Thursday, March 28

Tag: telecom

SoftBank Posts $12 Billion Profit in First Quarter of 2020
Market

SoftBank Posts $12 Billion Profit in First Quarter of 2020

Tokyo, Aug 11, 2020: Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group profit rose 12 percent in April-June from a year earlier as its investments added to its coffers, including sales of its shares in US carrier T-Mobile. Tokyo-based SoftBank reported a first-quarter profit of 1.2 trillion yen (USD 11.8 billion), up from 1.1 trillion yen in the previous fiscal year. Quarterly sales inched down 2 per cent to 1.45 trillion yen (USD 13.7 billion). SoftBank, whose group includes the carrier that introduced the iPhone to Japan, said it has been shoring up its cash reserves. Chief Executive Masayoshi Son said, "the company already has raised in several months nearly all the 4.5 trillion yen (USD 41 billion) it had promised in March to attain within a year. But he acknowledged worries about ...
End of Huawei’s 5G Journey in India? Reliance Jio Launch Made in India 5G solution
INDIA

End of Huawei’s 5G Journey in India? Reliance Jio Launch Made in India 5G solution

New Delhi, Jul 15, 2020: India's leading company Reliance Industries said that its telecom unit Jio has built a Made-in-India 5G solution that can be ready for field deployment next year and has teamed up with Google for developing affordable smartphones. Asserting Jio's move to make India free of 2G, RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani emphasized on the need to accelerate the migration of 350 million Indians 2G phone users to an affordable smartphone, at a time when India stands at the doorsteps of the 5G era. At Reliance 43rd AGM, Mukesh Ambani said, "There are many feature phone users who are waiting to upgrade to a conventional smartphone, if only it was somehow more affordable. So, we have decided to address this challenge head-on. We believe we can design entry-level 4G or even 5G smar...
Google invests $4.5 billion for 7.7% stake in Jio platforms
FUNDING

Google invests $4.5 billion for 7.7% stake in Jio platforms

Mumbai 15th July 2020: Google acquired a 7.7 percent stake of India's leading online company Jio platforms for $4.5 billion, adding to a series of large U.S. investments into an India based online venture that has nearly 400 million users in India. The global search leader is acquiring 7.7% of the fast-growing internet unit for 337.4 billion rupees, Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani said in a Reliance AGM event. Google, whose Android software runs on most smartphones, will help Jio create an entry-level, affordable mobile device, he added. Google joins rival Facebook Inc., which recently invested $5.7 billion toward a 9% stake of Jio. Total 14 investment came in Reliance Jio in the last two months which includes chipmakers Intel Corp. and Qualcomm Inc etc. Jio is a highly pref...
UK bans Huawei from 5G Network
News

UK bans Huawei from 5G Network

London, Jul 14, 2020: The UK government banned Huawei from its 5G telecom network, reversing an earlier decision to allow the Chinese tech giant a limited role in building the country's super-fast wireless infrastructure. Huawei will be completely removed from the UK’s 5G networks by the end of 2027, the government announced after a review by the country’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on the impact of US sanctions against the Chinese telecommunications company. In the lead up to this complete removal of all Huawei kit from UK networks, there will be a total ban on the purchase of any new 5G kit after December 31, 2020. The decision was taken at a meeting of the UK’s National Security Council (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in response to new US sanctions a...
Qualcomm acquires 0.15% stake in Jio for $97 million
ACQUISITION

Qualcomm acquires 0.15% stake in Jio for $97 million

Mumbai, 13th July 2020: Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries said it has secured $97 million (Rs 730 crore) from wireless technology leader Qualcomm makes total funding since April that has crossed $15.7 billion (Rs 1.18 lakh crore). "Qualcomm Ventures' investment will translate into 0.15 percent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis," the company said in a statement. With this round, Reliance Jio sold its 25.24 percent stake to companies like Facebook, Silver Lake, General Atlantic, Intel, etc. The company said the investment in Jio will deepen the ties with Qualcomm that will help Jio to rollout of advanced 5G infrastructure and services in India. Qualcomm is the world's leading wireless technology innovator and the driving force behind the devel...
TPG picks 0.93 pc stake in Jio Platforms for $600 Million
FUNDING

TPG picks 0.93 pc stake in Jio Platforms for $600 Million

New Delhi, Jun 13, 2020: Reliance Industries sold 0.93 percent stake in its digital unit Reliance Jio to global alternative asset firm TPG for $600 million (Rs 4,546.80 crore), taking the cumulative fundraising to over $13.49 billion (Rs 1.02 lakh crore) by selling nearly 22% stake that will help pare debt at the oil-to-telecom conglomerate. "TPG will invest $600 million (Rs 4,546.80 crore) in Jio Platforms at an enterprise value of $65 billion (Rs 5.16 lakh crore)," the company said in a statement. The investment will translate into a 0.93 per cent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis for TPG. "With this investment, Jio Platforms has raised $13.49 billion (Rs 102,432.45 crore) from leading global technology investors including Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equit...
Silver Lake & Co acquire additional 0.9% Stake in Reliance Jio
ACQUISITION

Silver Lake & Co acquire additional 0.9% Stake in Reliance Jio

New Delhi: Reliance Industries said private equity fund Silver Lake and its co-investors invest an additional $601.40 million (Rs 4,546 crore) in digital unit Jio Platforms. The investment comes on top of the $750 million Silver Lake committed to Jio Platforms earlier this month. With this investment, Silver Lake's stake in Reliance Jio raises 2.08 percent from earlier 1.15 percent. Reliance has now sold nearly 20 percent of Jio Platforms to investors, including Facebook, KKR, UAE based fund, etc. securing around $12 billion in less than six weeks. The deal controlled by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, including a $7 billion share sale, with plans to eliminate $21.4 billion of net debt by the end of the year. "The investment momentum behind Jio validates a compelling b...
Abu Dhabi based Mubadala acquire 1.85% stake in Reliance Jio
ACQUISITION

Abu Dhabi based Mubadala acquire 1.85% stake in Reliance Jio

India's leading Oil company Reliance Industries said that its telecom unit Reliance Jio raises $1.2 billion from Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala Investment Co for 1.85% stake. This is the sixth funding of Reliance Jio in six weeks. Reliance has now sold a combined 19% interest in Jio Platforms. With this sixth funding including a 9.99% stake sale to Facebook Inc for $5.7 billion, Reliance will clear its 86 percent debt. Pixr8 News earlier announce that Reliance jio is in talks with Abu Dhabi based fund to further dilute its equity to raise more funds. All other funding details of Reliance Jio can find here. Mubadala owns electronic chip manufacturing company Global Foundries and has stake in several technology companies like AMD. "We have seen how Jio has already transforme...
Abu Dhabi state fund in talks to invest $1 bn in Jio Platforms: Report
FUNDING

Abu Dhabi state fund in talks to invest $1 bn in Jio Platforms: Report

Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala Investment Company is in talks to invest about $1 billion in Reliance Industries' digital unit Jio platforms, three sources said on Thursday. Jio Platforms, which houses music and movie apps as well a Reliance's telecoms venture Jio Infocomm, has secured a massive $10 billion from investors including Facebook Inc within a month. Reliance did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "Clearly Jio's platform is attracting a wide range of world-class investors, given its enormous potential to serve one of the world's largest marketplaces," Mubadala said in an email to Reuters. Indian telecom company Reliance Jio recently done five Investment deals in four weeks that will inject a combined $10.5 billion in the oil-to-telecom conglomerate to he...
Reliance Jio 5th deal, sells 2.32 pc for $1.5 billion to KKR
ACQUISITION

Reliance Jio 5th deal, sells 2.32 pc for $1.5 billion to KKR

Reliance Industries announced the sale of a 2.32 percent stake in its digital unit to US private equity giant KKR for around $1.5 billion (Rs 11,367 crore), the fifth deal in four weeks that will inject a combined $10.5 billion in the oil-to-telecom conglomerate to help it pare debt. This is KKR's largest investment in Asia. "This transaction values Jio Platforms enterprise value of $65 billion (Rs 5.16 lakh crore). This is KKR's largest investment in Asia and will translate into a 2.32 percent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis," the company said in a statement. The deal follows with Facebook picking up a 9.99 percent stake in the firm for $5.7 billion. Within days of that deal, Silver Lake, the world’s largest tech investor bought a 1.15 percent stake in Jio...
Nokia profit up; Sales dip due to Covid19
BUSINESS

Nokia profit up; Sales dip due to Covid19

Nokia has reported first-quarter profit but said the COVID-19 pandemic dented sales by around USD 218 million mainly due to supply issues associated with disruptions in China. The company based in Espoo, Finland, reported a net profit of 33 million euros for the January-March period, in comparison to a loss of 116 million euros the previous year. Sales were down 2 percent at 4.9 billion euros. CEO Rajeev Suri said, Nokia didn't see a decline in demand in the first quarter but noted that as the coronavirus situation develops an increase in supply and delivery challenges in a number of countries is possible and some customers may re-assess their spending plans. Nokia is one of three main providers of the ultra-fast, new-generation 5G networks along China's Huawei and Sweden's Erics...
Facebook buys Reliance Jio 9.9% Stake for $5.7 billion
ACQUISITION

Facebook buys Reliance Jio 9.9% Stake for $5.7 billion

Facebook announced an acquisition of a 9.9% stake in India's largest telecom operator Jio Platforms Ltd for USD 5.7 billion (Rs 43,574 crore). With this deal, the social media giant looks to expand its presence in its largest subscriber-based market. "Today, we are announcing a USD 5.7 billion, or Rs 43,574 crore, investment in Jio Platforms Limited, part of Reliance Industries Limited, making Facebook its largest minority shareholder," the fb said in a statement. Facebook's move to pick up about a 10 percent stake in Jio Platforms will accelerate Jio's digital monetization drive and put Reliance Industries (RIL) on course to turn net debt-free by March 2021, said Indian analysts. It said that Facebook's investment into this entity will further Reliance Industries' digital in...