OnePlus 11R is the smartphone that will get a lot of people excited in the coming days. Ahead of the launch, OnePlus has confirmed some of the key specifications of the smartphone. The device will be unveiled in India on February 7, 2023, at the Cloud 11 launch event in New Delhi. Along with the OnePlus 11R, OnePlus will also unveil the OnePlus 11 5G, OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro, OnePlus Buds Pro 2, and OnePlus Keyboard. Amongst the two new smartphones, OnePlus 11R would be on the more affordable scale, and it could be a hot pick for consumers in 2023 because of its specifications. So what has OnePlus already confirmed about the smartphone? Let’s find out.

Read More – OnePlus Pad Could Launch on Feb 7 in India

OnePlus 11R 5G Confirmed Specifications

OnePlus 11R 5G is confirmed to sport the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ chipset, coupled with up to 16GB of RAM. There would also be a large display with support for 120Hz refresh rate with ADFR 2.0. The smartphone is confirmed to pack a 5000mAh battery with support for 100W fast charging, which would charge the smartphone from 0%-100% in just 25 minutes.

“The OnePlus 11R 5G is a performance flagship that brings our innovative technologies and improved fast and smooth experience to a wider audience with a competitive price,” said Pete Lau, Founder of OnePlus.

Read More – OnePlus 11R 5G to Launch in India on Feb 7

Will OnePlus 11R 5G be Good with Handling Heat?

The OnePlus 11R could be good with heat management as it would come with a cutting-edge 3D cooling system, covering a surface area 63.8% larger than the OnePlus 10 Pro’s vapor chamber. OnePlus said that the OnePlus 11R 5G uses materials that can store heat instantly and release it slowly. To ensure that consumers get a decent gaming experience as well, the OnePlus 11R 5G comes with the latest innovations in the HyperBoost Gaming Engine, such as the General Performance Adapter (GPA) Frame Stabilizer 4.0.

The British multinational telecommunications company BT Group and Stratospheric Platforms (SPL) have partnered to trial a new antenna technology using High-Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) aircraft to extend 4G and 5G coverage in the UK. Both companies say the technology can be a helpful solution in getting coverage to the hardest-to-reach areas.

Technology Trials

The trials funded by Innovate UK, being conducted at Adastral Park, BT’s global Research and Development headquarters, aim to tackle one of the remaining challenges in mobile connectivity. They hold the potential to revolutionize opportunities for Industries operating in remote areas like transport, maritime security, and search and rescue, as well as offer faster and smoother connectivity directly to consumers’ mobile devices in remote areas.

Also Read: 1&1 Versatel Acquires Fiber Assets of BT in Germany

Backup for terrestrial Networks

Additionally, the HAPS solution could serve as a backup for terrestrial networks in case of a catastrophe and aid in disaster relief efforts. It also has the potential to enhance remote monitoring across a range of industrial and agricultural scenarios, thereby increasing operational efficiency.

Also Read: Gigabit Internet Connectivity Is a Must for New Homes in England

Tim Whitley, Managing Director Research and Network Strategy, BT Group, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with SPL to start realizing the huge potential of HAPS aircraft to further strengthen our UK 4G and 5G network technology leadership. This highly innovative and transformative project has the potential to further enhance our UK 4G and 5G footprint, which is already the largest and most reliable in the UK, to connect unserved rural areas and enable exciting new use cases for private users.”

Richard Deakin, CEO, SPL commented: “The SPL team is excited to be working with BT Group to further advance its breakthrough UK-developed technology. This partnership will build further on SPL’s world-first 5G demonstration from the stratosphere achieved in 2022. With BT, we’re pleased to continue our journey supporting the UK to become a science super-power.”

Also Read: UK Space Agency Announces 50 Million Pounds for Satcom

4G and 5G Speeds Reached

SPL’s innovative antenna technology promises to bring seamless 4G and 5G connectivity directly to consumers’ smartphones. Its phased array antenna boasts speeds that can reach up to 150 Mbps, covering an area as vast as 140 km or 15,000 square km – the area equivalent to the average footprint of 450 terrestrial masts – through 500 individually controllable beams.

Cost Savings

The High-Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) solution can bring both high performance and cost-effectiveness. Its phased array antenna can offer fast, uninterrupted 4G and 5G connectivity to consumers’ smartphones, while the hydrogen-powered flight platform enables sustainable coverage of vast areas. This eliminates the need for costly terrestrial infrastructure expansion in remote regions, resulting in substantial cost and energy savings.

The government-owned telecommunications service provider BSNL offers Mobile, Broadband, Fixedline, Air Fibre and other services for its users. If you are wondering if BSNL offers postpaid services to users, yes, the telco offers postpaid services, but you need to visit a nearby BSNL office, get the KYC done, pay a security deposit and the service gets activated. Every user has their preference, and because of the same, irrespective of 4G or 5G service availability on private telcos, some customers prefer BSNL. Chances are that users may only get BSNL Network and thus use it without choices. If you like to use BSNL services in the Postpaid segment because of the advantages postpaid offers, then the entry-level Rs 199 plan has a lot to offer. Let’s check the BSNL 199 Postpaid plan benefits in this story.

BSNL Postpaid Plan Rs 199

BSNL offers a variety of postpaid plans for customers who are looking for a monthly billing option. These plans provide unlimited calling, data and SMS benefits, as well as various add-on services such as international roaming and other benefits.

Also Read: BSNL 4G Deployment Gets Support From Nashik Zilla Parishad

Security Deposit

The cheapest postpaid offering from BSNL comes at a price tag of Rs 199. For activation of the service, users need to pay Rs 100, Rs 500 as security for Local and STD service, and Rs 2,000 for Local, STD and ISD service. While it still makes us wonder how the differentiation of Local and STD for security deposits in the year 2023 makes sense, let’s assume one needs to pay a security deposit for voice services.

Also Read: BSNL Prepaid Plans for a Secondary SIM Usage Detailed

BSNL 199 Plan Benefits

Customers can enjoy Unlimited Voice to any network in Home and national roaming, including Mumbai and Delhi in the MTNL network. In short, you get to enjoy Unlimited Voice on this plan. The monthly rental plan also comes with 100 SMS per day and 25 GB Bulk Data which can be used on 2G, 3G and 4G ( in case of availability at your location). There is a 75 GB data rollover feature too available for users. Post usage of bundled data, Data charges will be one paise per MB, amounting to Rs 10.24 per GB.

Add-ons

Customers also have the option to add Data or ISD Add-ons.

Also Read: BSNL to Test Indigenous 4G Technology on Live Network

Conclusion

BSNL has its advantages and disadvantages. For everything of BSNL, one must visit the nearest BSNL Service centre, which is a troublesome task. However, in most cases, if you take a BSNL connection, there should be no issues with the plan or billing. As per a recent update, BSNL will start testing its 4G and 5G services on a live Network, post which the telco will go for a wider deployment of high-speed services.

Bharti Airtel is the first telco to enable 5G services in the Northeastern region of India. In a recent development, the Governor of Mizoram, Hari Babu Kambhampati, held a meeting with the Zonal Officer and Engineer from Bharti Airtel at the Raj Bhavan on Friday. During the discussion, they talked about the implementation strategy for the 5G network in the state of Mizoram and explored ways to enhance digital connectivity in rural regions. They also discussed the role that network service providers can play in this endeavour.

Also Read: Airtel eSIM for Smartphones and Smartwatches: All You Need to Know

Airtel 5G Plus in Mizoram

During a meeting with Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Airtel officials presented their plan for the rollout of the 5G network in the state. They shared that 5G towers have been scheduled for installation at 53 locations in Aizawl and 10 in Lunglei. As per their plans, the 5G network will be live in February 2023, and by April 2023, it will be available in all district headquarters in Mizoram. The officials also discussed their plans to improve digital connectivity in rural areas by increasing fiber networks.

Also Read: Experience Airtel 5G Plus in These Top Tourist Destinations

The Governor expressed gratitude and congratulated Bharti Airtel for its initiative to roll out the 5G Network in Mizoram in the next month. He believes that this significant enhancement in network connectivity will drive various critical endeavours that rely on strong and fast network connectivity. He encouraged Bharti Airtel and other telecommunications companies operating in the state to put in extra effort to improve connectivity in rural areas, as poor connectivity impacts banking services in these regions.

Also Read: Airtel 5G Plus Now Available in Agartala

Bharti Airtel 5G Plus in Northeast India

Airtel is the first telco to launch 5G services in the NorthEast India. Airtel launched 5G Plus services in Guwahati in November 2022, followed by 5G Announcements in Imphal in December 2022 and Shillong and Agartala in January 2023. As a result, Airtel customers in the region can now experience ultrafast network and enjoy speeds up to 20-30 times faster than the current 4G speeds. Airtel 5G Plus now works on all Android and Apple supported 5G devices. As of today, Airtel 5G Plus is available in 59 cities.

Reliance Jio, in a surprising turn of events, lost active subscribers in November 2022. The telco, which has been mostly ahead in adding subscribers while seeing overall growth in the wireless subscriber base, lost nearly 2 million active users in Nov. The data was published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in its monthly telecom performance report. This means that 5G isn’t really a deciding factor for customers right now. Jio is present in close to 200 cities with its 5G networks today, and it was also present in several cities in November 2022. Despite that, Jio lost active users. At the same time, Airtel added active users, and it was rolling out 5G at a relatively slower pace than Jio.

Read More – Bharti Airtel Leads 4G Subscriber Net Additions in Nov: MOFSL

This indicates that rolling out faster 5G isn’t going to make much difference in the performance of the telecom operators in the short term. Right now, Indian subscribers want good quality services, not even necessarily the most affordable. Jio is affordable, yes, but not by a very huge margin. Thus, the customers would mostly shift to the telco, which offers the best services. According to Opensignal’s October 2022 report, Airtel was ahead of Jio and Vodafone Idea in delivering the best quality video experience and more.

Why Did Jio Lose Active Customers?

Wireless subscribers don’t use mobile networks just for calling anymore. Now, more than ever, mobile networks are very important to deliver a consistent experience because users rely a lot upon mobile networks for streaming OTT (over-the-top) content, playing multiplayer games, and more. Did Jio lose active users because it wasn’t ahead of Airtel in these areas? We can’t say for sure, but yes, it is a point to consider.

Read More – Airtel 5G Plus Peak Speeds in Hyderabad: Check Details

One more thing to note here is that Jio’s 5G rollout and delivery of it to customers is starkly different from what Airtel is doing. Customers could be disappointed that to use Jio’s 5G; they would have to wait for an invite. However, no such restriction is there for Airtel users. Airtel users can just use 5G at no additional cost if they are 4G subscribers. They don’t have to wait for any sort of invite.

Reliance Jio’s average revenue per user (ARPU) per month is also growing at a very slow pace QoQ (quarter on quarter). The telco does make the most profits, but its performance growth is slowing down, which the investors in Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) wouldn’t like. There’s also an Initial Public Offer (IPO) of Jio scheduled in the near future. All these things could hurt the response that the telco gets in the IPO.

Orange Belgium and Telenet have signed two 15-year commercial wholesale agreements providing access to their respective Hybrid Fiber Coaxial and Fiber to the Home networks in both network areas. Since 2016, Orange Belgium has provided fixed internet and TV services on Telenet’s HFC network through the regulated open-access model. Now, this agreement will further strengthen it for 15 more years. Orange Belgium and Telenet believes the agreement will benefit the customer, bring investments and thrive competition in Belgium’s telecom market.

Also Read: NuRAN and Orange Madagascar Sign NaaS Agreement to Expand Coverage

Orange Belgium Access to Telenet’s HFC

Firstly, Orange Belgium secures access to Telenet’s Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network and its future Fiber to the Home (FTTH) network for 15 years. Telenet’s HFC network crossed 3.4 million homes in the Flanders and Brussels regions at the end of September 2022.

Orange Belgium, combined with its start of the art mobile network and the modernization of the VOO network in regions of Wallonia and Brussels – Capital, will democratize the multi-gigabit fixed and mobile speed experience all over the country.

Telenet Access to VOO Cable Network

Secondly, through the Agreement, Telenet will be able to access the VOO cable network in Wallonia for the first time and the remaining one-third of Brussels, covering around 1.8 million homes and which is in the process of being acquired by Orange Belgium. The agreement will also secure Telenet as a wholesale customer, increasing network penetration and return on modernization investments.

Also Read: Telenet Takes Over Eltrona in Luxembourg

Xavier Pichon, CEO of Orange Belgium, said: “It is a major step forward in the deployment of our leading nationwide multi-gigabit strategy. With the acquisition of VOO, we have an ambitious investment plan to upgrade the network and to provide multi-gigabit connectivity to our customers. The agreement on the Telenet network, will complement our ability to provide a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial and Fiber to the Home multi-gigabit connectivity value proposition to our customers wherever they live. We also welcome Telenet as a wholesale customer on our future VOO network. These agreements will foster competition and network investments nationwide”.

Also Read: Orange Poland launches 2 Gbps Fiber Internet Option

John Porter, Telenet CEO, said: “I’m pleased with the 15-year partnership we reached with Orange Belgium, building on a fruitful relationship developed over a number of years. Through the Agreements, we now have a clear path to wholesale access in the South of Belgium, complementing our existing fixed footprint in Flanders, parts of Brussels and the boot of Hainaut in Wallonia in addition to our nationwide mobile network coverage. This will enable us to grow into a nationwide FMC player and provide more choice for customers.”

“Our commercial and go-to-market strategy is far advanced and we have ambitious plans for the South, targeting an off-footprint fixed market share of around 10% over the medium term, which will enhance Telenet’s growth profile. I’m equally excited about the extended partnership with Orange Belgium in our footprint, which covers both our current HFC and future FTTH network. We welcome Orange Belgium as a wholesale customer on our future FTTH network, further increasing our network penetration and improving the return on investment and long-term profitability of our recently announced fiber investments,” John added.

Also Read: Telenor Norway Shuts Down the Copper Network

The agreement is subject to the completion of the transaction for the acquisition of 75% minus one share of VOO by Orange Belgium, which requires EC regulatory approval.

Kerala Vision, the regional broadband service provider in Kerala, offers a variety of broadband plans for both residential and commercial customers, with speeds ranging from 25 Mbps to 1500 Mbps. The ISP has bumped its Data offerings to 4 TB on select broadband plans in 2021. Let us now look at Kerala Vision‘s broadband plans and what they offer for customers opting for their service in 2023.

Kerala Vision Broadband Plans

Kerala Vision focuses on providing high-speed internet connectivity at an affordable price to people in Kerala, aiming to drive digitalisation and bridge the digital divide. With service available everywhere in Kerala, the ISP currently offers three monthly Unlimited broadband plans with speeds upto 40 Mbps, 50 Mbps, and 80 Mbps and Yearly Unlimited plans with speeds upto 20 Mbps and 40 Mbps. Let us now look at the monthly rentals of these plans and the benefits.

Kerala Vision Broadband Plans With Unlimited Data

Unlimited Monthly Plans

Kerala Vision Broadband Unlimited Plan Rs 649

This plan offers customers speeds up to 40 Mbps and Unlimited data with no FUP, meaning there is no fair usage policy, and customers can use as much data as they want till the end of the month. The monthly rental for this plan is Rs 649, and the charges don’t include GST.

Kerala Vision Broadband Unlimited Plan Rs 849

With this plan, customers can enjoy speeds up to 50 Mbps and Unlimited data with no fair usage policy. Customers can use any amount of data without restrictions till the billing cycle. The monthly rental of this plan is Rs 849, excluding GST.

Kerala Vision Broadband Unlimited Plan Rs 1,049

With this plan, customers can enjoy speeds up to 80 Mbps and Unlimited data with no fair usage policy. Moreover, customers can use Unlimited data without restrictions or reduction of speeds. The monthly rental of this plan is Rs 1049, excluding GST.

Unlimited Yearly Plans

We can make our Home broadband experience comfortable by opting long term plans such as six months or 12 months. In that way, customers can also get long-term benefits, if any, provided by the service provider. Kerala Vision offers two long-term plans with Unlimited Data benefits as below.

Kerala Vision Broadband Unlimited Plan Rs 5,899

This plan offers customers speeds up to 20 Mbps and Unlimited data with no FUP, meaning there is no fair usage policy, and customers can use as much data as they want for one year. The yearly rental for this plan is Rs 5,899, turning to approximately Rs 491 per month.

The 20 Mbps speed option is not available in monthly plans, but with an annual subscription, you get this option.

Kerala Vision Broadband Unlimited Plan Rs 7,699

Customers can enjoy speeds up to 40 Mbps and Unlimited data with no FUP, meaning there is no fair usage policy, and customers can use as much data as they want for one year. The yearly rental for this plan is Rs 7,699, turning to approximately Rs 641 per month.

Installation charges and taxes are extra on the plans, and all the plans come with 24 by 7 full customer support. If you live in Kerala and has a connection from Kerala Vision, let us know your experience with the ISP.

Indian telcos are rolling out 5G Networks at a faster pace. Whether 5G in the near term has any use case for end consumers apart from performing speed tests or not is a different case, but for a meaningful 5G rollout, there needs to be a lot of digital infrastructure deployment. ICRA, in its report, says that for a full-scale 5G deployment across the country, network densification is required, and the industry needs to invest in fiberisation.

Current level of Fiberisation

India currently has around 35% of its towers fiberised, and ICRA expects that the CAPEX required to fiberise the number of towers needed to provide a full-scale 5G Network experience would be close to Rs 3 lakh crore over the next 4-5 years.

ARPU Metrics

The rating agency further said that the Telecom Industry has continued to report improvement in operating metrics as reflected in ARPU levels. ARPU has already crossed Rs 170 mark in H1 and is likely to touch Rs 180 by the end of the fiscal.

This comes at a time when telcos are trying to increase their ARPU by raising tariffs. Bharti Airtel took an Industry initiative to hike entry-level tariffs in nine circles, and such a move is still awaited from the struggling telco Vodafone Idea.

Also Read: Airtel Hiking Base Tariffs to Rs 155 in 9 Circles is a Positive Move for Industry

Debt Levels Remain High

However, despite the positive ARPU metrics, the rating agency said that the debt levels remain high and further increased after the conclusion of the last round of spectrum auctions. As a result, the industry is expected to close the year with a debt of around Rs. 6.3 lakh crore as on March 31, 2023.

Commenting on the 5G rollouts in India, Mr. Ankit Jain, Vice President and Sector Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA Ltd, said, “Over the last few months, the telcos have been rolling out 5G services across various cities. While the rollouts have started and customers are being upgraded to 5G network, the same is being done at no additional costs as 5G-specific plans have not been launched yet. Moreover, 5G deployment will entail densification of network and close placement of radio antennas, with possible collocation on street furniture.”

“While small cells are likely to be the first option to start with, these need to be connected with fibre for efficient network coverage and delivery. With relatively low penetration of fiber in India, expected capex of around Rs. 3 lakh crore would be needed over the next 4-5 years.”

“Moreover, as several use cases are under development, it will take some time for 5G to reach adequate level of penetration. To begin with, it will be more focused towards enterprise-based use cases. Thus, unlike 4G, ICRA expects the 5G rollout to be more phased out and pockets specific.”

Also Read: How Tariff Hikes Can Help Improve the Telecom Industry

As we already discussed in one of our earlier stories, Tariff Hike is required for the ARPU to go up, which indirectly helps the telcos with CAPEX involved in infrastructure deployment required for full-scale 5G services in India.

Tele2 announced VoLTE services for its customers in Latvia. VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Technology) technology helps customers experience HD audio quality over cellular voice calls. VoLTE service is available to Tele2 customers till now in test mode. Tele2 invested several million euros in implementing this technology, and the company offers the service for free to its customers. The telco said customers can now enjoy faster call connection as well as higher quality voice and video calls.

VoLTE Supported Devices

Currently, the company admits that VoLTE technology is available to iPhone, Samsung and Sony smartphone users on postpaid connections. Customers can visit the Tele2 website to know the exact models that support Tele2 VoLTE service.

Android users need to update their phone’s Operating System to activate VoLTE. iPhone users need to make changes to settings, and the procedure can be found at tele2.lv/volte.

Also Read: Ice Names Top Selling Smartphones; Makes a Move Towards eSIM

Liga Krumina, director of the technical department of “Tele2”, said: “For a long time, VoLTE technology was available to some customers in test mode, because we wanted to make sure that everything worked without a hitch. Currently, every Tele2 customer who has a smartphone that supports VoLTE technology can, for example, simultaneously send pictures in the WhatsApp app or search for information on the Internet during a voice call, as the 4G data network is used to provide voice communications. Until now, the 4G network was intended only for mobile Internet use.”

Network Investments

Tele2 already announced investments of 20 million euros in developing Mobile Networks this year. The company says that much of the investments will be directed towards network modernization and deployment of 5G technology, Network capacity enhancement and construction of new data core network infrastructure.

Also Read: Consumers Are Ready for eSIM Adoption: Amdocs Survey

eSIM for Pildyk users

Prepaid service “Pildyk” users of Tele2 can now use eSIM services. However, customers need to ensure the handset supports eSIM technology and follow the steps to get the QR code per the instructions on the website.

eSIM technology is supported by 2018 and later released iPhones, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer models, Google Pixel and the latest Sony phones. When changing a physical card to an eSIM, one-time exchange fees of EUR 1 apply.

EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure announced the commencement of construction of the first of two strategically located Data centers in Santa Clara, CA. These two sustainably designed data centers are engineered to meet the current and future customer requirements. Partners Group acquired EdgeCore in November 2022 and will invest up to USD 1.2 billion to fund the acquisition and buildout of existing and future data center sites. This announcement from EdgeCore is the start of the many development projects EdgeCore is supposed to begin in 2023.

Silicon Valley Data Centers

Upon completion of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designed campus will support 72 MW of load across 540,000 square feet of space. Silicon Valley Power will provide utility power at the site starting in Q1 2024.

Also Read: NTT Deploys LIC and DCLC Data Center Tech in India

“EdgeCore entered 2023 poised for rapid growth and today’s announcement of our Silicon Valley campus groundbreaking is the exciting start to a busy year of development,” said Jeff Dorr, President and Chief Financial Officer, EdgeCore.

“To ensure the exacting standards of our customers are exceeded, EdgeCore’s commitment to infusing sustainable building and operational practices in each high-performance, ready-for-occupancy data center we construct continues with this Santa Clara facility.”

Also Read: AirTrunk Enters Malaysia With New 150+ MW Hyperscale Data Center

Sustainability

The new campus of EdgeCore’s high-performance Silicon Valley data centre will be built with sustainability in mind to accomplish the following:

• LEED BD+C Silver certification
• Energy Star certification
• Water Utilization Effectiveness (WUE) of .01
• Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of <1.30
• The availability of carbon-neutral electricity

EdgeCore will enable clients to fulfil their sustainability commitments by designing to the aforementioned targets while simultaneously providing the security, scalability, and reliability required to fulfil demanding performance specifications.

Also Read: Africa Data Centres Starts Construction of Second DC in Cape Town

Data Centre Availability

One of the biggest and most important markets for data centres in the US is Silicon Valley, but recent inventory and power shortages have made it challenging for cloud and technology companies to find scalable multi-megawatt capacity in the region. These new Data Centres from EdgeCore will be able to serve the rising demand in the market.

The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 appears to be OnePlus’s upcoming, reasonably priced TWS earbuds. The OnePlus Nord Buds will be succeeded by these earphones, as their name suggests. We are aware that Bluetooth 5.2 is used by the OnePlus Nord Buds. The Nord Buds 2’s battery life will probably be extended by upgrading to Bluetooth 5.3. For those who don’t know, Bluetooth 5.3 is more energy-efficient than Bluetooth 5.2 since it switches between low-duty and high-duty cycles faster. In addition, the Nord Buds 2 should have a higher-quality signal.

Read More – OnePlus Pad Could Launch on Feb 7 in India

The casing will charge at a maximum of 4.5W, while the earphones will charge at 1.5W. A typical USB Type-C connector will be used for charging. Other than that, we don’t have any other information on these impending earbuds. We may anticipate the earphones to have better hardware and specs than the present Nord Buds, though, presuming that we are receiving more than just a Bluetooth version bump.

Read More – OnePlus 11R 5G to Launch in India on Feb 7

The TWS earbuds contain a 12.4mm titanium dynamic driver in comparison to the Nord Buds. According to the manufacturer, each earbud’s 41mAh battery can support up to 7 hours of audio playback. The case adds 30 hours to the battery life. The flat stem design and IP55 rating on the earphones give them durability and sweat and dust resistance.

Sandalwood has had a tremendously busy year with hit after hit. A variety of Kannada films are available to stream on over-the-top (OTT) platforms. Many movies, ranging in size from big-budget blockbusters from major studios to smaller independent films, have been released on various OTTs. You can choose from a wide variety of entertainment options, such as action, mystery, drama, and thrillers. View the list to learn about what Kannada movies will soon be available on OTT platforms such as Netflix, Sun NXT and ZEE5.

List of Kannada films scheduled for streaming on various OTT Platforms in 2023:

1. Sakath

The movie’s protagonist is a man who registers for a singing competition on a reality show and is made to pretend to be blind by the show’s producers.

But he finds himself in a challenging situation when he accidentally witnesses a crime. The man must decide between acting dishonestly by remaining silent and risking termination from the program vs speaking out about what he saw.

Release Date: April 3, 2023
OTT Platform: Netflix

Also Read: Best Korean Shows of 2022: Pachinko, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and More

2. Vedha

The Kannada film Vedha was released on December 23, 2022. Harsha is the movie’s director. In A, Raghu Shivamogga, Umashree, Ganavi Laxman, Shiva Rajkumar, and Ganavi Laxman were the primary characters.

Vedha tells the story of a father who punished his daughter in vengeance for the trauma she had experienced. The father uses bloodletting and violence to achieve justice. Although the film is not for the faint of heart, it is a riveting story that will stay with you long after the final credits have rolled.

Release Date: February 17 2023
OTT Platform: TBA

3. Dil Pasand

The story’s protagonist, Santosh, an IT engineer who has been a hopeless optimist since he was a young child, is portrayed by Darling Krishna. When they feel he is ready, his parents set up his marriage to Megha Shetty’s character, Minchu.

Release Date: February 10, 2023.
OTT Platform: Sun NXT

4. Raymo

In the film, Revanth, the millionaire’s son, is introduced. He goes by the moniker Raymo and is a rock star that emits a lot of arrogance. He abuses alcohol, hates his father, and is well-liked by women. Then, he meets Mohana, who is the exact opposite of him. She is a singer from a reputable family.

Release Date: January 2023
OTT Platform: Zee5 Kannada

Also Read: Best Korean Shows of 2022: Pachinko, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and More

5. Head Bush

Shoonya directed the relevant 2022 Kannada movie. This political crime thriller about Bengaluru’s underworld is inspired by Agni Sridhar’s autobiography, “My Days in the Underworld.”

Release Date: January 2023
OTT Platform: ZEE5.

6. Salaga

Salaga, a 2021 Kannada action-thriller movie, is Duniya Vijay’s first foray into directing. Nagabhushan, Duniya Vijay, Sanjana Anand, and Daali Dhananjay all had pivotal roles in the film. On October 14, 2021, the film had its premiere. In the movie, the journey of a man seeking to understand his role in the world is depicted.

According to the facts he has received, he is looking for something beyond what is practical. But, until he befriends a girl who seems to have all the answers, he is drawn into a world of crime and violence. Salaga will take you on an exciting journey that will keep spectators on the edge of their seats the entire time.

Release Date: January 2023
OTT Platform: Netflix

OnePlus Pad is going to be a new product segment for OnePlus. It would be interesting to see how OnePlus markets this tablet in the Indian market. One thing is for sure; the company has a strong brand presence; thus, anything it launches is going to be talked about a lot. Now, what OnePlus has to ensure is that people mostly talk well about its products. OnePlus fans already know what to expect from its smartphones, and thus, this new tablet would bring a lot of fresh stuff for the consumers after a long time, which the OnePlus community would love. The OnePlus Pad is, of course, going to run OxygenOS. It should most likely be the Android 13 out of the box, but then, who knows?

Read More – OnePlus Pad Could Launch on Feb 7 in India

OnePlus Pad could be much like the OPPO Pad we have already seen. But there’s one thing that you should know here. OnePlus and OPPO products could look similar but never feel the same. To date, OnePlus has offered a cleaner experience with a much better value to consumers. But everyone knows that both OnePlus and OPPO have the same parent company, and thus, OnePlus would benefit from the resources and knowledge that OPPO has already built and collected by launching the OPPO Pad.

OnePlus Pad Launch Date

The OnePlus Pad is going to arrive in India alongside the two new flagship products from the company – OnePlus 11 5G and OnePlus 11R 5G. The OnePlus Pad will launch on February 7, 2023, at the Cloud 11 launch event. OnePlus is expected to launch several other products as well. OnePlus Keyboard will be a new addition that we will see on February 7.

Read More – OnePlus 11R 5G to Launch in India on Feb 7

OnePlus Pad is expected to come with an 11-inch display and could offer high-refresh-rate as well. Going by the trend that OnePlus has generally taken with its new products, the OnePlus Pad would be geared to deliver the best value to the customers at the lowest cost possible.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is trying to launch both 4G and 5G Services with Indigenously developed Technology. The state-run telco is getting support in every way, including from the Government, which has reserved the required spectrum for rolling out Advanced technologies. The only trouble BSNL now has is testing the Technology on Live Network and then carrying a wider rollout, which also seems to end, as per a recent report. In another positive sign, Now Nashik Zilla parishad (ZP) has decided to provide land parcels to BSNL to set up BSNL 4G.

Also Read: BSNL to Test Indigenous 4G Technology on Live Network

BSNL 4G in Nashik

Nashik Zilla parishad has decided to support BSNL in the rollout of 4G Networks by providing land parcels across 32 locations in rural Nashik. This will help BSNL in resolving connectivity issues with 4G Networks reaching the far-flung areas of Nashik. As per an ET report, ZP officials said the state government has decided to grant land parcels to the government-owned telecommunications company. All the approved land parcels are within the Gaothan areas, which means in rural areas, and this will help people in villages to get 4G Network connectivity.

Nashik ZP CEO Ashima Mittal said this will provide better network connectivity to the village residents. So far, the Nashik ZP has approved 10 proposals, and the work to clear the remaining 22 proposals is underway.

Mobile connectivity is a major problem in rural areas, especially in hilly areas, as it is difficult to set up connectivity considering the viability aspects.

ZP officials said BSNL 4G services would ensure that village residents get good mobile connectivity, which would, in turn, help them access various services that are available on cell phones.

Also Read: BSNL Prepaid Plans for a Secondary SIM Usage Detailed

Spectrum Reserved

The Government has reserved spectrum for BSNL across 600 MHz, a Sub Ghz band, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz – High band and mmWave band.

Private LTE and 5G Network

BSNL has empanelled Echelon Edge to deploy Private 5G Networks for its customers. With this partnership, the Gurgaon-based company will be able to provide private LTE and 5G services on the BSNL spectrum designated for captive networks. BSNL has also signed up homegrown system integration (SI) firm Amantya Technologies to set up private 5G Networks.

TRAI has released its Data for November 2022, and the most important consumer subscriber metrics which everyone is waiting for are out. Except for Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, every other telco, which includes Vodafone Idea and BSNL, lost wireless subscribers. The falling subscriber base should be a concern for both Vodafone Idea and BSNL. In its Telecom Sector report, Motilal Oswal said that Bharti Airtel stood out in Active, 4G Subscriber base additions for November 2022.

4G Subscriber Base

The 4G subscriber numbers really matter as the Industry is at a juncture where 5G services are being rolled out, and operators are making sure 4G users can easily switch to 5G services. For this transition to be smooth and for greater adoption of 5G services, Active 4G subscribers are crucial, while the overall industry telecom subscribers continue to decline. These 4G subscribers are the users who consume data and mark up for the subscriber base who make up the ARPU of telcos.

Also Read: Jio Lost 2 Million Active Users While Airtel Added: TRAI Data for Nov 2022

Active Subscriber Base

MOFSL, in its report, said this industry-wide gross subscriber loss is mainly due to the continued drop in Idea’s subscriber base. In addition, the active subscriber base too dragged down due to the fall in Jio’s and Idea’s subscriber base. MOFSL also stated that this consistent decline in the subscriber base for the last three months indicates the SIM consolidation in Industry. Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea witnessed a decline of 3 million and 2 million subscribers MoM, whereas Bharti Airtel saw 1 million MoM addition of subscribers.

Bharti Airtel Stood Out

Although Bharti Airtel reported slower numbers, the telco stood out, said MOFSL in its report. Airtel added 1.1 million gross and 1 million active subscribers in the month of November 2022. Airtel’s active market share increased by 20 bp to 35.5%. Bharti Airtel’s incremental 4G additions remained the highest in the Industry at 55% as the telco added 2.2 million subscribers, taking its total 4G subscriber base count to 225 million.

2.2 million 4G subscriber addition in November 2022, after 5G Launch announcements, is something which needs special emphasis.

Also Read: Airtel 5G Plus Announced in Seven Cities of Jammu and Kashmir

5G in India

As of date, Airtel 5G plus is available in 59 cities, including those most travelled and top tourist destinations, and Jio’s invite based 5G is available in 190 cities.

Also Read: How Tariff Hikes Can Help Improve the Telecom Industry

SIM Consolidation

Looking at the SIM consolidation happening in the Industry, we can expect a decline in wireless subscribers going forward. Indian telecom is at a critical juncture where one telco is struggling and looking for funding even to pay Network vendor dues without any 5G rollout plans. Telcos are looking forward to hiking tariffs, and Bharti Airtel has already taken up the required Industry Initiative across nine circles.

We already know Norwegian Operator Ice has invested towards the greater expansion of 5G Networks and working with Nokia to cater to the demands of a growing subscriber base. Now Ice announces another move in the sustainability and 5G smartphone segment and adoption of eSIM technology. Ice has released a list of the top 10 mobile phones sold at Ice in 2022 and derived a strategy based on the insights. Let’s now look into them.

Top Ten Smartphones Sold at Ice in 2022

1. Apple iPhone 13
2. Samsung Galaxy S22
3. Apple iPhone 11
4. Apple iPhone 12
5. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
6. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
7. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
8. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
9. Apple iPhone 14 Pro
10. OnePlus Nord 2 5G

These ten models make up 66 per cent of Ice’s total mobile sales. We can also see what kind of devices users are going with and the quality involved so that the telco can plan its Network, products and services accordingly. For example, 7 out of 10 top mobile phones are Apple devices, which support 5G and come with an eSIM feature. So it makes more sense for Ice to transition towards better technologies, which is what the Norwegian telco is planning now. But as trends change, ICE says Apple iPhone 14 is currently seeing more sales than the iPhone 13.

“More and Better products make manufacturers come up with better products,” says Hans Jorgen Siljan, Head of category and logistics at Ice.

Also Read: Norwegian Operator Ice Signs Equipment Contract With Griptel for 5G

Insights

Of the total mobile phone sales at Ice, 87% were 5G models, and 77% had an eSIM facility. Although sales of foldable mobile phones also increased, Ice said no model did well enough to end up on the top list.

Ice eSIM

CEO of Ice, Eivind Helgaker, says: “During the year, eSIM will become available to new customers who port to Ice. New customers can already get an eSIM with our fully digital brand NiceMobil at 1-2-3. I think eSIM will be redemptive for the Norwegian mobile market. Today, it takes too long to change mobile operators. Ice is working hard to reduce the porting time. eSIM makes this both easier and faster. Good for the customer, and good for us.”

Also Read: Consumers Are Ready for eSIM Adoption: Amdocs Survey

Ice wants to make switching to eSIM easier. The vast majority of people who switch mobile subscriptions choose Ice, which has been the case for 8 years in a row.

Ice’s Sustainability Move

Towards a contribution to the environment and as a sustainability move, Ice has launched a used mobiles platform “PentBrukt“. Nicely used is the name of Ice’s used mobiles which are now available in Ice stores. Customers can now buy used mobile phones from Ice without any worries or doubts about the quality and safety.

“Buying online is not always as safe, and you are not necessarily guaranteed to get what you pay for. Used mobile phones from Ice, on the other hand, have undergone careful quality assurance, and have a 2-year warranty from the date of purchase, and a 5-year right of complaint.”

“We are not the first with this offer, but of course we also want to contribute to reducing consumption in the surplus society we live in. Increased environmental awareness in the population also shows that this is a product customers want,” says Shiraz Abid, commercial director at Ice.

Also Read: Ice Expects to Reach 1 Million Customers by 2025

CEO of Ice, Eivind Helgaker, says that the company will pass 800,000 customers during the year and that they will become 1 million customer telco during 2025.

Bharti Airtel, the first telco to launch 5G in India, offers customers a full-scale open and commercial 5G experience. Airtel 5G Plus, the fifth-generation mobile network technology, promises to deliver faster speeds and a better overall experience for users. The faster speeds are made possible by the increased bandwidth of 5G networks, which can transfer data at rates of up to 20 to 30 times faster than 4G. In addition to faster speeds, Airtel 5G Plus offers improved network efficiency, which means that more users can be connected to the Network at once without sacrificing performance, and Better and faster Voice connectivity while being kinder to the environment. In this story, let’s look at the peak 5G Download and Upload speeds delivered by Airtel 5G Plus as the Network is open and commercial.

Also Read: Airtel 5G Plus Reality Check in Chennai

Airtel 5G Plus in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is in the first list of eight 5G Plus cities announced by Bharti Airtel in India during IMC 2022. Hyderabad is a city of great importance in India, both economically and culturally. It is a major hub for information technology, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology industries and no wonder why the city has received 5G in the first phase of the 5G launch in India. Airtel’s ultra-fast 5G Plus is available almost everywhere in Hyderabad; hence, you can enjoy 5G on the Go, even while commuting in the metro. Let’s now look at the Airtel 5G Plus Speeds in Hyderabad.

Airtel 5G Plus Peak Speeds in Hyderabad

We were able to experience Download speeds touching a peak of approximately 762 Mbps – 1023 Mbps and Upload speeds touching a peak of 119 Mbps – 170 Mbps, approximately, in an open and commercial scenario, which means any user with a 5G supported device and data plan can use Airtel 5G Network and is not restricted to a select few. However, more than speeds, it is consistency, experience and optimization that matters is what we believe. The voice on 5G is faster, and there are no drops or disconnects in our experience.

Also Read: Airtel 5G Plus Announced in Seven Cities of Jammu and Kashmir

Airtel 5G Plus

As of date, Airtel 5G Plus is available across 59 cities. Considering the demand for travel during the holiday season, Airtel is the only telco that has made sure travellers experience 5G Plus by strategically launching 5G in many popular tourist destinations across India. Airtel is also the only telco offering 5G Network in the valley of Jammu and Kashmir for now. You can read about the top tourist locations where you can experience Airtel 5G plus here.

Also Read: Experience Airtel 5G Plus in These Top Tourist Destinations

Airtel 5G Plus works on all 5G Supported Android Smartphones and Apple devices. No SIM change is required as the existing 4G SIM is 5G enabled. So don’t fall prey to any KYC scams to upgrade your SIM to 5G.

Until recently, Jio had not many plan options in the 2.5 GB per day segment. However, Jio now has a long-term recharge plan and 30 and 90 days recharge options for customers in the 2.5 GB per day Pack category. Unless you seriously binge every day or have some extra media consumption or work, the 2.5 GB of Data per day is not very common for a regular user. In this story, let’s look at the 2.5 GB offerings available to customers from Jio.

Also Read: Jio Lost 2 Million Active Users While Airtel Added: TRAI Data for Nov 2022

Reliance Jio Rs 349 Prepaid Plan

Reliance Jio’s Rs 349 Prepaid Plan offers 2.5 GB high-speed data per day, post-speed unlimited at 64 Kbps, unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS per day, and a validity of 30 days. Users can also use Jio Apps such as JioTV, JioCinema, JioSecurity and JioCloud with this plan.

Reliance Jio Rs 899 Prepaid Plan

However, if you prefer to recharge for three months, then there is another recharge option, i.e. Reliance Jio’s Rs 899 Prepaid Plan. This plan offers 2.5 GB of high-speed data per day, post-speed unlimited at 64 Kbps, unlimited voice benefits, and 100 SMS per day with a validity of 90 days. Just like the other 30 days plan, you can also use Jio Apps such as JioTV, JioCinema, JioSecurity and JioCloud with this plan.

Also Read: 5 Best Monthly Airtel Prepaid Plans as of Today

Airtel has been offering 2.5 GB per day plans for quite some time now, and if we look at Airtel’s 2.5 GB per day unlimited plans – Airtel’s Rs 399 Prepaid Plan provides users with 2.5 GB of high-speed data per day, post high-speed unlimited at 64 Kbps, bundled with Disney+ Hotstar Mobile for three months, Unlimited voice and other benefits for 28 days. The other plan from Airtel, i.e. Rs 999, comes bundled with 2.5 high speed data per day, post high-speed unlimited at 64 Kbps, bundled with Disney+ Hotstar Mobile for three months, Amazon Prime membership for 84 days, Unlimited voice and other benefits for 84 days. Another aspect is that if you are in the 5G location, you can use 5G on these plans.

Both the plans from Reliance Jio offer 2.5 GB of high-speed daily data to customers and do not offer Amazon Prime or Disney+ Hotstar OTT benefits bundled with them. So, if you are looking for content from Prime Video or Disney+ Hotstar to consume data, you need to look for other options. As per TRAI November 2022 data, although Jio gained wireless subscribers, Jio lost 2 million active users.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is expected to launch 4G in late 2023 or early 2024. The whole issue around Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) not having conducted live network testing of homegrown 4G yet will be resolved in the near future. Tejas Networks, along with several other vendors, are now in the picture to help BSNL with homemade 4G equipment. The story of BSNL’s 4G launch would definitely be one that would be talked about for years to come. It is either going to be a hero for the citizens or a complete zero. In case it could fill the gaps left by the private telcos, BSNL could eat up the low-paying customer base of the private telcos.

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That would enable BSNL to scale revenues and increase its average revenue per user (ARPU) per month figure. Because of the absence of 4G and now 5G as well, BSNL is the last-ranked telecom operator in India. The state-run telco could make a huge difference if it can provide 4G in areas of the country where private telcos don’t want to invest much. There was a Business Standard report which came out in December 2022 saying that BSNL has decided to prioritise tower installations in 45,180 villages across the country.

Read More – Excell Broadband Is Offering 60 Mbps Plan at an Attractive Price

The 4G of BSNL would be a big promise to the rural Indians who are still waiting for a decent network experience. BSNL is using the technology stack for 4G that could also be upgraded to 5G in the near future. Currently, only two Indian telecom operators have launched 5G in India – Airtel and Jio. It is most unlikely that BSNL’s 5G will come in 2023 or 2024. But it wouldn’t even create a big difference in the life of consumers even if it launches in the near future.

The telcos that have launched 5G would have to keep offering it for a very similar price to 4G or at no additional cost to the 4G consumers. For the next few years, it is 4G that will be the priority of consumers.

Neos Network, one of the UK’s leading Fibre connectivity suppliers, announced the completion of the delivery of three regional Metro Access Networks in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Manchester, along with the first phase of deployment in London. Once the entire project is finished, the fiber deployed in each city will be 3.6 km in Liverpool, 7.1 km in Birmingham, 13.7 km in Manchester, and 37 km in London.

Fibre connectivity to businesses

Neos Networks announced its plans for last-mile services at the end of 2021 as part of a major Metro Network Expansion programme. Now with the service live in all four regions, Neos Networks is providing fiber connectivity directly to thousands of local businesses throughout the cities.

Also Read: Comcast Expands Its Fiber Network in Plainfield

Metro Network Expansion project

Neo network is now ahead with the construction of its fourth Access network in London. Four of the planned eight routes are now live across the capital, and the remaining deployment phase is scheduled to be completed within the upcoming year. The entire Metro Network Expansion project comprises 60 km of Neos Network national fiber footprint.

Benefits to the customers

Neos Networks’ strategic entry into last-mile access implies that the corporation no longer needs to rely on external connectivity across these business hubs. As a result, it can now deliver to its customers with improved timescales and lower costs to deliver high-quality services associated with the company’s nationwide UK backbone business network.

Customers of Neos Networks will continue to receive the same level of commitment that they expect from the company, but with an easier path for upgrading, a quicker response for break fixes, and network features that support their needs and aspirations for expansion.

Also Read: 1&1 Versatel Acquires Fiber Assets of BT in Germany

Sarah Mills, Chief Revenue Officer at Neos Networks, said: “I’m thrilled that we’re nearing completion of our Metro Access Network builds in these four key UK cities. This project will underpin the growth of UK PLC by creating new opportunities for enterprises and driving investment within several new business districts.”

“The ambition for our network expansion project has always been to help UK businesses realize the growth potential associated with resilient, secure, high-capacity business connectivity services. We look forward to engaging businesses on how we can support their network resiliency and priorities with the right connectivity solutions.”

Also Read: Lumen Rolls Out 400G Wavelength Network Across the US

Exploring Optical Wavelength technology

Neos Networks intends to explore using its Optical Wavelength technology to deliver the appropriate commercial packages for clients, particularly those in MBUs, as it continues to examine the connectivity needs of businesses in each location.

Support for Mobile Operators

The new infrastructure supports the data backhaul requirements of network players’ services and will have a significant impact in supporting mobile operators with their local cell sites, 5G rollout, and future services.