Internet Issues? Try switching off that microwave!
While employees working-from-home is the new saving grace for companies and people use the internet to work, play and stream their favourite shows. The Indian telecom companies fear an internet crash amidst the Coronavirus pandemic
The government has imposed strict measures to break the Coronavirus transmission chain in India. This came as an opportunity for the telecom giants like Jio, Airtel and Vodafone to launch some attractive WFH plans and product solutions. But now, overwhelmed by the usage surge, telecom companies are suggesting immediate granting of the additional spectrum from the government.
Highlights
- Intra-circle Roaming Agreements Pave The Way
- Telecom companies’ Work From Home friendly plans
- Their position in the market
- Challenges for Telecom giants in the coming days
On Friday, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) called on the citizens to use data ‘judiciously’. Rajan S. Mathews, director-general of COAI urged the public, “We ask customers to avoid peak hours for downloading non-essential heavy files and movies.” COAI estimates, based on feedback from telcos, that internet traffic in India has increased 10 per cent since the WFH phenomenon kicked off.
Intra-circle roaming agreements pave the way
Following in the footsteps of the US, earlier this week Airtel asked the government and fellow operators, BSNL, MTNL, Vodafone-Idea, Reliance Jio to come together for intra-circle roaming agreements. Keeping in mind the complaints of slow connection the telcos also suggest tips like turning off the cordless phones, oven, Bluetooth speakers among other things. The reason these might reduce the internet quality when too close to the modem.
However, when you start working from home there are a lot of factors that could hamper your productivity and a poor internet connection is one of them. And if your wi-fi connection betrays you, you can always turn up to your phone and use it as a router.
Telecom companies’ WFH friendly plans
Reliance Jio is the only network operator that introduced a special work from home plan at Rs. 251 with 2 GB data per day for 51 days without calling and SMS. Where Vodafone has only one dedicated prepaid plan that offers 3GB data per day, Airtel offers 3 GB data per day costing as much as Vodafone prepaid plan offering 3 GB data.
Jio leading the market
As almost everybody in India is a Jio customer so it seems pretty clear as which company is going to have the last laugh.
Regarding the company’s growth in the retail segment, it is said that the “greatest growth opportunity” lies in the organized retail segment.
As per the reports, Reliance Jio is expected to gain 10% telecom market share to reach 44% by FY22. Currently, Reliance Jio is leading the pack of mobile subscribers with 34% market share followed by Vodafone with 28.68% and Airtel at 28.40%.
More challenges to follow
Looking at the current scenario, where India has entered its third phase since Coronavirus entered the country. These companies are most likely to have a lot of opportunities in the upcoming days. And one of the most important things is to provide whatever they can in these difficult times.
With the new technology, the variety and quality of services from telecom companies are increasing, profit margins are also expected to increase keeping the current scenario in mind. Hence Telecos have to take a fresh look apart from lowering their price and providing work from home friendly plans.
With millions of subscribers, a variety of new products, bundled and customized solutions, the operational support services like service configuration, order fulfilment and service centres are closed due to the lockdown hence these operations require different tools.
One more challenge that is in the wings is the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) that is leading to explosive growth in the connected device. This growth is generating billions and trillions of new data sources and thus it is expected that this growth will push the data to be handled by networks to zettabytes in the coming days as more and more people are going to use the internet to pass out their quarantine.
So, while Indian telecom companies figure out their services during the Coronavirus pandemic, let’s try to use the internet wisely. Shall we?
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