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TRAI data: Mobile b’band subs get over DeMon in December 2016
MUMBAI: This is good good news for the those in the OTT/SVOD/App ecosystem. According to the latest telecom subscription up to 31 December 2016 released by the Telecom Regulatory Authoriy of India (TRAI), Indian consumers quickly got over the demonetisation hiccup – at least as far as subscribing to mobile broadband, and dongles are concerned.
Growth at 8.89 per cent has come back in the December month with the total number of mobile broadband subscribers rising to 217.36 million from 199.61 million subs earlier.
This increase has come about primarily due to Reliance Jio’s relentless drive to build a user base: it had 72.16 million mobile broadband users, whereas Bharti Airtel (43.56 million), Vodafone (35.02 million), Idea Cellular (27.04 million), and BSNL (20.36 million) followed.
Prime minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on 8 November 2016. In that month, the number of users of broadband via mobile and dongles fell by 0.14 per cent from 199.91 million to 199.61 million. Probably, their woes in depositing the old notes and getting cash for themselves kept them preoccupied.
In the months prior to that (October and September) subscription growth for wireless broadband and dongles was running at double digits at 14.97 per cent to 199.91 million and 13.31 per cent to 173.87 million.
Reliance Jio accounted for 52.23 million (November), 35.94 million (October), and 16 million subs (September). Bharti Airtel’s figures for the same period were 41.90 million, 46.22 million, and 44.25 million respectively. Whereas the numbers for the respective period for Vodafone were (34.87 million) (40.19 million) and (35.93 million) and for Idea Cellular were (28.40 million) (29.76 million) (30.72 million).
We will have to wait and watch whether the media blitzkrieg and broadband offers by Idea and Bharti Airtel which commenced a month or so ago will help slow down the uptake of Reliance Jio and swing subscribers back towards them. For Reliance Jio, of course the challenge remains how to convert the large number of free subscribers it has signed on into paying ones.
As of a month or so ago, it had limited the daily bandwidth consumption to 1 GB at 4G speeds, following which data speeds drop. But users don’t seem to be complaining as they are quite hopeful that the free offer will continue courtesy the largesse of Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani beyond 31 March 2017.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
