![Uninor Offers Cheapest 2G Data Plans [June 2013]](http://telecomtalk.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Uninor-GPRS-packs-70x70.jpg?80e5e9)
It is clear that axis of (evil) Bharti Airtel, Vodafone & Idea Cellular is pushing hard Govt & DoT to make the 3G roaming legal as it is a part of bigger heist planned by them. Currently they not only offer 3G services to roaming customers in non-3G circles, they also offers commercial 3G services to home users in non-3G circles with this ICR agreement.
It is nothing other than 4G roll out which sparked the whole thing, on 4G-LTE turf only Mukesh Ambani owned Infotel Broadband has pan India 4G BWA spectrum, while Airtel has only 4 circles for 4G roll out, Vodafone & Idea Cellular do not own a single one.
If 3G roaming via ICRA in non-3G circles is made legal, they will join hands with other 4G-BWA players (Aircel, Tikona, Qualcomm, and Augere) to offer nationwide 4G services without paying single penny.
Our Govt is as usual late to understand the situation! But late but not least, DoT asks them to stop ICRA within 24 hours, while accused operators are still trying to prove that they are doing within limits. I personally feel they should be heavily fined for this and yearly payment is to be made to continue the roaming pact.
Apart from these legal questions, but we have few questions being asked to these operators?
What would be the compensation to the customer who has recharge with the higher denomination who has spent on the 3G packs? Will they be refunding the amount to the customers as 3G packs are a huge investment for the customers?
a) For operator like Idea and Vodafone who have recently launched the 3G handsets and customers spending on the same?
b) What’s the benefit of using a 3G handset on 2G network with the low speed?Is customer benefited from it?
c) Recently Idea launched the 3G handset with bundled offer? What will happen to the Bundled offer?
d) Vodafone also launched the 3G handset after the Idea launch. Is customers benefited from this bundled offer after the 3G termination?
In this whole situation customer is the one is who is into loss. Need answers from the operators to justify the customers pain from this.
Our Take: If 3G services are cancelled, customers should be given the voice calls/GPRS/SMS benefits worth for the same amount what he has spent on the 3G packs/recharge/handset. All the options given should be for a longer validity.
How should now operator compensate its customer do share your views and inputs .
Saurabh December 27, 2011 at 9:19 am
Don’t worry… It’s not because of you. Actually, I want to concentrate on my routine work i.e Market Analysis.
dskushwaha December 26, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Thanks
Saurabh December 26, 2011 at 4:27 pm
@dskushwaha
Not 10 but from the age of 9 when Airtel started its GSM services in Delhi circle in 1997. Don’t remember whether it was March or April… I read about it in a newspaper.
The first BTS installed in my area was from BSNL in Oct, 2002 but it was five years or so since I was aware about mobile technology. It was just a beginning in 1997 which soon became an area of interest for me. In Y2K, I used to wonder whether I will ever be able to have my hands on a mobile phone or not? But it was Jan, 2003 when I got my hands on first mobile(Nokia 3310- Rs.4500) in our home.
Nokia made me its fan because of its simplicity. What a wonderful experience that was. Then in Feb 2005, bought first smartphone again a Nokia (7650) and Airtel was the first I experienced mobile internet with. Then Hutch (which became Voda after takeover) and now every operator. I first heard about 3G in 2003 and I was exciting about its launch in 2005-06. But Govt. kept on delaying auction because of unavailability of spectrum. There are endless moments I can share but my fingers are getting hurt.
You really made me recall all that.
Let us both end this now. I’m completely tired now. Even thinking of not visiting TT for some time.
dskushwaha December 26, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Thanks Buddy. Now you are coming up
If you are following TT since last year I was among the top one in the list you mentioned. (Sep-Nov 2010). I am not able to spend more time on internet now and was totally without it for more than 6 months (because of my job profile).
By simple mathematics from above two statements of yours, I can conclude You have been tracking every single happening in sector since the age of 10 (approx).
Tussi great ho!! (Thanks for teaching me Punjabi)
Ganesh December 26, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Customers shouldn’t be penalized for this! If an operator couldn’t secure 3G spectrum in a state, why should the customers and that operator suffer?
In the end, if 3G penetration should be good, there has to be a good competition! Without 3G there won’t be much attraction for an operator!
Say in TN, there only 3 private operators who have 3G spectrum. And the prices were very high until Idea 3G came to TN (via 3G roaming) and reduced the prices for 3G data by half!
Saurabh December 26, 2011 at 12:37 pm
One more wrong info. with you.
Though each circle had a different bid but all the rest 3 private operators who won the license/spectrum paid the same for one circle. Operators hadn’t had the right to bid amount of their choice. It was dependent on the design of bidding process by how much amount will increase in next round and all the operators bidding had to match that. Those who did bid, got the license and those who thought it to be out of budget left the circle straightaway.
Visit dot.gov.in/ to know ow operators bid in all rounds and who paid what.
Here is the copy of final winners and tell me what does highest bid means and how it made BSNL pay extra then pvt. telcos?
dot.gov.in/as/Auction%20of%20Spectrum%20for3G%20&%20BWA/Auction%20results/3G_Auction_-_Final_Results.pdf
They (BSNL/MTNL) paid what other 3 (or 4 in some circles) operators paid.
Saurabh December 26, 2011 at 10:15 am
1. When I said operator’s websites are totally misleading?????? I asked you to visit operator’s website to get the coverage info.
2. and wikipedia (and TelecomTalk also) is not a source of information
I wrote TT hasn’t updated its data which is or means 3G coverage details data.
3. For Wikipedia, I wrote, it is not a source of correct info. as it is edited by people like you and me. Even Wikipedia has also written in its policy that information here (i.e on Wiki) may or may not be correct as it is edited and updated by number of people.
4. then where from according to you people should get information. (I think now you will say me (Saurabh)
I don’t know from where others(except you) get info. from,
but I’m sure that the websites or books or newspapers or magazines or electronic media, where you(dskushwaha) gets information from, is solely written or produced by you.
I just can’t imagine how a person can be completely dependent on websites like Wiki or any other for info. and ignoring the ground reality which is in front of eyes.
Maybe when you get fever, you first search on wiki or google and check whether I(dskushwaha) has fever or not. If info. is not updated by anyone then it confirms you that it(fever) is not true. lol
Saurabh December 26, 2011 at 9:52 am
You highlighted the two lines where crores is not written but why not the ones where it is? Don’t you have common sense or we have to explain all things for your childish mind? By highlighting this, I don’t know what will you get?
Read the comments on all the pages in different topics related to ICRA ban on TT and count the no. of people who agreed to me and those who agreed to you (even the comment above this one by bharat). Everyone trying to tell you that your info. is either wrong or outdated yet you are highlighting so n so.
As far as knowing the history Indian telecom sector:- I have been tracking every single happening in sector since 1997. I’m also known to what happened in past in terms of 3G auction delays, spectrum vacate by defense etc. etc. etc.
You also know history to some extent but have little knowledge about it and you know, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”
If you can’t go anywhere, just look at the right side of this page and see my name in EXPERT and CRITICS/ANALYST column of TT.
bharat December 25, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@Saurabh
+1
Himangshu December 25, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Firstly i want to say,
CDMA will get benefited among Pvt. operators with this move,their data card will be again selling more than pvt. GSM 3G data cards.
DOTs guidelines has made the all Indians a big DOT
In Assam circle, they a hardly gona to bring this 3g servises to customers, but The daamed DOTs guideline has made them trouble to launce
Why this troubling DOTs is there in India???????????????
Kaul December 25, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Airtel and idea launched 3g service too late but covered almost all of their 3G licence areas. but on other hand Tata Docomo which is famous for its pathetic network coverage is still unable to complete launch in its winning circles so need to talk about ICRA for dumbass Operators like tata Docomo.
I love airtel due to its strong network coverage and 3G coverage even in villages
i have sympathy with airtel the DoT officials are doing this shit to extract some bribe for their extra large belly
dskushwaha December 25, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Please add “crores” after the bold words on your comment.
Moreover average cost/circle argument does not seem to be valid, as each circle had different bid amount in auction. BSNL/MTNL matched the highest bidder.
dskushwaha December 25, 2011 at 12:45 pm
@Saurabh
First off all, I am not a Punjabi so I have to struggle to understand “Yaar kede zamane ch jee reha hai”, “Pata ni veeray kitey rehenda tu.” and “Sann 2009 vich ki si usnu kyu vekh reha hai? Sann 2011 vich ki hai usnu vekh. Kadde geya v hai Delhi, Mumbai?”
And what I mentioned from Economic Times was history and history never changes and everybody have to accept the truth that 3G spectrum was released by Defence Forces and in return they were provided by the Optical fiber network by BSNL. Air Force started using its Optical Fiber network in 14 Sep 2010 and other two (Navy and Army) are yet to adopt the similar network. This truth will not change in circa 2011 or 2020 or 3011.
On “Two of these articles/links were posted when we hadn’t had 3G auction in India.”: Yes because you should know the history of 3G in India.
On “Wikipedia” you said in your earlier post it is edited by the people like you and me, so that was my reply to you saying. I don’t say that I (dskushwah) am the expert bu people like you and me (your words) are the experts and you forget one thing which I have already mentioned that if wikipedia has wrong wrong information it is further edited by people like you and me (again your words) are the experts.
And on “Kadde geya v hai Delhi, Mumbai? I have visited their and Vodafone 3G is available there. Moreover, you said Vodafone 3G is not available in Haryana. I’m from Haryana and Vodafone 3G is available at some places in Haryana.” I have already said “I have posted TelecomTalk’s data on TelecomTalks forum”, so I don’t think there is anything to argue. (Read and use your brain if you have before you reply)
On “Then you changed the topic by saying Operators websites are totally misleading as they do show the circles in which they provide 3G services using the disputed ICRA. We were talking of those areas in which they have got license and not where they launched services thru ICRA.” If you accept that ‘Operators websites are totally misleading’ and wikipedia (and TelecomTalk also) is not a source of information then where from according to you people should get information. (I think now you will say me (Saurabh))
Saurabh December 25, 2011 at 9:59 am
BSNL haven’t paid more than private telcos. Here is the actual scenario,
1. BSNL paid Rs.10162.20 crore for 20 circles/licenses except Delhi and Mumbai.
2. Airtel paid Rs.12295.46 for only 13 circles/licenses.
3. Vodafone paid Rs.11617.86 for only 9 circles/licenses.
4. Idea paid Rs.5768.59 crores for 11 circles/licenses. They didn’t bid for Delhi/Mumbai otherwise it would be Rs.12368.59 crores.
Simalarly, Reliance, Aircel, Tata and S-Tel paid Rs.8585.04 crores, Rs.6499.46 crores, Rs.5864.29 crores and Rs.337.67 crores for 13,13,9,3 circles respectively.
Now Mr.Ramm, please tell me who paid more and who paid license for more circles at less price.
Airtel paid Rs.2133.26 cores more than BSNL yet they have license for 13 circles as against 20 circles held by BSNL.
Vodafone paid Rs.1445.66 more than BSNL yet they have license for 9 circles as against 20 circles held by BSNL.
So average cost/circle bear by pvt telcos is more than what BSNL paid and don’t start shouting taking in account what MTNL paid for Mumbai and Delhi as BSNL and MTNL are separate entities.
Saurabh December 25, 2011 at 9:41 am
@dskushwaha
You are asking us to read articles of 2009 and March, 2011 and comparing these articles with what is the reality now is a complete non-sense.
Do you really know and understand what is written in these articles. I don’t think so. It is December, 2011 not 2009 and things have changed now. Two of these articles/links were posted when we hadn’t had 3G auction in India.
Please somebody wake up this guy.
What you are writing?????? And Wikipedia as you have mentioned is not a source of correct info as it is edited by the people like you and me who are the experts of their field.
I(Saurabh) may not be an expert but I’m damn sure that you(dskushwaha) don’t call yourself an expert.
Sann 2009 vich ki si usnu kyu vekh reha hai? Sann 2011 vich ki hai usnu vekh.
Kadde geya v hai Delhi, Mumbai? I have visited their and Vodafone 3G is available there.
Moreover, you said Vodafone 3G is not available in Haryana. I’m from Haryana and Vodafone 3G is available at some places in Haryana.
Then you changed the topic by saying Operators websites are totally misleading as they do show the circles in which they provide 3G services using the disputed ICRA.
We were talking of those areas in which they have got license and not where they launched services thru ICRA.
vinay December 25, 2011 at 1:11 am
y no roaming agreement?
in 2g also, when an operator is having licence say, in only one circle, can make arrangements with operators of other circles so that his customers can benefit while roaming out of their main circle. y same arrangement not in 3g?
Raam December 25, 2011 at 1:06 am
@karann
arre bhai utorrent akhir kis din kaam aayega
Raam December 25, 2011 at 1:03 am
@krishan
correct me if i am wrong but TDSAT passed an order to DoT not to take any actions against these three operators, so as of now private operators 1-0 govt.
Raam December 25, 2011 at 12:57 am
LOL @ BSNL babus, they paid for all-India license but private operators achieved the same result by paying about half of what BSNL paid….
bharat December 25, 2011 at 12:00 am
@Saurabh
+1
@dskushwaha
i use vodafone 3g in mumbai
dskushwaha December 24, 2011 at 10:24 pm
I may not be correct as I posted the TelecomTalk’s data on TelecomTalk’s forum.
And Wikipedia as you have mentioned is not a source of correct info as it is edited by the people like you and me who are the experts of their field. if that information is false it is edited by another experts of that field. By the way if don’t believe Wikipedia, you may believe Economic times: articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-31/news/29366164_1_mou-between-both-ministries-defence-band-alternative-optic-fibre-network
and
articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-01-15/news/28416663_1_defence-band-auction-process-defence-forces
and
articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-02-16/news/28487958_1_gom-defence-forces-spectrum-crunch
Operators websites are totally misleading as they do show the circles in which they provide 3G services using the disputed ICRA.
Saurabh December 24, 2011 at 9:28 pm
Yaar kede zamane ch jee reha hai. Telecom talk has not updated their data. Also wikipedia is not a source to get correct info. as it is edited by people like you and me.
Go to operators website and then see the circles/areas covered,
Vodafone:- http://www.vodafone.in/3gworld/pages/3g_serivces.aspx?hc=6&cid=har
Idea- http://idea3g.co.in/get3g.php
Airtel- http://www.airtel.in/wps/wcm/connect/airtel3g/Airtel3G/3G-Services/
Pata ni veeray kitey rehenda tu. lol
Saurabh December 24, 2011 at 9:23 pm
@dskushwaha
Please stop posting all this as most of the operators have launched 3G in their respective circles. Idea 3G is available in Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. In Punjab, as there are legal charges against Idea, so they are not getting spectrum to start 3G services.
Aircel has license for 13 circles not 12 and 3G services have been launched in West Bengal (The service is currently available in Asansol, Durgapur, Siliguri, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri as per website info. Maybe they have added more areas to it).
Vodafone has also covered its 9 circles with 3G and 3G is available in Delhi, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kolkata, Haryana, UP(E), West Bengal on their network.
Similarly Reliance has 3G in some parts of MP.
Update yourself before posting.
dskushwaha December 24, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Vodafone & other operators license please visit: telecomtalk.info/3g-coverage-details/
For 3G spectrum origin in India read the Background section in Wikipedia/AFNET en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFNET#Background
bharat December 24, 2011 at 8:15 pm
@dskushwaha
Also i doubt your facts Vodafone has 3g in Mumbai! where is bsnl data ?
bharat December 24, 2011 at 7:43 pm
@dskushwaha
I guess with one more operator per circle (if bsnl and mtnl also bid) the costs would have been lower for spectrum and 3G. Dont you think! I dont understand the Quota for everything. private
dskushwaha December 24, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Are pvt. operators really ready to pay for the spectrum. they are not even using the spectrum they have bid for and won. Here is a list of 3G operators who have got 3G license but not launched services in their areas:
Operators: (launched/license) licensed circles where services are not launched.
Docomo: (9/9) Launched in all licensed circles
Aircel: (11/12) West Bengal
Airtel: (09/12) Andhra Pradesh, Himanchal Pradesh, J&K,
Vodafone: (1/9) Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Kolkata, Maharashtra & Goa, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal
Reliance: (12/13) Madhya Pradesh,
Idea: (08/11) Andhra Pradesh, J&K, Punjab
So BSNL alone is not holding the spectrum. It was BSNL which got the spectrum freed from defence forces by giving them optical fiber network instead of wireless that too free of cost.
Saurabh December 24, 2011 at 5:24 pm
+1000.
Most of the countries have 4-5 telecom operators except India and Russia. When it comes to 3G licenses it is 3-4 companies only. We, in India, have more than required telecom operators. Though this heat up the competition and worked in consumers interest for sometime but also created a messy situation like the one we are in now as everyone looking to provide 3G.
Problems, problems and problems everywhere, just because of so many operators. If Govt. hadn’t had awarded 2G licenses in 2008 to new entrants, we would not be seeing this 2G spectrum scam, scarcity of spectrum, hoo-haa for 3G and all others.
The only thing Indian Govt. can do is first mess-up all things and then try to resolve it. They first decide something and the think it is not in our favour. Lets cancel it out.
I don’t know to what extent the forthcoming National Telecomn Policy will increase problem of telecom sector in India.
Govt. is just killing this sector as they don’t know themselves what to do and what to not. Whom they should allow and whom not. What to start and what to stop and thats too when they take 2-3 years to frame a policy.
Main yeh aur nahin dekh sakta.
bharat December 24, 2011 at 5:02 pm
if the companies wish to have pan india spectrum and the government is incapable to offer it(no spectrum, incapability to free it, quota for bsnl/mtnl), an ICRA makes much sense. Free up bsnl spectrum and auction it to operators who are willing to pay for it ! Ban on ICRA is only a new means to get money out of private operators!
dskushwaha December 24, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Good News:
What DOCOMO, Aircel and Reliance are doing?
dskushwaha December 24, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Refund should be in the form of Money only, no voice calls/GPRS/SMS can compensate the customers. If customer wants then he can recharge for the voice calls/GPRS/SMS as per his choice.
As it may be that somebody has chosen data services from vodafone for some data benefit of his choice on his data card and he his using unlimited Tata to Tata or Reliance to Reliance or BSNL to BSNL packs for STD voice calls on his mobile, thus limiting his monthly voice call budget to Rs. 600-700 only.
If vodafone compensates him by giving him voice calls/GPRS/SMS then it will be total waste of money of customer. As even the compensation worth more than Rs. 10,000 will be expensive for him (If he uses 6 hrs. per day for same network voice call).
And why didn’t you given the compensation offers like caller tunes, Love tips, Jokes etc.
My Take: Compensation Only in the Form of Hard Cash.
Idris December 24, 2011 at 4:03 pm
@kankan
The Revenue directly goes to international banks or goes into the pockets of Politicians and bureaucrats we as Public of India is least benefited …
Example would be Raja there are hundres or may thousands of Rajas wo kehte hain na pakda gya wo chor hai…Thanks bro for reply..
alok December 24, 2011 at 3:45 pm
operatore like Airtel,Vodafone,Ideas actually ther are making fools to the Indian goverment in the name of services given at the cheap rate to the customer.But i knew they have no rights to provide 3G services in such circls where they are not bidding for,if they paid spectrum charges to govt for such circle then govt used such amount for public purpose.public means we inidan people.Now a days people are thinking obout themselves ,they have not worried about indians.I reqeest indian govt that they should be heavily fined for such mischief to indian govt.
pankaj December 24, 2011 at 3:28 pm
its true.u r right
S.Tiwari December 24, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Reliance CDMA and Tata CDMA will get benefited among Pvt. operators with this move,their data card will be again selling more than pvt. GSM 3G data cards.
Raju Sarode December 24, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@karann
Ask the service provider to recoup your loss. To help you it is not advisable to support the illicit affair of Bharati Airtel, Vodafone & Idea.
kankan December 24, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Government is not wrong bro. just wake up and think vastly about this matter it will loss our country revenue and if you want this agreement to be legal give it uninor, stel, loop, videocon in every circle with 3G IRCA…… @Idris
som December 24, 2011 at 2:42 pm
BSNL is the option , pls port to BSNL
Saurabh December 24, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Stop worrying.
Update: TRIO have moved TDSAT against the DoT decision and they will continue to offer services until a resolution comes. They are not going to halt services. If some of you facing problem in latching, it is temporary. I can still latch my Airtel SIM on Idea network.
Source of update : CNBC-TV18
fahad December 24, 2011 at 2:15 pm
pls port to bsnl they have 3g licence in all india and they providing avg service but bsnl is our company then we wii help our company
Idris December 24, 2011 at 1:52 pm
In Pune , Idea, Vodafone and Tata Docomo has 3G licences, but airtel and aircel were using Docomo Network and Airtel used Idea and Vodafone….
I p[ersonaly think it is good for general public who can get better coverage airtel always had option to select Idea or Vodafone as network, If Government and politicians are corrupt the prices of services increased and touched the sky The ICRA pact has helped to reduce the cost of 3G services overall , Earlier prices were around 750 for 2 GB and these days I have seen many operators are offering 2GB for Rs. 400.
I strongly support 3G ICRA , it is beneficial for customers and will open new ways for employment and will benefit service providers.
Government is not infavour of customers or public or Growth of our country they don’t want India to grow it high time. Internet and 3G has helped to grow banking trade and commerce and communication as well education…
Can Anyone tell me whats wrong with our government..?????
rajesh December 24, 2011 at 1:17 pm
i have given port out from vodafone to Idea in chennai, so wil i get 3G services from IDea or not?
what they gonna do…..
karann December 24, 2011 at 1:07 pm
I have Recharged my Idea Number with 850 3G Plan on 20 december 2011 and got 6 GB data, now what will happen to it, still more then 5.5 GB Left in my account. Guys Please Help me. I am in trouble.
kankan December 24, 2011 at 12:56 pm
still time
is now 12:55 p.m i am getting 3g network in kolkata by airtel, it clear they are not easily give up this agreement…
They does not any fear with govt. They very soon will get the stay order from court and enjoy this agreement years of years, hahahahaha
krishan December 24, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Not to worry, this is India. The Trio will go to court for stay. and the result for this will take long time till they loot the customer. And In this time Govt. May be changed or they will give the share of Govt. for this corruption. And again everything is normal for them. But what we can do. That why i m using BSNL, I know BSNL Services is worst at someplaces, Call Centre is not good as thease Pvt. telecos. Staff is not aware about the current technolgy and schemes. But it is company of my contry. it is feeding about 3,00,000 indians. and what i pay will to me in some form.
suvra sen December 24, 2011 at 12:33 pm
3g technology is in India complete flop, as it’s higher cost and unavailability….
kankan December 24, 2011 at 12:20 pm
According to me no operators will refund the money to the customers, they very excuses that its not our fault its government decision nad bla bla excuses.
DoT should impose a very high penalty to these operators atleast our money will eat by government than these cheaters……….
AmitS December 24, 2011 at 11:59 am
for such type of customers provision should be made :
Customers are allowed to shift 3G enabled network(among these three operators)with existing handsets bundled offers and conditions.
Kanaga Deepan N December 24, 2011 at 11:19 am
They should open kiosks to unlock their locked modems for FREE, so that customer can atleast use it for other operators… For the 3G recharges done, they should credit the amount based on their data balance… For eg: if a customer has recharged for 250MB for Rs250 and he has data balance of 125MB, then they should credit Rs125 back to him…
Amar Patel December 24, 2011 at 11:18 am
After cancelling ICRA may be Telecom company remove GPRS capping & decrees GPRS pack price in circle where they have no 3G license.