5G services may come with a premium: Vodafone Idea CEO Ravinder Takkar

5G services may come with a premium: Vodafone Idea CEO Ravinder Takkar

Mobile consumers may have to pay a premium for 5G services but could get higher-data packs, Vodafone Idea (Vi) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ravinder Takkar indicated on Thursday.

“A fair amount has been spent on spectrum. We believe the 5G services should be hopefully priced at a premium to 4G services,” Takkar said in response to an analyst query in the post-results conference call.

However, customers could get a higher data bundle along with pricier plans.

Takkar said there was an opportunity to increase mobile tariffs by December-end with the market fully absorbing the 20 per cent hike carried out last November.

“We are impatient and we want to increase prices. Anytime we increase prices it takes several months by the time price increase settles in. We have reached that point,” he stated.

Vi, which posted a net loss of Rs 7,296 crore in first quarter FY23, acquired 6,228 MHz in five bands in the recently concluded auction. Its purchase, worth Rs 18,799 crore, is the least among the three mobile service providers.

Takkar defended the company’s spectrum purchase strategy and added that not acquiring spectrum in 700 MHz would not affect its plans. He said the company had purchased adequate spectrum and would cater to capacity requirements for several years.

Vi purchased spectrum in the 3300 MHz band in 17 of its priority circles and in the 26 GHz band in 16 circles, enabling last-mile connectivity. Additionally, it bought 4G spectrum in three circles.

“We don’t see any issue or challenge with providing enough capacity for several years. I don’t see that 700 MHz spectrum provides any additional capacity from a 5G perspective or provides any competitive advantage,” he stated.

Chief Financial Officer Akshaya Moondra said the company was in advanced discussions with banks for fresh funding for investment.

“If we look at our external debt and earning before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation, we are in a fairly comfortable position. There is a long moratorium for serving government debt. Banks understand this. We should be able to conclude discussions in the near future.”

Betting on a new deal

  • Vi CEO defends 5G spectrum purchase, says acquisition adequate for several years
  • Customers could get a higher data bundle, along with the pricier plans
  • Tariff hike of last November absorbed; Vi looking for opportunity to hike rates again
  • In advanced discussions with banks to raise funds for investments

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Full list of Airtel Xstream Fiber Broadband Plans with complete details and benefits

Full list of Airtel Xstream Fiber Broadband Plans with complete details and benefits

‘Airtel Xstream Fiber’ is Airtel’s ultrafast broadband offering launched in September 2019. The different plans, benefits and prices of Airtel Xstream Fiber provide a stiff competition to those of Reliance Jio Fiber.

Some of the irresistible advantages of Airtel Xstream Fiber plans include low-priced monthly plans starting from ₹499, unlimited high-speed data, unlimited calls and access to Wynk app. The plans priced at ₹999 and above also provide access to Amazon Prime.Airtel Fiber plans are also offered as a bundle with Airtel Xstream DTH Box and one month HD pack. Users can also gain free access to Wynk music streaming app and Shaw Academy. Airtel Xstream Fiber plans start at ₹499 and go up to ₹3,999.Airtel Xstream Box that is given as part of the Airtel Xstream Fiber subscription is actually worth ₹3,999. This is an Android box that provides more than 10,000 movies, seven OTT apps, Live TVs, original series, and five studios.The suite of OTT subscriptions Airtel provides include Amazon Prime Videos, Disney+ Hotstar, and several others. In this post we will learn the full list of Airtel broadband plans including their prices, benefits and validity.Airtel Xstream Fiber Broadband Plans – details and benefits₹499 Airtel Xstream Fiber PlanThis is Airtel’s entry-level plan in the broadband segment. Priced at ₹499 per month, this pack provides unlimited data and calls, both local and STD. The internet speed in this plan is 40Mbps. The other benefits users get in this pack are free access to the Airtel Xstream app, Wynk Music, and Shaw Academy. In addition, the user can also bundle up this plan with an Xstream DTH box, with one month HD pack.₹799 Airtel Xstream Fiber PlanPriced at ₹799, the next Airtel Xstream Fiber broadband plan comes with a free subscription to Airtel Xstream application, Wynk Music, and Shaw Academy. This plan offers unlimited local and STD calls and unlimited data. The internet speed this pack assures is 100Mbps. You can also bundle this plan with an Airtel Xstream DTH box.₹999 Airtel Xstream Fiber PlanThe next Airtel broadband plan priced at ₹999 provides internet speeds of up to 200Mbps. The other benefits of this plan include unlimited data and unlimited local and STD calls. This plan also provides free access to the Airtel Xstream app Disney+ Hotstar VIP, and Wynk Music subscription. The Airtel Xstream Box you get as a complimentary addition to the pack provides access to Amazon Prime Videos and ZEE5 Premium.₹1,499 Airtel Xstream Fiber PlanThe broadband plan that Airtel offers with a price tag of ₹1,499 per month provides unlimited data, and unlimited local and STD calls. The internet speed the pack assures is up to 300Mbps. The complimentary Xstream box Aitel gives away as part of this plan gives free access to a suite of highly interesting OTT subscriptions like Amazon Prime, Zee5 Premium, Disney+ Hotstar, Airtel Xstream, and Wynk Music. ₹3,999 Airtel Xstream Fiber PlanThe priciest member among Airtel’s monthly broadband plans carries the price tag of ₹3,999 per month. The internet speed this pack assures is 1Gbps. The other benefits of this pack include unlimited data, unlimited voice calls – both local and STD, and subscription to Airtel Xstream app, Zee5 Premium, Disney+ Hotstar, Wynk Music, and Amazon Prime.Airtel Xstream Fiber Broadband Plans with Price, Speed, Benefits in 2022Plan name and priceInternet speedFree subscriptionsCalls and dataValidity₹49940 MbpsAirtel Xstream, Wynk Music, and Shaw AcademyUnlimited1 month₹799100 MbpsAirtel Xstream, Wynk Music, and Shaw AcademyUnlimited1 month₹999200 MbpsDisney+ Hotstar, Airtel Xstream, Wynk Music, Zee5 Premium, and Amazon PrimeUnlimited1 month₹1,499300 MbpsDisney+ Hotstar, Airtel Xstream, Wynk Music, Zee5 Premium, and Amazon PrimeUnlimited1 month₹3,9991 GbpsDisney+ Hotstar, Airtel Xstream, Wynk Music, Zee5 Premium, and Amazon PrimeUnlimited1 monthGetting a new Airtel Xstream Fiber broadband connectionApplying for a new Airtel Xstream Fiber broadband connection is made extremely easy on Airtel’s official website. You can also apply for this on the Airtel app installed on your phone.

Here are the simple steps to apply for a new Airtel Xstream Fiber broadband connection: Visit Airtel’s official website and go to the Broadband section. Click on ‘Buy a New Connection’.From the options, choose the Airtel Xstream Fiber broadband plan. You may also opt for Airtel Xstream DTH if that is your choice.Fill in the fields giving the details asked, including name, mobile number, and address where you want the Airtel Xstream Fiber connection service to be installed.It is also possible to customize the plan for monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly subscriptions. To apply for Airtel Xstream on Airtel Thanks app, you can follow the same process.

The installation charges for the new broadband connection is ₹1,000. Airtel also charges a refundable deposit of ₹1,500 towards the Xstream box. Installation is done free of cost when you choose quarterly, half-yearly and yearly plans.Cities where Airtel Xstream Fiber broadband service is availableAirtel Xstream Fiber is presently available across India’s major cities including Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Agra, Ahmedabad, Ambala, Amritsar, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Cochin, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Hisar, Indore, Jaipur, Jammu, Jamshedpur, Kanpur, Guntur, Visakhapatnam, and many others. To know if Airtel Xstream Fiber service is available in your region, check Airtel’s official website.Do Airtel Xstream Fiber plans offer Netflix for free?None of Airtel’s Xstream Fiber plans provide a free subscription to Netflix in India. Depending on the plan price, some of the free subscriptions you will get include Amazon Prime Videos, Disney+ Hotstar, ZEE5 Premium, Airtel Xstream app, Shaw Academy, and Wynk Music.

Is there any FUP limit in Airtel Xstream Fiber broadband plans?Though Airtel says all its Xstream Fiber broadband plans come with unlimited data, the FUP (Fair Usage Policy) used by all internet service providers applies to all the Airtel Xstream broadband plans. This is to ensure that the benefits of the internet plans are not misused and that the maximum number of users are assured a better experience. Talking of the FUP limit for its broadband plans, Airtel says all the plans have a capped limit of 3,333 GB of data. Once this much data is used up in a given connection, the internet speed will come down to 1mbps till the next billing cycle gets started.SEE ALSO :
Top Esports Firm 100 Thieves Lays Off Dozens of Employees Including Senior ExecutivesWomen paid 24 percent less than men in healthcare sector : UN report .

Airtel launches India’s first Multiplex in Metaverse

Airtel launches India’s first Multiplex in Metaverse


Bharti Airtel launched Xstream multiplex, a 20-screen platform with access to content portfolios from leading OTT partners available on its Xstream app.

Users will be able access the multiplex service on a metaverse platform called Partynite Metaverse. The service will be available for free for sampling – first episode of an OTT original or initial minutes of a movie in regional languages, besides English and Hindi – and on subscription of Xstream Premium service, starting from 149 per month.

“Airtel’s Xstream multiplex provides a larger-than-life experience, which brings together Web 3.0 apps and immersive storytelling, and an assortment of content from our partners,” said Shashwat Sharma, director of marketing at Airtel.

“Through the metaverse, we are looking to tap into a larger audience, giving content enthusiasts an opportunity to sample Airtel’s Xstream Premium offering and, thus, aiding in driving higher adoption,” he added.

The Xstream multiplex is an extension of Airtel’s Xstream Premium offering, which recently achieved a 2-million subscriber milestone within 100 days of its launch.

The Xstream multiplex has been created by Essence, Airtel’s integrated media agency of record, and developed by Gamitronics, the creator of Partynite, a blockchain-powered digital parallel universe.

Rajat Ojha, Founder of Partynite (Gamitronics), said, “Airtel Xstream Premium’s multiplex experience is one of the most scalable use case scenarios for the metaverse. Future opportunities here include movies, music, live events and premium sports streaming. Apart from the robust scope, it will also allow social engagement, open up newer methods of content delivery and, of course, provide an immersive experience at the core of it.”

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Jio Disney+Hotstar Price, Airtel Latest Disney+Hotstar Prepaid Recharge Plans

Jio Disney+Hotstar Price, Airtel Latest Disney+Hotstar Prepaid Recharge Plans

IPL 2022 continues and Disney+Hotstar is the official streaming partner. For users who wish to stream matches on Disney+Hotstar, they will need a paid account, as streaming is not supported on the free version of the app. But telecom companies such as Airtel, Jio continue to offer several plans with free access to Disney+Hotstar. Both of them have also announced new plans for users which include access to the streaming service. Here’s a quick look at the new prepaid plans from Airtel and Jio.
Airtel’s new prepaid plans with Disney+Hotstar 
Airtel has two new plans with bundled access to Disney+Hotstar. You will need to claim this offer from the Airtel Thanks app.  The plans costs Rs 399 and Rs 839. The Rs 399 plan has 28 days validity, three months subscriptions to Disney+Hotstar Mobile, which costs Rs 149 by itself.  The mobile plan of Disney+Hotstar limits access to just one device at a time, and streaming rate is restricted to 480p.
Airtel’s Rs 399 plan includes unlimited calling, 100 SMS per day and 2.5GB daily data. In contrast, the Rs 839 plan has a longer validity of 84 days, 2GB data per day and unlimited calling. This one also offers three month access to Disney+ Hotstar Mobile plan. The plan also includes bundled access to an Airtel Xstream channel of their choice for 84 days. The list of channels are Sony Liv, Lionsgate Play, Eros Now, Hoi Choi, and Manorama Max.

Jio’s prepaid plans with Disney+Hotstar
Jio is also offering a three month subscription of Disney+Hotstar mobile plan to users who recharge with the new plans. Users who are availing of the offer need to continuously be on an active plan to continue access to the streaming service.  Customers have to first recharge with one of the eligible plans.
After this, they can sign in to the Disney+Hotstar app with the same Jio number that they used for recharge. An OTP will be sent to this number. After entering this OTP, the sign-in process is complete. The new Jio plans for Disney+Hotstar cost Rs 333, Rs 151, Rs 583 and Rs 783.

The Rs 151 plan is a data-only plan with 8GB data and comes with three months access to the subscription of Disney+Hotstar. All the other three plans come with 1.5GB of daily data, unlimited calling and 100 SMS per day. The difference is in validity. While the Rs 333 plans has 28 days validity, the Rs 583 plan has 56 days validity and the 783 plan has 84 days validity.
Jio has various other prepaid plans that bundle in a Disney+Hotstar subscription. These are priced at Rs 499, Rs 555, Rs 601, Rs 799, Rs 1,066, Rs 1,499 and Rs 4,199. Keep in mind that the Rs 1499 and Rs 4199 plans come with access to Disney+Hotstar premium access for a year. The Rs 499, Rs 555, Rs 601, Rs 799 and Rs 1066 plans includes access to a whole year for Disney+Hotstar mobile. In comparison, the new plans only offer access for three months.

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Airtel Payments Bank account holders can now get smartphone insurance from ICICI Lombard – Check premium, claim process

Airtel Payments Bank account holders can now get smartphone insurance from ICICI Lombard – Check premium, claim process

The smartphone insurance cover provides financial protection against damage to the phone and its screen resulting from accidents or liquid spills. With the rise in digital adoption, smart devices, particularly smartphones, have seen a multi-fold increase in demand. Airtel Payments Bank customers can now buy Smartphone Insurance from ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company on the Airtel Thanks app. With this, Airtel Payments Bank has further strengthened its insurance offering available on its digital platform. One can now buy insurance through a fast, paperless, and secure digital process.

The smartphone insurance solution from ICICI Lombard provides financial protection against damage to the phone and its screen resulting from accidents or liquid spills. As part of this smartphone insurance, customers can file up to two claims during the policy period, and it also includes free pickup & delivery, making it a unique offering in the market.

Premium and Claim Process

With a monthly premium starting at Rs 1299, one can get an insurance sum that is equivalent to the purchase price of their smartphone. One can get this insurance on their own until ten days after purchasing a smartphone priced between Rs 10,000 to Rs 100,000.

After submitting smartphone details, the insurance is automatically issued without a device health check. The connectedness that smartphones enabled during the epidemic will make this device insurance more beneficial to individuals than ever before.

Commenting on the launch, Sanjeev Mantri, Executive Director, ICICI Lombard said, “There are over 750 million smartphone users currently in India and this number is likely to reach 1 billion by 2026 representing a burgeoning opportunity and huge potential for a product like smartphone insurance. We are excited to partner with Airtel Payment Bank to offer a protection plan that will provide customers with additional security in the case of accidental damage or theft to their smartphones and encourage them to opt for such insurance policies.”.”

Ganesh Ananthanarayanan, Chief Operating Officer, Airtel Payments Bank, said, “In today’s digital age, a smartphone is our lifeline. From connectivity to photography to banking, smartphones today help us with virtually anything. Its repair cost is typically very high, and thus we need to protect it right from the beginning. We are delighted to partner with ICICI Lombard General Insurance to offer this smartphone insurance.”
 
ICICI Lombard has been at the forefront of providing millions of customers with access to personalize and simplified insurance plans based on their diverse needs. With this aim, the company has been introducing innovative collaborations and technology-enabled non-life insurance solutions to its customers.
 
Keeping user experience at its core, the company also offers tech-driven solutions such as the ‘IL TakeCare App’ where customers can purchase policies, manage claims, and renew policies seamlessly. Additionally, the company offers its customers the option to buy insurance through different channels at their convenience. Furthermore, it has been committed to deploying the latest technology, including Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics, to facilitate seamless customer service, policy renewals, claim settlements, etc, making it easy for consumers to gain the best-in-class insurance protection conveniently anywhere and anytime. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
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