Telecom tariffs may go up every year: Vodafone MD:

India's second largest telecom operator Vodafone expects phone call and other mobile services rates to go up every year, indicating that low tariff regime may not be sustainable any longer for the industry.

"We have lower tariffs for 18 years against inflation of 8-9 per cent per year. Now, can you do that forever? No you can't," Vodafone India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Marten Pieters said in an interview.

"So the point has come where lowest has been seen, we will have to increase our tariffs every year depending on cost levels," he said.

He said that like everyone else, the telecom industry too has to increase the prices.

Last month, the company increased 2G mobile Internet rates along with two other players,  Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular, in the range of 25-30 per cent.

Peiters said that going forward 2G data rates and 3G data rates will be at same level indicating a further hike in 2G mobile Internet rates.

"We started 6-7 times high tariff rate when we opened up 3G network. It is now back to 1.5 to 1.6 times of 2G data rates. It over time will come together. But it can't come over time just by lowering 3G tariff, it needs to also see increase of 2G tariffs. Once it is equal, it doesn't matter to customer anymore," Pieters said.

Videocon Telecom seeks to boost subscriber base to fair market share levels:

New telecom operator Videocon is looking to ramp up subscriber base and expects to achieve a 'fair market share' in the services areas it operates in.

The company, which has licences in seven out of the 22 telecom areas, has operations in only four circles so far. In September, it had 4.33 lakh subscribers.

"Videocon Telecom's first objective is to attain a fair market share (FMS) on subscriber base in our operational circles," Videocon Telecom Director and CEO Arvind Bali told PTI.

He said the FMS amounts to 12.5 percent subscriber share in Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh where there are total of eight operators, and 10 percent market share in Gujarat where there are 10 mobile service providers.

Videocon has been registering highest growth rate, although on a low base, in the past few months in four service areas Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Bali said: "We expect this to happen within one year in Haryana & Punjab, followed by MP and Gujarat in the subsequent year."

As per September data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Videocon had about 6 percent market share in Punjab and Haryana. In MP and Gujarat it had about 2 percent market share.

Videocon registered mobile subscriber growth of 10.74 percent in September which was highest during the month. In August also Videocon registered highest growth rate of 5.7 percent, as per TRAI data.

It is yet to commence services in UP East, UP West and Bihar.

MTN, Etisalat partner to extend reach:

Etisalat, leading telecom operator in the Middle East and Africa,  today announced its partnership with MTN Group to extend their regional network reach via Etisalat SmartHub.

MTN Group, a leading emerging markets telecommunications provider, will connect through Etisalat’s SmartHub at Fujairah CLS to expand its advanced data network capabilities. The South Africa-based multinational company operates in African, European and Middle Eastern countries.

Etisalat’s SmartHub provides advanced content, IPX, IX and high speed data services for its customers in the UAE and the region. The new partnership will also enable MTN Group to connect via a new route to Europe, beneficial to its large customer base in the Middle East.

Etisalat's SmartHub is a global communications hub facilitating direct routing of traffic between the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Ali Amiri, Executive Vice President, Carrier & Wholesale Services, Etisalat, said: “We are delighted to have such a prestigious telecom group as MTN join the SmartHub community of operators and content providers. SmartHub is designed to provide our partners with a one stop shop for connectivity to the region.

“This partnership with MTN Group showcases the importance of the SmartHub as well as puts UAE in the limelight as the regional hub for telecom services. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship and enhancing customer experience.”

Jyoti Desai, Group Chief Technology and Information Officer, MTN said: “Etisalat’s Smarthub is seen as an important hub in our bid to expand MTN’s world class global multi-services network, as it allows us to provide advanced communication services to our customers in the Middle East and Africa. The rising significance of UAE’s strategic position as the communication network hub for the Middle East and Africa region underpins the importance of this partnership in our expansion plan.”

Airtel seeking DoT's approval to migrate to unified licence regime:

Country's largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel has sought DoT's approval to migrate to new licensing regime provided the outcome of various court cases against the department is extended to the new framework.

The migration to Unified Licences (UL) allows telecom companies to provide all services under one permit using any technology as against the existing regime which places various restrictions.

Besides, the UL allows operators to share active infrastructure like spectrum, take part in mergers and acquisition activity that were not part of earlier Unified Access Service Licence (UASL).

In a letter to DoT, Airtel has said: "It is our submission that certain terms and conditions of the UL & UL Guidelines already form the subject matter of pending court proceedings, to which the DoT is also a party.

"These proceedings are at an advanced stage of adjudication before various courts and tribunals across India and both parties are bound by and will continue to be bound by the interim orders that have been passed therein till the final disposal.

"Therefore, the rule of sub-judice will apply to all clauses of the UL & UL guidelines, which forms subject matter of proceedings, and would be subject to the final orders and principles laid down by courts/TDSAT," the letter said.

The company said it seeks to "DoT' approval to apply for migration from UASL to UL" with the above understanding.

Etisalat SmartHub Selected To Bolster MTN's Reach:

Etisalat, leading Telecom operator in the middle East and Africa today announced its partnership with MTN Group to extend their regional network reach via Etisalat  SmartHub. MTN Group, a leading emerging markets telecommunications provider, will connect through Etisalat’s SmartHub at Fujairah CLS to expand its advanced data network capabilities.

The South Africa-based multinational company operates in African, European and Middle Eastern countries.

Etisalat’s SmartHub provides advanced content, IPX, IX and high speed data services for its customers in the UAE and the region. The new partnership will also enable MTN Group to connect via a new route to Europe, beneficial to its large customer base in the Middle East.

Etisalat’s SmartHub is a global communications hub facilitating direct routing of traffic between the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Ali Amiri, Executive Vice President, Carrier & Wholesale Services, Etisalat, said: “We are delighted to have such a prestigious telecom group as MTN join the SmartHub community of operators and content providers. SmartHub is designed to provide our partners with a one stop shop for connectivity to the region.

“This partnership with MTN Group showcases the importance of the SmartHub as well as puts UAE in the limelight as the regional hub for telecom services. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship and enhancing customer experience.”

Google Nexus 5 on Android 4.4 KitKat OS goes on sale:

Google Nexus 5 on Android 4.4 KitKat OS platform announced today comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and global LTE support.

The 5-inch smartphone is meant for both developed and developing telecom markets.

Google Nexus 5 will be available without contract with a telecom operator. It is currently available on Google Play in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.K., Australia, Korea and Japan.

The new device will be sold in Europe, Central/South Americas, Asia including India, CIS and the Middle East from mid-November.

Nexus 5, which is produced by LG, has Qualcomm QFE1100 feature offering reduced heat by up to 30 percent, decreased power consumption by up to 20 percent and longer battery life.

LG, which competes with Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Lenovo, Sony, etc. to improve smartphone market share, said Nexus 5, the slimmest and fastest Google Nexus phone to date, comes in both 16GB and 32GB versions.

Nexus 5 features LG Innotek’s optical image stabilizer technology which was first introduced in the LG G2.