Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Ericsson targeting 5G equipment export from India, SingTel planning to sell $1 bn stake in Bharti Airtel, satellite operators recognized for IoT innovation, among others.
Ericsson Eyes 5G Equipment Export from India Amid Local Growth
Ericsson plans to explore exporting 5G telecom equipment from India, as local demand stabilizes after rapid deployment. Currently, all 5G equipment produced in India is being consumed locally by Indian telecom operators. Ericsson expects 5G-specific use cases to emerge within 12 to 24 months, driven by network slicing and enterprise digitalization. The company foresees increasing demand for network densification and infrastructure modernization as data consumption grows. Ericsson’s sales in Southeast Asia, Oceania, and India declined 38 percent YoY in the first quarter of 2024, reflecting a market transitioning from high investment levels to more stable growth. Vodafone Idea (VIL) plans to invest Rs 55,000 crore in network expansion, which may present new opportunities for Ericsson. The company is collaborating with ecosystem players to develop India-specific applications and drive the next phase of 5G innovation.
SingTel to Sell $1 bn Stake in Bharti Airtel
Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) plans to sell a $1 billion stake in Indian telecom Bharti Airtel through block deals. SingTel will sell 47.6 million Airtel shares at a floor price of 1,800 rupees per share, a 3.6 percent discount from the stock’s last closing price. The sale is part of SingTel’s ongoing strategy to reduce its stake in Airtel, which began in March 2024 with a $711 million sale to GQG Partners. As of the last quarter, SingTel held a 9.49 percent stake in Airtel through its affiliate Pastel Ltd. JP Morgan will act as the broker for the deal. This decision reflects SingTel’s restructuring goals and shows how telecom companies are adjusting their investments to align with changing market conditions, Business Standard reported.
Satellite Operators Recognized for IoT Innovation by ABI Research
ABI Research named eight satellite operators as Hot Tech Innovators for their contributions to the IoT market. The operators are advancing non-terrestrial IoT connectivity through innovative solutions like low-cost messaging, multi-mode capabilities, and LEO constellations. Globalstar is enhancing its IoT services with two-way messaging and the integration of LTE/5G terrestrial spectrum, while Iridium introduced its 3GPP NTN service to offer multi-mode IoT solutions. Operators like Sateliot and OQ Technology are pushing forward 3GPP NTN standards, and EchoStar Mobile and Lacuna Space are advancing LoRa NTN for cost-effective, low-power IoT networks. With Starlink and Amazon Project Kuiper planning to offer IoT services, the satellite IoT sector is evolving to meet growing demand for remote, cost-efficient connectivity and asset-tracking solutions.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
