Search Result for : Vodafone

Bharti Airtel buys Tikonas 4G business for Rs.1600 cr

The Dollar Business Bureau Telecom major Bharti Airtel Ltd has acquired the 4G business of Tikona Digital Networks for Rs1,600 crore, to ramp up its capacity of a high-speed broadband spectrum to take on Vodafone-Idea Cellular and Reliance Jio Infocomm in a highly competitive telecom market which is witnessing rapid consolidation. The deal, which was announced just a few days after the merger of Vodafone and Idea, will give an edge to Bharti Airtel as the largest telecommunications company in India. Through this deal Bharti can gain access to Tikona’s 4G airwaves in five states of Gujarat, UP (West), UP (East), Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.  This will also bridge the gap between Bharti Airtel's pan-India 4G capacity and Reliance Jio and ...

Idea and Vodafone announce $23 billion cashless merger

The Dollar Business Bureau Vodafone and Idea officially confirmed their much-anticipated merger on Monday. The combined entity, in terms of revenue and number of subscribers, will form the biggest player in India, which is the world's second largest telecom market. However, Airtel is still projected to lead in profitability and average revenue per user (ARPU). The $23 billion deal between India's second and third largest telecom firms will see the formation of a gargantuan entity with a subscriber base of close to 400 million and revenues projected at over Rs.80,000 crore, capturing 41% market share in revenue. Vodafone will hold a 45.1% share in the joint venture after selling 4.9% stake to Idea for Rs.3,900 crore. Aditya Birla holds a 26% stake initially, but at the end of three ...

Vodafone, Amazon Prime tie up to offer on-demand entertainment

The Dollar Business Bureau Vodafone India announced its partnership with Amazon Prime Video India, even as its merger with Idea Cellular was approved earlier. Under this new alliance, Vodafone customers who subscribe to Amazon Prime annual service of Rs.499 via Vodafone's app or website (only on Android phones currently), will receive a Rs.250 cashback in the form of Amazon Pay Balance, a wallet like service provided by the American e-tailer. Vodafone is the first telecom provider to have a partnership with Amazon Prime in India. The Vodafone subscribers will also be able to take the benefit of a SuperNet 4G network from March 22, 2017, a press release said. “This partnership with Amazon Prime Video strengthens our content proposition and reiterates our commitment to offering the best to our customers along ...

Softbank denies participation in Vodafone-Idea merger

The Dollar Business Bureau  After reports of Softbank's plan to buy into the Vodafone-Idea merger hit Indian new sites, the Japanese giant responded by calling the media reports 'unsubstantiated' and 'baseless'. Dismissing the news of its involvement in the telecom merger, Softbank denied any participation.  "We would like to categorically deny SoftBank's participation in the alleged Vodafone-Idea Cellular merger in India. We underline that we have held no such discussions and media reports about the same are baseless and unsubstantiated," Softbank said in a written statement.  The telecom firm from Tokoyo, which has aggressively invested in tech ventures all over the world, following the e-commerce boom in 2000s, also has investments worth $2 billion in India. Snapdeal, India's highly discounted e-retailer; Ola, a cab service provider; Oyo, a new player in hospitality industry providing hotel ...

Vodafone-Idea merger deal to conclude in Feb 2017

The Dollar Business Bureau Vodafone and Idea, the second and third largest telecom players in the Indian market after Airtel, have decided to combat intense competition from newcomer Reliance Jio, by merging their Indian business segment. The Birla enterprise and the British telecom giant are said to finalise a merger deal by February 2017, making the combined entity the largest telecom company in India. Vodafone has entrusted Marten Pieters, its former Chief for Indian market, with the responsibility of this ground breaking merger. The consolidation will result into a new firm that will hold a lion's share of Telecom industry's revenue. Projections estimate 40% revenue share and 380 million subscriber base for the consolidated enterprise. India Ratings and Research, a rating agency predicts a revenue of Rs.77,500-80,000 crore for the merged company. There are concerns ...

Vodafone launches M-Pesa Pay app to facilitate easy digital transaction

The Dollar Business Bureau Vodafone on Tuesday launched a feature on its mobilewallet application to enable merchants to receive payments aimed to cash in on the cashless transaction atmosphere post the Government's demonetisation move. "M-Pesa Pay is a new feature which we're adding on to M-Pesa to enable ease of transactions between merchants and customers. M-Pesa Pay is really a merchants’ product," Vodafone managing director and chief executive Sunil Sood said to the reporters. Sood said the new special feature will be a substitute for the capital-intensive PoS machines. Merchants will be required to download the application only once, which will swiftly make their cashless transactions with customers. The country’s second largest telecom service provider’s mobile wallet M-Pesa has existed for several years now. ...

Indias spectrum auctions to offer Rs 5.63 lakh cr worth airwaves

The Dollar Business Bureau Mobile airwaves to the tune of Rs 5.63 lakh crore are up for grabs at India’s largest spectrum auctions which began on Saturday. The airwaves, which are necessary for next generation telecom services, will be auctioned among the likes of Reliance Jio, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Bharti Airtel. Companies such as Tata Teleservices, Reliance Communications and Aircel will also be competing in the race to buy the spectrum. The auctions will take place between 9 am and 7 pm every day except for the first day when it starts at 10 am. The results of the bidding will be released every day at the end of the auctions. It should be noted that the 3G auctions conducted in the 2100 Mhz band ...

Vodafone case: SC accepts plea against HC verdict

The Dollar Business BureauThe Supreme Court, on Friday, agreed to hear the Income Tax department’s plea challenging Bombay HC’s verdict, which was in favour of Vodafone India Services Pvt Ltd. The Indian arm of Vodafone Group was embroiled in a Rs.8,500-crore transfer pricing tax dispute.The bench, headed by Justice AR Dave, “granted leave,” calling for a detailed hearing of the matter. Earlier in 2015, the HC had quashed an order issued by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal allowing the tax department to control the matters of the transfer pricing tax case.  Besides assignment of call options to Vodafone International Holdings BV, the case involved the sale of Vodafone’s call centre to Hutchison Whampoa Properties. Vodafone’s Indian arm challenged the order issued by ...