SURAJEET DAS GUPTA

Stories by SURAJEET DAS GUPTA

Airtel, Vi bat for tariff hike, but Jio is sitting tight

Airtel, Vi bat for tariff hike, but Jio is sitting tight

Rediff.com   12 Oct 2020

Vodafone and Bharti have pointed out that, for data, their revenue realisation should be at Rs 30-35 per GB for them to cover their costs as opposed to the current figure of over Rs 11 per GB. But Jio has suggested a gradual increase to Rs 15 per GB and then maybe to Rs 20 per GB after six to nine months.

Cricket apps climb up the order in play store downloads

Cricket apps climb up the order in play store downloads

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2020

The dizzying ascent of these cricket apps, some from near oblivion, after the IPL tournament began on September 19 in the UAE, has been meteoric.

Covid woes: Mumbai, Delhi bring little cheer for telcos

Covid woes: Mumbai, Delhi bring little cheer for telcos

Rediff.com   30 Sep 2020

Telecom operators say the reason for the low increase in ARPU in the two metros could be linked to the massive reverse migration of labour.

Indian telcos' 5G rollout is mired in controversy

Indian telcos' 5G rollout is mired in controversy

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2020

The operators say that the move to have an India-specific standard will raise the costs not only of telecom networks but of chipsets for mobile devices because they will have to be made for the local market and, as such, will not enjoy global economies of scale.

How IT cos' WFH plan is turning the planet green

How IT cos' WFH plan is turning the planet green

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2020

Indirect emissions account for a major chunk of emissions by Indian IT firms. Business travel and commutation, together, are a key reason for it. If travel and daily commuting go down, so does carbon emissions.

Kia Sonet: Made in India, made for the world

Kia Sonet: Made in India, made for the world

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2020

The compact segment where Sonet will be launched is crowded with the Maruti Vitara and Brezza, which top the sales' list, and a bevy of models from Mahindra & Mahindra apart from Hyundai's offering. But volumes in this are slightly higher than those in the mid-segment, making it attractive, says Surajeet Das Gupta.

Telcos must fork out Rs 44,000 crore to replace expired spectrum

Telcos must fork out Rs 44,000 crore to replace expired spectrum

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2020

The figure is based on the base price of spectrum for the upcoming auction fixed by the TRAI and on the assumption that there will be no bidding war.

Brand Dhoni pads up for new innings

Brand Dhoni pads up for new innings

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2020

He has slashed his price by half after retiring. Now his rates are in line with Amitabh Bachchan or Ayushmann Khurrana. In 2012 he had 22 endorsements, now he has 40!

No plan to exclude Chinese firms from 5G infra projects: Minister

No plan to exclude Chinese firms from 5G infra projects: Minister

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2020

The announcement quells fears among some telcos that Chinese players might be banned from participating in 5G trials and roll outs.

Jio plans to roll out 100 million low-cost phones by December

Jio plans to roll out 100 million low-cost phones by December

Rediff.com   16 Sep 2020

To help 2G customers who have to buy a new phone to upgrade to 4G, the company had earlier introduced 4G feature phones, to make it affordable for them to make the switch.

With Ambani upping the ante, Jio looks to dial disruption 2.0

With Ambani upping the ante, Jio looks to dial disruption 2.0

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2020

Jio's global partnerships took shape this year when Jio Platforms, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Reliance Jio which has invested in various digital platforms, was able to woo a bevy of marquee investors: Facebook, Google, Qualcomm, Intel, and a numerous PE funds.

Is this the best time for Amazon, Verizon to invest in Voda Idea?

Is this the best time for Amazon, Verizon to invest in Voda Idea?

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2020

In order to determine whether this would be sound strategy for them, one needs to look at two issues: One, on the alliances being built globally between telcos, on one hand, and cloud service firms, on the other, especially with the advent of 5G; and two, how their business strategies in India will blend into with such a deal.

Wings clipped, ad body looks at a 'co-regulating' role with govt

Wings clipped, ad body looks at a 'co-regulating' role with govt

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2020

Newly formed CCPA will now regulate false and misleading advertising and also take action to punish offenders, whether through fines, discontinuance, alteration of the ad, or even jail. ASCI as a voluntary, self-regulatory body, had no legal powers to enforce its actions.

WhiteHat Jr making an aggressive bid to go global

WhiteHat Jr making an aggressive bid to go global

Rediff.com   24 Aug 2020

Next month, the edtech start-up, that teaches coding to kids online, is launching operations in five new markets - the UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

In 3 years, RIL forked out $ 3.1 billion on acquisitions

In 3 years, RIL forked out $ 3.1 billion on acquisitions

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2020

The acquisitions were made in areas which are closely related to Reliance's key businesses - telecom, internet, retail, digital, media, education, digital, chemicals and energy.

How Mukesh Ambani plans to expand his empire

How Mukesh Ambani plans to expand his empire

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2020

Its trajectory in telecom is well known but now it is pushing for a similar leap into the ranks of the top players in its other businesses: media and entertainment, e-commerce, a series of online businesses ranging from health to education, and retail.

Star to charge Rs 1 million for 10 second IPL ad

Star to charge Rs 1 million for 10 second IPL ad

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2020

Star earned ad revenues of around Rs 30 billion during last year's IPL. Whether it hits last year's figure will depend on how the economy picks up during the festival season.

25 years of telecom in India: Who won, who lost

25 years of telecom in India: Who won, who lost

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2020

While smart boys like the Ruias of Essar, Ajay Piramal, Max India promoter Analjit Singh laughed all the way to the bank, the Tatas, Anil Ambani, Malaysian tycoon T Ananda Krishna of Maxis (which invested in Aircel), Sistema, and Norway's Telenor burnt their fingers, notes Surajeet Das Gupta.

Huawei's future in India depends on its role in 5G

Huawei's future in India depends on its role in 5G

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2020

It has invested $2 billion and spent $200 million on its R&D centre in Bengaluru, the largest such centre outside China where some core technologies are under development.

Apple to shift 10% of manufacture to India in 5 years

Apple to shift 10% of manufacture to India in 5 years

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2020

Two of Apple Inc's global vendors -- Wistron and Foxconn (through Han Hoi), which already manufacture Apple phones in India -- and a third entity, Pegatron, which will be setting up a new plant, have applied to the government to be eligible under the PLI scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturers.