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Wireless Intelligence
July 2012
3/10/13
areas of Delhi and Mumbai. Among the other BWA licensees, Infotel Broadband a subsidiary of Reliance Industries is the only player to hold licences covering the entire country but has yet to launch; Tikona Digital Networks and Aircel are expected to launch TD-LTE services by year-end; but Augere, which was planning to launch using the ZOOSH brand, is reportedly winding down operations and looking for a buyer for its BWA licences. Jon Groves, Analyst, Wireless Intelligence: Bharti Airtels acquisition of Qualcomms BWA licences shows the faith that they have in the future of TD-LTE technology and provides entry into Mumbai and Delhi, the two key metros that are expected to drive most of the demand in the next few years for advanced mobile data services. Despite Airtel having provisioned around 9 million 3G lines itself, the market-leader's closest rival, Reliance Communications, currently claims to have the largest active 3G (WCDMA/HSPA) user base. However, Reliance, along with fellow dual-technology operator Tata DOCOMO, will face tough choices when it comes to deciding whether to continue investing in their competing EV-DO data networks as their existing technical advantages in data services are challenged by faster TD-LTE networks. Airtels TD-LTE tariffs, albeit currently limited in coverage, undercut the current high-speed data tariffs available from the EV-DO operators and future competition due later this year from Infotel Broadband, Tikona and Aircel will see competition in the advanced mobile data market intensify. However, with the so-far limited takeup of 3G services, the TD-LTE launches are unlikely to have a significant impact on the market in the near-term. The more significant development has been the industry-wide drive to lower the prices of 3G services. These tariff cuts will significantly expand the take-up of 3G services, though device affordability still remains a major barrier to wider 3G adoption.
Connections (million) Bharti Airtel Reliance Communications Vodafone Idea Cellular BSNL Tata DOCOMO Aircel Uninor MTS Videocon MTNL Loop Mobile S Tel 2 Quadrant Televentures 3 Cheers Mobile 2 181.3 153.0 Market share 19.7% 16.7% YoY growth 12% 13% % 2G % 3G 1
95% 63%
5% 37%
150.5 112.7 98.5 81.7 62.6 42.4 15.8 6.0 5.8 3.3 2.7 1.3 0.8 918.4
16.4% 12.3% 10.7% 8.9% 6.8% 4.6% 1.7% 0.7% 0.6% 0.4% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% 100%
12% 26% 7% -8% 14% 86% 57% -16% 7% 6% -4% -9% 20% 13%
96% 98% 90% 61% 95% 100% 100% 82% 100% 100% 100% 100% 85%
https://wirelessintelligence.com/analysis/2012/07/india-moves-to-kickstart-3g/
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https://wirelessintelligence.com/analysis/2012/07/india-moves-to-kickstart-3g/
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