Jio OTT Services, 5G Spectrum Auction, Amazon's Fire Tv Stick, Microsoft Debut In Games, Etc

Market Briefs

Main Briefs

Jio Bundles Premium OTT Services with Broadband Plan for Rs 888/month:

Bundle Overview:

• Jio offers premium services of 15 apps, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Lite, and Disney+ Hotstar, with its 30 Mbps broadband plan for Rs 888 per month.

• Subscribers gain exclusive access to over 15 leading OTT apps, enhancing their streaming experience.

Previous Limitations:

• Netflix access was previously restricted to customers with higher-tier JioFiber plans priced at Rs 1,499.

• Entry-level 30 Mbps broadband plan customers lacked access to entertainment apps.

Enhanced Streaming Experience:

• The new postpaid plan, priced at Rs 888 per month, is designed to provide the ultimate streaming experience coupled with unlimited data benefits.

• Available to both JioFiber and Jio AirFiber customers, the plan offers access to popular platforms like Netflix's basic plan, Amazon Prime, and JioCinema Premium.

Wide Range of Content:

• Subscribers will have access to premium content from all bundled OTT apps, including Sony Liv, Zee5, Lionsgate, Discovery Plus, and AltBalaji, among others.

Accessibility:

• Previously limited access to premium OTT services is now available to a wider range of customers at an affordable price point.

• AirFiber customers no longer need to subscribe to higher-priced plans to access Netflix and other premium content.

Strategic Move:

• Jio aims to enhance its value proposition and attract more subscribers by bundling popular OTT platforms with its broadband plans.

• This initiative aligns with Jio's strategy of offering comprehensive digital services across entertainment, telecommunications, and technology sectors.

Limited Spectrum Availability and High Investment Costs Deter New Entrants in Spectrum Auction:

Challenges Faced:

• Limited spectrum availability in key bands crucial for 5G deployment.

• High initial investment requirements act as deterrents for new bidders.

• Existing operators like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have already deployed nationwide 5G networks.

Investment Requirements:

• Estimated initial investment required for 5G airwaves and network rollouts: approximately $16 billion (Rs 1.36 lakh crore).

• Includes spectrum acquisition costs and network infrastructure deployment expenses.

• Spectrum Availability Concerns:

• Limited spectrum in key bands: 50 MHz in the 3.3 GHz band across 12 major markets and 20 MHz in five others.

• Insufficient spectrum allocation hampers business case for new entrants.

Investment Breakdown:

• Upfront investment for new entrant deploying greenfield 5G services in India: around Rs 1,35,800 crore.

• Includes spectrum investment, network deployment costs, site setup, transport infrastructure, and core network elements.

Market Challenges:

• Low-tariff environment and dominance of established incumbents pose challenges for new 5G operators.

• Lack of differentiation opportunities further deter new entrants.

Spectrum Supply Concerns:

• Insufficient spectrum supply in upcoming auction, particularly in key markets like Gujarat, Haryana, and the Northeast.

• Contiguous 5MHz blocks in crucial bands unavailable in certain areas.

Competitive Disadvantages:

• New telco entrants may struggle to offer competitive 5G services compared to established players like Jio and Airtel.

• Limited spectrum availability undermines competitiveness and ability to monetize significant 5G-related capital expenditures.

Briefs, You Can’t Miss:

1. Tata Motors considers merging its EV subsidiary with its passenger vehicles business post demerger.

2. India's forex reserves surge by $3.66 billion to reach $641.59 billion, reports RBI.

3. Spices Board introduces comprehensive guidelines for exporters to prevent ETO contamination.

4. Majority of manufacturers set to commence production under revised PLI scheme.

5. LIC's April premium achieves a decade-high of Rs 12,384 crore.

6. Bijith Bhaskar resigned as ICICI Bank's head of cards and payments.

7. OnePlus announces plans to strengthen partnership with JioMart Digital.

8. Oil & gas PSUs reduce workforce by 15,700 jobs in six years despite doubling revenue.

9. Grew Energy to establish a 3.2 GW module plant in Jammu and Kashmir.

10. Tata Motors allocates Rs 43,000 crore for product development and new technologies in FY25.

11. Amazon launches Fire TV Stick 4K in India.

12. KukuFM, Shaadi, and IBDF appeal to NCLAT against CCI's interim order in Google Play Store case.

13. India receives $111 billion in remittances in 2022, the highest among all countries, according to the UN.

14. Reserve Bank of India repurchases government bonds worth Rs 10,512 crore.

15. SBI General introduces 'Surety Bond Bima' for infrastructure projects.

World Briefs

• Joe Biden is preparing to impose tariffs on China's electric vehicles and strategic sectors.

• India supports a UNGA resolution backing Palestine's aspiration to become a full UN member.

• Wales' First Minister Vaughan Gething meets with Tata Steel to address anticipated job cuts at the Port Talbot plant.

• Following workforce reductions, Elon Musk announces Tesla's plan to invest $500 million in its charging network.

• Microsoft plans to debut its mobile game store in July.

AI Briefs

• OpenAI is gearing up to unveil a Google search competitor next Monday.

• EY India reports a surge in GenAI production deployments across India.

• CoreWeave, a major AI compute provider valued at $19 billion, establishes its European headquarters in London and outlines plans for two data centers in the UK.

• Reddit tightens access to its public data with a new content policy, requiring users to agree to a contract for its use.

Company Of The Day

Company Name: Reliance Jio

• Founder: Mukesh Ambani

• Year Of Foundation: 2007

• Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

• Industry:

  Reliance Jio is a telecommunications firm providing mobile internet services to both individual customers and businesses.

• Why Is It in the News?

  Reliance Jio has achieved the title of the world's largest mobile operator in data traffic, surpassing China Mobile.

  Additionally, Jio has introduced a new postpaid plan priced at ₹888 per month for JioFiber and Jio AirFiber users. This plan offers unlimited data with a speed cap of 30 Mbps, catering to the increasing demand for streaming options.