Micromax is partnering with state telecom operator BSNL to launch 4G VoLTE phone- Bharat 1 in India.
With a combined vision of accelerating the growth of data adoption and providing Internet access to the 500 million+ feature phone users in India, both Micromax and BSNL will work collaboratively to introduce the best consumer mobile experience.
Leveraging technology to provide affordable and innovative products & services, Bharat-1 from Micromax is a 4G phone that helps bridge the digital divide and provide users with unlimited calling & unlimited data offer from BSNL at a very affordable cost of INR 97 every month.
With Bharat-1, Micromax and BSNL together are aiming at providing a compelling 4G phone option to India’s 500 million plus population that is still internet unconnected. Leveraging on the vast distribution network of Micromax and deep and national coverage of BSNL network, Bharat-1 promises to contribute immensely to the government’s vision of Digital India and make for a meaningful and early acquisition of a mobile data user.
Commenting on the announcement, Rahul Sharma, Co-founder Micromax, “BSNL is one of the major service providers in the country and has a vast reach and network that spreads across every nook & corner of the country. Both Micromax and BSNL have been working with an aim to bring the next wave of unconnected users on the Internet. We will now take this vision forward with Bharat-1 and create a compelling proposition for the users that is a first in the category.”
Added, Anupam Srivastava, CMD, BSNL “We are proud that we are partnering with Micromax, a home-grown player which has been a key player in India’s growth journey and has contributed more than 150 million mobile users and this number is ever increasing. Connecting the last mile– to the Internet and relevant information – is an important part of the strategy for both BSNL and Micromax. We are confident that Bharat-1 will help millions of users experience the data and calling experience like never before.”
Larry Paulson, Vice President & President Qualcomm India, “The launch of Bharat-1I, powered by Qualcomm® 205 Mobile Platform will usher a new era by providing access to 4G, VOLTE, Payments and new opportunities to millions of users in India. We congratulate Micromax and BSNL for taking India, a step closer to the realization of Digital India”
With the growth of mobile internet, people are increasingly showing more interest in video calls and content. But, there is still a huge gap when it comes to data adoption due to lack of affordable phones and low cost data.
Data affordability, connectivity and ease of using technology are the three barriers for the users to get a connected experience. The partnership of Micromax and BSNL will truly help the Indian consumers be digitally connected and make their experience more affordable and accessible.
