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Month: March 2025

  • Karnataka budget: The govt launches an OTT platform to promote Kannada films & set a price cap of ₹200 for movie tickets

    Karnataka budget: The govt launches an OTT platform to promote Kannada films & set a price cap of ₹200 for movie tickets

    The Karnataka government has announced a cap of ₹200 on movie ticket prices across all theatres, including multiplexes. The decision, revealed in the state budget on Friday, is aimed at making cinema more affordable. “The cost of the ticket of each show in all theatres of the state, including multiplexes, will be capped at ₹200,” said Siddaramaiah in his budget.

    The demand for price regulation had been longstanding within the Kannada film industry, which has been asking the government to curb high ticket prices, particularly in cities like Bengaluru where rates can be exorbitant. Other states, including Tamil Nadu, have implemented similar measures, with Tamil Nadu capping ticket prices at ₹120, making it one of the most affordable places to watch movies.

    On Thursday, home minister G Parameshwara had told the legislative council that the government will look into regulations on ticket pricing. Replying to JD(S) member Govindraju’s query during the Question Hour, Parameshwara said that at present the state follows the system of theatre owners fixing ticket prices.

    “I have no clue why the state government has not interfered till now, although chief minister Siddaramaiah had intervened, capped the ticket rate in multiplexes at ₹200 in 2017 and an order was issued during his previous tenure as the CM,” the home minister said.

    In the budget, further recognising the challenges faced by Kannada filmmakers in securing space on mainstream OTT platforms, the government has proposed the creation of a state-run OTT platform dedicated to promoting Kannada movies.

    In 2024, leading actor-producers like Rakshit Shetty and Rishab Shetty voiced concerns about the difficulties in getting major platforms to acquire Kannada content. In response to these challenges, Rakshit Shetty’s production house, Paramvah Studio, launched its own platform in July last year to stream its Kannada web series, Ekam.

    Additionally, the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy has been allocated 2.5 acres of land where a multiplex complex will be developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. “A multiplex movie theatre complex will be developed under public private partnership (PPP) in 2.5-acre land owned by the Karnataka Film Academy in Nandini Layout, Bengaluru,” Siddaramaiah added.

    As part of its broader push for the development of cinema, the government also announced that the film sector will be granted industry status, making it eligible for benefits under the state’s industrial policy.

    To preserve Kannada cinema, the government has allocated ₹3 crore for the establishment of a digital and non-digital film repository. This initiative aims to document the social, historical, and cultural aspects of Kannada films.

    The budget also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to establishing a film city in Mysuru. “For developing an international-level film city in Mysuru at the cost of ₹500 crore in the PPP model, 150-acre land has been transferred to the department of information and public relations. The government is committed to establishing this film city in the next years,” Siddaramaiah said. Hindustan Times

  • Aiming 111M home broadband users by FY30

    Aiming 111M home broadband users by FY30

    Home broadband subscriptions for telecom companies are expected to increase 177 per cent to 111 million by FY2030 as opposed to 40 million in 2024, said HSBC Global Research.

    “We expect home broadband to be the next big growth opportunity for telecom operators and expect TAM (Total Addressable Market) to expand to $7 billion as we forecast subs growing 2.75x to 111m by FY30e,” said HSBC, listing 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) service and fibre home passes as the key catalyst for TAM growth.

    FWA adoption increased over the last nine months as equipment prices went down and operators strengthened their installation and distribution capabilities. Citing Reliance Industries’ recent 3QFY25 results, HSBC said that 70 per cent of the telco’s new AirFiber (FWA) connects are from beyond top 1,000 towns.

    “[This] reinforces our view on demand for the home broadband service. Telcos are well placed to capture a share of household entertainment spend with their bundled home broadband plans, which come with a rich content offering,” said the report.

    The report also expects Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel to be the key beneficiaries of this trend, predicting Jio to capture 50 per cent of the market share by FY30e and reaching 56 million subs and Airtel to reach 23 per cent of market share by FY30e, with 25 million subs.

    In FY24, Jio recorded 11.3 million subs with a 35 per cent annual growth. HSBC expects Jio’s home broadband subs to surge by 51 per cent CAGR over FY24-27e to 38.8 million. Similarly, Airtel reported 7.6 million subs in FY24 with a 26 per cent annual growth. The telco’s home broadband subs will increase by 28 per cent CAGR over FY24-27e to 15.9 million. Meanwhile, Vodafone Idea reported 1,043 million subs in Q4FY24. The Hindu BusinessLine

  • T-Mobile & Starlink’s direct-to-cell service is approved by the FCC

    T-Mobile & Starlink’s direct-to-cell service is approved by the FCC

    SpaceX is lobbying the FCC to block iPhone satellite provider Globalstar from launching a new constellation of 48 low-Earth orbiting satellites.

    Globalstar’s “C3” constellation promises to expand the satellite-powered features on future iPhones, funded in part by a $1 billion investment from Apple. However, SpaceX claims the FCC needs to dismiss the application because the C3 constellation will use radio spectrum in the 1.6GHz and 2.4GHz bands.

    Those radio bands are facing scrutiny at the FCC, which is considering opening up the spectrum to all satellite players, following a request from SpaceX. As a result, the company is calling out Globalstar’s application as “premature,” and urging the FCC to first open up the radio bands for sharing among mobile satellite services.

    “Doing so would be the fairest and most expeditious route to determine the appropriate regulatory regime to govern operations in a band that has not been examined in nearly 20 years,” SpaceX said in a letter to the FCC.

    Globalstar didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But the letter is the latest salvo in a brewing regulatory battle between the company and SpaceX for control of the 1.6GHz and 2.4GHz bands. Globalstar and Iridium were originally given exclusive access to the spectrum. But SpaceX has been lobbying for shared access so that it can bolster its own cellular Starlink system, which is currently relying on T-Mobile spectrum in the 1.9GHz bands for the US market.

    Globalstar, on the other hand, claims that opening up the 1.6GHz and 2.4GHz bands to other companies risks generating interference with its own satellite systems, potentially degrading the satellite connectivity for iPhones. “There is no public interest justification for undermining the spectrum environment upon which Globalstar has relied,” the company’s lawyers told the FCC while meeting with new Chairman Brendan Carr.

    But in Thursday’s letter to the FCC, SpaceX told the commission that opening up the radio bands to sharing “would ensure the most consistent treatment, efficient sharing, and robust competition between Globalstar and other next-generation satellite systems—including SpaceX—who have sought to finally make productive use of this long-fallow spectrum.”

    In addition, SpaceX noted that a previous FCC ruling from a year ago said “the commission is currently not accepting applications for new MSS entrants in the 1.6/2.4 GHz and 2 GHz bands.” Hence, the Commission should deny Globalstar’s application.

    Still, it’s possible the FCC meant it wasn’t accepting applications from new companies outside of Globalstar and Iridium. Nevertheless, SpaceX says its own petition to revise the 1.6/2.4GHz rules was filed before Globalstar’s application for the C3 constellation.

    “Accepting Globalstar’s application for its new, higher-power system in the band would also fundamentally alter the spectrum environment in the 1.6/2.4 GHz band to the detriment of prospective competitors, such as SpaceX, whose applications predated Globalstar’s application and who have expressed an interest in efficiently sharing the band alongside other operators,” SpaceX added.

    This comes as the FCC today SpaceX a waiver for “aggregate out-of-band emissions” in the US, which permits SpaceX to operate its cellular Starlink system beyond the normal radio limits, subject to certain conditions. Yahoo

  • Digantara launches a satellite for commercial space monitoring

    Digantara launches a satellite for commercial space monitoring

    The world’s first commercial space surveillance satellite, capable of tracking objects as small as 5 centimetres orbiting the Earth, was commissioned on Saturday as it captured images over South America, the Bengaluru-based start-up Digantara said.

    Digantara had launched the space surveillance satellite SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking) on January 14 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rocket.

    The satellite started operations on Saturday.

    “Space just ran out of hiding spots,” the start-up said in a post on X.

    In a statement, the company said the SCOT satellite achieved first light on Saturday and its inaugural image while passing over South America — a breathtaking view of Earth’s limb, with the city of Buenos Aires glowing against the planet’s curvature.

    “SCOT’s first image is more than a technical milestone; it’s a symbol of our team’s resilience and unwavering commitment to safeguarding Earth’s orbits for generations to come,” said Digantara CEO Anirudh Sharma.

    The satellite is designed to track and monitor objects as small as 5 centimetres, with a high revisit rate for frequent and precise observations of orbital activity.

    As space becomes increasingly congested, this capability is essential for mitigating collision risks and promoting sustainable space operations by providing accurate and dependable data to satellite operators and regulatory bodies.

    SCOT has been deployed in a sun-synchronous orbit that allows it to track objects in Low Earth Orbit with more efficiency than existing sensors, which are restricted by fields of view, weather conditions and geographic limitations. PTI

  • Foundation for Microsoft India Development Center laid by UP CM

    Foundation for Microsoft India Development Center laid by UP CM

    Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday laid the foundation for the Microsoft India Development Centre in Sector-145, Noida. Calling it a landmark moment for the IT sector in Noida and North India, he said that Microsoft’s investment reinforces Uttar Pradesh’s position as a top investment destination.The chief minister also inaugurated the AI Engineering Centre of MAQ Software on Saturday.

    Speaking on the occasion, he remarked: “I am told that Microsoft’s India Development Centre will be its largest research and development (R&D) hub outside its headquarters. With this new campus, Uttar Pradesh is set to become Microsoft’s next major base after Hyderabad.”

    Extending his best wishes to Microsoft CEO and chairman Satya Nadella and his team, the chief minister praised the company’s strong presence in North India.He stated that Microsoft already has a presence in Uttar Pradesh, with ongoing programs in Noida and the new center, spread across 15 acres, will further establish Microsoft’s stronghold in both Uttar Pradesh and North India.

    “Our government, under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, has embraced the vision of a ‘New Uttar Pradesh for a New India’ over the past eight years,” Adityanath said. He highlighted that Noida IDC will not only strengthen India’s technical ecosystem through AI and cloud computing, but also help in effectively implementing PM Modi’s vision on the ground.“This center will serve as a hub for innovation in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity,” he added. He emphasised that Uttar Pradesh leads in electronic component production, contributing 55% nationwide.

    “Noida and Greater Noida are rapidly emerging as hubs for electronic manufacturing,” he added.Expressing confidence in Microsoft’s Research & Development Center, he added, “This centre will not only emerge as a key innovation hub but will also help fulfill the dreams of youth in Uttar Pradesh and North India.”

    The event was attended by Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Khanna, industrial development minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, IT and electronics minister Sunil Kumar Sharma and chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, along with Microsoft’s leadership team.As NTT and Yotta already have their data centres operational in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, the officials said that this district is on way to become the largest hub of the data centres in North India.

    Yogi inaugurates Sify Data Centerin Gautam Buddh Nagar
    Chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Sify Data Center in Gautam Buddha Nagar’s Sector 132 on Saturday. Addressing the inauguration and launch ceremony, Adityanath mentioned that the state’s policies are being shaped in line with the demands of the modern era, the needs of the youth, and the evolving global landscape through research and development.

    Inaugurating the data center, the chief minister also unveiled an image of Tirupati Balaji while listening to the hymns of Venkateshwara Swami. Adityanath commended Sify’s efforts in strengthening the state’s digital infrastructure.

    Reaffirming Uttar Pradesh’s status as a leading investment destination, he noted that the state has achieved a major milestone in ease of doing business.

    During his visit to the data centre, the chief minister toured various sections, reviewed operational processes, and assessed the facilities available to professionals working there. He also visited the command center and server room.

    ‘Gautam Buddha Nagar emerging as hub of health tourism’

    Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said Gautam Buddha Nagar is emerging fast as a hub of health tourism. During his daylong visit, he inaugurated the newly developed Sharda Care-Health City in Greater Noida, praising it as a unique blend of service and investment.

    He appreciated the private sector’s contribution, noting that the government has taken several steps to encourage investment in the health sector.

    He also highlighted Sharda University as an important centre for education and health and stated that health tourism is a significant sector—with Gautam Buddha Nagar emerging as a major hub—making the state a focal point for global attention.

    The chief minister pointed out that while only six AIIMS were established in India over 70 years, their number surged to 22 in the last 10 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

    In Uttar Pradesh, the number of medical colleges has surged from just 12 in 2017 to 40 new institutions in the past eight years, he said. Additionally, 37 private medical colleges have been established, including those in Maharajganj, Sambhal, and Shamli, along with three more through the public-private partnership model.

    The chief minister described health tourism as a significant sector and asserted that India could emerge as a global leader in this field.

    Uttar Pradesh industrial development minister Nand Gopal Gupta “Nandi”, Yogendra Upadhyay, Gautam Buddha Nagar MP Dr Mahesh Sharma, Surendra Nagar, MLA Dhirendra Singh, MLC Shrichand Sharma, chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, Sharda University Chancellor PK Gupta, Vice Chancellor YK Gupta, Prashant Gupta, Rishabh Gupta and others were present. Hindustan Times

  • Elon Musk reacts to calls for “fair competition” in the Indian telecom sector

    Elon Musk reacts to calls for “fair competition” in the Indian telecom sector

    Elon Musk reacted to an X user who said that Indian telecom companies Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea have sought ‘fair competition’ in the satellite telecommunications industry ahead of Starlink’s entry in India.

    “Fair competition would be much appreciated,” Musk wrote in response to the X post. This comes as government is reportedly moving ahead with licensing and spectrum allocation for Starlink.

    What did telecom firms say?
    In a petition to the government, Indian telecom firms Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea accused Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) of failing to address competitive imbalance between terrestrial spectrum allocation (which the three companies operate in) and satellite spectrum allocation (which Starlink will operate in).

    “Comparable spectrum pricing to terrestrial services should be enforced for competing satellite services in urban, semi-urban and rural areas for retail and enterprise customers,” the companies wrote in the letter.

    They demanded that competitors entering the telecom market must adhere to the existing pricing models, regulatory levies and fees.

    According to the Telecommunications Act 2023, satellite spectrums is allocated at the government’s discretion for a fee while terrestrial spectrums are auctioned. TRAI is still working on finalising exact pricing and allocation details.

    Reliance Jio and Airtel also agued that low-earth orbit mega-constellations’ broadband speeds and capacity are comparable to terrestrial networks.

    The three companies said the entry of new companies will bring oversupply in the sector and distort competition of terrestrial broadband, “especially in urban, semi-urban area serving retail and enterprise customers”.

    The companies also said that satellite spectrum should be allocated administrately at reduced prices for non-competitive uses like government functions, disaster recovery, cellular backhaul etc. However commcercial satellite operators should not be offered preferential pricing. Hindustan Times

  • OCR takes four hospitals and medical schools under scrutiny

    OCR takes four hospitals and medical schools under scrutiny

    In alignment with President Trump’s Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunitylinks to an external website, today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is announcing investigations into four medical schools and hospitals under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557).

    These investigations are in response to allegations and information OCR received that certain medical schools and hospitals that receive HHS funding may operate medical education, training, or scholarship programs for current or prospective workforce members that discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex. National policy under Executive Order 14173 directs federal agencies to enforce long-standing civil rights laws and “to combat illegal private sector [diversity, equity and inclusion] DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.”

    “Today’s actions restore merit-based opportunities in medicine and signify that hard-working health care professionals and high-achieving students in the pipeline for medical and nursing fields should not be demeaned at work, or excluded from professional or scholarship opportunities, because of their race or sex,” said Anthony Archeval, Acting Director of the Office for Civil Rights at HHS.

    Under Executive Order 14173, each agency, in coordination with the Attorney General, is required to identify “nine potential civil compliance investigations” of corporations, associations, foundations, and institutions of higher education with endowments over 1 billion dollars as part of a strategic enforcement plan. HHS.gov

  • WHO cut budget & freezes hiring to counteract the effects of the US exit

    WHO cut budget & freezes hiring to counteract the effects of the US exit

    The World Health Organization is offering the option of voluntary early retirement to eligible employees as it seeks to rein in costs ahead of a planned exit by the United States, its biggest financial backer.

    The voluntary early retirement package is being offered to staffers at all duty stations, the WHO said in a statement emailed on Friday.

    The scheme is intended for staff above 55 and those who accept would have to leave the agency by July 15, it said.

    The WHO, which typically receives about a fifth of its overall annual funding from the US, has been forced to freeze hiring and initiate budget cuts ever since President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal.

    The US funded 75% of the WHO’s program for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and accounted for more than half the contributions it received to combat tuberculosis during the agency’s 2024-25 budget period.

    Trump, who started a 12-month withdrawal process for the US to leave the WHO earlier this year, has said he may consider rejoining the agency.

    Bloomberg News was the first to report the WHO’s early retirement program.

    Trump also ordered a 90-day pause on foreign aid contributions, throwing global humanitarian relief efforts into chaos. But the US Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to let the administration withhold payments to foreign aid organizations for services already rendered to the government. Reuters

  • China is convicted by a US judge of hiding the spread of the coronavirus and storing PPE

    China is convicted by a US judge of hiding the spread of the coronavirus and storing PPE

    A US federal judge has found the Chinese government liable for its actions during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, ruling that China is responsible for concealing the virus’ spread and hoarding vital protective equipment, said local media.

    US Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. of the US state of Missouri on Friday imposed a $24 billion penalty on China, a move that officials vow to enforce by seizing Chinese assets, including land in the state, said the New York Times.

    The lawsuit, initiated by Missouri’s attorney general’s office in April 2020, accused China of withholding critical information about the virus’ existence and transmission while simultaneously limiting the global supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

    The case, filed during the early months of the pandemic, claimed these actions contributed to significant delays in the US response, the report says.

    In his decision, Limbaugh pointed to evidence that China was aware of Covid’s spread much earlier than it shared with the global community.

    The judge also said China took steps to nationalize American factories within its borders to prioritize domestic production of protective equipment, limiting its availability for export and raising prices in markets like Missouri.

    Chinese officials, however, rejected the decision.

    Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for China’s Embassy in Washington, called the case groundless.

    “The so-called lawsuit has no basis in fact, law or international precedence,” Liu said in a statement. “China does not and will not accept it. If China’s interests are harmed, we will firmly take reciprocal countermeasures according to international law.” Anadolu Ajansı

  • Medical technology investments allow access to healthcare in tier II and III cities

    Medical technology investments allow access to healthcare in tier II and III cities

    Healthcare facilities in tier-II and III cities have long struggled with the disparity between affordability and accessibility of quality healthcare services. These cities often lack well-equipped medical centres, forcing patients to travel to nearby metropolitan areas for advanced treatment. The shortage of trained medical professionals further exacerbates the problem.

    The doctor-to-patient ratio in these cities remains significantly below the WHO-recommended standard of 1:1000, often reaching alarming ratios such as 1:25,000.@The Accessibility GapOne of the major factors behind this situation is the concentration of healthcare resources in metropolitan areas. Government hospitals in smaller cities often grapple with overcrowding, long waiting lines, and outdated infrastructure. Meanwhile, private hospitals that offer advanced treatments are often unaffordable for the majority of the population. This leaves patients with limited options, pushing them to seek care in distant metro cities.

    However, in recent years, several hospitals in tier-II cities have made significant strides in bridging this gap. The emergence of well-equipped hospitals outside major metropolitan areas is proving to be a game-changer for patients who previously had to travel long distances for treatment. Health Institutions like Subharti Hospital in Meerut exemplify how tier-II cities are evolving to provide comprehensive and affordable healthcare not only under the Ayushman Bharat Mission but also for uninsured patients, reducing dependence on metropolitan hospitals.

    Ayushman Bharat and affordability
    One of the biggest challenges in tier-II and III cities is making advanced healthcare both available and affordable.

    Many private hospitals offer high-end treatment facilities, but their pricing structures make them inaccessible to a significant portion of the population.

    To address this issue, some hospitals are designing cost-effective treatment models that prioritize patient affordability without compromising on quality. Additionally, government schemes and insurance programs such as Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY need to be further expanded and better implemented in these regions. Many eligible patients are unaware of their entitlements under schemes like PMJAY, leading to underutilization of available resources. Increased awareness and streamlined implementation of such initiatives can make a significant difference in ensuring financial accessibility to quality healthcare.

    Advancements in medical technology
    Traditionally, hospitals in non-metro areas have been perceived as lacking advanced infrastructure and specialized treatment options. However, this perception is gradually changing.

    Many healthcare institutions such as Subharti Hospital in Meerut are now investing in cutting-edge medical technology, including advanced imaging facilities such as digital PET scans, high-resolution MRI and CT scans, and modern oncology treatment options like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The availability of these services locally is significantly reducing the burden on patients who would otherwise have to commute to larger cities.

    A breakthrough in Meerut is the introduction of comprehensive treatment centres, particularly in fields like oncology. Cancer patients, for example, often face logistical and financial challenges when forced to visit different hospitals for diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

    The integration of these services under one roof in tier-II cities is improving patient outcomes and reducing treatment delays. Subharti Hospital, for instance, has emerged as a reliable healthcare provider in Western Uttar Pradesh, offering a full spectrum of oncology services in a single location, saving patients valuable time and resources.

    The road ahead
    Ensuring quality healthcare in tier-II and III cities requires a multi-pronged approach that includes expanding medical infrastructure, ensuring equitable resource distribution, increasing investment in medical education to address the shortage of trained professionals, and encouraging partnerships to enhance healthcare accessibility. As healthcare in India evolves, tier-II and III cities are poised to play a crucial role in expanding medical access beyond metropolitan areas.

    Continuous efforts are needed to overcome existing challenges and create a healthcare system that is truly inclusive and accessible to all. With a focused approach towards affordability, accessibility, and technological advancements, the future of healthcare in non-metro regions holds immense potential. By addressing these challenges head-on, tier-II and III cities can become the next frontier in India’s healthcare transformation. Daily Pioneer