Latest news with #UnionTelecom
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'Duopoly not good': Telecom minister pushes for competition; Scindia says Moore's law must apply to data pricing in India
Union Telecom minister on Tuesday said that duopoly is not healthy for any sector and stressed the need for robust competition across the telecom ecosystem, while announcing that guidelines for delicensing 6 gigahertz spectrum for wifi services will be issued before August 15. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking at the Broadband India Forum event, Scindia said, "Our job is to provide as many avenues as possible and within each vertical as well, provide intense competition. It's not good enough having a duopoly of one carrier or two carriers." At present, the telecom space is dominated by and Bharti Airtel, while Vodafone Idea has flagged survival concerns in court and state-run BSNL is yet to complete its pan-India rollout of 4G and 5G services. The minister reiterated the government's focus on equitable access to technologies, including terrestrial fibre, wifi, and upcoming satellite services. '(We) must have competition in every sector,' he said, adding that spectrum will soon be allocated to satellite communication players on an administrative basis, PTI reported. Scindia also highlighted the importance of Moore's law in telecom economics, where rising volumes should lead to falling prices. 'Our responsibility is towards 1.4 billion of our country's brothers and sisters. Our job is to provide every opportunity to them… to make sure that Moore's law operates in the economic sphere,' he said. He pointed out that India's data prices have dropped sharply over the years — from Rs 287 per GB to Rs 9 per GB, or around 11 cents — while the global average is $2.49. 'India operates at 5 per cent of the world's cost. This is the democratisation of technology,' Scindia said, recalling the days when voice calls were charged at Rs 16 per minute, as compared to 0.03 paise now, the news agency reported. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Scindia also urged device and chip manufacturers to produce at nominal costs. 'We cannot allow devices to become the new digital divide in our country,' he said, adding that the combination of fibre, satellite connectivity and affordable devices can power India's digital future. Former TRAI chairman RS Sharma, who also spoke at the event, said that the telecom market is nearing a duopoly and suggested exploring more delivery routes for broadband access at affordable prices.
New Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Duopoly not good, must ensure competition in every sector: Telecom Minister Scindia
NEW DELHI: Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said duopoly is not good and there must be competition in every sector. Speaking at an event of Broadband India Forum, the minister said there is intense competition in the country among internet service providers and the government will issue rules for delicensing 6 gigahertz spectrum before August 15 that will be used for wifi services and bridging of digital divide. "Our job is to provide as many avenues as possible and within each vertical as well, provide intense competition. It's not good enough having a duopoly of one carrier or two carriers," Scindia said. Earlier in the event, former telecom regulator Trai Chairman RS Sharma said there is almost a duopoly in the telecom sector with just two active service providers and there is need to provide more route for giving broadband access to consumers at affordable rates.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BSNL posts Rs 280 crore Q4 profit, second straight quarter in green after 18 years
NEW DELHI: State-run telecom giant BSNL on Tuesday reported a net profit of Rs 280 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, marking its second consecutive profitable quarter after nearly two decades. The turnaround comes a year after the company posted a loss of Rs 849 crore in the same quarter. 'For the first time in 18 years, back-to-back quarterly profits, net profits, not just operating margins, for the second time running after 2007,' Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said while addressing reporters. BSNL had posted a profit after tax of Rs 262 crore in the October-December quarter of FY25. The company's cumulative loss for the full financial year has now narrowed sharply to Rs 2,247 crore, from Rs 5,370 crore in FY24. BSNL Chairman and Managing Director A Robert J Ravi attributed the performance to 'professional management, government support and relentless focus on both the top line and the bottom line.' 'BSNL is not just being revived, but redefined,' Ravi said, adding that the company is focused on cost discipline and accelerating 4G and 5G deployments to maintain momentum. 'We will not be chasing profits as our end goal. We will be redefining telecom excellence in public service. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Signature Global SPR, Luxury Living in Sector 71, Gurgaon Signature Global Book Now Undo When we consistently do the right things, provide excellent service, reach the unreached, innovate for inclusivity, profits will naturally follow,' he added. BSNL's operating revenue rose 7.8% year-on-year to Rs 20,841 crore in FY25, up from Rs 19,330 crore in the previous year. The Ministry of Communications noted that while profitability could moderate in the short term due to increased capital expenditure and spectrum investments, the long-term outlook remains strong. It cited nationwide 4G/5G rollouts using indigenous equipment, network-as-a-service initiatives, and backhaul fibre upgrades as key drivers of future growth. The ministry also highlighted BSNL's ongoing asset monetisation programme, which nearly doubled its proceeds last year and is expected to generate additional funds to support infrastructure expansion. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Mint
27-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
BSNL posts ₹280 cr profit in Q4, second consecutive quarterly profit in 18 yrs: Scindia
New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) State-run telecom firm BSNL reported a profit of ₹ 280 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2025, marking its second consecutive quarterly profit, the company said on Tuesday. The company had posted a loss of ₹ 849 crore in the same period a year ago. "For the first time in 18 years, back-to-back quarterly profits, net profits, not operating profit alone, not even the positive margin alone, but net profit on a quarterly basis for the second time running after 2007," Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told reporters. The company had posted a profit after tax of ₹ 262 crore in the third quarter. BSNL said that with back-to-back profitable quarters, the company's loss for FY25 has reduced to ₹ 2,247 crore from ₹ 5,370 crore in FY24. "The sharp turnaround is testimony to professional management, government support and relentless focus on both the top line and the bottom line. BSNL is not just being revived, but redefined," BSNL Chairman and Managing Director A Robert J Ravi said. Operating revenue of BSNL for FY25 increased by 7.8 per cent to ₹ 20,841 crore from ₹ 19,330 crore in FY24. Ravi said that with disciplined cost control and accelerated 4G/5G deployment, BSNL is confident of sustaining this growth trajectory and delivering affordable, high-quality connectivity to every Indian. "We will not be chasing profits as our end goal. We will be redefining telecom excellence in public service. When we consistently do the right things - provide excellent service, reach the unreached, innovate for inclusivity_- profits will naturally follow as a byproduct of that excellence," Ravi added.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on made in India iPhones: When you invest in India, you are…
Telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on made in India iPhones Apple CEO Tim Cook on made in India iPhones Jyotiraditya Scindia on India's telecom growth Union Telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasised that investing in manufacturing in India makes economic sense for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), citing Apple's decision to source the majority of iPhones sold in the US from India as an example. Speaking at the Bharat Telecom event, Scindia stated that manufacturing in India can be affordable and the Bahart Telecom event, Scindia stated the benefits of investing in India and the companies are choosing reliability, affordability and originality. He noted that Apple CEO Tim Cook had announced during a recent earnings call that the company would source most of the iPhones sold in the US from India in the June quarter.'Apple has decided to source and produce all its mobile phones in India in the years to come," Scindia said, adding that "when you invest in India, you are choosing affordability, you are choosing reliability, you are choosing originality."Apple CEO Tim Cook announced recently that India will become the primary manufacturing hub for iPhones sold in the United States, marking a significant shift in the tech giant's production strategy amid escalating trade tensions."For the June quarter, we do expect the majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin," Cook said during Apple's quarterly earnings call, where the company reported a 5.1% revenue increase to $95.36 announcement comes as Apple seeks to mitigate the impact of potential tariffs from the Trump administration. While electronic products including smartphones recently received a temporary exemption from the 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, Cook warned that future duties could significantly impact from manufacturing in India, Scindia also talked about India's telecom growth. Scindia stated that government's PLI scheme led to rapid expansion and growth in the Indian telecom sector."Investment of Rs 4,000 crore, half a billion dollars alone, has resulted in sales of Rs 80,000 crore, Rs 16,000 crore in exports, (and) 25,000 jobs being created. Therefore, the telecom equipment market has also grown manifold in India," Scindia said.
