Telecom Roundup: IOL Net gets MTNL’s CDMA franchisee, Airtel turns ICT Provider, Loop : Zain, Telnor
While govt. works on MVNO details, MTNL has taken the franchise route to expand it’s CDMA business. 
IOL Netcom has bagged the franchisee of MTNL’s CDMA service in Mumbai and Delhi region (incidentally, the highest teledensity regions).
MTNL’s Garuda service in Mumbai and Delhi couldn’t take off because of lack of differentiation and poor marketing, but IOL Netcom is betting big on the CDMA spectrum available for MTNL.
Related: Future Group to foray into franchise mobile operator business, later as MVNO
Airtel to focus on SMBs
Airtel has launched a separate business unit to offer tailor-made telecom and IT solutions to small and medium businesses (SMBs), which comprise nearly 80 per cent of India’s total industrial enterprises.
As India’s largest telecom operator turns into an ICT (information and communications technology) provider, it is targeting an increased wallet share of over 3.5 million SMEs in India. (source).
Airtel’s Business service will provide wide range of IT/IT Infrastructure solutions including secured internet, managed internet, MPLS VPN, Internet leased port storage solutions and IPLC.
Loop Telecom in discussion with Zain Telecom and Telnor
Loop Telecom has started a strrategic stake sale conversation with Telenor Telecom and Kuwait based Zain Telecom.
BPL Mobile is controlled by the Ruias (part of the steel-to-shipping Essar group) and their associates and operates GSM mobile services in Mumbai. Loop Telecom is one of the seven operators to receive a licence for pan-Indian mobile operations in 21 circles and has received start-up spectrum in six circles. The Essar group is also a partner in India’s fourth-largest mobile services company Vodaphone-Essar. – BS
As mentioned earlier, Telenor is entering the Indian market and will take the acquisition route.
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Related posts:
- Telecom roundup: MVNOs can’t own spectrum, 3G CDMA Players will have to wait
- India Business Roundup: Loop Telecom Ownership? Vodafone:OnMobile Partnership, BSNL: Nokia for 3G..and more
- Telecom Roundup: DoT’s Number Portability Plans, Separate 3G Policy for CDMA Players..and more
- Telecom Roundup: Telenor-Unitech Deal, BPL Mobile is Loop Mobile..and more
- Telecom Roundup: Videocon to roll out telecom service in Chennai, DoT-TRAI differ over dual-tech rollout
About the author - Ashish Sinha is a Startup Mentor/Product Strategy Coach, and the founder/chief editor of pluGGd.in.
He has launched/managed couple of products (consumer as well as enterprise) in US and India, and now consults with startups/small businesses on their product/media strategy. He can be reached at: ashish (at) pluGGd.in [+91 98452 06443]
