Top Stories 

RCOM debt falls to US$6.4bn in Q1 FY13

Reliance Communications Ltd has posted a net profit after taxes, Minority Interest and Share of Profit / (loss) of Associates of Rs. 1620 mn for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 as compared to Rs. 1570 mn for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.

Total Income has increased from Rs. 49460 mn for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 to Rs. 53190 mn for the quarter ended June 30, 2012.

Reliance Communications net debt fell to $6.4 bn at the end of June from $7 bn at the end of March, according to reports.

Reports stated that the company reported a smaller-than-expected 3% rise in its first-quarter profit, says report.

GSM operators added 1.70 mn new users in July: reports

GSM operators have added a net of 1.70mn new users in July. This takes the total subscriber base to 679.05 mn.

Bharti Airtel added 1.50mn users in July and its total subscriber base now stands at 188.80mn, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) stated.

Vodafone India added 1.20mn customers in July and has a total subscriber base to 154.91mn while Idea Cellular added 0.45mn new subscribers in July.

Uninor lost over 1mn subscribers and stands  at 44.49mn users at the end of July 2012. Videocon lost 0.41mn users taking its subscriber base to 5.16 mn, media reports quoting the COAI state

In focus Stories

Mobile data traffic in India grows more than 50% in H1 2012: Nokia Siemens

Data from Nokia Siemens Networks, collected in its MBit Index, has revealed a 54% increase in mobile data traffic in India between December 2011 and June 2012. The MBit Index report aggregates primary data* – real traffic – across all the 2G (GSM and EDGE) and 3G multivendor networks managed by Nokia Siemens Networks for operators in India.

The company currently provides 30% of the total 2G and 3G networks in India which provide services to about 300 million subscribers. This large sample size, amounting to a third of India’s 2G and 3G mobile networks, offers an excellent insight into data traffic across all networks in the country.
 
The report further reveals that data traffic generated by 3G services has increased by 78% while that of 2G services has increased by 47% during the same period. While 2G users across the country are consuming three-quarters of the total mobile data traffic, on average, 3G users consume four times more data than 2G users. At this pace, Nokia Siemens Networks expects India’s mobile data consumption to double by June 2013.
 
“Our report highlights India’s enormous appetite for consuming data services on the go and hence the need to provide high quality mobile broadband services to satisfy users,” said Sandeep Girotra, head of India region at Nokia Siemens Networks. “2G has been relatively successful in driving mobile broadband use in India, but we are now witnessing 3G pushing the mobile broadband use to unprecedented levels.”

Domestic News

Tata DOCOMO builds one of the World’s largest Signage

Tata DOCOMO created history - achieving a unique feat of creating world’s largest signage displaying the company’s logo. This magnanimous structure is constructed on a hill-side of the Pune – Mumbai Express-way, at the start of the Western Ghats near Khopoli village.

This spectacular structure of Tata DOCOMO logo is one of the biggest signage in the world having a built up area of 30,000 square feet (125 feet high and 234 feet wide)

 It is visible through naked eye from a distance of 3.5 KM from all the angels. It took 64,800 man-hours, 60 people working in shifts for 12 hours every day over a period of 90 days to build this mammoth structure. The hugeness of the structure can be anticipated by the fact that it was constructed with approximately 120 tons of steel and it took 400 liters of paint to colour structure this Tata DOCOMO logo.

Analogy with examples to better understand the magnanimity of this structure; A banquet hall comfortably accommodating 1500 people or almost half the area of a football field or 10 lawn tennis courts or 50 cricket pitches or park 75-80 city buses in a grid format or a parking of 375 cars.

DoT seeks fresh opinion on agreements: reports

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has sought fresh legal opinion on whether it can ask Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular to stop offering 3G roaming services beyond their licence areas under roaming pacts, according to reports.

Reports stated that DOT wants clarity on whether it can levy penalty on the erring operators for violating licence conditions by offering 3G services.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea had entered into mutual agreements to offer 3G services in circles where they could not bag 3G spectrum in an auction held in 2010.

Zicom launches IP-based, Touch Screen Multi-Apartment Video Door Phones

Zicom Electronic Security Systems Ltd – the pioneer in electronic security in India – announced the launch of its IP-based Multi-Apartment Video Door Phones with Touch Screen technology and High-Definition supported 7-inch and 8-inch Indoor Units possessing clear image quality.

Besides the indoor units’ touch-screen facility allowing hassle-free communication, apartment owners can interact directly with what’s displayed, rather than indirectly via a pointer controlled by a touchpad, and also do so without any intermediate hand-held device. If an apartment owner isn’t at home, the SD card slot saves the visitor’s image.

Announcing the two novel units’ introduction, Mr Pramoud Rao, Promoter and Managing Director, Zicom Electronic Security Systems said, “At Zicom, we are committed to providing holistic security solutions that help in ensuring overall security of our customers, while adding on to the aesthetic value of their homes.” 

HCL Infosystems launches its 3G Tablet – the HCL ME Y2

HCL Infosystems Ltd., India’s premier hardware, services and ICT Systems Integration and Distribution Company, launched its latest 3G enabled tablet –HCL ME Y2. Combining unique features, content and connectivity, the HCL ME Y2 promises an exciting experience to its users.  This third generation tablet from HCL is a trendy and stylish device, based on the latest OS and designed specially to suit the needs of the Indian consumers.

Siemens to provide comprehensive Security Solutions to BDB

Results watch

RCOM Q1 cons net profit at Rs1620 mn

Tulip Telecom net profit up 46%

Global News

Global sales of mobile phones down 2.3% in Q2: Gartner 

Worldwide sales of mobile phones to end users reached 419 million units in the second quarter of 2012, a 2.3% decline from the second quarter of 2011, according to Gartner, Inc. Smartphone sales accounted for 36.7% of total mobile phone sales and grew 42.7% in the second quarter of 2012.
 
"Demand slowed further in the second quarter of 2012," said Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner. "The challenging economic environment and users postponing upgrades to take advantage of high-profile device launches and promotions available later in the year slowed demand across markets. Demand of feature phones continued to decline, significantly weakening the overall mobile phone market.
 
"High-profile smartphone launches from key manufacturers such as the anticipated Apple iPhone 5, along with Chinese manufacturers pushing 3G and preparing for major device launches in the second half of 2012, will drive the smartphone market upward. However, feature phones will continue to see pressure,"  Gupta said.

Nokia sees 'limited' impact of debt downgrade: reports

Nokia Corp reportedly said that a debt downgrade by Standard & Poor's will have "limited" impact.

Earlier, the debt research firm assigned a "B-minus" rating to Nokia with a negative outlook, says report.

Nokia also reported that it ended the second quarter with net cash of 4.2 billion euros, above its year-ago level.

SingTel first-quarter net profit edges up 3.2%

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd fiscal first-quarter net profit rose 3.2% from a year earlier.

Reports stated that Net profit for the quarter ended June 30 was 945.3 million Singapore dollars , compared with S$916.2 million a year earlier.

Pretax profit from SingTel's foreign associates rose 2% to S$483 mn, lifted by strong earnings growth from Indonesia's Telkomsel and Advanced Info Service PCL in Thailand, says report.

Samsung launches new Galaxy tablet

Matrix Cellular Partners with AT&T