Posts made by Rewati Baruah

The Government owned telecom service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has offered a new promotional tariff voucher to its prepaid subscribers. Under this plan, the BSNL subscribers will be enjoying unlimited voice calling to all networks at ₹26 for a period of 26 hours.

Also Read: CMD Anupam Shrivastava Confirms BSNL 4G Rollout in 2017-18

BSNL Special Promotional Plans:

On the occasion of 68th Republic Day of the country, BSNL has come up with special promotional offers. It is limited to BSNL prepaid subscribers till 31st March 2017. The teleco has launched two combo vouchers with double data benefits. By recharging with combo special tariff voucher ₹2601, the user gets an additional 1300 talk time in their secondary account with a validity of 90 days.

Similarly, the recharge with combo special tariff voucher ₹6801 now gives an additional ₹6800 in their secondary account along with the benefit of ₹6800 talk time in their primary account. It is to be noted that primary balance would have no limitation with respect to time but the secondary balance should be used within 90 days of the recharge.

Also Read: BSNL Prepaid ₹439 Promotional Plan Offers Free Voice Calling for 3 Months

It’s Raining Offers at BSNL:

As per the public demand, the state-run telecom provider will re-launch its popular 14-day “Truly Unlimited” 3G plan at ₹498. Moreover, it’s to be noted that BSNL has recently launched ₹439 promotional plan that offers free voice calling for 3 months. It’s raining offers. Grab them while they last!

Also Read: BSNL Launches Mobile Data RCV 498 Offering Unlimited Data with No Speed Cap

The country’s second largest telecom player Vodafone India has rolled out its Vodafone SuperNet 4G services in Agartala, Tripura. Continuing its spree in launching 4G services in Northeast India, Vodafone India has started its high-speed 4G services in Tripura.

Though Tripura is a landlocked state and the third-smallest state in the country, it is well accessible by national highways and has got excellent connectivity. Through its SuperNet 4G, Vodafone India can now deliver high-speed internet on a wide range of devices including 4G handsets, Mi-Fi and dongles.

Vodafone SuperNet 4G in North East:

Launching the 4G services in Agartala, Mr Alok Verma, Business Head - Assam & North East Circle, Vodafone India, said: “As a steadfast partner to Digital India, we are delighted to launch Vodafone SuperNet 4G in Tripura beginning from the capital city - Agartala. The state is a key market for Vodafone India, and as one of the leading telecom service providers our 5.5 million customers in Assam & North East Circle have a lot to look forward to.”

Also Read: Vodafone SuperNet 4G Now in Aizawl, Mizoram and More by March End

Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar who scripted history with her splendid performance at RIO Olympics graced the launch event. Vodafone India has been expanding its 4G footprint across Assam and NorthEast in a phased manner. Starting from Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, the teleco has rolled out its 4G services in Guwahati, Aizawl, Kohima and Shillong and hopes to cover its 4G blanket across major towns and cities by March 2017.

It’s Raining Offers for 4G Users:

Vodafone India has announced special launch offers to celebrate the occasion. With every 4G SIM upgrade, the prepaid subscribers can enjoy 2GB of the high-speed 4G internet. Moreover, on the purchase of 4G data packs higher than 1GB will get four times the data for the same price. Along with it, the subscribers can enjoy SuperHour data packs at just ₹16 per hour. And one can enjoy unlimited access to Vodafone Play for a period of 3 months. Just send an SMS to make sure whether your SIM and handset is 4G compatible or not.

Also Read: Vodafone Red 499 Postpaid Plan Offers Unlimited Voice Calling and 3GB 4G Data

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 has created a new record in the history of online smartphone sales in India. As per the latest reports, Xiaomi has sold more than 250,000 units of Redmi Note 4 across Mi.com and Flipkart. On its first flash sale, Xiaomi has registered more than 3x and 5x quantity of the first sale of Redmi 3S and Redmi Note 3 handsets respectively.

Also Read: Xiaomi Launches Redmi Note 4 in India Starting at ₹9999

Biggest Smartphone Sale:

The record-breaking sales figures achieved by Xiaomi in India shows its craze among the youth. Repeating its success story, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 maintains the high-reliability factor by a few upgrades. The company has stated that the second flash sale will take place on 30th of January and hopes the same momentum.

Disclosing the sales figures, Mr Manu Jain, India Head – Xiaomi India, said: “We are extremely ambitious about this product and it gives me immense joy to start the year with such acceptance and love for Redmi Note 4. We are excited as we take the first step in 2017 and look forward to achieving many more milestones this year."

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 3S and 3S Prime, 1 Million Units Sold on Flipkart

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Specifications:

Regarding specs, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 boasts a metal unibody design and 5.5-inch full HD display. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC and a 4100mAh battery, the handset has 3 variants. They are a 2GB RAM+32GB internal memory, 3GB RAM and 32GB internal memory, and 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM and are priced economically at ₹9,999, ₹10,999 and ₹12,999 respectively.

The smartphone has got a fingerprint sensor, 13-megapixel PDAF rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera for selfies. Running on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with MIUI 8, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 has got all the connectivity options including 4G VoLTE feature.

Incidentally, the record sales have come just a day after the announcement of Xiaomi’s Head of Global Operations Hugo Barra’s exit from the company. If you are a lucky enough to grab the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 in the first flash sale, let us know your hands on experience on it.

Also Read: Nokia 6 sold out within a Minute of First Flash Sale in China

The state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited will be rolling out its 4G services in 2017-18. This has been confirmed by the company’s CMD Anupam Shrivastava and reported by RTN Asia. The roll-out has been pending from the last four years.

Much Awaited BSNL 4G Rollout:

Though the exact launch period was not mentioned by Mr Anupam Shrivastava, the BSNL subscribers might see 4G services in the next six months. Moreover, the telecom company has not revealed any information regarding its 4G business.

Also Read: BSNL Seeks 5MHz Spectrum in 700MHz Band to Roll-out 4G Services

Incidentally, it is interesting to note that BSNL will be launching 4G services on revenue sharing basis. The company will hand over the spectrum to independent parties of a state to manage the 4G roll out by providing the bandwidth to technology service provider.

Mr Anupam Shrivastava’s announcement comes at a time when the existing telecom players are offering high-speed 4G services at cheaper rates. Starting from Bharti Airtel to the latest Reliance Jio, all the telecom players are upgrading their network to 4G to provide better services to their subscribers.

Adapting to Dynamic Changes in Telecom Business:

Back in 2014, the state-run telecom company BSNL has incurred losses and thus sold out its 4G spectrum in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kolkata, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Though BSNL has gone beyond its limits, the company has to address 4G services offerings on a quick note.

Also Read: BSNL Partners with Tata Communication to Deploy 44 Million WiFi Hotspots Globally

Taiwanese electronic giant, ASUS has rolled out Android 7.0 Nougat update for its ASUS ZenFone 3 smartphone users. Currently, the company has started the Android Nougat update in the Philippines. If all goes well, it’s a matter of time before the update spreads worldwide.

Android 7.0 Nougat Update:

The global rollout of Android 7.0 Nougat update in ASUS ZenFone 3 (ZE520KL and ZE552KL) brings out numerous changes including multi-window support and Doze battery saving feature. If the reports are to be believed, ASUS has tweaked its ZenUI but the details of these changes are not official.

Also Read: Taiwanese Smartphone Maker ASUS to Manufacture Zenfone 3 Max in India

ASUS ZenFone 3:

To recall, ASUS ZenFone 3 is an eye-catcher with its glass and metal frame. The dual-SIM ZenFone 3 is powered by Snapdragon 625 processor coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB inbuilt storage and can be expandable up to 128GB via microSD card slot. The smartphone sports 16-megapixel rear camera and 8-megapixel front camera for selfies. Connectivity wise, the handset offers all connectivity options including 4G, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM Radio etc.

Back to Android 7.0 Nougat update, it is reported to be weighing 240.6MB in size. As the update is being rolled out in a phased manner, just wait for the notification or else check for it manually by going to the Settings -> System Updates -> Check for the system update. If the Android 7.0 Nougat Update has hit your ASUS ZenFone 3, make sure to share your experience.

Also Read: 5.5-inch ASUS Zenfone 3 Max, High Capacity Battery Phone at ₹17999

India’s leading telecom service provider Bharti Airtel rolls out 4G services in Guwahati. With this launch, Airtel subscribers of the four major cities of Assam including Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat and Tinsukia can enjoy high-speed internet services on the 4G network.

Airtel 4G in Guwahati:

Airtel has launched 4G services using TD-LTE technology in the 2300MHz spectrum band. It enables the Airtel subscribers to enjoy seamless 4G experience through HD video streaming, and faster downloads. The Airtel 4G services can be availed on all compatible smartphones, dongles, and hotspots.

Addressing the launch of 4G services in Guwahati, Mr. Sameer Anjaria, CEO, Airtel - the North Eastern States and Assam, said: “We are delighted to launch our 4G services in Guwahati. Our valued customers can now upgrade to 4G, free of cost and enjoy a high-speed mobile broadband experience on the India’s widest 4G network.”

Free Data for 12 Months:

As an introductory offer, Airtel subscribers can enjoy free data for 12 months. This offer is applicable to all Airtel customers (both old and new) with a 4G enabled handset. In terms of value, this free data offer is worth up to ₹9,000. Let’s check how this works out.

Under this offer, the Airtel prepaid customer makes a recharge of ₹349. Apart from the regular benefits of ₹349, the user will get additional 3GB of 4G data for free. It’s to inform that a regular ₹349 recharge offers unlimited free local and STD voice calls to any network in India and 1GB 4G data. That means, as an introductory offer, the ₹349 recharge gives 4GB of 4G data and unlimited voice calling to any network across the country.

Similarly, the postpaid subscribers will get additional 3GB of 4G data with all MyPlan Infinity plans. Apart from regular benefits of free voice calling, free SMS, the subscribers will get extra 3GB of 4G data. All you need to do is avail this offer through MyAirtel App. For the first month, you need to avail free 3GB data through MyAirtel app and the subsequent recharge benefits will be credited instantly.

Just remember that the offer is valid until February 28, 2017. In the case of prepaid, subscriber can make a maximum of 13 recharges until December 31, 2018. The postpaid subscribers will get a 30-day cycle benefit for the free 3GB.

@Amitav-Sengupta

If I’m not wrong Telenor - Unitech merger was valued at $375 million. Back in the year 2009, Telenor bought 49% stake in Unitech Wireless (the telecom arm of a realty firm Unitech). In a year or so, it raised its stake to over 60%.

Though the Joint Venture license was canceled by the Apex court in India in 2012, it remained in the Indian market. However, after the exit of Unitech, Telenor has got 100% control on the businesses. Then, the company rebranded itself from Uninor to Telenor. Wait and watch for the next part of the story.

As per the latest official data released by the Delhi Statistical Hand Book 2016, the national capital Delhi has more than two mobiles phones devices for each individual. To be precise, there are 4.79 crore mobile phones in the national capital.

According to the official 2011 census, the population of Delhi is approximately 1.7 crore. And there are over 4 crore mobile phones in the capital. With this, one can say that there are more than two devices for each individual.

Landline & Mobile Usage in Delhi

Releasing the Delhi Statistical Hand Book 2016, Mr Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, Delhi State, said: “The number of mobile phones in Delhi as on December 2015 was 4.79 crore as compared to 4.54 crore in December 2014.”

Unlike mobiles, there is a small increase in the use of landlines. As per the report, the number of landline customers increased from 31.23 lakhs in December 2014 to 31.57 lakh in December 2015.

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus has announced that it will sell OnePlus 3T in a new Soft Gold colour variant starting January 5th in India. Incidentally, this Soft Gold variant will be available only in 64GB variant. The 2016 flagship phone will first have an App only sale on January 5th, 2017.

The Special Soft Gold Variant:

The customers looking for OnePlus 3T 64GB Soft Gold variant need to register at Amazon India. The pre-registration is open until January 3, 2017, and is mandatory for the App-only sale. The company also stated that the pre-registration is not necessary for open sales after January 6th.

Currently, OnePlus 3T is available only in Gun Metal colour variant. And it comes in two variants: 6GB RAM/64GB ROM and 6GB RAM/128GB ROM. The company spokesperson said, “We look forward to fulfilling yet another promise and commitment by introducing a brand-new colour variant for the OnePlus 3T, Soft Gold for our fans in the New Year. The colour, Soft Gold is unbelievably beautiful and presents a lighter, yet elegant look”.

OnePlus 3T Specifications:

The OnePlus 3T is hit with its fans. Specs wise, the OnePlus 3T sports a 5.5-inch AMOLED full HD display (401ppi pixel density) with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 Quad-core Kyro processor and Adreno 530 CPU, the smartphone has 16-megapixel rear and front camera with 4K video support. The 2016 flagship has a 3400mAh battery and has moderate changes over the 6-month-old OnePlus 3 smartphone.

The Union Government rolled out IVRS platform at multiple locations to get direct feedback from telecom subscribers on call quality. The IVRS (Integrated Voice Response System) platform is currently launched in Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. As per the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), this IVRS system will soon be extended across the country.

IVRS to Tackle Call Drop Menace:

Under this system, the telecom subscribers will receive an IVRS call from the short code 1955 and will be asked a few queries such as whether the user is facing call drops in his or her area. Apart from this, the subscriber can also send a toll-free SMS to the short code 1955 containing the location details if the user faces the problem of call drops. The obtained feedback will be shared with the telecom network operators so that they take corrective steps in the problematic areas to curb frequent call drops.

Launching the new IVRS system, Mr. Manoj Sinha, Minister of Communications & IT, Govt of India, said: “The platform is a channel to capture direct feedback from the consumers and this voice of the customer can be used to improve the services that are being offered to them”. He also added that initially the government will use the system for call drops and will extend this to capture consumer feedback in other areas as well in the future.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has taken a slew of initiatives to address the problem of call drops. The telecom network operators have installed more than 1, 30,000 additional Base Transceiver Stations during the period between June 2016 and October 2016. And have plans to install 1, 50,000 Base Transceiver Stations across the country by March 31, 2017.

The Backbone Network?

The Telecom Minister Mr. Manoj Sinha added, “Till consumers say that they are free of call drops, I won’t accept it. The platform would be the right parameter to gauge the call drop situation”. Hope this would bring necessary changes in the telecom sector which is a backbone of Digital India.

Bharti Airtel, India’s largest telecom network operator has extended its 4G footprint to Assam and thereby completed PAN-India 4G roll out. Starting with the towns of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, Airtel has announced its extension of 4G services to the state in North-eastern India.

Airtel’s Look East Policy:

As per the statement, the telecom network operator has now rolled out 4G services in Assam using TD-LTE technology in the 2300 MHz band but will set up FD-LTE technology in 1800MHz spectrum band in the upcoming weeks. With this high-speed mobile broadband, the Airtel subscribers can enjoy seamless HD video streaming experience across multiple devices including smartphones, Mi-Fi dongles, and 4G hotspots.

Addressing the launch of 4G services in Assam, Mr. Sameer Anjaria, CEO, Airtel North Eastern States and Assam, Bharti Airtel, said: “With the launch, customers can also look forward to exciting data offers, and choose from a host of affordable tariff plans that offer great value.”

Bharti Airtel 4G Offers:

The company has offered free SIM upgrade to 4G and launched a host of 4G offers to enjoy the seamless streaming experience on the Airtel 4G network. The subscribers with a new 4G enabled handset can avail 10GB of 4G data at just ₹249. While the ₹249 recharge will give an instant credit of 1GB of 4G data and the remaining 9GB 4G data needs to be claimed through MyAirtel app. It is to remind the users that they can avail a maximum of 3 recharges within 90 days of the offer period. This recharge effectively offers 1GB of 4G data at just a throwaway price of ₹25.

As stated earlier, Bharti Airtel’s 4G footprints now match Reliance Jio in the presence and is committed to improving the network quality through Project Leap for which the telco is investing ₹60,000 crore over the next three years.

BSNL, the state-run telecom company, started offering unlimited free calling to its pre-paid customers at just ₹99 unlike its competitors. Though this expensive rate is limited to specific telecom circles but still it has got some upper-hand over its competitors.

As per the latest offer, BSNL will offer unlimited local and STD calls within its network and 300MB data for ₹99. However, this rate is applicable to Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kolkata, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal telecom circles. In other circles, the state-run telecom company is offering the same benefit with variable pricing ranging from ₹119 to ₹149 with a validity of 28 days.

Advantage BSNL:

Apart from the free on-net calls, BSNL has offered unlimited off-net calling facility including both local and STD to any network with 1GB data at ₹339. This unlimited calling facility is offered with a validity of 28 days on PAN-India basis. There are twin advantages with BSNL telecom; one it is PAN India network with a good rural coverage, and the other being zero roaming charges.

Commenting on the launch of the offering, Mr. RK Mittal, Director – Consumer Mobility, BSNL, said: “Tariff offered by BSNL are the most competitive and is committed to provide affordable and excellent services to our esteemed customers.”

It is to be noted BSNL is already offering Unlimited 3G data services for ₹1099 with 30 days validity. No other telecom service provider is offering similar tariff. With the launch of Reliance Jio, there have been drastic changes in the telecom sector. First, the new entrant started offering free voice calling and data under Jio Welcome Offer in September and now it extended the free services until 31st March 2017.

What is Your Opinion?

Reeling under pressure, the incumbent telecom players including Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone India started offering free calls on-net and off-net at around ₹150 and ₹350 respectively with 28 days validity. These companies tried to match free 4G services of the new entrant Reliance Jio but with limited mobile data connectivity. The telcom analysts say that the offers announced by the incumbent telecom players are nothing to compete with Jio but still they are doing something to retain their customer base.

Telenor, the Norway based telecom giant, is in talks with Idea Cellular to sell Indian unit without an actual payout. Telenor India which has been struggling to perform with its limited spectrum holdings in just six circles is looking for a potential buyer to take over its liabilities.Incidentally, Idea Cellular is the third largest mobile network operator in India promoted by Aditya Birla Group.

Struggling to Pay off Debt:

As per the recent report published by The Economic Times, the two companies have held bilateral discussions for the transfer of assets and liabilities without an actual payout. Telenor owes close to ₹1900 crore to Indian government for delayed payments in spectrum and about ₹1800 crore to various financial institutions as debt.

In the beginning of the year 2016, Telenor India was valued ₹5000 crore and now it has come down to ₹4000 crore. Signalling its exit, Telenor India didn’t even participate in the recently concluded 4G spectrum auction.

Telenor India has 1800MHz Band 3 presence in 7 telecom circle areas in the country including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa, Uttar Pradesh (East) and, Uttar Pradesh (West) and Uttarakhand. However, the company has not launched its commercial services yet in Assam. Incidentally, Idea Cellular holds first or second position in most of these telecom circles.

Will Telenor Succeed or Not?

With differences over valuation, Telenor India couldn’t progress its merger deal with British Vodafone Group. Interestingly, the current deal with Idea Cellular might not succeed as the teleco has already had a debt of over ₹36000 crore including ₹13,000 crore spent for securing additional spectrum in the recently concluded October auction. With the entry of Reliance Jio, the telecom companies are facing stiff competition as their earnings dip and are ramped up to retain their subscribers.

Vodafone India rolled out its SuperNet 4G services in North East and Assam using the efficient 1800 MHz spectrum band. The country’s second largest telecom operator commenced its high-speed SuperNet 4G services from Itanagar to facilitate HD video streaming and two-way video calling.

As per the sources, Vodafone is all set to extend its 4G footprint across major towns and cities of North East and Assam by March 2017. By deploying 4G services on the state-of-the-art 1800 MHz spectrum band, Vodafone India subscribers will now able to enjoy high-speed internet across the range of smart devices including 4G smartphones and Mi-Fi dongles across North East.

Vodafone India from the Foothills of Himalayas:

Vodafone India has a strong fibre backhaul in North East and Assam telecom circle making it now uniquely positioned to offer 2G/3G/4G services using its convergent radio technology. Addressing the launch, Mr. Arvind Vohra, Operations Director, Vodafone India, said: “As a steadfast partner to Digital India, we are delighted to launch Vodafone SuperNet 4G in one of the key markets in North East and Assam – Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh during this third phase of our 4G rollout. Our customers in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh can now enjoy the world’s largest 4G network experience from today.”

Speaking from the same podium, Mr. Alok Verma, Business Head-Assam& North East Circle, said: “Arunachal Pradesh is a key market for Vodafone India and as one of the leading telecom service providers our 5.5 million customers in North East & Assam have a lot to look forward to. Beginning with key tourism and residential corridors of Itanagar, we will soon expand our Vodafone SuperNet 4G services across the entire state and other parts of Assam & North East Circle in a phased manner. We invite our data savvy customers in the city to make the most of the bonanza of special benefits being offered and enjoy the best mobile internet experience.”

A Host of Benefits:

The Vodafone India subscribers can now enjoy faster 4G services at 3G prices. All the 4G RED customers will have double data benefit. As a one-time 4G SIM upgrade offer, Vodafone customers are entitled to get 2GB of 4G data free. Unlimited 3 months access to free TV, movies and videos on Vodafone Play as a complimentary offer makes the subscription more entertaining.

Above all, the Vodafone subscribers can get an immediate 4G SIM exchange at all the company branded stores within their neighborhood. The company has already made special arrangements for door-step delivery of 4G SIMs to their esteemed postpaid customers.

Vodafone India, the country’s second-largest telecom company, has offered “Double Data” benefit on all its prepaid 4G packs starting from ₹255. This offer is applicable to all existing and new customers of Vodafone India to enjoy the seamless experience of high-speed mobile data.

Vodafone 4G Double Data Offer:

For example, when a Vodafone prepaid subscriber makes a recharge of ₹255 for 1GB of 4G data, then the user will get an additional 1GB 4G data. However, the validity of 28 days remains the same even after double data benefit. Similarly, the telecom operator is offering 10GB data of 4G data on ₹999 pack. This will now yield a double data benefit of 10GB making it 20GB for ₹999 with a validity of 28 days. Effectively, 1GB of 4G data now costs ₹50.

Addressing the launch of Double Data offer, Mr. Apoorva Mehrotra, Business Head, Delhi-NCR, Vodafone India, said, “We are happy to announce a Double Data bonanza to all our 4G customers. We are confident that this value offering will further enhance mobile internet experience for our customers and will enable them to experience the world of Vodafone SuperNet4G to the fullest.”

With this Double Data Offer, the Vodafone India 4G prepaid subscribers can now get 2GB, 6GB, 8GB, 20GB, 40GB of 4G data on ₹255, ₹459, ₹559, ₹999 and ₹1,999 respectively with a validity of 28 days.

Stiff Competition from Reliance Jio:

It is quite an open secret that competition is intensifying with the entry of Reliance Jio. This double data benefit is offered when the telecom operator is facing stiff competition created by the extension of Jio Welcome Offer providing unlimited free voice calling and data services until March 31, 2017. Hope these lucrative offers will help Vodafone India to retain its subscriber base.

Re: BSNL to Offer Free Voice Calls to Any Network at ₹149

The state-owned telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has introduced a new unlimited data plan RCV 498. This mobile data recharge voucher offers unlimited data without any speed restriction for 14 days. Both the existing and new subscribers of BSNL 3G Network is eligible for this offer.

Truly Unlimited Mobile Data:

With this RCV 498, the BSNL mobile subscribers can download their favorite movies or watch live TV without the worry of exhausting data balance. As there is no speed limit, the users can enjoy unlimited mobile data on BSNL 3G network across the country. This is truly an unlimited data pack and is considered a good initiative from the public sector undertaking Telecom Company to counter Reliance Jio’s free services.

Good Initiative:

That said, this new mobile data RCV 498 offers unlimited 3G mobile data for 14 days. For 28 days validity period, one has to spend ₹996 to enjoy truly unlimited data without any restrictions. Though this is not the first of its kind, BSNL offered unlimited 3G data for just ₹700 in 2010. When every telecom operator is trying to provide 4G services, BSNL is rolling out special plans to serve PAN India customers.

It is worth noticing that BSNL posted a six-fold jump with an operating profit at ₹3,855 crore during the 2015-16 year and is ready to take on tariff war being offered by the competitors.

In a bid to encourage the cashless economy, Narendra Modi-led government finds an ally in the telecom networks. The leading mobile network operators have announced that all USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) charges will be waived off for mobile banking till 31st December 2016. In what can be described as a good opportunity, the telecom operators believe this measure will encourage citizens to make use of mobile banking and ease their burden.

No USSD Charges from Vodafone India:

Leading from the front, Mr. Sunil Sood, MD & CEO, Vodafone India, said, “We are committed to help actualize the Government’s several initiatives designed to make India a digital economy. To ease the burden of masses, Vodafone India is waiving off all USSD charges presently levied for mobile banking till 31 December 2016.”

As there are several million customers using feature phones, free access to mobile banking will persuade the subscribers to adopt easy and convenient mode for banking. Vodafone subscribers can enjoy the digital wallet service of M-Pesa and digitize cash, remit and pay bills and or withdraw at more than 120,000 touch points across the country.

Me too Airtel:

Similarly, the leading mobile network operator Bharti Airtel has also waived off transaction charges for all USSD-based mobile banking services till the year end. Commenting on waive off, Bharti Airtel spokesperson said, “This is a great move towards a cashless economy and would surely encourage mobile banking transactions and enables further growth in Indian economy.

Though the RBI has put a cap of ₹5,000 for small value transactions, it is enough for day-to-day requirements until this cash crunch is resolved. Before the announcement of telecom services providers, a onetime charge of ₹ 1.50 per transaction was levied on your mobile bill.

Fund Transfer Process Via National Unified USSD Platform (NUUP)

OPPO Electronics, the number one smartphone maker in China, has announced the launch of its upgraded variant of its Selfie Expert F1s. The smartphone is now upgraded with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage bundle as compared to the 3GB RAM and 32GB of ROM in the previous version.

OPPO Selfie Expert F1s Specifications:

The new variant is available in Grey and Gold color options at a price tag of ₹18,990. Starting end of November, the OPPO Selfie Expert F1s will be exclusively available on Amazon India online and all other retail stores across India. The handset features a 5.5-inch HD IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection.

The upgraded phone is powered by 1.5GHz octa-core MediaTek (Mt6750) processor coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB inbuilt storage expandable up to 128GB via microSD card. On the camera front, 16-megapixel front camera boasts of Beautify 4.0 and 13-megapixel shooter with LED flash is an asset.

Backed by 3075mAh non-removable battery, OPPO Selfie Expert F1s supports front facing 0.22 seconds fingerprint sensor that can unlock the apps as well. The smartphone has triple slot card tray supporting two Nano 4G SIM cards and a microSD card expandable up to 128GB. The phone runs on ColorOS 3.0 user interface and Android 5.1 Lollipop.

Keeping up with the recent trends, the Selfie Expert F1s supports 4G VoLTE connectivity, WiFi, Bluetooth and a micro USB port. Moreover, the first 50,000 buyers of this latest smartphone will get a limited edition phone cover by Dr. Strange.