thenewsbit.com

Author: Newsbit

  • Analysts foresee an hike in telecom tariffs by early 2026

    Analysts foresee an hike in telecom tariffs by early 2026

    Indian mobile users may have to brace for higher bills again, with industry watchers expecting telecom operators to announce a fresh round of tariff hikes within the next six months.

    According to Ankit Jain of ICRA, the increase could come between October 2025 and January 2026. However, the quantum is likely to be less than 15-20%—smaller than the hikes seen in 2024, he said.

    “A tariff hike is imminent. We expect jump to be less than last year, less than 15–20%… Going forward, the trend of price hikes will be more frequent than a bi-yearly exercise,” an ICRA analyst said, adding that average revenue per user could climb from Rs 200 in fiscal 2025 to Rs 220 in fiscal 2026.

    Experts say the last major round of hikes in 2024 saw Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea raise tariffs by around 19–21%, prompting some users to switch to state-run BSNL. This time, operators are expected to stick to headline price increases, without altering plan validity periods.

    Bharti Airtel has already hinted at headroom for raising data tariffs. “Mobile tariff design is skewed in India; the rich are paying less and the poor are not required to pay anymore,” said Gopal Vittal, vice-chairman and MD, Bharti Airtel, during the company’s first quarter earnings call. He added that the company is focussed on improving its customer mix and driving upgrades to postpaid and smartphones.

    Reliance Jio has not yet announced a timeline for its next revision, but in past earnings calls, the company has maintained that tariff corrections are necessary to support ongoing 5G investments.

    Why another hike is on the cards?
    Industry experts point out that India’s mobile ARPU—at $2.1—is among the lowest in the world, giving operators room to make moderated increases. Another telecom expert who is of a slightly different opinion that ICRA, told NDTV Profit that while the telecom sector grew 10.6% year-on-year in FY25, sustaining double-digit growth will require more than subscriber additions.

    “Moderated tariff increase would be required… Beyond headline hikes, adopting innovative pricing models would be key for sustained monetisation,” the expert added, suggesting tiered 5G plans for heavy users, content bundling, and quality of service-based packages similar to those seen in China and Finland.

    While between the eight-year period of financial years 2017-2025, the sector’s gross revenue grew at a CAGR of 3.8%, growth accelerated the most between fiscal 2020-25 to 8% CAGR as operators pushed for data monetisation and network upgrades.

    In 2024, the tariff hikes implemented by Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea showed both entry-level and higher-end prepaid plan price revisions.

    In the 2024 round of tariff revisions, telecom operators applied different levels of price hikes across plan tiers. Entry-level or base prepaid packs — often used by low-data or first-time users — saw relatively modest increases of around 11–22%.

    Mid-tier daily-data plans, which form the bulk of active subscriptions, registered sharper hikes in the 17–25% range, reflecting operators’ focus on boosting average revenue per user from high-usage segments.

    Long-validity or annual packs faced some of the steepest adjustments, with prices rising by roughly 20%, a move aimed at locking in higher-paying customers for longer periods while realigning tariffs with rising network and spectrum costs.

    With 5G rollouts in full swing and the push for higher-value customers, both analysts and operators agree that Indian mobile tariffs are set to move upward again—though in smaller, more frequent steps rather than big, infrequent jumps. NDTV Profit

  • By 2030, the edge AI hardware sector will rise to $58.90 B

    By 2030, the edge AI hardware sector will rise to $58.90 B

    The edge AI hardware market is projected to reach USD 58.90 billion by 2030, up from USD 26.14 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 17.6%, according to Research and Markets.

    The report will help the market leaders/new entrants with information on the closest approximations of the revenue for the overall edge AI hardware market and the subsegments. The report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insight to position their business better and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report also helps stakeholders understand the market’s pulse and provides information on key drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.

    The edge AI hardware market is growing due to the demand for real-time data processing, reduced latency, enhanced privacy, and better bandwidth efficiency. Advancements in semiconductor technology, IoT, autonomous vehicles, and smart devices also drive this growth.

    However, the adoption has limitations, including the lack of processing power, memory, and energy available on edge devices to run complex AI models. This requires intense optimization that may negatively impact accuracy. Other limitations to adopting edge AI hardware in the vicinity included security vulnerabilities, deployment costs, scaling, and maintenance in distributed edge systems.

    The report provides an-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and offerings of leading players in the edge AI hardware market, such as Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (US), Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (China), SAMSUNG (South Korea), Apple Inc. (US), and MediaTek Inc. (Taiwan), among others.

    Training function to record higher CAGR during forecast period
    The training functionality in edge AI will register a higher CAGR than the inference function as federated learning continues to take hold, wherein AI models can be trained on distributed edge devices directly. At the same time, data privacy and regulations can be complied with.

    With industries producing massive datasets of various types at the edge, there is a growing need for always-on, device-based model updates to accommodate real-time learning and adaptation to local conditions. Furthermore, the potential of computing advances makes deploying necessary, decentralized training strategies ever easier, with disaster response, healthcare, finance, and autonomous systems prime examples.

    Smartphone devices to capture largest market share during forecast period
    Smartphones dominate the market for edge AI hardware due to their vast global user base and the widespread availability of AI-enabled features. These devices have become handy and ubiquitous, offering capabilities such as real-time language translation, facial recognition, and advanced photography – all of which require on-device processing to minimize latency and enhance user privacy.

    Mobile 5G technology has further accelerated smartphone adoption, enabling devices to run more sophisticated and powerful AI applications while providing a seamless user experience without relying on cloud connectivity. Consequently, device manufacturers prioritize the development of advanced processing units in smartphones, solidifying their status as the most popular edge AI devices in the world.

    China to account for largest market share in Asia Pacific during forecast period
    Asia Pacific is expected to account for the largest market share throughout the forecast period. The market’s growth will be fueled by support from the Chinese government and various development plans, such as the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan and Made in China 2025. Credible companies such as Huawei and Baidu also invest in research and innovation. The vast user base in China, along with significant advancements in the consumption and innovation of consumer electronics, also contributes to this growth.

    Moreover, the large volumes of data generated by the Chinese population create an excellent environment for training and deploying edge AI models. China’s strategic approach to integrating AI into various industries – including smart manufacturing, smart cities, and autonomous vehicles – will further support and accelerate the expansion of the edge AI market in the region. Research and Markets

  • Trump’s quest for chip revenue share is seen as a threat to global stability

    Trump’s quest for chip revenue share is seen as a threat to global stability

    The revenue-for-exports deal between the US government and two of the world’s biggest chipmakers opens a new front in a trading regime turned upside down by Donald Trump.

    Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. agreed to pay the US government 15% of revenue from some chip sales to China. The chips — Nvidia’s H20 AI accelerator and AMD’s MI308 chips — were earlier banned by the Trump administration and require export licenses to sell.

    “To call this unusual or unprecedented would be a staggering understatement,” said Stephen Olson, a former US trade negotiator now with the Singapore-based ISEA — Yusof Ishak Institute. “What we are seeing is in effect the monetization of US trade policy in which US companies must pay the US government for permission to export. If that’s the case, we’ve entered into a new and dangerous world.”

    The chip-payment arrangement may face legal challenges because it could be construed as an export tax, something that’s not allowed under the constitution, trade experts said. The proposal is the latest direct government intervention into business and finance since Trump returned to the Oval Office in January. As well as a chaotic tariff campaign and persistent criticism of a sitting Federal Reserve chairman, Trump has used his Truth Social platform for everything from calling on CEOs to resign to offering commentary on corporate advertising campaigns.

    Trump’s transactional policy approach saw him approve the sale of United States Steel Corp. to Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp. in a $14.1 billion deal that included caveats such as agreeing to US national security rules and a “golden share” for the US government. Japan, South Korea and the European Union all pledged to invest billions in the US, helping secure tariff rates of 15%, while companies such as Apple Inc. have also skirted levies by promising to invest hundreds of billions of dollars.

    Trump signaled on Monday that he’d be open to allowing Nvidia to sell a scaled-back version of its most advanced AI chip to China. Trump said he would consider a deal that would allow Nvidia to ship its Blackwell chips to China if the company could design it to be less advanced.

    “It’s possible I’d make a deal” on a “somewhat enhanced — in a negative way — Blackwell” processor, he said in a briefing with reporters. “In other words, take 30% to 50% off of it.”

    The Nvidia and AMD revenue-sharing deals may now prompt the White House to target other industries and goods, according to Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore.

    “The sky is the limit,” she said. “You could come up with all sorts of company-specific, country-specific combinations that would say, ‘No one else can trade, but if you pay us directly, then you get the ability to trade.’”

    Although Nvidia and AMD agreed to the terms, there are questions about the legality of the agreement, Elms said. The arrangement looks like an export tax, which is forbidden by the US Constitution.

    The Trump administration is already in the midst of a lawsuit related to his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to levy what he called “reciprocal” tariffs on the world. On Friday, Trump warned of a “GREAT DEPRESSION” if US courts ruled that his tariffs were illegal.

    Chips are at the heart of the US-China battle to dominate industries of the future such as AI and automation. The Biden administration restricted the sale of advanced chips to China, prompting Nvidia to develop the H20 to comply with those restrictions. Trump administration officials tightened export controls in April by barring Nvidia from selling the chips without a permit.

    Last month, however, the White House decided to allow Nvidia and AMD to resume sales of chips designed specifically for the Chinese market, which are several rungs below the most advanced artificial intelligence accelerators. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the administration wanted Chinese developers “addicted” to American technology.

    China has grown increasingly hostile to the idea of Chinese firms deploying the H20, particularly after the US called for the chips to be installed with tracking technology to better enforce export controls. Yuyuantantian, a social media account affiliated with state-run China Central Television that regularly signals Beijing’s thinking about trade, on Sunday slammed the chip’s supposed security vulnerabilities and inefficiency.

    Still, Chinese companies could use the H20s because domestic firms can’t produce enough AI chips to meet demand. That potentially provides an opportunity for Nvidia and AMD to sell more — and now for the US government to earn additional revenue as well.

    Trump extended a pause of sky-high tariffs on Chinese goods for another 90 days into early November, stabilizing trade ties between the world’s two largest economies.

    “There’s clearly a shift by the administration to take a lighter national security stance as these negotiations are ongoing,” said Drew DeLong, lead in geopolitical dynamics practice at Kearney, a global strategy and management consulting firm.

    While the US has intervened before, including by taking stakes in private companies after the 2008 financial crisis, a similar deal like the one struck with Nvidia and AMD is hard to remember and — without proper oversight — could lead to a “crony capitalism state,” according to Scott Kennedy, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

    “It represents a huge shift in the way the American economy is supposed to operate,” Kennedy said. “It won’t make anyone happy except maybe the Chinese, who will get their chips and watch the US political system go through gyration and domestic tensions.” Bloomberg

  • RescueStat is acquired by Cardio Partners

    RescueStat is acquired by Cardio Partners

    Cardio Partners, Inc. announced the acquisition of RescueStat. This acquisition strengthens Cardio Partners’ mission to increase survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and expands its ability to deliver life-saving solutions to more communities across the country.

    Founded by ER physicians, RescueStat brings two decades of expertise, innovation, and customer-focused service in AED program oversight and smart monitoring technology. The company shares Cardio Partners’ commitment to supporting responders with the tools and training needed to save lives.

    “Bringing RescueStat into the Cardio Partners family is a strategic move that deepens our capabilities and advances our shared mission,” said Lawrence Franchetti, President of Cardio Partners. “Together, we are better equipped to empower customers with more choices, seamless solutions, and exceptional support in the fight against sudden cardiac arrest.”

    Carl Dixon, CEO of RescueStat, added, “RescueStat was built on a mission to save lives through transformative technology and service that revolutionize SCA response. This milestone reflects the trust, grit, and growth mindset of our team, and I’m excited to accelerate our shared mission by joining forces with Cardio Partners.”

    The acquisition reinforces Sarnova’s and Cardio Partners’ long-term support for vendors and partners while opening new opportunities for collaboration. Customers will benefit from a broader product portfolio, enhanced support infrastructure, and expanded reach.

    Brian LaDuke, CEO of Sarnova, shared, “I am thrilled to have RescueStat join our team. Their leading-edge AED readiness and maintenance solutions elevate our impact and strengthen our mission to drive better outcomes in sudden cardiac arrest through expanded, technology-driven solutions.”

    Yuriy Prilutskiy, Co-Head of Patricia Industries, said, “Patricia Industries is committed to supporting Sarnova in its mission to make life-saving health and safety solutions more accessible to those who need them most. This transaction further enhances Sarnova’s long-term growth potential by adding an innovative technology solution to its portfolio, and aligns with our organization’s purpose of creating value for people and society by building strong and sustainable businesses.”

    Legal counsel for Cardio Partners in the transaction was provided by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Counsel for RescueStat provided by Perkins Coie LLP and Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley LLP.
    TheNewsBit Bureau

  • Market for wearable medical devices will grow at a 13.67% CAGR

    Market for wearable medical devices will grow at a 13.67% CAGR

    The wearable medical devices market to grow at a 13.67% CAGR through 2032, fueled by aging populations, rising chronic diseases, and tech advancements.

    Wearable medical devices market dynamics
    The global wearable medical devices market is experiencing robust growth momentum driven by several compelling factors. The market is witnessing positive growth primarily owing to the rising prevalence of various chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and pain-related disorders.

    The current wearable medical devices market size projections indicate steady expansion through 2032, with the market expected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of 13.67% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2032. This growth trajectory reflects the increasing integration of wearable technology into mainstream healthcare delivery systems.

    North America is expected to dominate the overall wearable medical devices market, attributed to the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, surging elderly population burden, increasing unhealthy lifestyle patterns, and increasing regulatory approval for wearable health devices

    The market expansion is further influenced by demographic shifts, particularly the rising burden of the geriatric population prone to various chronic diseases across the globe. According to DelveInsight’s report, people aged 60 years and beyond will double from 12-22% and reach 2.1 billion by 2050. Furthermore, by 2030, one out of every six people globally will be aged 60 years or beyond, with the number of people aged 80 years or above expected to triple between 2020 and 2050, reaching approximately 430 million.

    The wearable medical devices development shows robust pipeline activity across multiple device categories. The electrocardiographs fetal and obstetric devices segment is expected to hold significant revenue share, attributed to growing advantages and applications, along with surging product approvals and launches by key manufacturers.

    The wearable medical devices competitive landscape demonstrates active industry participation with strategic collaborations, acquisitions, and product launches. The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly accelerated market adoption, increasing awareness about physical fitness globally and surging demand for monitoring devices, including fitness monitors, cardiac monitors, pulse oximeters, respiratory monitors, and blood pressure monitors.

    The wearable medical devices market unmet needs and opportunities include navigating regulatory approval processes while capitalizing on increasing regulatory acceptance for wearable medical technology. The market benefits from growing awareness about fitness and physical activity, presenting significant opportunities for expansion across therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

    The wearable medical devices future market outlook remains highly positive, with growth drivers including technological advancement, expanding applications in remote patient monitoring, increasing healthcare digitization, and growing consumer acceptance of wearable health technologies. The market is expected to benefit from continued product innovation, strategic partnerships, and expanding geographic reach during the forecast period. DelveInsight

  • FDA lacks a need to limit PFAS use in medical devices

    FDA lacks a need to limit PFAS use in medical devices

    The FDA said this week that it has found no reason to restrict the use of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in medical devices, including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
    The agency cited decades of use and an ECRI review that “found no conclusive evidence of patient health issues associated with PTFE as a material.”

    PFAS are a group of more than 15,000 “forever chemicals” used in a range of industries. PTFE was first used in a medical device in the 1950s. These materials are used in cardiovascular stents, pacemakers, vascular grafts and guidewires. They provide lubrication for devices inserted into the body, electrical insulation for pacemaker wires and biostability for implants that remain in place for long periods.

    The FDA statement comes as device manufacturers face growing public and regulatory scrutiny on PFAS use. Some companies are exploring ways to reduce or replace fluoropolymers in coatings and components to address environmental concerns and prepare for potential future restrictions. Industry experts have noted that making such changes will require identifying materials that match fluoropolymers’ performance in safety-critical applications.

    3M, a major PFAS manufacturer, pledged to halt all PFAS production by the end of 2025 after paying hundreds of millions of dollars to settle lawsuits over groundwater contamination.

    The FDA said the fluoropolymers used in medical devices are chemically different from the small-molecule PFAS linked to environmental and health concerns.

    “Fluoropolymers are typically comprised of molecules that are too large to cross through cell membranes and, as a result, are very unlikely to cause toxicity to patients,” the agency said.

    The agency said biostability helps prevent degradation of devices in the body, which could otherwise release fragments and lead to serious health risks.

    The FDA said there are no alternative materials that can replace fluoropolymers in these devices without compromising performance. Many of the devices involved are critical to saving or sustaining lives.

    The FDA’s position follows a safety review it commissioned from ECRI, an independent group designated as a Patient Safety Organization by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The review, completed in 2021, analyzed more than 1,750 peer-reviewed scientific articles and data from 1,800 health care provider organizations.

    The FDA said it will continue to monitor fluoropolymer safety and update its position if new information becomes available. Medical Design & Outsourcing

  • ITV & BBC acquire rights for host 2027 World Cup

    ITV & BBC acquire rights for host 2027 World Cup

    The BBC and ITV have secured the broadcasting rights to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, ensuring the biggest tournament in women’s football remains free-to-air for UK audiences.

    The broadcasters will split games evenly between them in the group and knockout stages but will both show the final.

    “Extending our partnership with Fifa alongside ITV ensures that the drama and spectacle of the Women’s World Cup remains free-to-air,” said BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski.

    “BBC Sport has been a longstanding champion of women’s football, helping to elevate the game to where it is today – a sport experiencing unprecedented growth in popularity and reach across BBC Sport platforms.

    “From domestic leagues to major international tournaments, we’ve brought the defining moments to millions across the UK already, including this summer’s Women’s Euro tournament.”

    BBC Sport will show live coverage on TV and iPlayer as well as bringing coverage to the website and across radio and social media platforms.

    ITV will also have live games on TV as well as coverage on social media and ITVX. In addition, the broadcaster will show all of England’s qualifying matches and friendlies.

    “The Fifa Women’s World Cup 2027 is sure to be another standout tournament and we look forward to continuing our relationship with both Fifa and the BBC,” said Niall Sloane, ITV director of sport.

    The 32-team tournament will start on 24 June 2027 and conclude on 27 July.

    Spain are the defending world champions after beating England 1-0 in the final in 2023.

    The pair will go head-to-head again in Sunday’s Euro 25 final. BBC

  • DAZN extends the Belgian pro league’s Japanese rights deal

    DAZN extends the Belgian pro league’s Japanese rights deal

    The Japanese arm of global subscription service DAZN has struck an extension of its rights deal with Belgian men’s soccer’s top-tier Pro League.

    Through a multi-year tie-up, DAZN will provide coverage of the upcoming 2025-26 Pro League season inititally, with the 16-team competition currently containing 15 Japanese players (DAZN has claimed this is the highest number in any European league).

    This contingent includes eight Japanese players at the Sint-Truidense club, who are owned by Japanese e-commerce and IT firm DMM.

    DAZN – which aired the Pro League in Japan last season as well – will cover at least three Pro League games each round, with one of those to be aired live in Japanese.

    The upcoming Pro League season starts on July 26 (Saturday), with DAZN Japan’s first game in Japanese to be the clash between Sint-Truiden and Gent.

    This deal adds to the existing domestic coverage tie-up between DAZN and the Pro League, through which that subscription service’s Belgian arm holds rights until 2030.

    A deal to that effect was unveiled late last year, for €84.2 million (at the time, $87.5 million) per season. That equates to a significant value of the previous DAZN-Pro League domestic tie-up.

    DAZN will also cover Belgian soccer’s second-tier Challenger Pro League, the women’s Super League, the domestic Croky Cup, and the Supercup, domestically.

    In Japan, meanwhile, DAZN also holds rights to other European soccer leagues, including those in Spain, Italy, and France.

    For the Pro League, March saw the announcement that the competition will contain 18 teams from 2026-27. Of the 18 clubs, the top four will secure a spot in pan-European UEFA competitions the following season, while the bottom two will be relegated directly. There will be 34 matches played by each team in total. Sportcal

  • Amagi Media Labs might acquire ₹1,020 crore via filing draft IPO papers

    Amagi Media Labs might acquire ₹1,020 crore via filing draft IPO papers

    Cloud-based video broadcasting and distribution platform Amagi Media Labs Ltd has filed draft papers to raise ₹1,020 crore in an initial public offering (IPO) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

    Mint first reported in January that the software-as-a-service firm appointed investment bankers, including Kotak Mahindra Capital, Citigroup, IIFL Capital, and Goldman Sachs, for a ₹3,200-crore public listing.

    The proposed IPO consists of an issue of fresh equity shares worth ₹1,020 crore and an offer for sale of up to 34 million shares, showed the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP)

    The listing will make the Bengaluru-based unicorn the very first sectoral player in the broadcast and streaming ecosystem to go public in the country.

    Several notable investors, including Premji Invest, Accel, General Atlantic, and Norwest Ventures, will be offloading their stakes. It is currently unclear if they will sell all their shares in the company.

    Net proceeds from the fresh issue of ₹667 crore will go towards the company’s further investments in its cloud infrastructure and inorganic growth.

    It is also considering raising ₹204 crore in a pre-IPO round.

    Amagi’s revenue from operations in 2024-25 stood at ₹1,162 crore. Its revenue since 2022-23 has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 30%.

    Amagi, which gets most of its revenue from the US, sees the Indian market growing, given the rise of free ad-supported TV in the country. India and Latin America currently make up only about 10% of its overall revenue.

    In a conversation with Mint earlier, its founders said they’d be looking to make a few acquisitions this year in three spaces: live sports broadcasting, advertising technology solutions, and the media supply chain sector.

    The company had last raised money in 2022, when it raised over $100 million in a round led by General Atlantic, which valued the company at $1.4 billion.

    It was founded in 2008 by chief executive Baskar Subramanian, chief technology officer Srividhya Srinivasan, and Arunachalam Srinivasan Karapattu, who currently serves as the president of global business. LiveMint

  • For statewide digital access, Goa will build a new optical fiber network

    For statewide digital access, Goa will build a new optical fiber network

    The Goa government plans to lay a new optical fibre cable network across the coastal state to enhance internet connectivity and ensure digital access to every household, Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte has said.

    Responding to a question raised by independent MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye during the ongoing monsoon session of the state assembly, Khaunte said in a written reply on Thursday that the proposed network will form the backbone of the state’s ‘Har Ghar Fibre’ initiative.

    “The government is committed to providing affordable, high-speed internet connectivity to every household in Goa, enabling access to digital services in education, healthcare, e-governance, commerce and communication,” Khaunte said.

    He added that the initiative is aligned with the Centre’s Digital India programme and is aimed at bridging the digital divide, particularly in underserved areas.

    The project will be executed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model while also leveraging existing infrastructure such as the Goa Broadband Network and BharatNet to avoid redundancy, Khaunte said in his written reply.

    He said that the last-mile internet services will be delivered through licensed Internet Service Providers (ISPs), using shared or leased access to the network.

    Khaunte said the project will be rolled out in phases, and regions currently facing limited or no connectivity will get priority.

    “Year-wise targets for implementation will be finalised following the tendering process and preparation of the execution roadmap,” the minister added. PTI