India's telecom sector News

With latent demand for data fuelling the digital economy, 2018 could be the growth year for the sector where investment of around Rs 3 lakh crore is estimated to be made in next two years.

According to Ambani, Jio is ahead of schedule on turning profitable.

Jio launched late last year with free voice and cut-price data, sparking a price war in India's cut-throat telecoms sector which has driven down margins and forced consolidation.

Mittal also made the point that while India's digital vision is strong and so is the support to the programme, the states were not showing "the same level of urgency".

The IMG which comprises senior officials from the ministries of finance and communications last met on August 11 and deliberated on various proposals that can be taken to address the financial woes of the industry.

India is tightening the rules for businesses entering its power transmission sector and making stringent checks on both power and telecoms equipment for malware - moves that government and industry officials say aim to check China`s advance into sensitive sectors.

The combined entity RCom-Aircel will now be the third largest telecom entity in India by subscriber base, thus moving ahead of Idea Cellular Limited (Idea).  

Fitch Ratings on Friday slashed the telecom sector outlook to 'negative' from 'stable' for 2016 and said the impending entry of Reliance Jio will increase the competition and pressurise credit profiles of top-four telcos.  

Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said fourth generation (4G) technology will be the next revolution in the telecom sector with a lot of potential for India`s economic growth.