Vodafone Idea kicks off cost optimization plan 2.0

Having reached the cost-saving target of its merger one year ahead of schedule, Vodafone Idea said it has now kicked off another cost-reduction plan. PLAN 1.0 The company said it reduced its operating expenses during the January-March period by around Rs 2,100 cr compared to before the merger, which works out to savings of Rs […]

Jio blames rivals for low data price, seeks TRAI help

Reliance Jio, the country’s largest telecom operator by size, said attempts to increase telecom tariffs have failed due to competitive actions by rivals, and asked TRAI to intervene to raise data prices. Traditionally, it is Jio’s rivals such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea which make such allegations. Responding to a TRAI consultation paper on […]

Vodafone Idea says AGR dues 60% less than DoT estimate

Vodafone Idea, one of India’s biggest telecom operators, today said that the dues that it has to pay pursuant to a recent Supreme Court decision works out to Rs 21,533 cr. This is about 60% less than the Rs 53,000 cr that Department of Telecom has calculated. “Following the approval of the Board of Directors […]

Not aware of Vodafone Idea shutting down, says Govt

Ministry of Communications, Government of India today said that it was not aware of any speculations or reports about telecom operator Vodafone Idea shutting down its operations. This was stated by junior telecom minister Sanjay Dhotre when Member of Parliament Pratima Mondal sought government of India’s reaction to reports about the company being forced to […]

Pushed to the brink, Vodafone Idea gives Jio a fight

Vodafone Idea, an operator that is struggling to stay afloat, seems to have finally decided to abandon its long-held strategy of allowing Reliance Jio to undercut it on prices and lure away its customers. For the last four years, Vodafone and Idea always allowed Jio to price its offerings lower, thus helping the Mukesh Ambani […]

Jio reduces validity of long-term plans to 11 months

Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom operator, has reduced the validity of its long-term recharges from 1 year to 11 months. Other operators continue to offer 1 year validity for their yearly plans. Jio used to offer two yearly plans – one priced at Rs 2,020 and another priced at Rs 1,299. The costlier plan was […]

Vodafone Idea cannot pay AGR dues – India Ratings

India Ratings, a unit of Fitch Group, downgraded the credit rating of Vodafone Idea and said it doesn’t see how the company can pay the money sought by the Department of Telecom as directed by the Supreme Court. A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra has asked companies such as Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel […]

AGR DUES: Why Vodafone Idea shutdown is unlikely

Vodafone Idea, one of the top telecom operators in India, is likely to deposit Rs 2,500 cr towards the demands raised by the Department of Telecom related to revenue share under India’s telecom license rules, according to industry sources. The company has been served with a total demand of over Rs 53,000 cr. Meanwhile, Bharti […]

Shutdown fears? Vodafone Idea is still expanding

Even as shares of Vodafone Idea tanked 17% over fears that the company may shut down or file for bankruptcy, the latest numbers posted by the company show that it continues to invest in its network. The correction in the stock price followed a renewed warning yesterday that the company may not be able to […]

Airtel keen for a second round of price increase

Bharti Airtel, the former No.1 telecom operator in India, said it is keen on having a second round of price increases in the year starting April, but can do it only if the rest of the industry follows suit. Airtel said it needs to get more money from its customers to ensure that its investors […]

TRAI unlikely to recommend floor pricing

Telecom regulator TRAI is unlikely to recommend floor pricing for voice and data services in India due to ideological as well as practical reasons, according to industry officials. The telecom regulator today came out with a consultation paper saying it wants to broad-base the discussion on setting minimum price for data and voice. At present, […]

ANALYSIS: Can Reliance Jio avoid increasing 4G data prices?

On Tuesday night, Reliance Jio — the telecom operator that has made wireless data accessible to crores of Indians for the first time — said it would adopt ‘appropriate increases’ in tariffs over the next few weeks to help generate enough money to fund investments. The comment came in the wake of similar statements by […]

Reliance Jio says it will increase tariffs soon

Following Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio too has announced that it will increase tariffs over the next few weeks. “We will..take measures including appropriate increase in tariffs in next few weeks in a manner that does not adversely impact data consumption or growth in digital adoption and sustains investments,” the company said a […]

Vodafone Idea warns partners, customers about ‘fake news’

Vodafone Idea, the country’s largest telecom service provider by active subscribers, has issued an appeal on social media urging its partners and customers not to get taken in by ‘fake news’. “Don’t believe fake news. Vodafone Idea Ltd remains committed to all its partners and customers,” the company said in a message posted on its […]

Vodafone Idea, Airtel announce tariff hikes, will Reliance Jio follow?

Hours after Vodafone Idea announced that it would increase tariffs from next month to tide over acute financial stress, rival Bharti Airtel announced it would follow suit. The two companies have traditionally kept their prices in sync. The move comes in the wake of an unexpected Supreme Court judgment that directed these companies to shell […]

Govt response encouraging: Vodafone Idea CEO on relief package

Ravider Takkar, CEO of telecom operator Vodafone Idea, today said the government has been very supportive of his company’s requests for providing some kind of relief for the telecom sector to help it tide over a liquidity crunch. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ruled that the revenue share payable to the government by telecom […]

Vodafone Idea says it can continue only if Govt provides relief

Vodafone Idea, one of the top three telecom players in the country, warned that it will be able to continue as ‘a going concern’ only if it is able to obtain relief from the government. Going concern refers to a company that has the ability to continue to operate and does not face the threat […]