Jio's Wireless Data Goes Commercial, Jio MyFi Review

While we are waiting for Jio to announce its commercial launch, Jio has actually launched part of its services commercially. That's data services i.e. wireless broadband from Jio via WiFi hotspots has already been launched.

Though Jio has kept mum, almost 2 weeks back all Reliance Digital stores started selling MiFi devices with out any invitation, referral codes or anything. You walk into the store, pay Rs 2899, Rs 1999, submit your ID proof and a passport size photo and you get the device. But the device does not come with a SIM card itself, rather you will get the SIM once your KYC documents are verified.

 ** Update: On 1st September Mukesh Ambani has removed the curtain over Jio. Jio services will be free to all customers till 31st December 2016. Post that you can use Jio prepaid or postpaid plans. The plans are coming with unlimited voice & text, plus data (with unlimited data in night and WiFi data to be used on JioNet public WiFi networks). 

Once verified you will get a text from Jio on your mobile and then visit the store again to collect the SIM. This whole procedure takes 3-4 days generally, but it might take upto 10 days. In my case I got the text on 6th day. Note that you can't select a number - Jio will allot a no. to you.

Vodafone 3G vs 4G : Review at Kolkata

Last week I made my first MNP - ported my Tata Docomo prepaid GSM number to Vodafone prepaid. The reason behind porting was Tata Docomo has no 3G in Kolkata. The process was pretty fast - I generated porting code on 2nd August and submitted at Vodafone store that day. On 5th Tata Docomo SIM got switched off and Vodafone SIM is activated on the same day after televerification.

The Vodafone SIM card I received, is a 4G enabled SIM. So I planned for a 4G vs 3G speed test on Vodafone.

During the televerification I was told that using MyVodafone app will get me 100MB 3G/4G data. However I received the data on 13th and made some speedtests using SpeedTest.net app and Jio's NetVelocity app.

Discussion : Future of Tikona

In the begining of August this year Tikona got nod from the Finance Ministry on the basis of the recommendations made by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), for the issuance of CCDs worth Rs 267 crore thereby increasing foreign equity to 76.73 per cent. It means Tikona can now attract FDI of Rs 267 crore. By the last week of August, Tikona has raised $171 million for import of capital goods, as reported.

Founded in 2008, Tikona is brain child of Prakash Bajpai who is founder, MD and CEO of the company. Tikona is funded by several private equity companies.

Telenor Expanding 4G in India, Now in 13 Cities

Telenor India is expanding its 4G/LTE services in its operational circles very fast. In February this year Telenor had said that they will roll out 4G services on their existing 4G-compatible 1800MHz band and they started the field trial with Huawei's LeanGSM technologies. In March Telenor has entered into 4G space by introducing 4G in Varanasi. 

In 5 months Telenor has been rapidly increasing the 4G footprint. Right now in 6 circles Telenor 4G is live with coverage in 16 cities as of now. 

JIO Money Failed on My First Transaction of 'Pay at Shop'

Whenever Reliance Industries backed JIO Digial services is launched (via invitation system), I became very skeptical about it inspite of the fact that I from the very begining was so assured that JIO will be a successful story in the history of Indian telecommunications and will pave a new horizon in the digial India. 

JIO has its own mobile money services, called JIO Money and it's active for a quite long time. As Jio is about to launch its services commercially across the country, different apps from Jio are being updated and added with new features. JIO Money has introduced 'Pay at Shop' option.

So I thought of tring the new cashless facilities on Jio Money at Reliance Fresh, the super marketplace chain from the house of RIL. 

Huawei Honor Holly 2 Plus (TIT-AL00)

I am using this smartphone from Huawei for last 1 months and counting. In this post I will share the experiences with this low cost yet powerful smartphone of Honor series.

India's Telecom Map - 2G/3G/4G [2016]

Back at Telecomtalk I had made a series of Telecom Maps. I had shared 2G, 3G and 4G maps earlier. But with the change of time those maps need to be updated. However this year i.e. 2016 will be the year of LTE in India. Apart from Airtel who started 4G services back in 2012 this year will see several players to jump into 4G space. Idea and Vodafone already launched their 4G services in selected markets. Jio, the telecom arm of Reliance Industries will launch its commercial launch anytime soon. 

Let's start with Idea Cellular. We will discuss both 3G and 4G spectrum of Idea Cellular. 

Idea Cellular - 3G and 4G Maps

Idea won 2.1GHz spectrum in 11 circles in 2010, those airwaves are used for 3G services. In 2015 auction, Idea grabbed a chunk of 5MHz on 2.1GHz band in Kolkata and 900MHz spectrum in Delhi. In Delhi Idea launched UMTS900, i.e. 3G services over 900MHz band (similar to Airtel's Platinum 3G). 

It should be noted that Idea has almost pan India 3G presence via ICRA route over Airtel and Vodafone's 3G networks.

In last 2 years Idea kept saying that India is not ready for 4G/LTE. However sensing the threat from Reliance Jio's entry in 4G turf, Idea started rolling out 4G services in selected circles using it's technology neutral 1.8GHz band. 

In November 2015 Idea acquired spectrum in two more circles (Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh West) from Videocon. Right now Idea is capable of roll out LTE-FDD on 1800MHz band in total of 12 circles. The deal with Videocon was cancelled and eventually Airtel acquires 6 circles from Videocon.

It should be noted that in 2010 Idea did not win any of 2.3GiHz band.