Page 78 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Cellcos Reiterate Position on AGR Dues; Jio Fires Opening Salvo in New

Price War

Indian telecoms group Bharti Airtel (USD2.45 billion) towards its total bill of with which they share spectrum. Whilst the
has written to the Department of INR439.80 billion – or more than 40% of the apex court decision on AGR payments has
Telecommunications (DoT) to clarify that demanded amount – and consequently its given operators some breathing room, Vi
it has already paid the first instalment of next payment was not due until 31 March remains in a precarious financial position
its Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)-related 2022. Similarly, the CEO of Vodafone Idea and the company has confirmed that it is
dues, the Economic Times reports. The Limited (VIL) – now operating under the Vi looking to increase its share of high ARPU
Supreme Court ruled on 1 September that brand – told reporters this week that the subscribers, and will do so by improving its
operators must pay 10% of the total AGR company also had until the end of the next 4G network. To that end, the cellco says it
dues by 31 March 2021, with the remainder financial year to pay its next instalment, will refarm its 2100MHz spectrum for 4G,
to be cleared through annual payments having already submitted its first payment. with a phased shutdown of its 3G network.
until 31 March 2031. Following a statement Vi has paid INR78.54 billion towards its Disruptive rival Jio is set to capitalize on the
from Minister of State for Communications dues of INR582.54 billion, although the company’s vulnerability, however, with the
Sanjay Dhotre, however, there appears to be minister told parliament that the amount launch of a new range of tariffs targeting
some difference in interpretation between paid was just INR35.00 billion, with the the high-ARPU post-paid segment. The
regulators and operators. In a written reply company still owing some INR547.54 offers provide unlimited voice and SMS and
to parliament, the minister stated that billion. In a related development, include bundles subscriptions to popular
telcos would be required to pay 10% of meanwhile, the minister confirmed that streaming services Netflix, Amazon Prime
the total dues demanded by the DoT by 31 Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio) would and Disney Plus. The launch has raised
March 2021, without acknowledging the not be required to pay the AGR dues of concerns that the company is keen to re-
amounts already paid by the companies. Reliance Communications (RCOM), telling ignite a tariff war, after the previous price
As such, Airtel sought to reiterate that parliament that companies would not be crash contributed to the exit of several
it has already paid INR180.04 billion held liable for the AGR dues of companies companies from the sector.

DOCOMO Launches Inbound 5G Roaming With AT&T

over 79 million subscriptions, is one of
the world's foremost contributors to 3G,
4G and 5G mobile network technologies.
Beyond core communications services,
DOCOMO is challenging new frontiers in
collaboration with a growing number of
entities ("+d" partners), creating exciting
and convenient value-added services that
change the way people live and work. Under
a medium-term plan toward 2020 and
NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced that it operator in the United States. DOCOMO is beyond, DOCOMO is pioneering a leading-
has launched an inbound 5G roaming the first mobile operator in Japan to offer edge 5G network to facilitate innovative
service to allow foreign operators and an inbound 5G roaming service. Going services that will amaze and inspire
their customers to visit Japan to roam forward, DOCOMO plans to expand its customers beyond their expectations.
on DOCOMO's 5G network, effectively inbound 5G roaming service with mobile DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo Stock
immediately, initially for customers of operators around the globe. NTT DOCOMO, Exchange.
AT&T Mobility, DOCOMO's partner mobile Japan's leading mobile operator with

Telenor Inks Wholesale Fiber Agreement with FIBIA

Telenor Denmark has inked a wholesale 1Gbps) to 500,000 addresses within to cover 600,000 households, in line with
fiber deal with FIBIA, under which the FIBIA’s footprint in Zealand, Lolland, FIBIA’s rollout plans. The new contract will
operator will start offering its MaxSpeed Falster and in eastern Jutland during 2021. increase Telenor’s fiber footprint to 2.4
services (with maximum downlink of Going forward, the deal will be expanded million households.
78 SEP-OCT 2020