Ericsson is intensifying its R&D efforts in India, zeroing in on network APIs. Partnering with telecom giants, Ericsson is unlocking 5G’s potential through programmable networks, enhancing performance, and enabling new performance-based business models.
Vodafone Idea is enhancing their 4G network with Ericsson to introduce 5G in key Indian regions. Leveraging Ericsson’s advanced technology, Vodafone aims to modernize and expand, despite financial hurdles. Their $3.6 billion deal signifies a commitment to regaining market share by implementing robust digital infrastructure.
Vodafone Idea has struck a $3.6 billion deal with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung to boost its 4G and 5G network capabilities over three years. This strategic move aims to expand 4G coverage and introduce 5G in select markets, enhancing their service offerings and network efficiency while meeting rising market demands.
India’s recent 5G spectrum auction concluded with disappointing results, generating significantly less revenue than anticipated. The auction ended after only seven rounds, raising INR113 billion ($1.35 billion), a stark contrast to the INR960 billion ($11.49 billion) reserve price set by the government.
Vodafone Idea, a struggling telecom operator in India, is set to embark on a significant equity fundraising effort to secure more than $2 billion. This move comes as the company faces mounting bills and aims to finance the rollout of its 5G network.
Vodafone Idea is initiating one of India’s largest follow-on public offerings, seeking to amass roughly $2.16 billion. Placing the firm under pressure is its struggle against a decreasing market share and encumbering debt, the result of fierce competition within India’s telecommunications industry. Despite currently being hindered by its financial situation to invest in network enhancements, expectations linger for the telecom’s debut of 5G services by year’s end.
In an ambitious move, the Indian government has announced its plans to hold a mobile spectrum auction in May, eyeing a starting bid of nearly US$12 billion. Despite the high hopes tied to this event, experts remain skeptical about its success, given the tepid interest expected from the country’s telecom operators.
Brookfield Asset Management’s proposed $2.5 billion acquisition of American Tower Corporation’s Indian operations could redefine the country’s telecom landscape. This strategic move, merging around 75,000 of ATC’s sites with Brookfield’s digital infrastructure, would create the world’s second-largest independent tower company. However, government approval remains a necessary stepping stone.
In a strategic move to gain a foothold in India’s expanding telecommunications market, Elon Musk’s satellite communications constellation, Starlink, is reportedly considering a stake in Vodafone Idea (Vi). As of 2024, Starlink boasts a constellation of over 5,500 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, providing commercial services in more than 60 countries to approximately 1.5 million subscribers.
OneWeb, a Eutelsat entity, gained India’s coveted regulatory endorsement to usher in its satellite broadband service, evoking enthusiastic response from Eutelsat’s co-chair, Sunil Bharti Mittal. This development signifies a new era for India’s internet coverage in line with the Prime Minister’s digital vision. However, a crucial spectrum allocation by the government awaits, making OneWeb’s journey not entirely smooth sailing. An array of procedural and regulatory hurdles demands navigation, alongside competing market perspectives delaying the process.
