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The <keyword id="6355630" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Securities-and-Exchange-Board-of-India">Securities and Exchange Board of India</keyword> (<keyword id="35210" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="sebi">Sebi</keyword>) is considering the possibility of an open offer under the takeover rules regarding the proposed merger of India’s leading telcos <keyword id="6354923" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vodafone-India">Vodafone India</keyword> and <keyword id="6354924" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Idea-Cellular">Idea Cellular</keyword>. Reportedly, SEBI has also asked for clarifications about <keyword id="4757980" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pilani-Investment-and-Industries-Corp">Pilani Investment and Industries Corp</keyword> buying 8.2 million Idea shares before making an official announcement about possible merger. Pilani Investment and Industries Corp is a part of the <keyword id="44373" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>, which owns Idea Cellular. The resulting entity after the merger would have Vodafone holding a 50% stake initially, while the rest would be distributed amongst Aditya Birla Group (21.1%) and and public shareholders (28.9%). After some time, Vodafone will divest a 4.9% stake to the Aditya Birla Group, making it the owner of 26% stake, which would make an open offer possible. As per the takeover rules, if an entity acquires 25% of a listed firm, it has to make an open offer for an additional 26% from public shareholders. "Sebi's concern, which it expresses in cases like these, is the possibility of such a merger bypassing the takeover regulations," Sandeep Parekh, founder of Finsec Law Advisors, told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/vodafone-idea-merger-sebi-looks-at-open-offer-possibility/articleshow/59568774.cms">ET</a>. "Where nearly half the shareholding is moving into another set of hands and with a movement from sole to joint control, usually SEBI sees a court-approved process as a means to bypass shareholders' exit rights. They will then either ask for an open offer to be made or oppose the merger in court."

SEBI smells open offer possibility in Voda-Idea merger

Analysts and experts of the <keyword id="112601" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-telecom-industry">Indian telecom industry</keyword> have expressed hopes that the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/idea-to-merge-with-vodafone-india-time-to-say-hello-to-indias-biggest-telco/articleshow/57728557.cms">Vodafone-Idea merger</a> announced yesterday will act positive for both industry and consumers in the long run. 
 However, they have also said that in the short run, both Vodafone India and Idea might lose customers and revenue to present market leader <keyword id="6354287" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharti-Airtel">Bharti Airtel</keyword>, which would rank second in the market once the new entity is born. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/reliance-jio-underreported-revenue-by-rs-64-cr-claims-draft-audit-report/articleshow/57531731.cms">Reliance Jio Infocomm</a> could also gain some customers and revenue from Voda and Idea if they get too involved in the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/idea-to-merge-with-vodafone-india-time-to-say-hello-to-indias-biggest-telco/articleshow/57728557.cms">merger complexities</a>. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/reliance-jio-will-be-unfazed-by-vodafone-idea-merger-heres-why/articleshow/57509811.cms">Reliance Jio will be unfazed by Vodafone-Idea merger. Here’s why</a> 
 
Sanjay Kapoor, ex CEO of Bharti Airtel told ET that in the short term, the industry won’t see much impact because of the merger, since Jio would continue winning hearts because of network capacity and low prices. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/vodafone-ceo-vittorio-colao-assures-employee-job-safety-post-vodafone-idea-merger/articleshow/57733717.cms">Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao assures employee job safety post Vodafone-Idea merger</a> 
 
"Idea and Vodafone could end up losing customers and revenue in the short term, if they take their eyes off the ball due to operational complexities associated with any merger," he said. Kapoor, in fact, expects that Airtel and Jio might come together to pull customers from Vodafone and Idea. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/unlimited-calls-2gb-data-per-day-bsnl-seems-to-follow-jios-steps/articleshow/57685871.cms">Unlimited calls, 2GB data per day; BSNL seems to follow Jio’s steps</a> 
 Rajan Mathews, director general of the <keyword id="105151" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cellular-Operators-Association-of-India">Cellular Operators Association of India</keyword> (COAI), which represents Airtel, Vodafone India, Idea and Reliance Jio, also said that both merging companies could lose customers if they don’t conclude the merger exercise soon. 
 
Brokerage Motilal Oswal also shared his two cents, saying, "Since the telecom market is highly competitive, given Jio's capacity game, there is a major market share dilution risk if the deal takes a prolonged period to fructify." 
 
(Image source: Financial Times)

Voda-Idea merger expected to benefit telecom industry, say experts

Ever since <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=reliance+jio&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Reliance Jio</a> has entered the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=indian+telecom+sector&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">telecom space</a>, the industry went through a total make over- there were tariff battles, infighting, and of course consolidation. 
 
It was expected that the industry will see consolidation and now with major players taking in the smaller ones, the telecom industry is mainly a playground for three plus one major players, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=airtel&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Airtel</a>, <keyword id="6354504" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Jio">Reliance Jio</keyword>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=vodafone+idea+merger&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Idea+Voda</a>, and<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=bsnl&amp;sortorder=effectivedate"> BSNL</a>. 
 The additional spectrum that <keyword id="15491" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Airtel">Airtel</keyword> will acquire from <keyword id="6359476" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Telenor">Telenor</keyword> will help Airtel to increase its 4G presence across the country. Telenor’s exit from India will leave Bharti Airtel with 1800MHz in some of the most critical telecom circles including Bihar, UP West, and UP east. However the completion of the deal will take 6-9 months as it will have to go through regulatory clearances but it is likely to come through before <keyword id="4210744" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="idea-voda">Idea-Voda</keyword> merger due the complexities of the Idea-Voda merger. 
 
It is also expected that with Idea-Voda merger, Airtel will lose its number one position in the industry and buying Telenor will not change that as the Idea-Voda merged entity stands to become India’s largest telecom company with revenues of over Rs. 80,000 crore. 
 Although, all the consolidation is happening after the entry of <keyword id="3820" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani">Mukesh Ambani</keyword> led Reliance Jio but it is certainly not the reason for the consolidation, or at least the only reason, it was expected that the telecom industry will see consolidation and emergence of bigger players. 
 
With the entry of Jio and the consolidations, the telecom industry of India is expected to have smooth functioning in some time when the dust settles down. 
 
Here’s what Airtel’s deal is all about

Bharti Airtel buys Telenor before Idea-Voda merger, is this the Jio effect?

The valuation of each share of the merged <keyword id="4331718" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="idea-vodafone-india">Idea-Vodafone India</keyword> entity could be more around Rs 160 a share, which is 23% higher than the Rs 130 per unit, the value that <keyword id="15492" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vodafone">Vodafone</keyword> had agreed to sell its shares to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/small-business/companies/Aditya-Birla-to-simplify-business-structure/articleshow/53664883.cms">Aditya Birla Group</a> at. 
 
"Vodafone has been very conservative with the Rs 130 figure, but in the true sense, if one adds the $10 billion operational synergies to the Rs 72.5 a unit that has been taken to peg the enterprise value of the companies for the deal, the value of the merged entity comes to around Rs 160 a share," a Vodafone executive told ET. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/telecom-experts-think-jio-could-still-beat-voda-idea-in-short-term/articleshow/57768335.cms">Telecom experts think Jio could still beat Voda-Idea in short term</a> 
 
As per the deal, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/vodafone-ceo-vittorio-colao-assures-employee-job-safety-post-vodafone-idea-merger/articleshow/57733717.cms">Vodafone</a> has agreed to sell 9.5% additional stake at Rs 130 a share to <keyword id="44373" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group">Aditya Birla Group</keyword> in the merged entity over a period of three years after the closure of the deal in 2018. This would be done as an effort to equalise the shareholding of both companies over time. 
 
"Even the Rs 160 value doesn't take into account the revenue upside for the merged entity that is likely to be seen once the market stabilises in 12 to 18 months," a second person said. "Jio is starting to charge soon, and they are in the market to make money as well. So, prices will stabilise over time." 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/idea-and-vodafone-heads-met-modi-and-sought-speedy-clearances-for-merger/articleshow/57787716.cms">Idea and Vodafone heads met Modi and sought speedy clearances for merger</a> 
 
This official also noted that Vodafone generates Ebitda in 12 of its 22 circles, while Idea does so in 10 circles, and none of these positive circles overlap, making the merged entity Ebitda positive from day one. 
 
As reported earlier, Vodafone and Idea are <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/idea-to-merge-with-vodafone-india-time-to-say-hello-to-indias-biggest-telco/articleshow/57728557.cms">merging their operations</a> to create India's largest and the world's second largest mobile phone company in terms of subscribers, which as per experts will <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/voda-idea-merger-expected-to-benefit-telecom-industry-say-experts/articleshow/57750315.cms">benefit the Indian telecom industry</a>. 
 
(Image source: Netans)

Value of Vodafone-Idea may be worth 23% more than what Voda agreed at

March saw a fourfold rise of $27.82 billion in the tally of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/strategy/india-inc-teaching-employees-techniques-to-prevent-crime-and-combat-terror/articleshow/58107880.cms">India Inc</a>'s Merger and Acquisition (M&amp;A) deals, mainly because of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/small-business/tech/idea-to-merge-with-vodafone-india-time-to-say-hello-to-indias-biggest-telco/articleshow/57728557.cms">Vodafone-Idea merger</a>, which took the overall figure to $31.54 billion in the first quarter of 2017. 
 "The Indian deal activity was dominated by big-ticket mergers and acquisitions this quarter. The quarter witnessed one of the largest deals in the country with Vodafone and Idea's merger, which is estimated at around $27 billion," said Prashant Mehra, partner at <keyword id="131240" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Grant-Thornton">Grant Thornton</keyword> India LLP. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/gst-to-keep-an-eye-on-your-perks-outside-ctc/articleshow/57889157.cms">GST to keep an eye on your perks outside CTC</a> 
 
The January-March quarter this year recorded $33.7 billion from 300 deals, thus registering a sharp rise as compared to $10.9 billion in the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/India-Inc-sees-eightfold-rise-from-last-year/articleshow/51895307.cms">same period last year</a>. 
 
If we take out the Vodafone-Idea mega merger worth $27 billion, the deal activity would have recorded a fall of 39% in values, said Grant Thornton. 
 
The number of M&amp;A deals has continued to shrink for three quarters in a day, but are solely driven by big-ticket deals, hence the rise in valuation. 
 
Talking of the coming future, M&amp;A activity in 2017 is expected to stay positive because of the sustained interest in the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/markets/economy/adb-pegs-indias-2017-18-growth-at-7-4/articleshow/58044561.cms">country’s economy</a>. 
 
(Image source The Staffing Stream)

Voda-Idea merger gave India Inc's M&A tally a fourfold jump

Telecom experts have opined that even though the result of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/idea-to-merge-with-vodafone-india-time-to-say-hello-to-indias-biggest-telco/articleshow/57728557.cms">merger</a> of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/idea-vodafone-merger-dips-idea-stocks-by-15/articleshow/57729612.cms">Idea Cellular</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/vodafone-ceo-vittorio-colao-assures-employee-job-safety-post-vodafone-idea-merger/articleshow/57733717.cms">Vodafone India</a> could result in their networks running deep, they would still be beaten by <keyword id="6354504" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Jio">Reliance Jio</keyword> when it comes to prices offered. 
 
Ever since Reliance has launched Jio services, there has been a substantial shift in the preferences of users. Jio offers <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/latest/unlimited-calls-2gb-data-per-day-bsnl-seems-to-follow-jios-steps/articleshow/57685871.cms">unlimited voice calls</a> and data to its customers, free as of now, and would be charging a minimal amount once the free service ends. 
 
What the new entity does to battle this shift remains to be seen. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/voda-idea-merger-expected-to-benefit-telecom-industry-say-experts/articleshow/57750315.cms">Voda-Idea merger expected to benefit telecom industry, say experts</a> 
 
While both brands can concentrate on their strongholds, unhappy subscribers can always select either of the two firms instead of opting for a switch to a third network provider. 
 
"In the telecom sector with connectivity issues, price points are on the same scale, the brand becomes the differentiator. There is connectivity with the image that comes from long usage and this is best undisturbed," brand consultant Harish Bijoor told ET. 
 
Experts also said that maintaining two different identities would be a less expensive option than creating a new one, for which they would also need to make a new connect with consumers. 
 However, some analysts said operational synergies of maintaining two brands will be limited. As per brokerage firm <keyword id="48085" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Credit-Suisse">Credit Suisse</keyword>, it would be interesting to see both brands being retained because the combined entity could find it hard to realise the full extent of its synergies; more so, since competing brands from the same company simultaneously exist in the market. 
 
(Image source: Free Press Journal)

Telecom experts think Jio could still beat Voda-Idea in short term

New Delhi, Nov 15 () A day after it posted a staggering Rs 50,921 crore loss for the September quarter, Vodafone Idea on Friday said it believes the government is aware of the "tremendous stress" being faced by telcos and wants a healthy sector with three private and one public operator.
 In a post-earnings investor call, Vodafone Idea CEO Ravinder Takkar said the company has been engaging "very positively" with the government and that its discussions on telecom stress began even before the AGR ruling was pronounced by the Supreme Court.
 "In our engagements...the response of the government has been very consistent. They said they want this sector to be healthy, it is a very strategic sector, too important for the country, too important for Digital India vision...Secondly, they have said to us that they want to see three private players and one public sector player in this sector," Takkar said.
 The company believes the Centre is looking at a "comprehensive solution" for the sector with an aim to restore the industry's health, he said.
 "We hope to hear something from them very soon," he added.
 On a specific question on minimum tariff fixation, Takkar said he did not wish to speculate on how floor price mechanism can be implemented.
 "We know it is in the purview of the regulator and government and it can be implemented...We know it has been done in certain other countries in the region, but I don't want to speculate on what they would implement or how they would implement," he said.
 Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) plans to monetise its 11.15 per cent stake in Indus Towers on completion of the Indus Towers-Bharti Infratel merger, and is also exploring options to monetise nearly 160,000 kms of intra-city and inter-city fibre as well as data centre.
 Akshaya Moondra, chief financial officer of VIL, said the company continues to remain engaged with its financial creditors but asserted that there is no acceleration of payment which has happened.
 "From time to time, some banks have requested us if we could pre-pay them any amount...we have declined that. We continue to remain engaged with all our financial creditors but there is no acceleration of payment that has happened," he said.
 On vendor finance, Moondra said the company has strong vendor partners and that "they are already supporting us through vendor financing route".
 Vodafone Idea on Thursday reported a consolidated loss of Rs 50,921 crore -- the highest ever loss posted by any Indian corporate -- for the September quarter on account of liability arising out of the Supreme Court's order in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) case.
 The Supreme Court, last month, ruled in favour of the government and directed telecom companies, including Vodafone Idea, to pay dues as demanded by the Department of Telecom.
 Vodafone Idea has said its ability to continue business will depend on relief sought from the government and positive outcome of the legal option it has (filing of a review petition).
 It said the company, through the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), has made representations to the government to provide relief to the telecom sector.
 This includes request to not press for the AGR liability payment and grant waivers, not levying spectrum usage charges (SUC) on non-licenced revenue, reduction of licence fee and SUC rates and use of GST credit for payment of government levies.
 The industry body has requested the government to allow payment to be made in installments after some moratorium, and grant a moratorium of two years for the payment of spectrum dues beyond April 1, 2020 up to March 31, 2022. MBI ABM

Believe govt is aware of telcos' stress; wants to see 3 pvt, 1 public sector player: Voda Idea CEO

Looks like <keyword id="15492" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vodafone">Vodafone</keyword> and Idea are in a hurry to get their <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/idea-to-merge-with-vodafone-india-time-to-say-hello-to-indias-biggest-telco/articleshow/57728557.cms">merger</a> formalities completed soon. This is probably the reason why Vittorio Colao (<keyword id="137231" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vodafone-group">Vodafone Group</keyword> CEO) and Kumar Mangalam Birla (chairman of the <keyword id="44373" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>) are believed to have met PM Modi. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/voda-idea-merger-expected-to-benefit-telecom-industry-say-experts/articleshow/57750315.cms">Voda-Idea merger expected to benefit telecom industry, say experts</a> 
 
In the meeting that lasted 45 minutes approx, the heads of both groups are believed to have informed the PM about the details and reasons behind the merger. They also sought help from the government regarding faster clearances so that the deal can be concluded rapidly. 
 
Along with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/vodafone-ceo-vittorio-colao-assures-employee-job-safety-post-vodafone-idea-merger/articleshow/57733717.cms">Colao</a> and Birla, the meeting also saw <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/vodafoneindia-just-partnered-with-amazon-prime-video/articleshow/57717680.cms">Vodafone India</a> MD Sunil Sood, company director P Balaji, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/idea-vodafone-merger-dips-idea-stocks-by-15/articleshow/57729612.cms">Idea Cellular</a> MD Himanshu Kapania, sources told ET. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/telecom-experts-think-jio-could-still-beat-voda-idea-in-short-term/articleshow/57768335.cms">Telecom experts think Jio could still beat Voda-Idea in short term</a> 
 
The merger between Vodafone and Idea will lead to the creation of India’s biggest telecom company, displacing <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/airtel-speeds-past-jio-and-others-as-indias-fastest-network/articleshow/57429981.cms">Bharti Airtel</a> from its position that it has held for 15 years. 
 
(Image source: Bloomberg Quint)

Idea and Vodafone heads met Modi and sought speedy clearances for merger

(Eds: Combining related stories) New Delhi, Mar 6 () Beleaguered Vodafone Idea Ltd on Friday put its total dues to the government following a Supreme Court order at Rs 21,533 crore -- less than half of what the Telecom Department has estimated, even as the Vodafone CEO indicated keenness to make a "new, good beginning" in India. Vodafone Group CEO Nick Read met top ministers, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and informed them that UK telecom giant's India joint venture, Vodafone Idea Ltd is "exploring" options to make additional payment towards its outstanding statutory dues.Earlier in the day, Vodafone Idea in a statement said it has already paid Rs 3,500 crore out of the "self-assessed" liability of Rs 21,533 crore. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), following the Supreme Court ruling in October last year which said that all kinds of income generated by telecom companies will be considered for calculating government dues, had estimated Vodafone Idea's liabilities at over Rs 53,000 crore.Sources said during his meeting with Read, Prasad made it clear that the government is against a monopoly in the telecom sector, and wants Vodafone Idea to survive and remain invested in India. Read is learnt to have sought government assistance to keep Vodafone Idea afloat, the sources added.Relief measures for telecom firms are a work in progress, government sources said, adding Vodafone Idea will have to pay at least the principal amount of its AGR dues at the earliest. Government is keen to ensure that companies remain in business and but much would depend on the telcos showing their commitment to pay the Supreme Court-mandated dues. The apex court is set to hear the AGR matter on March 17.Sources maintained that any relief package worked out by the government will be for the sector and not for any one player and will need to be approved by the Cabinet. On March 4, Minister of State for Communications &amp; IT Sanjay Dhotre, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, stated that Idea Cellular owed the government Rs 15,230.37 crore and Vodafone Group of Companies another Rs 37,808.23 crore. Out of the total Rs 53,038.6 crore due from Vodafone Idea, a sum of Rs 3,500 crore has been received, he had said. On Friday, the company, which was formed following the merger of Idea and Vodafone, in a statement said it has "filed its self-assessment of the AGR liabilities with the Department of Telecommunications. The self-assessment discloses the company's AGR liabilities to aggregate Rs 21,533 crores including a principal amount of Rs 6,854 crores for the period from FY 2006-07 to FY 2018-19 and interest up to February 2020." "The company has already paid a sum of Rs 2,500 crores on February 17, 2020, and a further sum of Rs 1,000 crores on February 20, 2020, towards this liability," VIL added. On a similar self-assessment pattern, Bharti Airtel paid Rs 13,004 crore to the government in two installments. It had also deposited an additional Rs 5,000 crore "as an ad-hoc payment (subject to subsequent refund/ adjustment) to cover differences, if any, arising from the reconciliation exercise with the DoT," it had said on February 29. The total payout by Bharti Airtel was half of Rs 35,586.01 crore liability estimated by the DoT. Dhotre in the reply had stated that Bharti Airtel owed Rs 21,682 crore in licence fee and another Rs 13,904.01 crore in spectrum usage charges. Similarly, Vodafone Idea owed Rs 28,309 crore in licence fee and another Rs 24,729.23 crore in spectrum charges. According to the DoT, 16 telecom companies owed the government a total of Rs 146,336.98 crore as a fallout of the Supreme Court ruling. Emerging from the over 30-minute meeting with Prasad, Read refused to comment on whether the British telecom giant will exit India, saying, "No comments." Vodafone Idea has been at the forefront of seeking a bailout package from the liability imposed by the Supreme Court ruling. It had recently told the government that it would not be able to pay the full dues unless state support is extended to survive the crisis. The company has made a strong plea for setting off Rs 8,000 crore of GST credits against part of the liability. For the remaining dues, it wants payment to be staggered over 15 years at a simple interest rate of 6 per cent after a three-year moratorium. It also wants drastic cuts in licence fee and fixing of a minimum price for calls and data. Vodafone Idea Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla has held multiple rounds of discussions at the telecom and finance ministries over the last few weeks to look for a solution to keep the company's operations on track. In December, Birla had said Vodafone Idea may have to shut shop if there is no relief on the statutory dues. "If we are not getting anything, then I think it is the end of the story for Vodafone Idea," Birla had said. "It does not make sense to put good money after bad... We will shut shop." Even Read had recently stated that the situation in India is critical, following the Supreme Court's AGR ruling. MBI MBI ABMABM

VIL pegs dues at Rs 21,533 cr, less than half of DoT estimate; Voda CEO meets FM, telecom min

India's top telcos <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Bharti-Airtel-to-acquire-Telenor-India/articleshow/57304886.cms">Airtel</a>, Vodafone and Idea , along with new entrant <keyword id="6354504" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Reliance-Jio">Reliance Jio</keyword>, seem to have gotten inspired from the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/This-Indian-brand-will-overtake-FMCG-king-Hindustan-Unilever-by-2018-19/articleshow/58659311.cms">FMCG sector</a> to deal with the rising competition in the market. They have now decided to divide users into segments just like the FMCG industry, and come out with plans targeted at specific groups. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Voda-Idea-merger-gave-India-Incs-MA-tally-a-fourfold-jump/articleshow/58163035.cms">Voda-Idea merger gave India Inc's M&amp;A tally a fourfold jump</a> The fierce competition is an outcome of Reliance Jio's entry offers launched in September 2016, under which it offered free voice and data services. This led to more than 100 million people subscribing to Jio in 170 days. This stirred up a sense of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Airtel-Vodafone-India-and-Ideas-plea-against-Reliance-Jio-is-going-to-fall-flat-Heres-why/articleshow/57911417.cms">consolidation</a> amidst the incumbent companies. Experts say that the companies would now divide their users on parameters like usage and spending patterns, location, lifestyle and occupation, other than bifurcating them on the basis of age group and gender. This would help them understand the exact expectations of a group, following which they would be able to accordingly serve them plans. Earlier, they used to offer blanket discounts to all subscribers. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Reliance-Jio-cries-cartelisation-by-Airtel-Vodafone-and-Idea-regulator-orders-probe/articleshow/58640026.cms">Reliance Jio cries cartelisation by Airtel, Vodafone and Idea; regulator orders probe</a> <keyword id="6354923" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vodafone-India">Vodafone India</keyword>, the second-largest telco in the country, has come with plans aimed at its young users, called Vodafone U as well as one aimed at farmers, called Vodafone Kisaan Mitr. While Vodafone U offers special friend-to-friend calling offers, data loans and special offers on brands like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Amazons-Great-Indian-Sale-was-a-big-success-thanks-to-its-Prime-Members/articleshow/58686123.cms">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Didi-has-secured-record-funding-and-Uber-should-be-worried/articleshow/58460084.cms">Uber</a>, Kisaan Mitr offers real time information on weather and market prices. These telcos are also said to be approaching residential welfare associations, schools and colleges to study their customers for the purpose of bifurcation. (Image source TopYaps)

Telcos to divide users into segments like FMCG companies

You might have never heard the name of <keyword id="3015094" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajat-Sethi">Rajat Sethi</keyword>, but several <keyword id="65833" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="MAs">M&amp;As</keyword> that have happened in India in the recent past have been a result of Sethi’s hardwork. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessi nsider.in/small-business/companies/voda-idea-merger-gave-india-incs-ma-tally-a-fourfold-jump/articleshow/58163035.cms">Voda-Idea merger gave India Inc's M&amp;A tally a fourfold jump</a> 
 
About a decade ago, Sethi helped a telecom giant in negotiating the terms and conditions of its $11-billion exit from India, a complicated transaction that not only involved Indian shareholders but also had overseas investment limits, future promises of exits, lock-ins related to performance, and various regulatory issues. 
 However, <keyword id="166105" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hutch">Hutch</keyword> did exit successfully from India after <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/small-business/tech/softbank-may-pick-up-minority-stake-in-vodafone-india-heres-the-latest-development/articleshow/57306703.cms">Vodafone </a>acquired a 67% stake in it, and Sethi was the person to be credited. 
 
Ever since, Sethi has helped Vodafone a) make acquisitions so that it can expand its network in India, b) create <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/small-business/tech/Telecom-towers-in-India-are-getting-a-make-over/articleshow/55691591.cms">Indus tower</a>, the tower partnership Indus with two of its biggest rivals <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/small-business/companies/bharti-airtel-has-sold-10-of-its-stake-in-bharti-infratel-to-kkr-and-cppib/articleshow/57872873.cms">Bharti Airtel</a> and Idea Cellular, and c) transfer shares from Indian joint venture partners Essar, the Piramal Group and individuals like Analjit Singh and Asim Ghosh. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Vodafone-India-re-organizes-its-leadership-structure/articleshow/54463745.cms">Vodafone India re-organizes its leadership structure</a> 
 
When the time came for the merger between Vodafone and Idea Cellular, which would result in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/idea-to-merge-with-vodafone-india-time-to-say-hello-to-indias-biggest-telco/articleshow/57728557.cms">India's biggest phone company</a>, Sethi was the man to be remembered for being the legal advisor. 
 
Sethi, co-founder of S&amp;R Associates (2005) along with Sandeep Bhagat, is known to be calm, methodical and thorough, who usually is the first person to come to the office and the last to leave. 
 
"He is quiet, only speaks when it's needed but that is why when he speaks his words have gravitas," Deep Kalra, Makemytrip CEO told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/meet-the-calm-methodical-deal-maker-rajat-sethi-the-legal-brain-behind-some-of-indias-big-ma/articleshow/58159499.cms">ET</a>. Sethi had helped the travel portal in its merger with rival <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/destinations/Goibibo-enables-guest-houses-to-collect-digital-payments/articleshow/55687264.cms">GoIbibo </a>last year, a deal worth around $2-billion. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/India-based-MakeMyTrip-is-buying-ibibo-Group/articleshow/54922131.cms">India-based MakeMyTrip is buying ibibo Group</a> 
 In the telecom space, Sethi has navigated the $1-billion investment by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund in market leader <keyword id="6354287" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bharti-Airtel">Bharti Airtel</keyword> in 2013. 
 
It was in 1999 that Sethi had met Bhagat at the law firm Pathak and Associates, after Bhagat had returned with a degree from Cornell Law School, while Sethi had just moved to corporate law from litigation. 
 
It was their idea to make it big that had them pursuing limited work, and the confidence in their work because of which they priced themselves on par with market leaders, promising quality and personal attention. 
 
Who knew then, that these two form a partnership that would help sealing the deals between some of world’s biggest and widely known companies. 
 
(Image source Bar and Bench)

Here’s Rajat Sethi, the man behind some of the most famous M&As in India

<keyword id="6354287" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharti-Airtel">Bharti Airtel</keyword>, India’s largest telecommunications services provider, today said that it has been rated as India’s fastest mobile network by broadband testing and web-based network diagnostic applications, <keyword id="2431974" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ookla">Ookla</keyword>. 
 It's comes at a time when industry is seeing consolidation on big scale and while industry is still coping up with <keyword id="3820" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani">Mukesh Ambani</keyword> led <keyword id="10926" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance">Reliance</keyword> <keyword id="2003276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jio">Jio</keyword>'s entry in the telecom space. Jio's entry has led to much expected tariff war and a huge <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/war-between-airtel-and-reliance-jio-has-intensified-and-this-time-it-is-about-broadband-services/articleshow/56620063.cms">infighting in the industry</a>. Jio is currently providing free voice and internet services to all its subscribers, an offer that has not gone well with the telecom operators. The free services from Jio despites complaints of services from some customers has earned Reliance over 100 million customers making it the fastest growing startup. 
 
Also Read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/bharti-airtel-buys-telenor-before-idea-voda-merger-is-this-the-jio-effect/articleshow/57307250.cms">Bharti Airtel buys Telenor before Idea-Voda merger, is this the Jio effect?</a> 
 Ookla’s findings are based on analysis of millions of internet speed tests logged on ‘modern devices’ by mobile customers across India using its popular Speedtest app. The results include all mobile tests, regardless of connection technology. <keyword id="276810" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajai-Puri">Ajai Puri</keyword>, Director - Operations (India &amp; South Asia), Bharti <keyword id="15491" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Airtel">Airtel</keyword> said “At Airtel, our constant endeavour is to provide the best possible experience for our customers. We are delighted to receive this recognition from a global leader like Ookla and it is yet another validation of our efforts to build a world-class smartphone network.” The latest speed tests published by the <keyword id="6356988" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="TRAI">TRAI</keyword> also rated Airtel as the fastest 4G network in India. 
 
This rating could prove helpful for Bharti Airtel considering the massive change the industry is going through with Jio's entry and consolidation in the sector , Airtel will have to maintain or up the quality of service in order to retain its number one position. 
 
Also Read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Bharti-Airtel-Success-Story/articleshow/53681254.cms">The Airtel Story: How Opportunity came Calling for the now World’s 3rd Largest Telecom Firm</a>

You Searched For "Voda Idea merger" and got 13 results

SEBI smells open offer possibility in Voda-Idea merger

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Bharti Airtel buys Telenor before Idea-Voda merger, is this the Jio effect?

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Value of Vodafone-Idea may be worth 23% more than what Voda agreed at

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Bharti Airtel buys Telenor before Idea-Voda merger, is this the Jio effect?

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Telecom experts think Jio could still beat Voda-Idea in short term

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Believe govt is aware of telcos' stress; wants to see 3 pvt, 1 public sector player: Voda Idea CEO

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Idea and Vodafone heads met Modi and sought speedy clearances for merger

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VIL pegs dues at Rs 21,533 cr, less than half of DoT estimate; Voda CEO meets FM, telecom min

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Telcos to divide users into segments like FMCG companies

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Here’s Rajat Sethi, the man behind some of the most famous M&As in India

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Airtel speeds past Jio and others as India’s Fastest Network

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