Indian Telecom: News & Discussions: All Cable COs must become digital by 2013: TRAI

[Pintu]

Sunil Mittal meets PM; discusses Bharti-MTN deal- Telecom-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

Sunil Mittal meets PM; discusses Bharti-MTN deal
22 Sep 2009, 1921 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: Amid talks with South African telecom giant MTN for a possible deal, Bharti Chairman Sunil Mittal today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is understood to have discussed some contentious issue like dual listing and exemption from open offer to be availed by MTN.

Mittal's meeting comes on a day when the market regulator SEBI revised the takeover norms that may have ramifications for the proposed deal between the Indian and the South African telecom firms to create a combined USD 23 billion entity.

As per the revised norms, an open offer will be triggered if any entity acquires GDRs/ADRs with voting rights amounting to a 15 per cent stake in any Indian company.

While SEBI Chairman C B Bhave declined to comment on Bharti-MTN deal in particular, the revised norms would require MTN to make an open offer if it is issued GDRs with voting rights.

"We can confirm that the structure under discussion with MTN will be fully compliant with the laws in both the countries. All relevant approvals, including exemption
from open offer from SEBI (if required), would be sought at an appropriate time," Bharti Airtel said in a statement here.

Both companies have extended period for exclusive talks till September 30 and according to highly placed sources talks both at the level of companies as well as government are still continuing to hammer out differences.

Bharti spokesperson, however, declined to comment on the impact of SEBI's revised takeover norms on the proposed deal.

According to South Africa Government officials, they are working closely with India through their respective finance ministries on the proposed deal between Bharti AIrtel and MTN, including seeking exemption on a range of exchange controls regulations.

"We have received an application from MTN for an exemption on a range of exchange controls regulations, and due process is being followed. The SA government is working closely with the Indian government through their finance ministries.

"It would be important that such mergers are not only of benefit to the two companies, but to both countries as well", Thoraya Pandy, spokesperson of National Treasury, South African Government, had told PTI an an e-mail query.

A group of officials from the National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will be visiting India to meet with officials from the Indian Ministry of Finance, regulatory authorities and officials of the central bank to discuss regulatory matters related to the deal.

Earlier in July this year, SEBI had said that South African firm MTN need not make an open offer to Bharti Airtel shareholders in India as its shareholding in the Sunil Mittal promoted firm would be through GDRs.

SEBI had said that an open offer would only trigger once the GDRs, issued to MTN and its shareholders by Bharti Airtel, are converted into local shares with voting rights.

Under the announced scheme of arrangement, Bharti Airtel is to acquire 49 per cent economic interest in MTN. In return, MTN will acquire 25 per cent economic interest in Bharti Airtel for USD 2.9 billion and MTN shareholders will acquire another 11 per cent.

The 15-year-old MTN is South Africa's largest telecom company with over 103 million subscribers in 21 countries. The shareholding of the company is widely held, with the Mikati family of Lebanon controlling over 10.18 per cent, employee-controlled NewShelf 664 with 14.87 per cent and the government-controlled Public Investment Corporation holding around 21 per cent.

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Mobile number portability by December​

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday said mobile number portability (MNP), which allows a subscriber to change his operator without changing his mobile number, would be implemented from December 31 in metros and category ‘A’ telecom circles, and by March 20, 2010 in rest of the country. Issuing “Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Regulations, 2009”, the TRAI said the MNP facility shall be available only within a given licensed service area. A subscriber holding a mobile number is eligible to make a porting request only after 90 days of the date of activation of his mobile connection. If a number is already ported once, the number can again be ported only after 90 days from the date of the previous porting. The cost to the subscriber seeking the porting is yet to be decided by TRAI. The subscriber who wishes to port his mobile number should approach the recipient operator (the operator to whom the subscriber wants to port his number). The subscriber may be required to pay porting charges, if any, to the recipient operator. Also, the subscriber must clear all the bills issued prior to the date of porting request, it added.

Link

 

[Pintu]

PM strongly backs Bharti's efforts to acquire stakes in MTN - India Business - Business - NEWS - The Times of India

PM strongly backs Bharti's efforts to acquire stakes in MTN
PTI 26 September 2009, 11:05am IST

PITTSBURGH: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday strongly backed Bharti group's efforts for acquiring stakes in South African telecom gaint MTN when he took up the issue with President Jacob Zuma and hoped that the deal will go through without any "discrimination".

"As far as MTN issue is concerned, I mentioned it to (President) Zuma. I sincerely hope that this deal would go through and there will be no discrimination against it," he told reporters in reply to a question at a press conference here.

Singh said officials of the two countries would discuss the issue.

Bharti and MTN are looking at an $23 billion deal to create the world's third largest mobile firm with over 200 million subscribers.

According to the initial agreement, MTN and its shareholders would acquire 36% stake in Bharti and Bharti would acquire 49% stake in MTN.

The process would see a $13 billion transaction in cash and $10 billion in shares.

 

[Pintu]

AFP: Bharti-MTN talks could go into overtime: analysts

Bharti-MTN talks could go into overtime: analysts

By Penny MacRae (AFP) – 2 hours ago

NEW DELHI — Talks between India's top mobile firm Bharti and South Africa's flagship cellular group MTN may have to be extended due to new hurdles in their bid to create a telecoms giant, analysts say.

But a deal could still emerge despite regulatory obstacles that have cropped up in the complex 24-billion-dollar share-swap negotiations, they said.

The latest deadline set by Bharti Airtel, owned by tycoon Sunil Bharti Mittal, and MTN to wrap up exclusive talks to create the world's third-largest mobile phone operator by subscribers expires Wednesday.

Many analysts believe the companies will announce a third extension of the talks, which began in May aimed at forging a telecom powerhouse with annual revenues of over 20 billion dollars and 200 million customers.

"The two parties may come out with preliminary details, which may be possible before the end of the month, but there's no way a deal can be concluded," said investment analyst Rajay Ambekar of Prudential South Africa.

"We'll most likely see another extension," Ambekar told AFP.

Under the initial plan announced in May, Bharti would be the biggest single stakeholder in the alliance, taking a 49-percent stake in MTN using cash and Global Depository Receipts (GDRs).

Shareholders of MTN would have a 36 percent interest in Bharti through cash and stock.

"The two bodies are principally okay with the structure that they have been talking about," said Gartner telecoms analyst Madhusudan Gupta.

But demands earlier this month by the South African government for a dual stock exchange listing to preserve MTN's South African identity have created a last-minute hitch.

A dual-listed company involves two listed companies which have different sets of shareholders but share ownership of a single business. South Africa allows dual listing while India does not.

The South African government, which indirectly holds over 21 percent in MTN, said it was unwilling to sacrifice the firm?s "South African character" and raised the idea of dual listing as a compromise.

But allowing dual-listed companies would involve major changes in India's foreign exchange and stock market laws -- something the government says cannot be done immediately and not to facilitate one corporate deal.

Then, in another complication, India's stock market regulator last week tightened takeover rules.

It said regulations on triggering an open offer now would apply to bidders acquiring Global Depositary Receipts with voting rights in an Indian company.

MTN might then need to make a mandatory offer for another 20 percent of Bharti on top of the original 36 percent it planned to acquire, analysts say.

That would make the deal more expensive for MTN and push the foreign investment in Bharti over the 74 percent limit stipulated by Indian law as there are other foreign investors which hold Bharti shares.

The regulatory aspects "look to be a challenge" but "I don't think the talks will fail on these grounds," said Gartner's Gupta.

"I think they might just have to extend the talks."

In one positive sign, Indian Premier Manmohan Singh met South African President Jacob Zuma on the sidelines of the G-20 summit of rich and emerging nations in Pittsburgh last week to say he supported the deal.

He said in comments aired on Indian TV on Saturday that he told Zuma he "sincerely hoped this deal would go through."

"It has been agreed this matter can be further discussed with the government of South Africa," he added.

In another positive signal, Indian TV station CNBC-TV18 quoted unnamed South African government officials as saying they were positive on the deal for the "growth of MTN and Bharti."

Still, analysts say even if a deal is reached, MTN shareholders may not be happy over the price offered.

"Views are in South Africa that MTN has a unique footprint in Africa and the Middle East and the price needs to be higher," said a London-based analyst who did not wish to be named.

An agreement would need approval from 75 percent of MTN's shareholders -- some of whom have persistently said Bharti should sweeten its offer.

 

[Pintu]

Bharti-MTN: PM asks Zuma for easy dial-up- Telecom-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

Bharti-MTN: PM asks Zuma for easy dial-up
27 Sep 2009, 0309 hrs IST, T K Arun, ET Bureau

PITTSBURGH: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has backed the proposed alliance between Bharti Airtel and MTN and told South African President Jacob Zuma that he hopes the Indian company will not be subject to discriminatory practices, giving a possible shot in the arm for a deal which is awaiting regulatory approval from the South African government.

The deadline for talks between the largest mobile phone firms in India and South Africa expires on September 30 and the South African government is expected to make up its mind on the transaction in the next few days. While Bharti declined to comment on the Singh-Zuma meeting, a person close to the transaction said the PM’s support would make it difficult for the South Africans to reject the deal.

Last month, the South African President had said “legal hurdles, particularly on the Indian side was holding up the deal between both companies.” South Africa has been pressing the Indian government to amend laws to allow dual listed companies, or DLCs, in India as a precursor to the deal.

“As far as the MTN issue is concerned, I did mention to President Zuma that I sincerely hope that the deal will go through and that Indian companies will not be subjected to discriminatory practices. It has been agreed that this matter can be further discussed with the government of South Africa,” Dr Singh said at a press conference here at the conclusion of the G20 summit of the world’s leading economies.

Dr Singh was not scheduled to have a full-fledged bilateral meeting with the South African leader but sought him out to speak about this deal. South Africa has been insisting on allowing DLCs to protect the national character of MTN but India has said that this will need major amendments to key corporate laws and cannot be done in haste.

There is also concern that South Africa is raising the issue of MTN’s national identity even while allowing many foreign companies, especially from Europe, to take control of strategic companies and assets.

Among the examples that have been cited are British telecoms group Vodafone’s acquisition of a 65% stake South Africa’s Vodacom, Barclays Capital’s acquisition of South Africa’s largest bank ABSA Capital and Anglo-American buying De Beers Centenary Linked.

No immediate dual listing

ET had first reported on September 21 that the heads of both countries would discuss the deal in Pittsburgh during the G-20 meet and that the PM was likely to indicate the Indian government’s support for the deal. Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal had met the PM and briefed him about the transaction before he left for Pittsburgh.

Bharti and MTN have sewn up a $24 billion cash cum stock transaction which will result in Bharti holding a 49% stake in the South African company and MTN holding a 27% economic interest in the Indian company, creating a transcontinental alliance spanning 24 countries and over 200 million subscribers. But the deal cannot be signed before the South African government approves the transaction.

Last week, markets regulator Sebi unveiled a rule change which said that anyone holding GDRs or ADRs with voting rights of 15% must offer to buy 20% from minority holders. This hurdle, too, must be crossed for Bharti and MTN to give final shape to their alliance, whose contours were unveiled in May.

Last week, a delegation of South African officials was in India meeting policymakers to try and thrash out an agreement on dual listing of both Bharti and MTN. President Zuma’s government has been insisting on dual listing as a pre-condition to the deal in a bid to ensure that its home-grown multinational retains its character as a South African entity following any deal between the mobile phone companies.

On Friday, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee told ET NOW both Bharti and MTN were not ‘looking at dual listing in the first phase of the deal.’

“Both the companies are not talking about dual listing immediately. They are talking about buying shares in each other. For that dual listing is not necessary. Whenever we take the decision on full convertibility, then we will not have any problem,” he said.

 

[Pintu]

Govt positive towards Bharti-MTN deal: Pranab - India Business - Business - NEWS - The Times of India

Govt positive towards Bharti-MTN deal: Pranab
PTI 29 September 2009, 07:50pm IST

NEW DELHI: The government today said it has a positive approach towards the proposed $23-billion deal between Bharti and South African MTN, even as the time for exclusive talks between the two companies ends tomorrow.

"Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and myself have said that we are taking a positive approach and outlook towards it," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on sidelines of a book release function here.

Asked whether the South Africa government officials, who were here last week, got back to Indian authorities, he said, "You know we are working on it"

Meanwhile, there are indications that both the companies are likely to extend the exclusive talks period beyond September 30 in the absence of clarity on the deal. This, however, could not be confirmed.

The government also said it has not received any proposal from either Bharti or MTN.

"Our officials had some discussions with the South African authorities. They have explained our legal position (on dual listing) and asked them what is that they need," Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla said earlier in the day.

Asked about if there is any proposal on dual listing, Chawla said, "There is no formal proposal before any public authority in India as of today."

 

[Pintu]

Bharti-MTN deal hangs in balance as deadline nears | Top News | Reuters

Bharti-MTN deal hangs in balance as deadline nears
Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:14pm IST

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - With the deadline for a deal just a day away, telecoms group Bharti Airtel scotched talk it would make a statement about its $24 billion tie-up talks with South African mobile firm MTN.

The exclusive negotiations, which are facing increasing scrutiny from politicians and regulators, were originally due to end on July 31, but have been extended twice, and another extension is one of the two most likely outcomes, three sources and an analyst said.

Earlier on Tuesday, a source had said Bharti would issue a statement on the outcome of the talks. Bharti Airtel later said no statement would be issued on Tuesday.

Three sources with knowledge of the deal said the firms could either extend exclusive talks for a third time or might call off the deal if some terms were not accepted by the South African government, while an analyst said he expected another extension.

"I expect it to be extended for another month. The South African government is very keen to go ahead," said R.K. Gupta, managing director at Taurus Asset Management in New Delhi.

The deal would appear to be in the hands of the South African government, one of the sources said, adding the outcome was not clear.

The South African government is eager to retain MTN's national character and has approached Indian authorities for a dual listing of the combined firm, which is not currently allowed under Indian laws and needs changes such as making the rupee fully convertible.

TAKEOVER RULES

Also, India's capital markets regulator last week altered the country's takeover rules, requiring a company that acquires 15 percent of an Indian firm through American depositary receipts (ADRs) or Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) with voting rights to make a mandatory offer for a further 20 percent.

Under the new rules, MTN might be required to make an offer for an additional 20 percent stake in Bharti, if it is issued GDRs with voting rights.

"There have been problems in the deal. You will get more clarity about it next week," one of the sources said.

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the government was taking a "positive approach" to the deal. Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla said there had been no formal approach about a dual listing.

Bharti and MTN had revived their talks in May, a year after previous discussions broke down over who would control a merged entity. A merger would create an emerging markets giant with more than 200 million customers across India, Africa and the Middle East.

Under the proposed deal, Bharti would use cash and shares to buy a 49 percent stake in MTN, and the South African firm and its shareholders would pay cash and shares for a 36 percent interest in the Indian firm.

"It could swing either way. It's not clear at the moment," said a third source briefed on the deal.

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy and C.J. Kuncheria in NEW DELHI, Tony Munroe and Narayanan Somasundaram in MUMBAI, Harry Suhartono in SINGAPORE; Editing by John Mair/Will Waterman)

 

[Pintu]

MTN ties-up with IMIMobile to bring content to 103-mn users- Telecom-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

MTN ties-up with IMIMobile to bring content to 103-mn users
1 Oct 2009, 2127 hrs IST, PTI

MUMBAI: Leading mobile operator, MTN, on Thursday tied-up with India-based software firm, IMIMobile, to provide improved mobile and online content to 103-million users in the Middle-East and Africa.

The two companies have teamed up to address the growing demand for content in emerging markets and this tie-up will entail providing MTN's 21 markets access to a repository of current and globally popular content through enhanced delivery platforms.

Content categories will include music (with local and international flavour), sports, games, entertainment, news and much more, a company press release said.

With the tie-up, MTN expects its global revenues from mobile content and services to reach around USD 150.2-billion in 2011, up from USD 89.3-billion in 2006, the release said.

MTN will leverage its IMImobile partnership to deliver exclusive 2010 FIFA World Cup content on subscribers' handsets, including soccer match news, fixtures, match results as well as team and group profiles, it said.

 

[BLACK_COBRA]

BSNL, MTNL to bid for Zain Telecom

Aimed at expanding its business overseas, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) have joined hands to form a consortium along with two other companies to bid for acquiring Kuwait’s telecom major Zain Telecom that has operations in 24 countries.

“The negotiations for acquiring a controlling stake in Zain Telecom have already begun. We hope to get over 50 per cent in the Kuwait-based company,” BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Kuldeep Goyal told journalists at the inaugural day of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conference here.

Union Communications and Information and Information Technology Minister A Raja, who was also present at the conference, said: “BSNL and MTNL are well within their rights to expand and go global. Once all the formalities for the deal are over and if it goes through, they will approach the Department of Telecom for necessary government clearances, including the Cabinet nod. And if the DoT needs any clarifications on the deal, it will seek from them.”

The four-company consortium that includes India’s Vavasi group and a Malaysian company would make multi-billion dollar bid to acquire Zain Telecom.

Mr. Goyal, however, did not comment on what would be the stake of individual consortium members.
:dfi-1:


The Hindu : Business News : BSNL, MTNL to bid for Zain Telecom

 

[RPK]

Moneycontrol.com - Trai may make per second plan compulsory; telecom stks fall

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is planning to make per second billing option mandatory. JS Sarma, Chairman, Trai said, "We are looking at the possibility of making service providers offer to consumers per second pulse as a mandatory option to be provided. Hopefully, in a month or a month-and-a-half we might like to come out with a consultation paper."
Most of the brokerage firms are underweight on the sector and have recommended a sell rating on the telecom stocks. Enam Securities has maintained an underweight rating on telecom sector. It says that tariff cuts will intensify the pressures on the sector in the near-term. It also feels that the new entrants will intensify the competition. "Earning outlook is deteriorating and Q2, FY10 & FY11 earnings will disappoint." Enam is revising the earning per share (EPS) numbers

 

[johnee]

Thats a great news! Read this bit in the morning paper.

 

[salahsiwati]

is there any 3G news in india?i m a big fan of cellphone,and which systerm is adoped by india, cdma2000,or wcdma,

 

[RPK]

is there any 3G news in india?i m a big fan of cellphone,and which systerm is adoped by india, cdma2000,or wcdma,

3G in India: status check - Express Computer

 

[salahsiwati]

great ,but i mean which standard india choose ? the writer seems really dont know 3G acording to this 3G in India: status check - Express Computer

 

[Sridhar]

IBM to help telecom companies analyze usage patterns By siliconindia news bureau
Tuesday,06 October 2009, 08:00 hrs




New Delhi: IBM has launched two technologies which will enable the telecom operators to analyze usage patterns of their subscribers and design subscription plans.

The Social Network Analysis (SNA) technology has been developed at IBM's India centre. It will enable telecom operators to analyze the calling patterns of the users and develop more attractive and useful subscriber plans. The companies will be able to reduce customer turnover and increase satisfaction.

"Mobile telephony is growing tremendously all over the world, especially in developing nations. The market is immensely competitive and companies are looking for tailored products to retain and attract customers and therefore, business intelligence through customer behaviour analysis is critical," said Guruduth Banavar, Director, IBM India Research Lab and Chief Technologist, IBM India and South Asia.

The Indian branch of IBM leads the company's global mobile web initiatives and has been working on this technology for about past two years, Banavar added.

The IBM Customer Analyst is under development at IBM's lab in Israel. This technology focuses on understanding internet users, particularly mobile telephone subscribers.

IBM to help telecom companies analyze usage patterns - SiliconIndia

 

[RPK]

fullstory

Bharti may bid for Millicom's assets in SL: Kohli

New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) Just days after an aborted deal for merger with South Africa's MTN, Bharti Airtel today said it may bid to acquire Luxembourg-based telecom firm Millicom's operations in Sri Lanka.

"We are considering it... that much I can say," Bharti Airtel Chief Executive Manoj Kohli told reporters on the sidelines of an AIMA event here.

Bharti, which itself has mobile services running in Sri Lanka, is understood to be keen about acquiring 100 per cent stake of Millicom's operations in the island nation, but it was not known when it would start due diligence.

Besides Sri Lanka, Millicom has put its assets in Laos and Cambodia for sale.

Nasdaq-listed Millicom provides prepaid cellular telephony services to over 30 million customers in 16 emerging markets in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

 

[Pintu]

MTS starts Delhi, NCR mobile service- Telecom-News-Indiatimes - Infotech

MTS starts Delhi, NCR mobile service
8 Oct, 2009, 1632 hrs IST, Indiatimes Infotech

GURGAON: MTS, mobile telephony services brand of Sistema Shyam TeleServices Ltd (SSTL), has launched its services in Delhi and NCR.


Offering per second billing tariff plan, the launch coincides with the national roll out of the company's high speed services -- –MBlaze. The service will be available for Delhi subscribers starting next week.

MTS boasts of over 2 million subscribers in Kolkatta, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Jharkhand and has more than 100 million subscribers all over the world.

Sergey Cheremin, Deputy Chairman of Sistema, said, “We are committed to the further expansion of the MTS network in India, with the impressive growth adding two million subscribers so far.”

Vsevolod Rozanov, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sistema Shyam Teleservices Limited (SSTL) said, “Today’s MTS launch in Delhi is a good example of our commitment to enlarge the MTS presence in the key telecom circles of India."

Sanjay Bahl, Chief Operating officer of MTS India, Delhi and NCR, added, “Besides the innovative tariff plan Power of One which, on an average, adds 25% to the value of your recharge compared to per minute plans, we have prepared a special promotion offer for the Delhi launch called Minute Millionaires. We offer 10, 000, 00 minutes of talk time free through the M Card."

MTS is a joint venture company between Sistema of Russia and Shyam Group of India. Sistema is the majority share holder in this joint venture with a 74% equity stake, along with the Shyam Group, holding a 23.5% stake and the rest 2.5% being public partake.

SSTL has spectrum to provide mobile telephony services in all the 22 circles across the country.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/319803_Free-access-to-toll-gates-in-Noida--Gurgaon-on-Oct-9

Free access to toll gates in Noida, Gurgaon on Oct 9

STAFF WRITER 0:15 HRS IST

New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) People will have free access at the toll gates of Noida and Gurgaon during peak hours of traffic on October 9, courtesy MTS, the new telecom operator, which will be launched on that day.

MTS, the mobile telephony wing of Sistema Shyam TeleServices Ltd, will provide free and unhindered access to all vehicles on the Delhi-Noida DND Flyway and Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway on Friday to mark the launch of its services in Delhi and NCR.

Vehicles will not be charged any money on the toll gates of Noida and Gurgaon expressways between 9-11am and 5-8pm on Friday. This will be applicable for vehicles moving into and out of Delhi, a release said.

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

MTNL interested in Zain and Zambia's Zamtel​

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - State-run telecom Mahanagar Telephone Nigam is looking to move ahead with a consortium bid for Kuwait telecom Zain and is also interested in buying a stake in Zambian telecom firm Zamtel. Chairman R.S.P. Sinha said MTNL and another state-run telecom, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd would join a consortium with Indian firm Vavasi and a Malaysian investor to buy a 46 stake in Zain being sold by a group including Kuwaiti family conglomerate Kharafi Group.

"We are going with Bharat Sanchar," Sinha told reporters on Thursday, adding as state-run firms there were a number of requirements to be met as part of the bid process. For example, the companies would have to advertise for expressions of interest from merchant bankers to advise them, Sinha said, without giving an expected timeframe. The state-run firms would also need approvals from different ministries and the cabinet for a deal to be completed. On Monday, BSNL's chairman said the consortium was interested in a stake of more than 50 percent in Zain.

Full Story

 

[Rage]

India pips China to become fastest growing telecom market

13/10/2009


New Delhi: India has pipped China to become the world's fastest growing market, thanks to the various "innovative" ways such as infrastructure sharing and network management outsourcing adopted by it that has also helped telecom operators keep the service charge low, says a report.

Terming India as "world's fastest growing (telecom) market", global rating agency Moody's today said in the past 18 months, "India's net additions of 10 million (subscribers) per month have far outpaced China's monthly rate of increase, now below eight million".

About two years ago, China was having the maximum number of new subscribers on a monthly basis.

"Although emerging markets with relatively low penetration continue to have above-average rates of increase in new subscribers, those numbers tend to be slowing, except in India...," Moody's said in a statement.

The agency pointed out that Indian telecom players are using "innovative means such as outsourcing network management and sharing mobile infrastructure to keep costs low in extending services to under-served rural areas".

Moody's said, mobile operators in India frequently share base stations and partner with other firms or independent cell-tower firms in expanding coverage to under-penetrated rural areas from where much of the growth is coming

Business Standard


India pips China to become fastest growing telecom market - *Business News - News - MSN India