Airtel Pushes its 4G Uptake; Offers Free 4G Dongles

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In order to boost its 4G uptake in the country, Bharti Airtel has started offering free 4G dongles under its new ‘breakfree’ plans (reported by Light Reading). The offer is announced to push the uptake of 4G in its licensed circles and maintain a strong 4G subscriber base prior to the roll-outs from pan-India BWA license holder Reliance Jio infocomm.

Airtel is said to be leaving no stone unturned to make its strong 4G foothold in the country. Recently, the company slashed its 4G data rates and introduced new 4G plans starting at Rs. 450 in its Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune and Chandigarh circles. Also, in order to further expand its 4G presence, Airtel has increased its stakes at Qualcomm’s Indian 4G venture from 49% to 51%. With this acquisition the entities of Qualcomm’s 4G venture that hold licences to offer 4G services in Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala will now become Airtel’s subsidiaries.

MTN, Reliance Tie – up Talks said to be put on Hold

MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s largest wireless carrier that was once looking to enter Indian Wireless market through Reliance Communications Ltd. of India has now put the deal on hold, according to the report by Bloomberg. MTN is skeptical about the industrial logic behind a deal at a time when India is revising its mergers and acquisitions rules, said one of the people familiar with the deal. The deal would have allowed MTN taking about a 24% stake in Reliance Communications that has a market value of $1.2 billion. Earlier, the company was twice in talks to be bought by Bharti Airtel Ltd., which didn’t get materialized.