Telcos, handset players spar over e-Sim in smartphones over Rs 10,000

The demand of telecom operators to make electronic SIM (E-SIM) mandatory in all devices costing Rs 10,000 and above has been rejected by smartphone manufacturers, who say that such a move will increase the cost of mid-range handsets (Rs 10,000-20,000), which contribute around 50% of the volumes.

Further, the handset makers have stressed that the telcos’ demand was based on semiconductor shortage, which can be termed as an “exaggeration”, as the situation in the semiconductor space has been improving and normalcy can be expected in six to nine months.