Krishna Mukherjee

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Krishna Mukherjee

About the author: Having over six years of experience in business journalism, Krishna has a knack for writing on telecom and IT. She believes that tryst with technology is the best thing that has ever happened to mankind. Krishna is a telecom analyst

Krishna Mukherjee December 10th, 2015 9:08 PM 7 COMMENTS

Bharti Airtel doubles network infrastructure investments in Arunachal Pradesh (AP) under “Project Leap”

Country’s top operator Bharti Airtel has doubled its network infrastructure investments in Arunachal Pradesh (AP) in the current year. It has started deploying its network transformation program in North East and Assam. With this, the company also claims to become the first private operator to offer mobile connectivity in more than 100 villages of Palin, Seppa and Sagalee. The company has launched its 2G/3G services in over 100 villages across... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 10th, 2015 8:20 PM 0 COMMENTS

Vodafone drags Dutch rival KPN to court, alleging monopoly abuse

British telecom major mobile Vodafone has sued its Dutch rival KPN for 115 million euros, allegedly for getting involved in anti-competitive behaviour. "KPN delayed by three years the nationwide introduction of Vodafone's competing TV, fixed-line broadband and fixed-line telephone proposition, Vodafone Thuis, by failing repeatedly to meet its commitments to deliver the technology needed," Vodafone said in a statement. The British major said that the said amount is for compensation... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 10th, 2015 7:47 PM 27 COMMENTS

Idea rolls out 3G services in Kolkata on 2100 MHz band

Telecom operator Idea Cellular has launched 3G services in its own network in Kolkata metro on 2100 MHz spectrum band that was acquired through auction earlier this year. Idea has started rolling out its own 3G network, in a phased manner, while continuing to offer 3G ICR (Intra-Circle Roaming). The company has expanded to 13 major markets in India, covering 79% of Idea’s revenue and 60% of industry revenue. It... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 10th, 2015 6:47 PM 0 COMMENTS

Telcos to shell out Rs 2,513.44 crore as penalty for breaching customer verification norms

Telecom operators have to pay Rs 2,513.44 crore as penalty for violating customer verification norms as on September 30 this year, the Lok Sabha. "As on September 30, 2015, a total penalty imposed on different telecom service providers (TSPs) for violation of CAF (customer acquisition form) verification norms is approximately Rs 2,513.44 crore," IT and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 10th, 2015 5:25 PM 13 COMMENTS

Vodafone pumped in Rs 310 crores in April-September to upgrade network in Bihar and Jharkhand

Telecom service provider Vodafone India has invested over Rs 310 crores between April 2014 and September 2015 to ramp up its network and distribution presence in Bihar and Jharkhand. The company has over 8,840 2G and 2,500 3G sites in Bihar and Jharkhand circle, covering over 79.5 percent of the region’s population. Vodafone through an intra Circle Roaming arrangement with other operators is also ensuring a seamless 3G roaming experience... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 10th, 2015 3:59 PM 8 COMMENTS

Are you in favour of zero-rating plans? December 30, last date for posting comments on TRAI site

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a new paper which questions the differential data pricing for content services, bringing to the fore the Net Neutrality debate once again. Although, the paper seeks fresh comments on data pricing but does not mention the term net neutrality. TRAI’s consultation paper titled, “Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services,” focuses on the zero-rating platforms which are being offered by... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 9th, 2015 5:05 PM 109 COMMENTS

5 reasons why RJio fear looms large over incumbents

Remember the Reliance group’s ‘Monsoon Hungama’ of 2003, when the new offering took the telecom industry by storm as it offered multimedia mobile phones for a down payment of Rs 500, with three monthly plan options— Budget 149, Budget 249 and Dhirubhai Ambani Pioneer Offer. The offering led to a revolution in the telecom sector and as a result, millions were added to the country’s subscriber base. Now, once again... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 9th, 2015 2:15 PM 4 COMMENTS

Bharti Airtel kicks off ‘Project Leap’ in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana Circle

Bharti Airtel has started implementing its network transformation program ‘Project Leap’, entailing an investment of 60,000 crore across the country towards this strategic project in the next 3 years. “We see Project Leap as a transformation program that will significantly improve the quality of both voice and data service across the length and breadth of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Circle,” said Venkatesh Vijayraghavan, Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 7th, 2015 4:00 PM 3 COMMENTS

Makeover Okay, but will optic fiber rollout project ‘BharatNet’ fructify this time?

From linear architecture to ring architecture, from GPON technology to IP-MPLS system, the government’s fiber optic rollout initiative BharatNet or National Optic Fiber Network (NOFN) project has undergone massive restructuring so that after missing two earlier deadlines, it does not fail this time. But the big question is: Whether this time, the project will hit its stipulated time-frame of completion? In the first phase of the project, about 100,000 Gram... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 6th, 2015 1:35 PM 25 COMMENTS

Vodafone to launch 4G services in Cochin on December 8: Sources

Just a day after Idea Cellular announced that its 4G services will be live shortly and started pre-registrations for the next generation technology; Telecom Talk has learnt that Vodafone is all set to launch its 4G services in Cochin on December 8. Sources told TT that the Cochin launch will be followed by Mysore launch on December 21. Earlier, Vodafone had maintained that it would launch 4G services in Kerala beginning... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 4th, 2015 10:11 PM 32 COMMENTS

Jio Chat all set to compete with the likes of WhatsApp, Viber; forays into nine global markets

Jio Chat, the instant messaging app from Reliance Jio which will compete with the likes of WhatsApp, Snapchat, Viber, has entered into nine global markets, including India. The app is now available for customers in Canada, United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Africa, Singapore, Australia and China. One can download and access this application through any internet enabled smartphone (currently available on iOS... Read More

Krishna Mukherjee December 4th, 2015 4:29 PM 84 COMMENTS

Idea begins registrations for 4G; offers 1GB-4GB free data

Idea Cellular today said that its 4G LTE services will go live shortly and as part of its 4G pre-book registration, it is offering 1GB-4GB data free. The company has recently acquired spectrum in the circles of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh (West) from Videocon Telecom in a Rs 3,310-crore deal, which will help Idea to launch its 4G services in the areas. Industry experts are of the view that the deal... Read More