G Services by end of this quarter: CGM

BSNL to launch 3G in J & K to the end of this quarter. This was stated by Chief General Manager BSNL, J and K, RK Koul, said in an interview with reporters this afternoon. "We started on the basis of the past. The delay was due to the unavailability of monitoring equipment, but now the team recovered and the same will be installed shortly,''said

Mr Koul said that the year 2011-12, year of consolidation for J & K, to be a better customer service. The organization also expand Users and network base in the state with the installation of 170 towers of ongoing projects that cover more areas and to improve performance in urban areas.

Maintenance in 2010-11 was a year and face the challenge of revitalizing the BSNL in the state as the organization of many problems with the fury of flash floods caused by torrential rains in Leh (Ladakh), the provision of mobile services Shri Amarnath Yatra to the Holy to the cavity and other desires and needs of people gather, said BSNL not only overcame these challenges but has also provided lakhs new connections to consumers in the course of the year.

He said that during the year 3,96,683 new prepaid mobile connections of 35 575 post-paid connections, 11,132 landline connections, 11 591 11 720 WLL and broadband connections were added by the organizations in the state.

He said the number of customers with BSNL fixed line, WLL, 82 340 and 34 065 2,16,149 broad band, while the GSM 7,51,092.

Mr. Koul, in particular emphasis on the various customer-friendly policies of the BSNL transferred to the State, said the rate was significantly reduced by the Bank in all services, while clients and gifts on the cell phone number were given post-paid, fixed line and WLL and broadband services.

Mr. Koul was flanked by Mittal and RK Garg BD, GM Main, SK Koul, Tkakur KK, AK and Sandeep Dinkar Sawako GM, BSNL said, marketing and wide distribution network of 6000 has established sales offices throughout the state. In addition to the fixed network of BSNL bills now, each meter would pay anywhere in the J and K of Ladakh, where these units were in charge in June, he added.

The BSNL has also increased considerably the connection of their customers and make customers of other operators in J & KL, calls to the network of BSNL and MTNL network outside J & K, he said, adding that BSNL has additional features for 1.6 lac providing fixed lines, 4.5 lakh GSM mobile connections, a lacquer WLL and 30,000 broadband connections as on 1 April this year.

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