Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Google One cloud storage, ATC India, Telefonica, telecom tower industry, satellite Internet services.
Airtel offers free 100 GB Google One cloud storage
Bharti Airtel has partnered with Google to offer Airtel postpaid and Wi-Fi customers six months of free 100 GB Google One cloud storage. This initiative addresses the problem of limited device storage and allows users to securely store and share digital content. The cloud storage is compatible with both Android and iOS, supports WhatsApp chat backups on Android, and can be shared with up to five people.
DIT–ATC India Acquisition Approval
Data Infrastructure Trust (DIT), affiliated with Brookfield Asset Management, will acquire ATC Telecom Infrastructure (ATC India), forming India’s largest passive telecom infrastructure provider by macro sites. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition after reviewing economic analysis provided by FTI Consulting and Compass Lexecon.
Telefonica Service Disruption in Spain
Telefonica experienced a fixed-phone and internet service disruption in parts of Spain due to a network update. The outage lasted a few hours and affected regions including Aragon, Valencia, Andalusia, Extremadura, the Basque Country, Navarra, and parts of Madrid. Emergency line 112 was also disrupted. Mobile services remained operational. The Downdetector website showed the majority of disruptions were related to fixed-line internet. All services were restored by early afternoon, Reuters reports.
ICRA Outlook on India’s Tower Industry
ICRA revised its outlook on India’s telecom tower industry from ‘Negative’ to ‘Stable’ due to improved payment cycles and overdue clearance. Debtor days decreased to 45–60, improving liquidity and cash flows. Annual capital expenditure is projected at Rs. 10,000–11,000 crore by FY2026, driven by 5G rollout. Tenancy ratios are expected to stabilize at 1.35x–1.40x. Operating income is forecast to grow by 4–6 percent, with operating margins (excluding energy) remaining at 70–75 percent. Cash balances may rise to Rs. 5,500–6,000 crore from Rs. 2,200–3,000 crore. Return on capital employed is projected to reach 13–15 percent by FY2026, up from 6–7 percent in FY2023.
Satellite Internet Services in India
India’s Telecom Minister announced that satellite internet services will complement existing terrestrial telecom networks such as Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Jio. The satellite communication market is projected to reach $20 billion by 2028. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended a non-auction model for spectrum allocation, requiring providers to pay 4 percent of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) as a quarterly usage fee. Licenses have been granted to Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Jio Satellite Communications. A Letter of Intent was also issued to Starlink. These regulatory changes are intended to reduce entry barriers and promote faster rollout of satellite internet services in India.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
