TDSAT Hits on TRAI’s subscriber based Spectrum Allocation
The Telecom Disputes and Appellate Tribunal – TDSAT hearing the case of Reliance Communications Vs COAI [Airtel, Vodafone, Idea] challenging the licensing of dual technology [GSM + CDMA] to RCom has upheld the license.
The more interesting part of the judegement was TDSAT questioning TRAI’s recommendation for subscriber based spectrum allocation [Prior to last years recommendation of Auction] The Tribunal also said that GSM operators had no right of spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz. So will RCom take this as an opportunity to destabilize the GSM harmony ? What about th fate of BSNL 
However, TDSAT chose to remain silent on our Telecom Minister – A Raja’s First Come First Serve Spectrum Allocation Policy – One of the largest Telecom Scams in the World 
[Awaiting for the detailed order]
Pixazza Advertising to Monetize Photo Inventory – Microsoft Owns Patent ?
Silicon Valley startup company Pixazza has raised cash from Google selling its Product of monetizing Photo Inventory by Advertisements. Late 2005 and early 2006 seeing the Google Stock hitting a new peak I decided to innovate a competing product for Text based Google’s AdSense.
Influenced by the Software King in the King County, I went into Think Day mode in Jan-06 [he goes out on Think Week]. A mentor in King County who provided me Free accommodation always said that Innovation / Killer products always comes in different form and thus I was always thinking for a different and something original. I stumbled upon an idea [ Shopping on Rich Media as Web 2.0 Apps were moving in that direction] and came across this – Embedding URI in Rich Media. [Proof of concept 13-Jan-2006] However, my joy was short lived as my patent search lead to Microsoft filing for almost similar Patent and my chances of securing the patent weakened. Subsequently, I found out that the Software Czars Research Labs was already developing as an SDK for the same and I totally gave up on that
Now, the unanswered questions on my mind is what is that is screwing up Microsoft so badly that they are always late to reach the Web 2.0 ? Pixazza was founded in 2008 and wondering if they have already licensed the technology or how will they fight Microsoft as Redmond Giant may outright refuse to license their patent for obvious reason
DoT running short of Mobile Numbers – One time charge of Rs 5 coming
What applies to a common Indian’s lifestyle about amassing and hoarding [property, jewelery, etc] also applies to most Telecom operators in the country. After Spectrum hoarding, these companies have also amassed Mobile numbers sending the planners in TRAI and DoT back to the Design board.
In the first place, the Indian mobile numbering plan is a big mess. Adding to its woes is the errant behavior of these Telecom operators. According to TRAI, most of the Wireless service providers have not used more than 60% of their allocated MSC codes [read blocks of mobile numbers] and are requesting for more [lots of inefficiencies and hence they have to go for more]. Bharti Airtel – Andhra Pradesh was the best with 83% utilization while Reliance Communications, Chennai is the worst with 15% utilization of these MSC codes.
In order to streamline the operations, TRAI is most likely to announce in April-09 a one time charge of Rs 5.0 / Mobile Number and Rs 1.0 for Wireline number. This fee is applicable to all the numbers already held / allocated and also for future allocations.
With Wireless subscribers reaching 400mn [375 at end of Feb-09] the Government will make a cool Rs 2 bn
Accelerators + Visual Search + Web Slices bring innovation to IE 8.0
Microsoft which lagged the browser war for the last couple of years has bounced back with the release of IE 8.0 packed with some innovations – Accelerators, Visual Search and Web Slices. According to ieaddons.com,
Accelerators – Simply highlight some text from any web page and then click on the blue Accelerators icon that appears above your selection to obtain driving directions, translate and define words, email content to others, start shopping, and more.
Visual Search / Search Provider – Now you can type a search term and see real-time, relevant search suggestions from your chosen search provider. Click on a suggestion at any time to immediately execute the search without having to type the entire word or phrase.
Web Slices – Using Web Slices, you can keep up with updated sites directly from the Favorites Bar. If a Web Slice is available on a page, a green Web Slices icon will appear in the upper-right hand corner of the browser. You can then easily add them to the Favorites Bar!
One of the great things about this browser is Microsoft has made it more complaint with other Web Standards / Technologies. It is claimed to be faster and more secure too. Rajiv P, Director of Windows Client Business Group wrote in his e-mail,
With this release of Internet Explorer, we have a rich ecosystem of popular online Indian partners who are working with us to deliver this ease of use and functionality.
Microsoft is also working with top consumer interest sites to deliver a high level of user experience. And in a related development, Google’s YouTube’s Live Stream of MarchMadness will be powered by Microsoft Silverlight [Flash competitor]. Will the new mantra, Innovative Products + Partnerships help Microsoft taste success ?
Reliance launches EVDO based Broadband – Will it make a Difference ?
Following the footsteps of BSNL and Tata Indicom Photon, Reliance Communications has launched its Broadband services on EVDO Technology branded as NetConnect. [Coverage on NetConnect Plans and Coverage Map here]
Wireless Broadband using EVDO – What does this mean ? RCom already offers broadband services via Optical Fiber Cable and WiMax. OFC customers seem to be happy, however various reviews and comments on our own blog indicate Reliance WiMax customers are a frustrated lot. Does the launch of NetConnect broadband over EVDO mean a soft acknowledgment of WiMax 1.0’s failure in India by both RCom and Tata Indicom ?
Reliance EVDO – 3G Controversy Explained: Strictly going by licensing terms, Reliance and Tata can’t provide this Wireless Broadband service. However, they are using the underlying CDMA spectrum of their 2.xG network and hence their argument. GSM lobby led by Bharti Airtel has already raised concern about this issue, but IMHO, it will be overlooked by the DoT, unless the High Court of Delhi and TDSAT come into picture [Ya you know what I mean ]
Why EVDO Now, Why not earlier ? I don’t seem to understand why didn’t Reliance and Tata get aggressive on EVDO earlier if they were confident of making their case that it is a VAS to its 2.xG CDMA services ? Ok, forgt Tata’s, they never lead, but have chosen a right leader to follow, Reliance. RCom could have started this service earlier because their was and is tremendous demand for good broadband service. Did they first test the Wireless Broadband Signal strength with WiMax and when things weren’t working as expected, took this bold step ?
Reliance Broadband NetConnect Speed: Their broadband division has sent a document which clearly contradicts all their previously stated claims on the wireless internet speed,they say,
NetConnect Broadband / EVDO is 10-15 times faster 10-15 times faster than any data card or USB modem available in the market. The connectivity speed you will get is 400Kbps to 500 Kbps.
The above statement clearly confirms that Reliance 1.x DataCard speed was /is mere 30 Kbps and not 128 – 144 Kbps as claimed [assuming 450 Kbps is what NetConnect EVDO will deliver now and is 15 times faster than 1.x USB Datacard offering] Reliance claims to have 60% market share in USB Data Card Internet Services. What about the 2 Mbps to 3.1Mbps NetConnect speed claimed ? It is practically not feasible, atleast in India and is good in theory and test labs [Correct me if I am wrong by posting a comment, I'll be happy to eat my post]
Tata Indicom Photon + RCom NetConnect the Roadmap: Tata maybe a great brand but I have the wost experience since they have never replied to my questions. RCom does reply but never acknowledges its shortcomings but silently tries to improve on its own. RCom has placed an order for 1 mn EVDO modems and assuming they they might plug them in a years time with an ARPU of Rs 1,000, the company is likely to make a bottomline of Rs 200 crore over the next 12 months [Subscriber addition in chunks of ~100K / Month over 12 months with a profit of Rs 4 crore / month = Rs 192 crore (by Arithmetic Progression) in first 12 months]
Finally, will 3G based broadband help India ? If not, the TRAI must send a strong signal to DoT to open BSNL Wireline Copper Network, atleast by franchisee route so that most of India will be connected. I feel it will be a fantastic move to preserve existing Landline customers and make them subscribe to DSL broadband / IPTV.
Reliance GSM Subscriber Addition Fizzles Out – Growth Rate Drops 33%
Reliance Communications added a whopping ~5mn subscribers in Jan-09. But the rate of growth certainly looks unsustainable as it could add mere 3.38 mn subscribers [GSM + CDMA] in Feb-09. Even after taking into account Feb as a month with 3 short days, compared to Jan, RCom couldn’t maintain the subscribers growth rate. In Jan-09, it added around 1.25mn CDMA and 3.75mn GSM, so taking similar proportion, RCom added just 2.5 mn GSM subscribers in Feb-09, a drop of 33% compared to Jan.
There is no reason for GSM incumbents to cheer yet. I did a reality check with some vendors of Reliance Mobile [GSM] and found that the company’s backend is unable to process the new applications from vendors and distributors, eventually leading the phones to be disconnected due to subscriber non-verification and other compliance issues. 4 of the 5 respondents seemed to be happy with the quality of the GSM network in Karnataka.
So at the end of Feb-08, GSM Wireless Subscriber base is 280 mn. Bharti Airtel leads the GSM pack with 93 mn subscribers across India.
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