Page 7 - Idea Cellular News Today

Starlink is looking to enter India's satellite internet market to compete with Jio and Airtel but that won't happen with Vodafone Idea.

Vodafone Idea (Vi) is not in talks to tie up with billionaire Elon Musk's satellite internet unit Starlink, the Indian telecom operator said on Tuesday, ......

India's Vodafone Idea is not in talks to tie up with billionaire Elon Musk's satellite internet company Starlink, the telecom operator said on Tuesday.

“…we hereby direct the respondent (read: Government of India) to adjust Rs 755.52 crore towards liability of this petitioner (read: Vi) for licence fee and towards spectrum usage charges (SUC) within 15 days from today,” the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) said in an order, dated December 15, 2023.

Vodafone Idea: “We have made progress (in fundraising conversations) since the last earnings call. I expect that we will be able to conclude the discussions relating to the equity investor in this quarter, which I had indicated in the last quarter,” Moondra said at Vi’s fiscal second-quarter earnings call.

Tdsat: Back in 2019, Vi had moved the telecom tribunal, challenging DoT’s Rs 3,926.34 crore demand towards spectrum liabilities linked to the merger of erstwhile Vodafone entities – Vodafone Mobile Services and Vodafone India.

Vi had tried to sell its fibre assets and data centre business in 2019, but the deal could not be concluded due to differences over valuation. The company has over 160,000 km of optic fibre and, since wired broadband is set to be a big revenue stream, Vi is hopeful of closing the deal at a good valuation.

Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea (Vi) is in advanced negotiations with private equity companies to monetize its fiber assets and In-Building Solution (IBS) to raise ₹10,000-12,000 crore, people familiar with the matter said.

Vodafone Idea: The joint venture between UKs Vodafone Group Plc and Indias Aditya Birla Group (ABG) has been battling cash flow issues, hindering capital expenditure and vendor payments. Hence, the company has been unable to seal 5G network equipment supply deals with vendors.

She was previously working as director- marketing, category, loyalty and digital at Starbucks.