Citing "national security" concerns, the United States has revoked the license of one of China's biggest telecoms companies, reported BBC. &nbsp;

The Chinese telecom company will have to stop providing services in the US in 60 days. &nbsp;

The Chinese government's control of the company gave it the opportunity "to access, store, disrupt, and/or misroute US communications", said officials. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/father-shoots-son-after-refusing-to-stop-playing-guitar-us-court-documents-424388" hreflang="en">Father shoots son after refusing to stop playing guitar: US court documents</a>

It in turn allows it "to engage in espionage and other harmful activities against the US", they said. &nbsp;

China Telecom, which has been providing telecom services in the US for nearly 20 years, called the decision "disappointing". &nbsp;

In a statement, it said, "We plan to pursue all available options while continuing to serve our customers." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-man-spends-money-received-from-covid-relief-loan-on-a-58000-pokemon-card-424400" hreflang="en">US man spends money received from Covid relief loan on a $58,000 Pokemon card</a>

The company, China Telecom, is one of three firms that dominate China's market. It has hundreds of millions of customers in 110 countries. It provides services ranging from broadband internet to mobile and landline telephone networks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The decision came hours after US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen spoke to China's Vice Premier Liu He about the state of the global economy. &nbsp;

It is the latest Chinese telecom firm to be targeted by US officials over national security concerns. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Citing "national security" concerns, the United States has revoked the license of one of China's biggest telecoms companies, reported BBC. The Chinese telecom company will have to stop providing services in the US in 60 days.

Citing "national security" concerns, the United States has revoked the license of one of China's biggest telecoms companies, reported BBC. The Chinese telecom company will have to stop providing services in the US in 60 days. The Chinese government's control of the company gave it the opportunity "to access, store, disrupt, and/or misroute US communications", said officials. Also Read | Father shoots son after refusing to stop playing guitar: US court documents It in turn allows it "to engage in espionage and other harmful activities against the US", they said. China Telecom, which has been providing telecom services in the US for nearly 20 years, called the decision "disappointing". In a statement, it said, "We plan to pursue all available options while continuing to serve our customers." Also Read: US man spends money received from Covid relief loan on a $58,000 Pokemon card The company, China Telecom, is one of three firms that dominate China's market. It has hundreds of millions of customers in 110 countries. It provides services ranging from broadband internet to mobile and landline telephone networks. The decision came hours after US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen spoke to China's Vice Premier Liu He about the state of the global economy. It is the latest Chinese telecom firm to be targeted by US officials over national security concerns. (With inputs from agencies)

US revokes top Chinese telecom firm's licence over 'national security' concerns

US officials have approved license applications worth hundreds of millions of dollars for China's blacklisted telecom company Huawei to buy chips for its growing auto component business.

World Business Watch: US approves licenses for Huawei to buy auto chips

Senior foreign executives of major telecommunications firms in Myanmar have been told by the junta that they must not leave the country without permission, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. 
 
A confidential order from Myanmar’s Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) in mid-June said senior executives, both foreigners and Myanmar nationals, must seek special authorisation to leave the country, the person said. 
 
A week later, telecom companies were sent a second letter telling them they had until Monday July 5 to fully implement intercept technology they had previously been asked to install to let authorities spy on calls, messages and web traffic and to track users by themselves, the source said. Reuters has not seen the orders. 
 
The directives follow pressure on the companies from the junta, which is facing daily protests from its opponents and a growing number of insurgencies to activate the spyware technology. 
 
A spokesman for the military did not answer multiple requests for comment. The junta has never commented on the electronic surveillance effort, but announced soon after seizing power its aim to pass a cybersecurity bill that would require telecoms providers to provide data when requested and remove or block any content deemed to be disrupting 'unity, stabilisation&nbsp;and peace'. It also amended privacy laws to free security forces to intercept communications. 
 
The travel ban comes after intensified pressure from military officials to finish the implementation of the surveillance equipment. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the ban was meant to pressure telecoms firms to finish activating the spyware technology, although the order itself does not specify a reason. 
 
Three other telecoms sources, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the authorities had stepped up pressure on the companies to implement the intercept, but declined to elaborate further. Two sources said companies had been warned repeatedly by junta officials not to speak publicly or to the media on the intercept. 
 
Telenor declined to comment. There was no immediate response to requests for comment from Ooredoo, state-owned MPT and Mytel, a joint venture between Vietnam's Viettel and a Myanmar military-owned conglomerate. 
 
Months before the February&nbsp;1 coup, telecom and internet service providers were ordered to install intercept spyware to allow the army to eavesdrop on the communications of citizens, Reuters reported in May. 
 
Reuters was not able to establish how broadly the surveillance technology has been installed and deployed, but four sources said Norway's Telenor ASA and Qatar's Ooredoo QPSC had yet to comply in full. 
 
Among the military's first actions on February&nbsp;1 was to cut internet access and it has still not been fully re-established, with telecoms given regular lists of websites and activist phone numbers to block. 
 
The moves have left the future unclear for Myanmar's telecom sector, which had been one of the fastest-growing globally. Telenor said on Friday it is evaluating the future of its operations in the country, with a source telling Reuters it is eying a sale of its Myanmar unit.

Senior foreign executives of major telecommunications firms in Myanmar have been told by the junta that they must not leave the country without permission, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Senior foreign executives of major telecommunications firms in Myanmar have been told by the junta that they must not leave the country without permission, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. A confidential order from Myanmar’s Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) in mid-June said senior executives, both foreigners and Myanmar nationals, must seek special authorisation to leave the country, the person said. A week later, telecom companies were sent a second letter telling them they had until Monday July 5 to fully implement intercept technology they had previously been asked to install to let authorities spy on calls, messages and web traffic and to track users by themselves, the source said. Reuters has not seen the orders. The directives follow pressure on the companies from the junta, which is facing daily protests from its opponents and a growing number of insurgencies to activate the spyware technology. A spokesman for the military did not answer multiple requests for comment. The junta has never commented on the electronic surveillance effort, but announced soon after seizing power its aim to pass a cybersecurity bill that would require telecoms providers to provide data when requested and remove or block any content deemed to be disrupting 'unity, stabilisation and peace'. It also amended privacy laws to free security forces to intercept communications. The travel ban comes after intensified pressure from military officials to finish the implementation of the surveillance equipment. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the ban was meant to pressure telecoms firms to finish activating the spyware technology, although the order itself does not specify a reason. Three other telecoms sources, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the authorities had stepped up pressure on the companies to implement the intercept, but declined to elaborate further. Two sources said companies had been warned repeatedly by junta officials not to speak publicly or to the media on the intercept. Telenor declined to comment. There was no immediate response to requests for comment from Ooredoo, state-owned MPT and Mytel, a joint venture between Vietnam's Viettel and a Myanmar military-owned conglomerate. Months before the February 1 coup, telecom and internet service providers were ordered to install intercept spyware to allow the army to eavesdrop on the communications of citizens, Reuters reported in May. Reuters was not able to establish how broadly the surveillance technology has been installed and deployed, but four sources said Norway's Telenor ASA and Qatar's Ooredoo QPSC had yet to comply in full. Among the military's first actions on February 1 was to cut internet access and it has still not been fully re-established, with telecoms given regular lists of websites and activist phone numbers to block. The moves have left the future unclear for Myanmar's telecom sector, which had been one of the fastest-growing globally. Telenor said on Friday it is evaluating the future of its operations in the country, with a source telling Reuters it is eying a sale of its Myanmar unit.

After pressuring telecom firms, Myanmar's junta bans executives from leaving

The telecom industry's 'active' subscriber base rose by nearly 2.5 million in October 2020 to touch about 961 million, and user additions benefited from vanishing impact of SIM consolidation triggered from the tariff hike, according to the latest report.

ICICI Securities, in its report crunching Trai's telecom subscription data, said Bharti Airtel's active subscribers rose about 3 million to reach nearly 320 million in October 2020, "most of which was driven by total subscriber net adds, thus indicating improving quality of subscriber addition".

Bharti Airtel saw the highest subscriber addition in its traditionally weak circles of Maharashtra (0.7 million) and Gujarat (0.5 million).

The active subscribers are calculated based on the reported visitor location register (VLR), a key metric reflecting the number of active users on a mobile network.

"Industry-active subscriber base expanded by 2.5 million to 961 million. Subscriber addition has benefited from vanishing impact of SIM consolidation triggered from tariff hike," the report said.

According to the ICICI Securities' report, Jio's active subscribers rose 1.1 million to 319 million in October.

It added that Vodafone Idea Ltd's (VIL) active subscriber numbers continued to decline, but at a lower pace; it fell 1.2 million resulting in an active subscriber base of about 260 million in October 2020.

VIL's total subscriber base shrunk by almost 2.7 million, it said. ICICI Securities observed that Bharti Airtel has regained market leader position by active subscribers.

On an overall basis, Airtel added 3.6 million new customers in October, taking its total wireless customer base to 330.3 million in October 2020, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai) data.

Airtel was followed by Reliance Jio, which added overall 2.22 million new mobile customers, taking its total subscriber base to 406.3 million during the said month.

Vodafone Idea Ltd and state-owned BSNL and MTNL reported a loss of subscriber base, on an overall basis.

The telecom industry's 'active' subscriber base rose by nearly 2.5 million in October 2020 to touch about 961 million, and user additions benefited from vanishing impact of SIM consolidation triggered from the tariff hike, according to the latest report.

The telecom industry's 'active' subscriber base rose by nearly 2.5 million in October 2020 to touch about 961 million, and user additions benefited from vanishing impact of SIM consolidation triggered from the tariff hike, according to the latest report. ICICI Securities, in its report crunching Trai's telecom subscription data, said Bharti Airtel's active subscribers rose about 3 million to reach nearly 320 million in October 2020, "most of which was driven by total subscriber net adds, thus indicating improving quality of subscriber addition". Bharti Airtel saw the highest subscriber addition in its traditionally weak circles of Maharashtra (0.7 million) and Gujarat (0.5 million). The active subscribers are calculated based on the reported visitor location register (VLR), a key metric reflecting the number of active users on a mobile network. "Industry-active subscriber base expanded by 2.5 million to 961 million. Subscriber addition has benefited from vanishing impact of SIM consolidation triggered from tariff hike," the report said. According to the ICICI Securities' report, Jio's active subscribers rose 1.1 million to 319 million in October. It added that Vodafone Idea Ltd's (VIL) active subscriber numbers continued to decline, but at a lower pace; it fell 1.2 million resulting in an active subscriber base of about 260 million in October 2020. VIL's total subscriber base shrunk by almost 2.7 million, it said. ICICI Securities observed that Bharti Airtel has regained market leader position by active subscribers. On an overall basis, Airtel added 3.6 million new customers in October, taking its total wireless customer base to 330.3 million in October 2020, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai) data. Airtel was followed by Reliance Jio, which added overall 2.22 million new mobile customers, taking its total subscriber base to 406.3 million during the said month. Vodafone Idea Ltd and state-owned BSNL and MTNL reported a loss of subscriber base, on an overall basis.

Telecom industry's active subscriber tally up by 2.5 million in October: Report

In an unprecedented and historic step, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) very recently approved a robust and sound security proposal to reinforce the security safeguards towards our National Telecom vulnerabilities awaiting since long for an effective redressal.&nbsp;

In the same vein, it’s imperative to point out that India is among the top three countries in the world, vulnerable to cyber-attacks. In the year 2019, there were nearly four lakh cyber incidents and there was a colossal financial loss to the tune of 1.24 lakh crores. To put things in perspective, such cyber breaches are perpetrated by intercontinental devices and networks. Further, such risks are heightened by Internet Of Things (IOT) devices, adversely affecting the Telecom Network.

To meet these security-related challenges in the Telecom Sector, and to be in sync with the ‘Atmanirbhar’ policy of the government, for the first time, a bold decision was taken by issuing the National Security Directive on Telecom Sector. In this regard, the government is slated to declare a list of trusted sources / trusted products for the benefits of the Telecom Service Providers. The list of to be covered under this Directive and the dynamics are expected to be designed by the designated competent authority who is earmarked as the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC).

Under the new decision, the Deputy National Security Advisor (Dy NSA) of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), will head the committee which will be known as the National Security Committee on Telecom (NSCT). Importantly, the new Directive will not affect the ongoing Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC). The designated Authority will put in a place a portal for easy upload of applications by TSPS and equivalent vendors. Also, the Department of Telecommunications will make appropriate modifications in the License conditions towards the implementation of the provisions of the Directive. The policy is expected to be operationally effective from the date of approval. They will facilitate the desired incentives for Atmanirbhar Bharat as has been envisaged.

Meanwhile, this National Directive on Security has been described as a landmark decision by the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (TEMA) welcome the bold step hoping for healthy development in the domestic industries’ sector as well. The move has also been hailed as a forward-looking development. Articulating favourable and positive reaction to the new Directive, Chairman of the TEMA Council on digital empowerment, and former Secretary DoT, Shri Chandrashekhar IAS (Retd) assured that it was in readiness to work with the government. He also averred that the latest decision was timely and worth an appreciation. Similarly, Shri Ajai Shankar, another retired civil servant and currently Chairman TEMA Council on Industrial Policy found this as a welcome step to safeguard national security. On the whole, the new move is full of hope aimed at plugging all the loopholes in the system and providing a full proof security architecture in the sphere of telecommunications.

(Writer is a retired IPS officer and a security analyst. He is the former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Mauritius. &nbsp;Views are personal.) 
 
(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

In an unprecedented and historic step, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) very recently approved a robust and sound security proposal to reinforce the security safeguards towards our National Telecom vulnerabilities awaiting since long for an effective redressal.

In an unprecedented and historic step, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) very recently approved a robust and sound security proposal to reinforce the security safeguards towards our National Telecom vulnerabilities awaiting since long for an effective redressal. In the same vein, it’s imperative to point out that India is among the top three countries in the world, vulnerable to cyber-attacks. In the year 2019, there were nearly four lakh cyber incidents and there was a colossal financial loss to the tune of 1.24 lakh crores. To put things in perspective, such cyber breaches are perpetrated by intercontinental devices and networks. Further, such risks are heightened by Internet Of Things (IOT) devices, adversely affecting the Telecom Network. To meet these security-related challenges in the Telecom Sector, and to be in sync with the ‘Atmanirbhar’ policy of the government, for the first time, a bold decision was taken by issuing the National Security Directive on Telecom Sector. In this regard, the government is slated to declare a list of trusted sources / trusted products for the benefits of the Telecom Service Providers. The list of to be covered under this Directive and the dynamics are expected to be designed by the designated competent authority who is earmarked as the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC). Under the new decision, the Deputy National Security Advisor (Dy NSA) of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), will head the committee which will be known as the National Security Committee on Telecom (NSCT). Importantly, the new Directive will not affect the ongoing Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC). The designated Authority will put in a place a portal for easy upload of applications by TSPS and equivalent vendors. Also, the Department of Telecommunications will make appropriate modifications in the License conditions towards the implementation of the provisions of the Directive. The policy is expected to be operationally effective from the date of approval. They will facilitate the desired incentives for Atmanirbhar Bharat as has been envisaged. Meanwhile, this National Directive on Security has been described as a landmark decision by the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (TEMA) welcome the bold step hoping for healthy development in the domestic industries’ sector as well. The move has also been hailed as a forward-looking development. Articulating favourable and positive reaction to the new Directive, Chairman of the TEMA Council on digital empowerment, and former Secretary DoT, Shri Chandrashekhar IAS (Retd) assured that it was in readiness to work with the government. He also averred that the latest decision was timely and worth an appreciation. Similarly, Shri Ajai Shankar, another retired civil servant and currently Chairman TEMA Council on Industrial Policy found this as a welcome step to safeguard national security. On the whole, the new move is full of hope aimed at plugging all the loopholes in the system and providing a full proof security architecture in the sphere of telecommunications. (Writer is a retired IPS officer and a security analyst. He is the former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Mauritius. Views are personal.) (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

Opinion: Dynamic measures to strengthen national security on telecom

Amid the India-China standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a proposal to secure telecom infrastructure by designating a "trusted source" for the purchase of equipment by service providers.

India: Cabinet approves buying telecom equipment only from 'trusted' sources

The government on Wednesday informed Parliament that introduction of 5G services in the country will depend on equipment, device ecosystem and economic considerations by telecom operators.

The government also said that state-owned BSNL and MTNL have not planned introducing 5G services yet on their networks.

Minister of State for Telecommunications Sanjay Dhotre, in a written reply to a question on the 5G rollout, said, "5G services depends on 5G equipment and device ecosystem, and economic considerations by the telecom service providers.

" In response to a question on the warning over data theft and national security, Dhotre said the US has intimated about the use of 5G clean path to protect the data and networks of US diplomatic facilities.

The 5G clean path is an end-to-end communication path that does not use any equipment from untrusted vendors.

"To address security concerns of telecom network, security conditions are incorporated in the licence conditions of telecom service providers.

The National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS), Bengaluru has also been established and has been entrusted with the task of preparation of Indian telecom security assurance requirements," Dhotre said.

Responding to a separate query with regard to 5G rollout, the minister said that 5G services have not been rolled out in the country as yet and the state-run telecom firms BSNL and MTNL have informed the government that they have not yet planned introduction of 5G services on their networks.

Globally, over 100 telecom networks have adopted 5G technology.

In India, telecom operators applied for spectrum to start 5G trials in August 2019 but the Department of Telecom (DoT) is yet to allocate radiowaves.

Dhotre said that the DoT had in March 2018 approved a multi-institute collaborative project to set up indigenous 5G test bed at a total cost of Rs 224 crore.

The collaborating institutes include IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IISc Bangalore, Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering &amp; Research (SAMEER) and Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWiT).

The project envisages setting up of an end to-end open 5G test bed in a distributed architecture model, and it will enable Indian academia and industry to validate their products, prototypes and algorithms, Dhotre said.

It will also provide facilities for experimenting and demonstrating 5G applications, he said.

Recently, Reliance Jio also announced development of indigenous 5G technology products, Dhotre said.

Reliance Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel submitted fresh applications for field trials in July but they are yet to get the spectrum.

The government on Wednesday informed Parliament that introduction of 5G services in the country will depend on equipment, device ecosystem and economic considerations by telecom operators.

The government on Wednesday informed Parliament that introduction of 5G services in the country will depend on equipment, device ecosystem and economic considerations by telecom operators. The government also said that state-owned BSNL and MTNL have not planned introducing 5G services yet on their networks. Minister of State for Telecommunications Sanjay Dhotre, in a written reply to a question on the 5G rollout, said, "5G services depends on 5G equipment and device ecosystem, and economic considerations by the telecom service providers. " In response to a question on the warning over data theft and national security, Dhotre said the US has intimated about the use of 5G clean path to protect the data and networks of US diplomatic facilities. The 5G clean path is an end-to-end communication path that does not use any equipment from untrusted vendors. "To address security concerns of telecom network, security conditions are incorporated in the licence conditions of telecom service providers. The National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS), Bengaluru has also been established and has been entrusted with the task of preparation of Indian telecom security assurance requirements," Dhotre said. Responding to a separate query with regard to 5G rollout, the minister said that 5G services have not been rolled out in the country as yet and the state-run telecom firms BSNL and MTNL have informed the government that they have not yet planned introduction of 5G services on their networks. Globally, over 100 telecom networks have adopted 5G technology. In India, telecom operators applied for spectrum to start 5G trials in August 2019 but the Department of Telecom (DoT) is yet to allocate radiowaves. Dhotre said that the DoT had in March 2018 approved a multi-institute collaborative project to set up indigenous 5G test bed at a total cost of Rs 224 crore. The collaborating institutes include IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IISc Bangalore, Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER) and Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWiT). The project envisages setting up of an end to-end open 5G test bed in a distributed architecture model, and it will enable Indian academia and industry to validate their products, prototypes and algorithms, Dhotre said. It will also provide facilities for experimenting and demonstrating 5G applications, he said. Recently, Reliance Jio also announced development of indigenous 5G technology products, Dhotre said. Reliance Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel submitted fresh applications for field trials in July but they are yet to get the spectrum.

5G introduction depends on equipment, ecosystem, telcos' economic consideration: Govt

India's mobile phone users have been putting up with poor connectivity for a while now. Telecom companies have not been investing in mobile infrastructure.

They don't have the money to do it anymore. That's because they are faced with a huge financial crisis themselves.

They owe thousands of crores in dues and the Supreme Court of India breathing down their neck.

Last year, the court had ordered them to pay the dues in 3 months. But to date, an overwhelming majority of this money has not been recovered.

The government suggested self-assessment by telecom companies. It filed a petition saying that this is in the interest of crores of consumers in India.

In response, the Supreme Court has lashed out at Telecom firms. Today it said that re-evaluation of dues will not be allowed. The court was furious and it was visible in the scathing remarks.

“We won't tolerate this, every company is violating orders. They want to hoodwink us. If required, we will summon MDs of all the telecom companies. We will send then to jail from here. We will recuse ourselves if this is the government's attitude,” said Justice Arun Mishra.

The central conflict between the government and telecom firms is the assessment of dues.

Telecom operators must pay the licence fee and spectrum charges. In October last year, the Supreme Court ordered telcos to pay over Rs 90,000 crores.&nbsp;

That verdict dealt a crippling blow to an already bruised industry. After the order, Vodafone idea and Bharti airtel posted their highest-ever losses.

Those two companies along with Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) and Reliance Jio calculated a combined liability of about Rs 37000 crores based on self-assessment.

The department of telecommunications has pegged its dues at over Rs 1 lakh crores. The companies say, as per their own assessment, they've already paid the dues. But according to the govt's calculations, they've only paid about 35% of the dues.

The latest Supreme Court order means they will have to pay the full amount. All they can bargain for is time. 
 
Who owns how much

Company &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Self-assessment &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Govt calculation

 
Bharti Airtel &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 13,004 cr&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 43, 980 cr

Vodafone Idea &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 21,533 cr&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Rs 58, 254 cr

Tata Tele &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Rs 2197 cr&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 16, 798 cr 
&nbsp; 
TOTAL &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 37000 cr (approx)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rs 1.19 lakh cr (approx)

India's mobile phone users have been putting up with poor connectivity for a while now. Telecom companies have not been investing in mobile infrastructure. They don't have the money to do it anymore.

India's mobile phone users have been putting up with poor connectivity for a while now. Telecom companies have not been investing in mobile infrastructure. They don't have the money to do it anymore. That's because they are faced with a huge financial crisis themselves. They owe thousands of crores in dues and the Supreme Court of India breathing down their neck. Last year, the court had ordered them to pay the dues in 3 months. But to date, an overwhelming majority of this money has not been recovered. The government suggested self-assessment by telecom companies. It filed a petition saying that this is in the interest of crores of consumers in India. In response, the Supreme Court has lashed out at Telecom firms. Today it said that re-evaluation of dues will not be allowed. The court was furious and it was visible in the scathing remarks. “We won't tolerate this, every company is violating orders. They want to hoodwink us. If required, we will summon MDs of all the telecom companies. We will send then to jail from here. We will recuse ourselves if this is the government's attitude,” said Justice Arun Mishra. The central conflict between the government and telecom firms is the assessment of dues. Telecom operators must pay the licence fee and spectrum charges. In October last year, the Supreme Court ordered telcos to pay over Rs 90,000 crores. That verdict dealt a crippling blow to an already bruised industry. After the order, Vodafone idea and Bharti airtel posted their highest-ever losses. Those two companies along with Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) and Reliance Jio calculated a combined liability of about Rs 37000 crores based on self-assessment. The department of telecommunications has pegged its dues at over Rs 1 lakh crores. The companies say, as per their own assessment, they've already paid the dues. But according to the govt's calculations, they've only paid about 35% of the dues. The latest Supreme Court order means they will have to pay the full amount. All they can bargain for is time. Who owns how much Company Self-assessment Govt calculation Bharti Airtel Rs 13,004 cr Rs 43, 980 cr Vodafone Idea Rs 21,533 cr Rs 58, 254 cr Tata Tele Rs 2197 cr Rs 16, 798 cr TOTAL Rs 37000 cr (approx) Rs 1.19 lakh cr (approx)

India's telecom crisis: Who owes how much

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday moved the Supreme Court (SC) in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) case, seeking staggered payment over 20 years by telecom companies. Telecom companies will be charged an 8 per cent interest on the staggered payments, a report said.

This payment mechanism would give the cash-strapped Vodafone Idea a fighting chance to survive. Reports say Vodafone Idea on Monday made an additional payment of Rs 3,354 crore towards AGR to the DoT. With this, Vodafone Idea had paid Rs 6,854 to the government.

The DoT said the formula for the recovery dues was created after detailed deliberations by the government and the Cabinet. The DoT has sought the apex court's approval for the formula.

The DoT had earlier said it would reassess the documents submitted by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Tata Teleservices, as part of the companies’ self-assessment of AGR dues.

AGR includes rental receipts, dividend income and income from any other-activity arising out of the telecom licence the company has. Vodafone Idea is staring at dues worth over Rs 50,000 crore.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday moved the Supreme Court (SC) in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) case, seeking staggered payment over 20 years by telecom companies.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Monday moved the Supreme Court (SC) in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) case, seeking staggered payment over 20 years by telecom companies. Telecom companies will be charged an 8 per cent interest on the staggered payments, a report said. This payment mechanism would give the cash-strapped Vodafone Idea a fighting chance to survive. Reports say Vodafone Idea on Monday made an additional payment of Rs 3,354 crore towards AGR to the DoT. With this, Vodafone Idea had paid Rs 6,854 to the government. The DoT said the formula for the recovery dues was created after detailed deliberations by the government and the Cabinet. The DoT has sought the apex court's approval for the formula. The DoT had earlier said it would reassess the documents submitted by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Tata Teleservices, as part of the companies’ self-assessment of AGR dues. AGR includes rental receipts, dividend income and income from any other-activity arising out of the telecom licence the company has. Vodafone Idea is staring at dues worth over Rs 50,000 crore.

DoT asks Supreme Court to allow telecom companies 20-year period to pay AGR dues

Founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises Sunil Bharti Mittal on Thursday assured the government that Airtel would comply with the Supreme Court order and pay the dues before March 17.

Mittal also met Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad during the day.

Speaking to reporters, he said,&nbsp;"I have assured the government that we will comply with the Supreme Court judgment and pay the dues before March 17."&nbsp;

Founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises Sunil Bharti Mittal on Thursday assured the government that Airtel would comply with the Supreme Court order and pay the dues before March 17.

Founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises Sunil Bharti Mittal on Thursday assured the government that Airtel would comply with the Supreme Court order and pay the dues before March 17. Mittal also met Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad during the day. Speaking to reporters, he said, "I have assured the government that we will comply with the Supreme Court judgment and pay the dues before March 17."

Airtel will pay dues before March 17: Sunil Bharti Mittal

The Indian telecom industry is under duress after the Supreme Court came down heavily on telecom companies for not paying dues on time to the government.

The judges accused the telcos of "contempt of court". Even the telecom department officials were rebuked.

Now, three telecom companies must pay a very heavy bill together worth Rupees one lakh crore.&nbsp;

Here's all you need to know about the consequences of the ruling:&nbsp;

<img alt="telecom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="946f8642-b077-4f3e-99dd-727b835c255c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WHO_OWES_WHAT01.jpg" />

The telecom industry is reeling under the slam of the Supreme Court's gavel. Two top telecom companies must pay up a total of 85,000 crore rupees in dues to the government. The order will have severe economic consequences.

Vodafone Idea could shut down, causing over 13,000 people to lose their jobs. The number could be higher if we include all those who run "recharge shops" across the country. Plus, the mobile bill of customers may shoot up.&nbsp;

<img alt="telecom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7595bcda-9899-49d8-a5e5-1df1a2b25f94" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WHO_OWES_WHAT02.jpg" />

Consumers may have to pay substantially more for their mobile data packs and voice calls because of the stress.

The top court had set a January 23 as the deadline. It has pulled up the government for not enforcing the deadline.

Another telecom giant, Bharti Airtel, owes Rupees 35,000 crore, while Vodafone Idea owes over 50,000 crores.&nbsp;

<img alt="telecom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a10139cf-b27e-4769-8b4b-4f5953725ea9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/SC_DIRECTIVE01.jpg" />

The companies must pay the sum by March 17.&nbsp;

The telecom giants have paid some of the money and have sought more time for the rest.

But why do these companies have to pay such massive dues?&nbsp;

<img alt="telecom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="24989933-83c8-4200-a37a-0c0eedb5c057" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/SC_DIRECTIVE02.jpg" />

The legal conflict is around 14 years old. The dispute is over the definition of revenue. The worst-hit is Vodafone Idea which is saddled with mounting losses and debt and owes the biggest chunk to the government. The company says it will collapse if the government does not give any relief.

The collapse of Vodafone Idea would make it the third bankruptcy of a local mobile carrier in two years after that of Aircel and Rcom.

It all started with the arrival of Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio, which slashed the existing mobile data prices to an extent that India today offers the world's cheapest mobile data packs.

&nbsp;<img alt="telecom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6e0b486e-9b05-4f7b-8fb8-9454b0902ace" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/SC_DIRECTIVE03.jpg" />

Once Jio did it, others had to follow thus dipping their hands to the bottom of their coffers to stay competitive.

Meanwhile, data-hungry Indian consumers became more demanding, pushing the companies into a data war.&nbsp;

<img alt="telecom" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="982e6a09-df78-4902-8692-a40dfc0cc77d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/SC_DIRECTIVE04_UPDATED.SLIDE_.jpg" />

The Supreme Court ruling will change all this.&nbsp;

In order to pay the dues, telecom operators could raise the tariffs by 25 to 30 per cent by the end of the year.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
So, young India will now begin to feel the pinch, as they begin to shell out more for less data.

The Indian telecom industry is under duress after the Supreme Court came down heavily on telecom companies for not paying dues on time to the government. The judges accused the telcos of "contempt of court".

The Indian telecom industry is under duress after the Supreme Court came down heavily on telecom companies for not paying dues on time to the government. The judges accused the telcos of "contempt of court". Even the telecom department officials were rebuked. Now, three telecom companies must pay a very heavy bill together worth Rupees one lakh crore. Here's all you need to know about the consequences of the ruling: The telecom industry is reeling under the slam of the Supreme Court's gavel. Two top telecom companies must pay up a total of 85,000 crore rupees in dues to the government. The order will have severe economic consequences. Vodafone Idea could shut down, causing over 13,000 people to lose their jobs. The number could be higher if we include all those who run "recharge shops" across the country. Plus, the mobile bill of customers may shoot up. Consumers may have to pay substantially more for their mobile data packs and voice calls because of the stress. The top court had set a January 23 as the deadline. It has pulled up the government for not enforcing the deadline. Another telecom giant, Bharti Airtel, owes Rupees 35,000 crore, while Vodafone Idea owes over 50,000 crores. The companies must pay the sum by March 17. The telecom giants have paid some of the money and have sought more time for the rest. But why do these companies have to pay such massive dues? The legal conflict is around 14 years old. The dispute is over the definition of revenue. The worst-hit is Vodafone Idea which is saddled with mounting losses and debt and owes the biggest chunk to the government. The company says it will collapse if the government does not give any relief. The collapse of Vodafone Idea would make it the third bankruptcy of a local mobile carrier in two years after that of Aircel and Rcom. It all started with the arrival of Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio, which slashed the existing mobile data prices to an extent that India today offers the world's cheapest mobile data packs. Once Jio did it, others had to follow thus dipping their hands to the bottom of their coffers to stay competitive. Meanwhile, data-hungry Indian consumers became more demanding, pushing the companies into a data war. The Supreme Court ruling will change all this. In order to pay the dues, telecom operators could raise the tariffs by 25 to 30 per cent by the end of the year. So, young India will now begin to feel the pinch, as they begin to shell out more for less data.

The telecom tremors: Consequences of Supreme Court's ruling

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../white-house-considered-kicking-huawei-out-of- us-banking-system-sources-265973">Tech giant Huawei</a> has cancelled the launch of a flagship phone and watch in Taiwan after Taipei imposed a temporary ban on some of its products for listing the island as part of China.&nbsp;

On its official Taiwan Facebook page, Wednesday Chinese company Huawei said the launch of its Mate 30 Pro smartphone and its GT 2 digital watch had been cancelled due to "supply issues" without elaborating further.&nbsp;

"We thank all users who participated in the pre-order event of the products&nbsp;and express deep regret for causing you inconvenience," the statement said, adding that users would be refunded.&nbsp;

The cancellations came after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../fourth-round-of-relief-measures-to-be- introduced-in-hong-kong-carrie-lam-265826">Taiwan</a> last month suspended sales of three Huawei models that listed the self-ruled, democratic island as "Taiwan, China" for timezones and contacts.

On Thursday Taiwan's National Communications Commission (NCC) said the temporary ban of Huawei's P30, P30 Pro and Nova 5T models was still effective as the company had yet to change the wording.

How Taiwan is described is a hugely sensitive political issue.&nbsp;

Beijing considers Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to seize it by force if necessary, even though the two sides have been governed separately for the last seven decades.&nbsp;

In recent years international brands have routinely found themselves bowing to Beijing's stance on Taiwan,&nbsp;a much smaller market compared to the lucrative mainland.&nbsp;

A growing list of international firms, including luxury brands, airlines and hotels, have been pushed to apologise to Beijing or change Taiwan's classification on their websites to "Taiwan, China" or "Chinese Taipei".

The authoritarian mainland has ramped up diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan since President Tsai Ing-wen was elected in 2016 because her party refuses to recognise that idea that the island is part of "one China".&nbsp;

The pressure is building as Taiwan heads towards elections in January, with Tsai seeking to defeat an opponent who favours much warmer ties with China.&nbsp;

Huawei, the world's number two smartphone producer, has previously come under fire in mainland China for the opposite offence,&nbsp;not labelling the cities of Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau as part of China in some Chinese-language settings.&nbsp;

The company is also fighting legal battles in the United States, saying Thursday it has petitioned a US court to overturn a ban imposed on national security grounds that prevents carriers in rural America from buying its equipment by tapping an $8.5-billion federal fund.&nbsp;

Tech giant Huawei has cancelled the launch of a flagship phone and watch in Taiwan after Taipei imposed a temporary ban on some of its products for listing the island as part of China.

Tech giant Huawei has cancelled the launch of a flagship phone and watch in Taiwan after Taipei imposed a temporary ban on some of its products for listing the island as part of China. On its official Taiwan Facebook page, Wednesday Chinese company Huawei said the launch of its Mate 30 Pro smartphone and its GT 2 digital watch had been cancelled due to "supply issues" without elaborating further. "We thank all users who participated in the pre-order event of the products and express deep regret for causing you inconvenience," the statement said, adding that users would be refunded. The cancellations came after Taiwan last month suspended sales of three Huawei models that listed the self-ruled, democratic island as "Taiwan, China" for timezones and contacts. On Thursday Taiwan's National Communications Commission (NCC) said the temporary ban of Huawei's P30, P30 Pro and Nova 5T models was still effective as the company had yet to change the wording. How Taiwan is described is a hugely sensitive political issue. Beijing considers Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to seize it by force if necessary, even though the two sides have been governed separately for the last seven decades. In recent years international brands have routinely found themselves bowing to Beijing's stance on Taiwan, a much smaller market compared to the lucrative mainland. A growing list of international firms, including luxury brands, airlines and hotels, have been pushed to apologise to Beijing or change Taiwan's classification on their websites to "Taiwan, China" or "Chinese Taipei". The authoritarian mainland has ramped up diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan since President Tsai Ing-wen was elected in 2016 because her party refuses to recognise that idea that the island is part of "one China". The pressure is building as Taiwan heads towards elections in January, with Tsai seeking to defeat an opponent who favours much warmer ties with China. Huawei, the world's number two smartphone producer, has previously come under fire in mainland China for the opposite offence, not labelling the cities of Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau as part of China in some Chinese-language settings. The company is also fighting legal battles in the United States, saying Thursday it has petitioned a US court to overturn a ban imposed on national security grounds that prevents carriers in rural America from buying its equipment by tapping an $8.5-billion federal fund.

Huawei cancels new phone launch in Taiwan after China row

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-high-court-adjourns-hearing-on-plea-seeking-linkage-of-aadhaar-to-properties-263426">Delhi High Court</a> has placed a restriction on the sale of assets belonging to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital which is reeling under mounting debt. 
 
"The court has passed an order placing restrictions on any sale, disposal or creation of any encumbrance on any assets of the company, which inter-alia include the company's 4.28 per cent shareholding in Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd, till December 16," Reliance Capital informed stock exchanges in regulatory filings. 
 
The formal order of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/inx-media-case-delhi-high-court-rejects-p-chidambarams-bail-plea-262420">high court</a> is awaited. "The company will take all appropriate steps in the matter as legally advised, including to file an appeal against the said order to protect the interests of its lenders and other stakeholders," it said late on Wednesday. 
 
In late September, Ambani said the company suffered great collateral damage over the last six months due to a combination of factors, including the crisis in financial services sector, irrational action by auditors and rating agencies, and now slowdown of the Indian economy. 
 
As a part of the transformation process, Reliance Capital will no more be in any of the lending businesses. 
 
The company had repaid over Rs 35,000 crore in debt over the past 15 months. It is close to repaying another Rs 15,000 crore by March 2020 despite zero funding from any bank, NBFC or financial institution, Reliance Capital says.

Delhi High Court has placed a restriction on the sale of assets belonging to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital which is reeling under mounting debt. "The court has passed an order placing restrictions on any sale, disposal or creation of any encumbrance on any assets of the company, which inter-alia include the company's 4.

Delhi High Court has placed a restriction on the sale of assets belonging to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital which is reeling under mounting debt. "The court has passed an order placing restrictions on any sale, disposal or creation of any encumbrance on any assets of the company, which inter-alia include the company's 4.28 per cent shareholding in Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd, till December 16," Reliance Capital informed stock exchanges in regulatory filings. The formal order of the high court is awaited. "The company will take all appropriate steps in the matter as legally advised, including to file an appeal against the said order to protect the interests of its lenders and other stakeholders," it said late on Wednesday. In late September, Ambani said the company suffered great collateral damage over the last six months due to a combination of factors, including the crisis in financial services sector, irrational action by auditors and rating agencies, and now slowdown of the Indian economy. As a part of the transformation process, Reliance Capital will no more be in any of the lending businesses. The company had repaid over Rs 35,000 crore in debt over the past 15 months. It is close to repaying another Rs 15,000 crore by March 2020 despite zero funding from any bank, NBFC or financial institution, Reliance Capital says.

Delhi High Courts halts asset sale of Reliance Capital

Indian shares ended higher on Tuesday, led by gains in banking stocks, while shares of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/airtel-vodafone-idea-shares-jump-after-on-hopes-of-govt-help-262309">telecom companies</a> surged on the back of announcement by the country's two major mobile network service providers that they planned to hike tariffs.

The NSE Nifty 50 index ended 0.47 per cent&nbsp;at 11,940, while the S&amp;P BSE Sensex closed 0.5 per cent&nbsp;higher at 40,469.70.

The Nifty public sector bank index gained 3.9 per cent, while the Nifty energy index rose 1.5 per cent.

"The hope for bank investors is that many cases stuck in the insolvency and bankruptcy code may be sorted out now, taking Essar Steel verdict as precedent," said Amit Kumar Gupta, portfolio manager at Adroit Financial Services Pvt Ltd.

The Supreme Court of India on Friday cleared the path for steelmaker <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/supreme-court-clears-path-for-arcelormittal-to-acquire-essar-steel-262263">ArcelorMittal SA to take over bankrupt Essar</a> Steel, and the judgment comes as a big reprieve for banks which are struggling with bad loans worth $140 billion.

Shares of Bharti Airtel ended up 7.37 per cent&nbsp;and were one of the top gainers in Nifty 50, with the stock hitting its highest since January&nbsp;24, 2018. Yes Bank shares fell 2.51 per cent&nbsp;to end as the top loser.

Meanwhile, Vodafone Idea shares rose as much as 43.82 per cent&nbsp;during the session.

On Monday, Airtel and Vodafone Idea said they would increase mobile tariffs from December, after posting record, multi-billion-dollar quarterly losses.

Indian shares ended higher on Tuesday, led by gains in banking stocks, while shares of telecom companies surged on the back of announcement by the country's two major mobile network service providers that they planned to hike tariffs.

Indian shares ended higher on Tuesday, led by gains in banking stocks, while shares of telecom companies surged on the back of announcement by the country's two major mobile network service providers that they planned to hike tariffs. The NSE Nifty 50 index ended 0.47 per cent at 11,940, while the S&P BSE Sensex closed 0.5 per cent higher at 40,469.70. The Nifty public sector bank index gained 3.9 per cent, while the Nifty energy index rose 1.5 per cent. "The hope for bank investors is that many cases stuck in the insolvency and bankruptcy code may be sorted out now, taking Essar Steel verdict as precedent," said Amit Kumar Gupta, portfolio manager at Adroit Financial Services Pvt Ltd. The Supreme Court of India on Friday cleared the path for steelmaker ArcelorMittal SA to take over bankrupt Essar Steel, and the judgment comes as a big reprieve for banks which are struggling with bad loans worth $140 billion. Shares of Bharti Airtel ended up 7.37 per cent and were one of the top gainers in Nifty 50, with the stock hitting its highest since January 24, 2018. Yes Bank shares fell 2.51 per cent to end as the top loser. Meanwhile, Vodafone Idea shares rose as much as 43.82 per cent during the session. On Monday, Airtel and Vodafone Idea said they would increase mobile tariffs from December, after posting record, multi-billion-dollar quarterly losses.

Sensex closes at 40,469.70 up by 185.51, Nifty ends at 11,940.10

Telecom Crisis In India: What Next? What Can Be Done?

WION Edit: India's telecom crisis - what can the government do?

Gravitas: Why Are Telecom Firms Bleeding?

Big Players In India's Telecom Sector Stare At Bankruptcy.

Gravitas: India's Telecom Industry Bleeds

The Story Of India's Telecom Sector Is One Of Greed, Poor Policies, Inconsistencies & Major Scandals.

Gravitas: A Brief History Of India's Telecom Crisis

Vodafone said its future in India could be in doubt unless the government stopped hitting operators with higher taxes and charges, after a court judgment over license fees resulted in a 1.9 billion euro group loss in its first half.

Chief Executive Nick Read said India, where Vodafone formed a joint venture with Idea Cellular in 2018, had been "a very challenging situation for a long time", but it remained a sizable market where Vodafone had a 30 per cent&nbsp;share.

"Financially there's been a heavy burden through unsupportive regulation, excessive taxes and on top of that we got the negative supreme court decision," he said on Tuesday.

Vodafone had asked the government for a relief package comprising a two-year moratorium on spectrum payments, lower license fee and taxes and waiving of interest and penalties on the Supreme Court case, which centred on regulatory fees.

Asked if it made sense for Vodafone to remain in India without any relief package, he said: "It's fair to say it's a very critical situation."

Read said Vodafone was not committing any more equity to India and the country effectively contributed zero value to the company's share price.

Vodafone's shares were up 0.6 per cent&nbsp;at 161 pence at 0931 GMT as investors focused on an upgrade to its earnings forecast rather than India.

Vodafone, the world's second-largest mobile operator, reported improving organic revenue growth as it saw signs of improvement in Spain and Italy and as it integrates its German cable acquisition.

It reported organic service revenue growth of 0.3 per cent&nbsp;in the first half, as it returned to growth in the second quarter, while organic core earnings rose 1.4 per cent.

It increased its forecast for adjusted core earnings to 14.8-15.0 billion euros from its previous forecast of 13.8-14.2 billion euros, but said India and lower cash flows following the sale of assets in New Zealand meant free cash flow would be "around" 5.4 billion euros, rather than "at least" 5.4 billion euros, as it previously forecast.

Read said he was pleased with progress in executing his strategy.

"This is reflected in our return to top-line growth in the second quarter, which we expect to build upon in the second half of the year in both Europe and Africa," he said on Tuesday.

Read cut Vodafone's dividend for the first time in May after tough market conditions and a need to invest in its networks and airwaves caused him to backtrack on his pledge not to reduce the payout.

Vodafone said its future in India could be in doubt unless the government stopped hitting operators with higher taxes and charges, after a court judgment over license fees resulted in a 1.

Vodafone said its future in India could be in doubt unless the government stopped hitting operators with higher taxes and charges, after a court judgment over license fees resulted in a 1.9 billion euro group loss in its first half. Chief Executive Nick Read said India, where Vodafone formed a joint venture with Idea Cellular in 2018, had been "a very challenging situation for a long time", but it remained a sizable market where Vodafone had a 30 per cent share. "Financially there's been a heavy burden through unsupportive regulation, excessive taxes and on top of that we got the negative supreme court decision," he said on Tuesday. Vodafone had asked the government for a relief package comprising a two-year moratorium on spectrum payments, lower license fee and taxes and waiving of interest and penalties on the Supreme Court case, which centred on regulatory fees. Asked if it made sense for Vodafone to remain in India without any relief package, he said: "It's fair to say it's a very critical situation." Read said Vodafone was not committing any more equity to India and the country effectively contributed zero value to the company's share price. Vodafone's shares were up 0.6 per cent at 161 pence at 0931 GMT as investors focused on an upgrade to its earnings forecast rather than India. Vodafone, the world's second-largest mobile operator, reported improving organic revenue growth as it saw signs of improvement in Spain and Italy and as it integrates its German cable acquisition. It reported organic service revenue growth of 0.3 per cent in the first half, as it returned to growth in the second quarter, while organic core earnings rose 1.4 per cent. It increased its forecast for adjusted core earnings to 14.8-15.0 billion euros from its previous forecast of 13.8-14.2 billion euros, but said India and lower cash flows following the sale of assets in New Zealand meant free cash flow would be "around" 5.4 billion euros, rather than "at least" 5.4 billion euros, as it previously forecast. Read said he was pleased with progress in executing his strategy. "This is reflected in our return to top-line growth in the second quarter, which we expect to build upon in the second half of the year in both Europe and Africa," he said on Tuesday. Read cut Vodafone's dividend for the first time in May after tough market conditions and a need to invest in its networks and airwaves caused him to backtrack on his pledge not to reduce the payout.

Vodafone's future in India in doubt after latest setback

China has officially started researching sixth-generation telecoms technology, state media reported on Thursday, a move it described as aiming to promote the latest wireless innovation.

Chinese government ministries and research institutes met this week in a "kick-off" meeting to establish a national 6G technology research and development group, according to a report by the Science and Technology Daily, which is published by China's Ministry of Science and Technology.

Technologies related to ultra-fast mobile services have become a key conflict point between the United States and China in recent months.

Countries around the world have been racing to roll out <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/huawei-pushes-5g-in-southeast-asia-brushing-off-tech-war-with-us-259636">5G next-generation</a> wireless networks, which can provide data speeds at least 20 times faster than 4G and promises to support new technologies such as self-driving cars and augmented reality.

In April, Reuters published a story quoting South Korean officials declaring victory over the United States and China as the site of the world's first commercial launch of a 5G telecoms network.

They made their assertion on the basis that the new network connected to an actual 5G phone. US&nbsp;carriers disputed South Korea's claims to be first.

The race has also embroiled China's Huawei Technologies, the world's largest telecoms equipment vendor, which is heavily involved in building many of these networks.

The US&nbsp;government, fearing that Huawei's equipment could be used by China for spying, has placed Huawei on a blacklist in May that banned the company from buying American-made parts. The US&nbsp;government led a campaign to convince its allies to bar it from their 5G networks. Huawei has repeatedly denied the claims.

Meanwhile, US&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-impeachment-hearings-trump-may-expand-communications-team-to-bolster-defense-260440">President Donald Trump</a> in February tweeted that he wanted 6G technology in the United States as soon as possible, urging US&nbsp;firms to step up their efforts or get left behind.

Beijing's move to kickstart research into 6G comes days after the country's top three telecos rolled out 5G mobile phone services nationwide.

China had originally said it would launch the ultra-fast mobile internet service early next year but accelerated its plans as tensions with the United States heated up.

China has officially started researching sixth-generation telecoms technology, state media reported on Thursday, a move it described as aiming to promote the latest wireless innovation.

China has officially started researching sixth-generation telecoms technology, state media reported on Thursday, a move it described as aiming to promote the latest wireless innovation. Chinese government ministries and research institutes met this week in a "kick-off" meeting to establish a national 6G technology research and development group, according to a report by the Science and Technology Daily, which is published by China's Ministry of Science and Technology. Technologies related to ultra-fast mobile services have become a key conflict point between the United States and China in recent months. Countries around the world have been racing to roll out 5G next-generation wireless networks, which can provide data speeds at least 20 times faster than 4G and promises to support new technologies such as self-driving cars and augmented reality. In April, Reuters published a story quoting South Korean officials declaring victory over the United States and China as the site of the world's first commercial launch of a 5G telecoms network. They made their assertion on the basis that the new network connected to an actual 5G phone. US carriers disputed South Korea's claims to be first. The race has also embroiled China's Huawei Technologies, the world's largest telecoms equipment vendor, which is heavily involved in building many of these networks. The US government, fearing that Huawei's equipment could be used by China for spying, has placed Huawei on a blacklist in May that banned the company from buying American-made parts. The US government led a campaign to convince its allies to bar it from their 5G networks. Huawei has repeatedly denied the claims. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump in February tweeted that he wanted 6G technology in the United States as soon as possible, urging US firms to step up their efforts or get left behind. Beijing's move to kickstart research into 6G comes days after the country's top three telecos rolled out 5G mobile phone services nationwide. China had originally said it would launch the ultra-fast mobile internet service early next year but accelerated its plans as tensions with the United States heated up.

China kicks off work on 6G research: State media

India's Reliance Industries-controlled <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/reliance-mobile-operator-jio-to-focus-on-subscriber-numbers-not-tariffs-report-237503">Jio Infocomm</a> wrote to the telecoms minister on Thursday, opposing government intervention for rival carriers Bharti Airtel&nbsp;and Vodafone Idea&nbsp;facing overdue of $13 billion.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) had earlier written to Telecommunications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, warning of an "unprecedented crisis" if the government refuses to relax its demand for outstanding dues.

Jio, the telecoms unit of billionaire Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance, said in its letter that fears of a crisis in the industry and job losses were overblown.

Rival carriers can monetise their assets, investments or issue fresh equity to pay the dues, it added.

India's Reliance Industries-controlled Jio Infocomm wrote to the telecoms minister on Thursday, opposing government intervention for rival carriers Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea facing overdue of $13 billion.

India's Reliance Industries-controlled Jio Infocomm wrote to the telecoms minister on Thursday, opposing government intervention for rival carriers Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea facing overdue of $13 billion. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) had earlier written to Telecommunications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, warning of an "unprecedented crisis" if the government refuses to relax its demand for outstanding dues. Jio, the telecoms unit of billionaire Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance, said in its letter that fears of a crisis in the industry and job losses were overblown. Rival carriers can monetise their assets, investments or issue fresh equity to pay the dues, it added.

Reliance's Jio opposes telecom lobby's plea for government help to rivals

The government has formed a panel of bureaucrats to suggest ways to alleviate financial pressures on the telecoms sector, a ministry source said on Tuesday, days after a court order that will push mobile carriers to pay overdue government levies and interest.

Mobile operators in India have been demanding support for a sector squeezed by a price war since late 2016 and by the high cost of using airwaves, culminating last week in that Supreme Court decision upholding a demand by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the nearly $13 billion it said was overdue.

A panel comprising senior civil servants will consider the industry's demands, such as the postponement of airwaves auction payments due for the 2020/21 and 2021/22, the source said.

The panel will also look at reducing airwave usage charges and the contribution levels for the government fund set up to ensure that telecoms services reach rural India in a non-discriminatory way, the source added.

Profits of Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel have been hit and some rivals have gone out of business since Reliance Industries' Jio Infocomm unleashed a fierce price war when it entered India's crowded telecoms market in 2016 with free calling and cut-price data.

Vodafone Idea previously said it would ask the federal government for relief on payments of at least $4 billion after the Supreme Court decision. Analysts had said the charges could force the company out of business.

Rival Bharti Airtel said it had approached the DoT to "seek clarity" on the amount it had to pay, adding that it has sought the government's support to deal with the "adverse outcome" of the court ruling.

It also postponed the release of quarterly earnings, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, to November&nbsp;14.

Shares in Vodafone Idea closed 8.3 per cent down while Bharti lost 3.5 per cent in a broader Mumbai market &lt;.NSEI&gt; that finished with a 1.4 per cent gain.

The government has formed a panel of bureaucrats to suggest ways to alleviate financial pressures on the telecoms sector, a ministry source said on Tuesday, days after a court order that will push mobile carriers to pay overdue government levies and interest.

The government has formed a panel of bureaucrats to suggest ways to alleviate financial pressures on the telecoms sector, a ministry source said on Tuesday, days after a court order that will push mobile carriers to pay overdue government levies and interest. Mobile operators in India have been demanding support for a sector squeezed by a price war since late 2016 and by the high cost of using airwaves, culminating last week in that Supreme Court decision upholding a demand by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the nearly $13 billion it said was overdue. A panel comprising senior civil servants will consider the industry's demands, such as the postponement of airwaves auction payments due for the 2020/21 and 2021/22, the source said. The panel will also look at reducing airwave usage charges and the contribution levels for the government fund set up to ensure that telecoms services reach rural India in a non-discriminatory way, the source added. Profits of Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel have been hit and some rivals have gone out of business since Reliance Industries' Jio Infocomm unleashed a fierce price war when it entered India's crowded telecoms market in 2016 with free calling and cut-price data. Vodafone Idea previously said it would ask the federal government for relief on payments of at least $4 billion after the Supreme Court decision. Analysts had said the charges could force the company out of business. Rival Bharti Airtel said it had approached the DoT to "seek clarity" on the amount it had to pay, adding that it has sought the government's support to deal with the "adverse outcome" of the court ruling. It also postponed the release of quarterly earnings, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, to November 14. Shares in Vodafone Idea closed 8.3 per cent down while Bharti lost 3.5 per cent in a broader Mumbai market <.NSEI> that finished with a 1.4 per cent gain.

Government forms panel to address telecoms woes: Report

India's telecoms sector and leading players Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea will face an "unprecedented crisis" if the government refuses to relax its demand for $13 billion in outstanding dues, a lobby group says.

Bharti and Vodafone Idea have been spooked by the Indian Supreme Court's decision last week to uphold a government demand that will force the companies to pay the bulk of 920 billion rupees ($13 billion) in overdue levies and interest.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) lobby group has joined the fray, seeking the intervention of India's telecoms minister in a letter dated October 29, arguing that such payments will lead to a crisis at the companies and cause distress for the sector as a whole.

"Investments could be curtailed, services could deteriorate, jobs could be lost and investor confidence will most definitely be shattered," COAI Director General Rajan S. Mathews said in the letter seen by Reuters.

"The impact of this crisis could exacerbate the stress in the industry and potentially be catastrophic for the nation."

The government's telecoms department did not respond to a request for comment.

A person with direct knowledge of the matter said Bharti and Vodafone both backed COAI's views in the letter. But Reliance Industries-owned rival Jio, a COAI member, said the lobby group's letter does not represent industry views.

Reliance "completely disagrees with the intent, tone, contents and connotations of the COAI letter", it said in a letter to COAI, which it released to the media.

Jio began operations in late 2016 and is least affected by the Supreme Court ruling because it has only $2 million in charges to clear.

The COAI leter also said that the $13 billion demand could also place in jeopardy the 600 billion rupees ($8.5 billion) of annual payments Bharti and Vodafone Idea make to the government and threaten their ability to service existing debt.

"Such an adverse outcome will trigger a chain of events which will result in disruption to the entire business chain," the letter said, with the COAI seeking a two-year moratorium on payments for airwave spectrum from 2020 to 2022.

India's crowded telecoms sector once had more than a dozen mobile operators but consolidation has resulted in only three private players - Bharti, Vodafone and Jio - and two other debt-ridden state companies.

A government source said on Monday that a panel of bureaucrats had been formed to suggest ways to alleviate financial pressures on the sector.

India's telecoms sector and leading players Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea will face an "unprecedented crisis" if the government refuses to relax its demand for $13 billion in outstanding dues, a lobby group says.

India's telecoms sector and leading players Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea will face an "unprecedented crisis" if the government refuses to relax its demand for $13 billion in outstanding dues, a lobby group says. Bharti and Vodafone Idea have been spooked by the Indian Supreme Court's decision last week to uphold a government demand that will force the companies to pay the bulk of 920 billion rupees ($13 billion) in overdue levies and interest. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) lobby group has joined the fray, seeking the intervention of India's telecoms minister in a letter dated October 29, arguing that such payments will lead to a crisis at the companies and cause distress for the sector as a whole. "Investments could be curtailed, services could deteriorate, jobs could be lost and investor confidence will most definitely be shattered," COAI Director General Rajan S. Mathews said in the letter seen by Reuters. "The impact of this crisis could exacerbate the stress in the industry and potentially be catastrophic for the nation." The government's telecoms department did not respond to a request for comment. A person with direct knowledge of the matter said Bharti and Vodafone both backed COAI's views in the letter. But Reliance Industries-owned rival Jio, a COAI member, said the lobby group's letter does not represent industry views. Reliance "completely disagrees with the intent, tone, contents and connotations of the COAI letter", it said in a letter to COAI, which it released to the media. Jio began operations in late 2016 and is least affected by the Supreme Court ruling because it has only $2 million in charges to clear. The COAI leter also said that the $13 billion demand could also place in jeopardy the 600 billion rupees ($8.5 billion) of annual payments Bharti and Vodafone Idea make to the government and threaten their ability to service existing debt. "Such an adverse outcome will trigger a chain of events which will result in disruption to the entire business chain," the letter said, with the COAI seeking a two-year moratorium on payments for airwave spectrum from 2020 to 2022. India's crowded telecoms sector once had more than a dozen mobile operators but consolidation has resulted in only three private players - Bharti, Vodafone and Jio - and two other debt-ridden state companies. A government source said on Monday that a panel of bureaucrats had been formed to suggest ways to alleviate financial pressures on the sector.

Indian lobby group warns of telecoms catastrophe, Reliance disagrees

The government is constituting a high-level panel under the Cabinet Secretary to suggest measures for mitigating financial stress in the telecom sector, sources said on Tuesday.

The Committee of Secretaries (CoS) will look into the demand of telecom service providers for deferment of spectrum auction payment due from them for coming financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22.

It will also examine the issues of universal services obligation fund charge and reduction of spectrum usage charges, the sources said.

The panel will comprise secretaries from ministries of finance, telecommunication and law among others. It is expected to meet shortly and submit recommendations in a time-bound manner.

The move comes less than a week after the Supreme Court sided with the government's definition of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) that all revenue from telecom companies will be used for calculating the AGR. The court rejected the argument of telecom operators that the AGR only included license and spectrum fees.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has said the apex court's decision will negatively impact incumbent operators by over Rs 92,000 crore.

"The Supreme Court's judgment is the last straw in contributing to financial distress," said Rajan S Mathews, Director General of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

The sector is already reeling under a daunting debt of Rs four lakh crore and is in dire financial straits as operators are making negative returns on their investments, said Mathews.

Bharti Airtel's Chairman Sunil Mittal reportedly met Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Secretary Anshu Prakash on Monday to press for some relief.

Loss-making Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel both may need to pay up dues of Rs 70,000 crore after the Supreme Court's order at a time when they need to invest in network rollout, technology upgrades and expansion plans ahead of the 5G rollout.

The government is constituting a high-level panel under the Cabinet Secretary to suggest measures for mitigating financial stress in the telecom sector, sources said on Tuesday.

The government is constituting a high-level panel under the Cabinet Secretary to suggest measures for mitigating financial stress in the telecom sector, sources said on Tuesday. The Committee of Secretaries (CoS) will look into the demand of telecom service providers for deferment of spectrum auction payment due from them for coming financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22. It will also examine the issues of universal services obligation fund charge and reduction of spectrum usage charges, the sources said. The panel will comprise secretaries from ministries of finance, telecommunication and law among others. It is expected to meet shortly and submit recommendations in a time-bound manner. The move comes less than a week after the Supreme Court sided with the government's definition of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) that all revenue from telecom companies will be used for calculating the AGR. The court rejected the argument of telecom operators that the AGR only included license and spectrum fees. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has said the apex court's decision will negatively impact incumbent operators by over Rs 92,000 crore. "The Supreme Court's judgment is the last straw in contributing to financial distress," said Rajan S Mathews, Director General of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). The sector is already reeling under a daunting debt of Rs four lakh crore and is in dire financial straits as operators are making negative returns on their investments, said Mathews. Bharti Airtel's Chairman Sunil Mittal reportedly met Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Secretary Anshu Prakash on Monday to press for some relief. Loss-making Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel both may need to pay up dues of Rs 70,000 crore after the Supreme Court's order at a time when they need to invest in network rollout, technology upgrades and expansion plans ahead of the 5G rollout.

Government forms panel of secretaries on measures to ease financial stress in telecom

Declining fortunes of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-us-china-row-huawei-signs-deal-with-russian-telecom-company-mts-to-develop-5g-network-224867">telecom operators </a>and their increasing vulnerability with chances of spillover to the financial sector is a cause of worry, according to a leading think-tank.

A very sizeable portion of the government`s plans for enhancing service delivery, financial inclusion and skill development (such as the Digital India and Skill India initiatives) are hinged on widespread and affordable access to communications and IT services.&nbsp;

"However, there is a view that the sector may have become victim to its own success and that the public attention on it due to high-profile scandals resulted in more onerous policies," said the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).

Recent consolidations following the entry of Reliance Jio has transformed the competitive landscape of the industry. Leverage levels for most firms are high as debt burdens have risen, resulting in decreasing interest coverage ratios.&nbsp;

In November 2018, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/reserve-bank-of-india-to-enhance-monitoring-of-shadow-banking-firms-governor-225678">Reserve Bank of India </a>had reported banks` exposure to the telecom sector was to the tune of Rs 90,600 crore. "While increasing the vulnerability of the sector itself, the spill over to the financial system is also a cause for worry," it said in the working paper titled `A Study of the Financial Health of the Telecom Sector.`&nbsp;

The emergence of disruptive technologies and their potential to impact traditional telecom operations is widely accepted. Under the current framework of regulatory asymmetry, operators must acquire licenses to provide services that over-the-top (OTT) content providers can offer for dramatically lower prices without a license.&nbsp;

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime also impacted the sector`s liquidity. The current standard rate of GST on the supply of telecom services and products is 18 per cent. Besides, spectrum acquisition is a huge cost to the industry. Since 2010-11, the total spectrum acquisition charge adds up to Rs 2.55 lakh crore.

"Given these challenges, sectoral growth must be catalysed through policy action to ease existing constraints," said the paper, adding also on the reform anvil is the rationalisation of penalties, the scale and a sheer number of which adds to operational costs.

&nbsp;Given the seriousness and speed with which the government aims to enable digital citizenship and the essential role that private operators must play in this transformation, it is important that policy prioritises between short-term benefits of immediate revenue generation and long-term dividends that a robust connected economy can create.&nbsp;

India has not yet exhausted potential returns from the telecom sector. In fact, the second round of dividends may be around the corner from the data economy and 5G.&nbsp;

The policy must do all it can to maximise this potential. "Effecting most of these changes will hinge on institutional reform especially in the form of greater cooperation between the line ministry and the independent regulator which is a first order priority," said the ICRIER paper authored by Rajat Kathuria, Mansi Kedia and Richa Sekhani.

Declining fortunes of telecom operators and their increasing vulnerability with chances of spillover to the financial sector is a cause of worry, according to a leading think-tank.

Declining fortunes of telecom operators and their increasing vulnerability with chances of spillover to the financial sector is a cause of worry, according to a leading think-tank. A very sizeable portion of the government`s plans for enhancing service delivery, financial inclusion and skill development (such as the Digital India and Skill India initiatives) are hinged on widespread and affordable access to communications and IT services. "However, there is a view that the sector may have become victim to its own success and that the public attention on it due to high-profile scandals resulted in more onerous policies," said the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). Recent consolidations following the entry of Reliance Jio has transformed the competitive landscape of the industry. Leverage levels for most firms are high as debt burdens have risen, resulting in decreasing interest coverage ratios. In November 2018, the Reserve Bank of India had reported banks` exposure to the telecom sector was to the tune of Rs 90,600 crore. "While increasing the vulnerability of the sector itself, the spill over to the financial system is also a cause for worry," it said in the working paper titled `A Study of the Financial Health of the Telecom Sector.` The emergence of disruptive technologies and their potential to impact traditional telecom operations is widely accepted. Under the current framework of regulatory asymmetry, operators must acquire licenses to provide services that over-the-top (OTT) content providers can offer for dramatically lower prices without a license. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime also impacted the sector`s liquidity. The current standard rate of GST on the supply of telecom services and products is 18 per cent. Besides, spectrum acquisition is a huge cost to the industry. Since 2010-11, the total spectrum acquisition charge adds up to Rs 2.55 lakh crore. "Given these challenges, sectoral growth must be catalysed through policy action to ease existing constraints," said the paper, adding also on the reform anvil is the rationalisation of penalties, the scale and a sheer number of which adds to operational costs. Given the seriousness and speed with which the government aims to enable digital citizenship and the essential role that private operators must play in this transformation, it is important that policy prioritises between short-term benefits of immediate revenue generation and long-term dividends that a robust connected economy can create. India has not yet exhausted potential returns from the telecom sector. In fact, the second round of dividends may be around the corner from the data economy and 5G. The policy must do all it can to maximise this potential. "Effecting most of these changes will hinge on institutional reform especially in the form of greater cooperation between the line ministry and the independent regulator which is a first order priority," said the ICRIER paper authored by Rajat Kathuria, Mansi Kedia and Richa Sekhani.

Telecom debt woes spilling into finance sector a cause of worry: Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations

The Cabinet Thursday approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar as identity proof for opening bank account and procuring mobile phone connection.

The Ordinance was necessitated as a bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 4 but pending in the Rajya Sabha, would have lapsed with the dissolution of the current Lok Sabha. The Ordinance will now give the effect to the changes in the Aadhaar Act such as giving a child an option to exit from the biometric ID programme on attaining 18 years of age.

Briefing reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Cabinet has approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to give effect to the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill.

The amendment provides for stiff penalties for violation of norms set for the use of Aadhaar and violation of privacy. It bans storing of core biometric information as well as Aadhaar number by service providers in cases of individuals who have voluntarily offered the national ID as a means of authentication.

"Aadhaar can be used as KYC on a voluntary basis under the Telegraph Act and PMLA rules. Any entity using Aadhaar will have to adhere to privacy guidelines," Prasad said.

The amended law makes it clear that anyone not offering Aadhaar cannot be denied any service, be it opening of a bank account or obtaining a mobile phone SIM card.

The amendments will "provide for 12-digit Aadhaar number and its alternate numbers to be generated" in a manner so as to conceal the actual Aadhaar number.

The proposed changes also seeks to lay down the procedure for offline verification of an Aadhaar number holder and confer enhanced regulator-like power on the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to give directions as it may consider necessary to any entity in the Aadhaar ecosystem.

It proposes that every requesting entity to whom an authentication request is made will inform the Aadhaar number holder of alternate and viable means of identification and shall not deny any service to them for refusing to, or being unable to undergo authentication.

The changes that were proposed included a civil penalty of up to Rs 1 crore on entities that violate the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, with an additional fine of up to Rs 10 lakh per day in case of continuous non-compliance. Unauthorised use of identity information by a requesting entity or offline verification seeking entity would be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years with a fine that may extend to Rs 10,000 or in case of a company with a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.

Punishment for unauthorised access to the Central Identities Data Repository as well as data tampering is proposed to be extended to 10 years each from the current three years. It also seeks to omit Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act relating to the use of Aadhaar by private entities.&nbsp;

The Cabinet Thursday approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar as identity proof for opening bank account and procuring mobile phone connection.

The Cabinet Thursday approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar as identity proof for opening bank account and procuring mobile phone connection. The Ordinance was necessitated as a bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 4 but pending in the Rajya Sabha, would have lapsed with the dissolution of the current Lok Sabha. The Ordinance will now give the effect to the changes in the Aadhaar Act such as giving a child an option to exit from the biometric ID programme on attaining 18 years of age. Briefing reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Cabinet has approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to give effect to the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill. The amendment provides for stiff penalties for violation of norms set for the use of Aadhaar and violation of privacy. It bans storing of core biometric information as well as Aadhaar number by service providers in cases of individuals who have voluntarily offered the national ID as a means of authentication. "Aadhaar can be used as KYC on a voluntary basis under the Telegraph Act and PMLA rules. Any entity using Aadhaar will have to adhere to privacy guidelines," Prasad said. The amended law makes it clear that anyone not offering Aadhaar cannot be denied any service, be it opening of a bank account or obtaining a mobile phone SIM card. The amendments will "provide for 12-digit Aadhaar number and its alternate numbers to be generated" in a manner so as to conceal the actual Aadhaar number. The proposed changes also seeks to lay down the procedure for offline verification of an Aadhaar number holder and confer enhanced regulator-like power on the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to give directions as it may consider necessary to any entity in the Aadhaar ecosystem. It proposes that every requesting entity to whom an authentication request is made will inform the Aadhaar number holder of alternate and viable means of identification and shall not deny any service to them for refusing to, or being unable to undergo authentication. The changes that were proposed included a civil penalty of up to Rs 1 crore on entities that violate the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, with an additional fine of up to Rs 10 lakh per day in case of continuous non-compliance. Unauthorised use of identity information by a requesting entity or offline verification seeking entity would be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years with a fine that may extend to Rs 10,000 or in case of a company with a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. Punishment for unauthorised access to the Central Identities Data Repository as well as data tampering is proposed to be extended to 10 years each from the current three years. It also seeks to omit Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act relating to the use of Aadhaar by private entities.

Cabinet approves Aadhaar Ordinance to allow its use as ID proof for bank accounts, SIM connection

It's a dilemma for European telecoms firms: Should they steal a march on competitors and rapidly roll out next-generation 5G mobile networks using equipment from top supplier Huawei? Or should they heed<a href="http://www.wionews.com/americas/united-states-formally-charges-chinas-huawei-with-bank-fraud-stealing-trade-secrets-193545"> US-led warnings of security threats </a>and sit tight, and possibly fall behind?

Getting it right will have big consequences as 5G networks are the next milestone in the digital revolution, bringing near-instantaneous connectivity, vast data capacity and futuristic technologies.

No operator wants to be left behind, and neither do governments who see 5G technology as a future key driver of economic growth.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/czech-tax-tender-excludes-chinas-huawei-after-security-warning-193921">China's Huawei</a> has quietly become a leading supplier of the backbone equipment for mobile networks, particularly in developing markets thanks to cheaper prices.

Spearheading cutting-edge 5G equipment has also seen it make inroads into developed markets.

However, a growing number of Western states are turning their backs on Huawei, fearful that its equipment could be a Trojan horse for Beijing's intrusive security apparatus as<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-introduce-bipartisan-bills-targeting-chinas-huawei-and-zte-190862"> Chinese laws </a>require its firms to cooperate with intelligence services.

Huawei strenuously denies its equipment could be used for espionage.

While most European governments are trying to make up their minds, mobile operators must make their own choice, and it's a tough one.

Several operators have already begun tests with Huawei equipment, such as Bouygues Telecom and SFR have in several French cities.

"Huawei is today more expensive than its rivals but it is also much better, they have really moved ahead in terms of quality of network equipment over their European competitors," said an executive of one European mobile operator recently on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

Experts say Huawei is between six months and one year ahead of Sweden's Ericsson in terms of the quality of its 5G equipment.

The number two mobile network equipment manufacturer, Finland's Nokia, is said to be even further behind.

5G leader

"Many want to avoid the Chinese but they are currently the most advanced in the area," said Victor Marcais, a telecoms and media specialist at Roland Berger consultancy.

"Huawei has moved in the past few years from being the 'low cost' option to becoming the 5G leader."

Several sources said that Huawei even helped Nokia in research and development to avoid facing off alone against Ericsson in 5G.

Huawei would only say that it has "long-term partnerships" with several of its competitors in areas such as production methods, standards and patents.

"We have always defended the principle of open innovation and collaboration to facilitate the development of the telecoms industry," a Huawei spokesman said.

After establishing itself as a player on 4G networks, the Shenzhen-based group has doubled down to dominate 5G.

Each year it invests between 10 and 15 per cent of its sales revenue on research and development. It spent $13.8 billion on R&amp;D in 2017 and $15 billion last year.

The strategy is paying dividends.&nbsp;

In 2017 Huawei was by far the number one supplier of equipment for telecom networks, with a 22 per cent market share, according to IHS Markit. Nokia trailed with a 13 per cent share and Ericsson with 11 per cent.

That gap could grow as more operators across the world develop 5G networks, although the current geopolitical tensions pose a risk to Huawei exploiting its technological lead.

European ambitions

European nations, like those in Asia and the United States, want a rapid rollout of 5G with the first services expected to be running next year. A target that is difficult to attain without recourse to Huawei.

"The regulators and governments have quite ambitious timetables while the operators see 5G as a way to reduce costs per gigabyte as data volumes explode," said Marcais at Roland Berger.

"However we see in Germany, for example, they aren't happy the way things are shaping up."

Deutsche Telekom, in an internal document obtained by Bloomberg, warned that Europe could fall behind China and the United States by as much as two years if it forgoes using Huawei's 5G equipment.&nbsp;

It's a dilemma for European telecoms firms: Should they steal a march on competitors and rapidly roll out next-generation 5G mobile networks using equipment from top supplier Huawei?

It's a dilemma for European telecoms firms: Should they steal a march on competitors and rapidly roll out next-generation 5G mobile networks using equipment from top supplier Huawei? Or should they heed US-led warnings of security threats and sit tight, and possibly fall behind? Getting it right will have big consequences as 5G networks are the next milestone in the digital revolution, bringing near-instantaneous connectivity, vast data capacity and futuristic technologies. No operator wants to be left behind, and neither do governments who see 5G technology as a future key driver of economic growth. China's Huawei has quietly become a leading supplier of the backbone equipment for mobile networks, particularly in developing markets thanks to cheaper prices. Spearheading cutting-edge 5G equipment has also seen it make inroads into developed markets. However, a growing number of Western states are turning their backs on Huawei, fearful that its equipment could be a Trojan horse for Beijing's intrusive security apparatus as Chinese laws require its firms to cooperate with intelligence services. Huawei strenuously denies its equipment could be used for espionage. While most European governments are trying to make up their minds, mobile operators must make their own choice, and it's a tough one. Several operators have already begun tests with Huawei equipment, such as Bouygues Telecom and SFR have in several French cities. "Huawei is today more expensive than its rivals but it is also much better, they have really moved ahead in terms of quality of network equipment over their European competitors," said an executive of one European mobile operator recently on condition of anonymity. Experts say Huawei is between six months and one year ahead of Sweden's Ericsson in terms of the quality of its 5G equipment. The number two mobile network equipment manufacturer, Finland's Nokia, is said to be even further behind. 5G leader "Many want to avoid the Chinese but they are currently the most advanced in the area," said Victor Marcais, a telecoms and media specialist at Roland Berger consultancy. "Huawei has moved in the past few years from being the 'low cost' option to becoming the 5G leader." Several sources said that Huawei even helped Nokia in research and development to avoid facing off alone against Ericsson in 5G. Huawei would only say that it has "long-term partnerships" with several of its competitors in areas such as production methods, standards and patents. "We have always defended the principle of open innovation and collaboration to facilitate the development of the telecoms industry," a Huawei spokesman said. After establishing itself as a player on 4G networks, the Shenzhen-based group has doubled down to dominate 5G. Each year it invests between 10 and 15 per cent of its sales revenue on research and development. It spent $13.8 billion on R&D in 2017 and $15 billion last year. The strategy is paying dividends. In 2017 Huawei was by far the number one supplier of equipment for telecom networks, with a 22 per cent market share, according to IHS Markit. Nokia trailed with a 13 per cent share and Ericsson with 11 per cent. That gap could grow as more operators across the world develop 5G networks, although the current geopolitical tensions pose a risk to Huawei exploiting its technological lead. European ambitions European nations, like those in Asia and the United States, want a rapid rollout of 5G with the first services expected to be running next year. A target that is difficult to attain without recourse to Huawei. "The regulators and governments have quite ambitious timetables while the operators see 5G as a way to reduce costs per gigabyte as data volumes explode," said Marcais at Roland Berger. "However we see in Germany, for example, they aren't happy the way things are shaping up." Deutsche Telekom, in an internal document obtained by Bloomberg, warned that Europe could fall behind China and the United States by as much as two years if it forgoes using Huawei's 5G equipment.

European telecoms' dilemma: Huawei or the highway?

The government has initiated steps to check call drops and penalty of Rs 58 lakh crore was imposed on telecom service providers, including Idea and BSNL, Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

During the Question Hour, he said a penalty of Rs four lakh was imposed on BSNL in the June quarter while Rs 12 lakh was slapped on Idea during the same quarter.

Giving details of financial disincentives imposed by TRAI on non-complaint provider against prescribed benchmarks for drop call rate, he said during the March quarter, Rs 3 lakh penalty was imposed on BSNL, Rs 10.5 lakh on Idea, Rs 22.5 lakh on Tata and Rs 6 lakh on Telenor.

He said the situation has improved due to augmenting of telecommunication infrastructure and the BTS count has been increased to 20 lakh in four years from eight lakh in 2014.

A mobile tower can house several base stations (BTS) of different telecom providers.

He said continuous monitoring is on in the matter to improve the situation.

He said to tackle the call drop menace, the government has also launched an Integral Voice Response System (IVRS) to obtain direct feedback from consumers and 2.5 crore people were connected.

Besides, the Minister pointed out that one of the problems before the ministry in augmenting infrastructure was opposition of mobile towers by people apprehending radiation.&nbsp;

The government has initiated steps to check call drops and penalty of Rs 58 lakh crore was imposed on telecom service providers, including Idea and BSNL, Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

The government has initiated steps to check call drops and penalty of Rs 58 lakh crore was imposed on telecom service providers, including Idea and BSNL, Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said in Rajya Sabha on Friday. During the Question Hour, he said a penalty of Rs four lakh was imposed on BSNL in the June quarter while Rs 12 lakh was slapped on Idea during the same quarter. Giving details of financial disincentives imposed by TRAI on non-complaint provider against prescribed benchmarks for drop call rate, he said during the March quarter, Rs 3 lakh penalty was imposed on BSNL, Rs 10.5 lakh on Idea, Rs 22.5 lakh on Tata and Rs 6 lakh on Telenor. He said the situation has improved due to augmenting of telecommunication infrastructure and the BTS count has been increased to 20 lakh in four years from eight lakh in 2014. A mobile tower can house several base stations (BTS) of different telecom providers. He said continuous monitoring is on in the matter to improve the situation. He said to tackle the call drop menace, the government has also launched an Integral Voice Response System (IVRS) to obtain direct feedback from consumers and 2.5 crore people were connected. Besides, the Minister pointed out that one of the problems before the ministry in augmenting infrastructure was opposition of mobile towers by people apprehending radiation.

Penalty of Rs 58 lakh on telecom service providers for call drop: Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha

Tesla said it has appointed Robyn Denholm of the Australian telecoms company Telstra as board director after Elon Musk resigned from the post.

The appointment of Denholm, who is Telstra's chief financial officer, is effective immediately but she will serve out her six-month notice period with her current employer, Tesla said in a statement late Wednesday.

Musk resigned as Tesla chairman in October under an arrangement with US regulators to settle fraud charges stemming from a tweet in which he said he planned to take the company private and had financing to do it.

Tesla said it has appointed Robyn Denholm of the Australian telecoms company Telstra as board director after Elon Musk resigned from the post. The appointment of Denholm, who is Telstra's chief financial officer, is effective immediately but she will serve out her six-month notice period with her current employer, Tesla said in a statement late Wednesday.

Tesla said it has appointed Robyn Denholm of the Australian telecoms company Telstra as board director after Elon Musk resigned from the post. The appointment of Denholm, who is Telstra's chief financial officer, is effective immediately but she will serve out her six-month notice period with her current employer, Tesla said in a statement late Wednesday. Musk resigned as Tesla chairman in October under an arrangement with US regulators to settle fraud charges stemming from a tweet in which he said he planned to take the company private and had financing to do it.

Tesla names telecoms executive Robyn Denholm as new board director

India&#39;s first locally developed 4G/LTE telecom system was launched today by the Union Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha at the telecom industry&#39;s international buyers-sellers meet.&nbsp;

According to reports, the system has been designed and developed by India&#39;s leading telecom equipment manufacturer, VNL Ltd.

The 4G gear aims at providing high-speed internet, particularly to rural areas, based on LTE technology at affordable prices.&nbsp;

The Telecom Minister was felicitated at the event for connecting 100,000 villages as part of Bharat Net programme.&nbsp;

&quot;The latest range of technologically robust 4G/LTE telecom products is the outcome of our strong in-house research and development capabilities and signifies India&#39;s inherent strengths in the area of telecom equipment manufacturing. These systems offer compact and versatile radio applications and can operate flawlessly even in a harsh environment,&quot; said Rajiv Mehrotra, VNL Founder Chairman said.

&quot;With VNL&#39;s commitments towards Green Telecommunication, the solutions can operate solely on renewable energy,&quot; Mehrotra added.

The system can be deployed for a variety of applications including emergency communication, communication needs for offshore oil fields, mines and other institutional requirements.

&nbsp;The makers of the 4G gear see it as a service that manifests Prime Minister Narendra&#39;s Modi &#39;Make in India&#39; project at its core.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

The 4G gear aims at providing high-speed internet, particularly to rural areas, based on LTE technology at affordable prices

India's first locally developed 4G/LTE telecom system was launched today by the Union Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha at the telecom industry's international buyers-sellers meet. According to reports, the system has been designed and developed by India's leading telecom equipment manufacturer, VNL Ltd. The 4G gear aims at providing high-speed internet, particularly to rural areas, based on LTE technology at affordable prices. The Telecom Minister was felicitated at the event for connecting 100,000 villages as part of Bharat Net programme. "The latest range of technologically robust 4G/LTE telecom products is the outcome of our strong in-house research and development capabilities and signifies India's inherent strengths in the area of telecom equipment manufacturing. These systems offer compact and versatile radio applications and can operate flawlessly even in a harsh environment," said Rajiv Mehrotra, VNL Founder Chairman said. "With VNL's commitments towards Green Telecommunication, the solutions can operate solely on renewable energy," Mehrotra added. The system can be deployed for a variety of applications including emergency communication, communication needs for offshore oil fields, mines and other institutional requirements. The makers of the 4G gear see it as a service that manifests Prime Minister Narendra's Modi 'Make in India' project at its core. (With inputs from ANI)

India's first 4G LTE telecom system launched

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has directed all&nbsp;telecom operators in India to issue 13-digit mobile numbers for all existing machine-to-machine (M2M) customers.&nbsp;

As per the instructions, the M2M numbers will be implemented from July 1, 2018. The existing mobile users&rsquo; numbers will be ported to 13-digits starting from October 1, 2018, and the deadline for the completion has been decided for December 31, 2018.&nbsp;

To clear the speculation whether it would impact the mobile phone users in India, the DoT has made it clear that it has only asked existing 10-digit M2M numbers to change to the 13-digit number i.e machine-to-machine (M2M) number is meant for machines, the ones connected to the internet. M2M or SIM-based IOT devices will be the ones affected.&nbsp;

The regular 10-digit mobile number used by everyone will remain unchanged.&nbsp;

Further, it was also conveyed that the readiness of Lawful Interception (LI) system has to be insured for the 13-digit number before 1st July 2018.

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) is&nbsp;the interaction between devices and machines (it could be Airplane, ship, connected cars, or bicycle) that are connected to the internet and to each other. &nbsp;The M2M SIM card is required to connect these devices to the internet, though these can be used on regular mobiles as well.&nbsp;

As per the instructions, the M2M numbers will be implemented from July 1, 2018 and the deadline for the completion has been decided for December 31, 2018

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has directed all telecom operators in India to issue 13-digit mobile numbers for all existing machine-to-machine (M2M) customers. As per the instructions, the M2M numbers will be implemented from July 1, 2018. The existing mobile users’ numbers will be ported to 13-digits starting from October 1, 2018, and the deadline for the completion has been decided for December 31, 2018. To clear the speculation whether it would impact the mobile phone users in India, the DoT has made it clear that it has only asked existing 10-digit M2M numbers to change to the 13-digit number i.e machine-to-machine (M2M) number is meant for machines, the ones connected to the internet. M2M or SIM-based IOT devices will be the ones affected. The regular 10-digit mobile number used by everyone will remain unchanged. Further, it was also conveyed that the readiness of Lawful Interception (LI) system has to be insured for the 13-digit number before 1st July 2018. Machine-to-Machine (M2M) is the interaction between devices and machines (it could be Airplane, ship, connected cars, or bicycle) that are connected to the internet and to each other. The M2M SIM card is required to connect these devices to the internet, though these can be used on regular mobiles as well.

DoT directs issue of 13-digit mobile number for M2M communication

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