RoseKort2620073 at 20:32, 4 April 2024

2024-04-04T20:32:10Z

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{{Short description|Indian telecommunications company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Loop Mobile India Ltd
| logo = Loop Mobile Logo.gif
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| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| industry = [[Telecommunication]]
| fate = Ceased operations after expiration of licence
| former_name = BPL Mobile Communications
| predecessor =
| founded = {{Start date|1994}}
| founder =
| defunct = {{End date|df=yes|2014|11|29}}
| hq_location = [[Mahim]]
| hq_location_city = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]
| hq_location_country = India
| area_served =
| key_people = IP Khaitan (Shareholder)
Nalin Khaitan (Director)
Sandip Basu (CEO)
| services = [[Mobile telephony]]
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}}

'''Loop Mobile India Ltd''', formerly '''BPL Mobile Communications''', was an Indian [[mobile network operator]].

==History==
BPL Mobile Communications, established in 1994, was India's first mobile network operator.<ref>{{citation |title=LOOP TELECOM LAUNCHES GSM SERVICE IN TAMILNADU AND ORISSA |date=11 May 2009 |url=http://telecomtalk.info/loop-telecom-launches-mobile-service-in-tamilnadu-and-orissa/3715/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929174751/https://telecomtalk.info/loop-telecom-launches-mobile-service-in-tamilnadu-and-orissa/3715/ |publisher=telecomtalk.info |archive-date=2021-09-29 |accessdate=8 August 2011}}</ref> It began commercial operations in 1995.<ref name="BS1">{{citation |title=BPL Mobile was renamed to Loop Mobile |date=18 March 2009 |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bpl-mobile-changes-name-to-loop-mobile/352172/ |newspaper=[[Business Standard India]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511114936/http://www.business-standard.com/article/technology/bpl-mobile-changes-name-to-loop-mobile-109031800028_1.html |publisher=business-standard.com |archive-date=2017-05-11 |accessdate=8 August 2011}}</ref> The Khaitan Holdings Group purchased a 99% stake in the company at a cost of {{INRConvert|700|c|year=2005}} in 2005.<ref name="business-standard2">{{cite news |author=Shishir Asthana |date=18 February 2014 |title=Loop acquisition is a win-win deal for Airtel |newspaper=Business Standard |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/loop-acquisition-is-a-win-win-deal-for-airtel-114021800723_1.html |url-status=live |accessdate=2014-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508032253/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/loop-acquisition-is-a-win-win-deal-for-airtel-114021800723_1.html |archive-date=2019-05-08}}</ref> BPL Mobile was renamed to Loop Mobile in March 2009.<ref name = "BS1"/> Having consistently met and exceeded [[TRAI|Telecom Regulatory Authority of India]] benchmarks, Loop Mobile was [[ISO 9001:2008]] certified in 2009, in accordance with the TUV NORD CERT auditing and certification procedures.<ref>{{citation |title=LOOP TELECOM is now ISO certified |date=18 August 2009 |url=http://telecomtalk.info/loop-mobile-is-now-iso-certified/7846/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928165911/https://telecomtalk.info/loop-mobile-is-now-iso-certified/7846/ |publisher=telecomtalk.info |archive-date=2021-09-28 |accessdate=8 August 2011}}</ref>

On 18 February 2014, [[Bharti Airtel]] announced that it was acquiring Loop Mobile for {{INRConvert|700|c|year=2014}}, prior to that, a Chennai-based Information Technology Company, Zeesta IT Services MD Hemanth Raj, evaluated to acquire, however the deal did not materialize.<ref name="reuters1">{{cite news |date=2014-01-10 |title=India's Bharti agrees to buy smaller telecoms carrier Loop's operations |work=Reuters |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/loop-bharti-deal-idINL3N0LN1I120140218 |url-status=dead |accessdate=2014-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630120903/http://in.reuters.com/article/loop-bharti-deal-idINL3N0LN1I120140218 |archive-date=2016-06-30}}</ref> The two companies had been in talks since mid-2013.<ref>{{cite news |date=2013-09-02 |title=Bharti Airtel emerges as frontrunner to acquire Loop Mobile |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/telecom/Bharti-Airtel-emerges-as-frontrunner-to-acquire-Loop-Mobile/articleshow/22221864.cms |url-status=live |accessdate=2014-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112011316/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech-news/Bharti-Airtel-emerges-as-frontrunner-to-acquire-Loop-Mobile/articleshow/22221864.cms |archive-date=2020-11-12}}</ref> Loop Mobile's 20-year licence in the 900 MHz band was due to expire in the last quarter of 2014, and the company did not participate in the 2014 spectrum auction.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 February 2014 |title=Bharti set to take over Loop in Rs 700-crore deal |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/telecom/Bharti-set-to-take-over-Loop-in-Rs-700-crore-deal/articleshow/30531657.cms |url-status= |archive-date= |accessdate=2014-02-19 |work=The Times of India}}</ref> However, on 5 November 2014, Bharti announced that it was dropping plans to acquire Loop Mobile, after the former failed to gain regulatory approval from the Department of{{Clarify|reason=Department of what?|date=October 2022}} for the acquisition.<ref name="business-standard.com">{{Cite news |date=6 November 2014 |title=Bharti calls off Rs 700-cr deal to buy Loop Mobile |newspaper=Business Standard India |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/bharti-calls-off-rs-700-cr-deal-to-buy-loop-mobile-114110600045_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929114432/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/bharti-calls-off-rs-700-cr-deal-to-buy-loop-mobile-114110600045_1.html |archive-date=2021-09-29}}</ref><ref name="livemint.com">{{Cite web |date=5 November 2014 |title=Bharti Airtel scraps Loop Mobile merger deal |url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/RDMdCDjHO2wluCzuYWT2bN/Bharti-Airtel-pulls-out-of-deal-says-Loop-Mobile.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929132524/https://www.livemint.com/Companies/RDMdCDjHO2wluCzuYWT2bN/Bharti-Airtel-pulls-out-of-deal-says-Loop-Mobile.html |archive-date=2021-09-29}}</ref>

The acquisition would have increased Airtel's total customer base in Mumbai to more than 7 million customers<ref name="reuters1"/> and increased the size of their network to 6,500 cell sites.<ref name="business-standard2"/> Airtel also would have acquired electronic equipment, [[Optical fiber|optic fibre]] and the 8 megahertz of spectrum in the 900 MHz band held by Loop in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessworld.in/news/business/telecom/bharti-tohtml |title=Bharti To Buy Loop Mobile in Rs 700-cr Deal: Reports |publisher=Businessworld.in |date=17 February 2014 |accessdate=2014-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224150757/http://www.businessworld.in/news/business/telecom/bharti-to-buy-loop-mobile-in-rs-700-cr-deal-reports/1258074/page-1.html |archive-date=24 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, Airtel had no plans to acquire Loop Mobile's 550 employees.<ref name="thehindubusinessline1">{{cite news |author=Rajesh Kurup |date=18 February 2014 |title=Uncertainty looms over Loop Mobile employees |newspaper=Business Line |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/uncertainty-looms-over-loop-mobile-employees/article5703138.ece |url-status=live |accessdate=19 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003174653/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/post-acquisition-by-airtel-loop-mobile-employees-future-hazy/article23158666.ece |archive-date=2021-10-03}}</ref>

The announcement of the acquisition had prompted most Loop Mobile subscribers to switch mobile operators, and the operator had approximately 1 million customers by the first week of November 2014, down from 3 million subscribers when the deal was first announced in February 2014. Loop Mobile's licence to operate mobile services in Mumbai expired on 29 November 2014, bringing an end to its operations.<ref name="business-standard.com"/><ref name="livemint.com"/>

==Controversy==
{{main|2G spectrum case}}
Loop Telecom was probed by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] for alleged violation of foreign exchange laws, in the amount of {{INRConvert|384|c}}, in connection with the [[2G spectrum case]].<ref name="Loop fined Rs 384 crores">{{cite news |date=18 August 2011 |title=Loop fined Rs 384 crore |newspaper=Indian Express |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Loop-fined-Rs-384-crore/833589/ |url-status=live |accessdate=18 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003153018/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/loop-telecom-fined-rs-384-crore/ |archive-date=2021-10-03}}</ref><ref name="Loop Telecom, Loop Mobile on ED radar in 2G scam">{{cite news|title=Loop Telecom, Loop Mobile on ED radar in 2G scam|url=http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/loop-telecom-loop-mobile-ed-radar-in-2g-scam/1/18034.html|accessdate=18 August 2011|newspaper=Business Today|date=18 August 2011}}</ref> The promoters of Loop telecom were acquitted in December 2017 by the special court investigating the matter, which ruled that the prosecution "has miserably failed to prove any charge against any of the accused. Consequently, all the accused are entitled to be acquitted."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Nirnimesh |date=2017-12-21 |title=Ruias, Khaitans too acquitted |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ruias-khaitans-too-acquitted/article22176380.ece |url-status=live |access-date=2020-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701025239/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ruias-khaitans-too-acquitted/article22176380.ece |archive-date=2022-07-01 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

On 18 August 2011, Loop mobile, along with Bharti Airtel, [[Idea Cellular]], [[Reliance Communications]] and [[Vodafone Essar|Vodafone]], was issued notices by the [[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India]] (TRAI) for violation of [[mobile number portability]] regulations. According to TRAI, they had received complaints from customers regarding improper rejection of porting requests by telecom operators and also {{INRConvert|10|c}} being charged for messages requesting the porting code through number 1900.<ref name="TRAI issues notices to operators for violating norms">{{cite news |date=18 August 2011 |title=TRAI issues notices to operators for violating norms |newspaper=[[NDTV]] |url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/shownews.aspx?id=GADEN20110182330&Sec=NEWS&nid=127305 |url-status=dead |accessdate=19 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921072805/http://gadgets.ndtv.com/telecom/news/trai-issues-notices-to-operators-for-violating-norms-225537 |archive-date=2015-09-21}}</ref> In April 2012 Loop Mobile announced its intention to shut down operations across India except Mumbai with effect from 15 May 2012.<ref name="reutersshutdown">{{cite news |date=10 April 2012 |title=India's Loop Telecom latest casualty of 2G scam |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/india-telecom-loop-idUSL3E8FA1IF20120410 |url-status=live |accessdate=10 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927073157/https://www.reuters.com/article/india-telecom-loop-idUSL3E8FA1IF20120410 |archive-date=2021-09-27}}</ref> The move is expected to impact 6,100 customers, however, the figure is much less than 0.01% of the number of mobile phone users in India.<ref>{{cite news|title=Loop telecom to shut operations outside Mumbai|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/telecom/loop-telecom-to-shut-operations-outside-mumbai/articleshow/12604776.cms|accessdate=10 April 2012|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=10 April 2012|place=Mumbai|author=ET Bureau}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.loopmobile.in/ Loop Mobile website]

{{Telecommunication companies of India}}

[[Category:Mobile phone companies of India]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies of India]]
[[Category:2G spectrum case]]
[[Category:Companies based in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1994]]
[[Category:Defunct brands]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 2014]]

Loop Mobile - Revision history

RoseKort2620073 at 20:32, 4 April 2024