thenewsbit.com

Author: Newsbit

  • France has joined the European initiative for train satellite internet

    France has joined the European initiative for train satellite internet

    France’s state-owned rail company SNCF will launch a tender soon to add satellite internet to its trains, becoming the latest European rail operator to explore space-based systems for onboard connectivity.

    SNCF said it was pursuing an “innovative approach to strengthen connectivity and resilience” by combining terrestrial networks with low Earth-orbit satellite solutions.

    The company said the strategy aims to ensure service continuity across its entire network, including isolated sites, and guarantee better internet access for train passengers.

    “The satellite plus 4G/5G combination would eliminate dead zones and offer stable, fast service adapted to new uses such as streaming or video conferencing,” SNCF said.

    Elon Musk’s Starlink and France’s Eutelsat are among the companies being considered, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

    SNCF would not discuss with Reuters whether it was in talks with specific providers.

    A Eutelsat spokesperson confirmed the company’s interest in the deal as it is already in talks with SNCF about setting up a pilot project as they have already done in Britain and Kazakhstan.

    “As one of only two LEO (low Earth orbit) operators currently in service, and the only French player, we intend to bid for the contract with our French partners such as Orange business services,” the spokesperson said.

    Starlink, which initially focused on consumer services, has expanded into enterprise markets, particularly in transportation and maritime sectors.

    Eutelsat, propped up by the French government in its push for LEO services, provides internet access through its OneWeb network of more than 600 LEO satellites.

    The move follows similar initiatives across Europe.

    Italy’s state railway Ferrovie dello Stato ran a two-week trial in June with two providers, including Starlink, Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini said in May.

    Most European trains rely on cellular networks for internet access.

    However, connection quality varies with mobile network coverage, often dropping in rural areas or tunnels.

    The high speeds of tains also create technical challenges as systems must constantly switch between mobile towers, causing intermittent service.

    Satellites, on the other hand, offer consistent coverage everywhere, including remote areas where cellular towers are sparse or nonexistent. Reuters

  • SKT loses 800,000 members as a result of the hacking scandal

    SKT loses 800,000 members as a result of the hacking scandal

    SK Telecom, South Korea’s largest telecommunications firm by market share, is facing mounting fallout from a massive cyberattack, with subscriber churn accelerating despite the company’s compensation measures, such as allowing customers to cancel their contracts early without penalty.

    While the company may retain its No. 1 position for now, its market dominance is increasingly under threat, with over 800,000 subscribers having already left as of the end of last month. As rival carriers ramp up efforts to lure dissatisfied customers, attention is focused on how SKT will contain the damage and defend its market share.

    Just a day after SKT announced its penalty waiver for early contract termination and unveiled a compensation plan on Friday, nearly 4,000 subscribers switched to rival carriers. On Saturday alone, SKT lost 3,865 users, while KT and LG Uplus gained 1,952 and 1,913 new subscribers, respectively.

    The government concluded on Friday that SKT had been the target of hacking attacks since 2021, and that negligence on its part allowed the damage to escalate — ultimately leading to the exposure of nearly 10 gigabytes of sensitive subscriber data.

    Amid concerns about significant financial losses, SKT ultimately decided to comply with the government’s order to waive termination fees, prioritizing the restoration of long-term customer trust over short-term revenue, according to SKT CEO Ryu Young-sang.

    At a parliamentary hearing in May, the CEO warned that up to 5 million customers could leave if the company waived its termination fees, potentially resulting in more than 7 trillion won ($5.1 billion) in revenue losses over the next three years — assuming an average penalty of 100,000 won per person.

    Customers who canceled their contracts after the April 19 hacking incident, or who do so by July 14, will not be required to pay termination fees.

    In addition to the penalty waiver, the company has also announced compensation measures, including a 50 percent discount on August bills and 50 gigabytes of free monthly data through the end of the year.

    “We are closely watching the situation, as there will likely be a significant number of subscribers who choose to end their SKT contracts and switch carriers without penalty by the 14th,” said an industry official.

    Reflecting the impact of these measures, SKT revised its 2024 consolidated sales forecast downward from 17.8 trillion won to 17 trillion won, citing losses from bill discounts and anticipated revenue hits from the penalty waivers.

    With SKT’s waiver policy easing contract exits and rival carriers stepping up their marketing efforts, telecom competition is expected to peak in the coming weeks.

    Samsung Electronics is also preparing to launch its next-generation foldable smartphones — the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 — this week, while the upcoming repeal of a law that caps smartphone subsidies is expected to add further fuel to the competitive fire.

    Meanwhile, some franchise stores of rival mobile carriers have come under fire for aggressive and unethical marketing tactics. As KT and LG Uplus intensify their campaigns to attract SKT users, certain retail outlets have reportedly offered illegal subsidies and instructed employees to use fear-based sales pitches.

    One such script targeting hesitant customers reportedly read: “If you stay with SKT, your child could suffer from similar hacking later, and your phone number leak could put your child at risk too.”

    While the government has confirmed there has been no secondary damage from the hacking incident, these misleading tactics are fueling consumer fear in a bid to boost subscriber counts. Korea Herald

  • Cisco is urged by Scindia to grow its footprint in India’s rising digital market

    Cisco is urged by Scindia to grow its footprint in India’s rising digital market

    Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday met Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins and his team here, encouraging them to deepen their footprint in India’s rapidly evolving digital technology landscape and growing market.

    During the meeting, the minister highlighted the importance of leveraging the country’s vast potential and vibrant talent pool.

    Underscoring the importance of building solutions that uplift the common man, he stressed Bharat’s pivotal role in driving the 6G revolution and India’s growing momentum in artificial intelligence (AI).“It was a pleasure to meet Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco and his team. Deliberated on deepening Cisco’s tech footprint in India, expanding into Tier 2 and 3 markets, strengthening cybersecurity, and co-creating solutions that truly touch lives at the grassroots,” the minister posted on X social media platform.With India rising as a global digital powerhouse, we look forward to building a secure, inclusive and future-ready Bharat, Scindia added.

    The Minister invited Cisco to explore broader investment opportunities in India’s digital technology sector, highlighting the country’s emergence as a global hub for innovation and investment.

    He also emphasised the importance of developing ecosystems beyond physical infrastructure that empower communities and prepare future generations.

    The discussion builds on Cisco’s expanding presence in India, including the inauguration of its first manufacturing facility in Chennai in 2024 graced by Minister.

    As India accelerates towards a tech-driven future, Scindia welcomed Cisco to further expand its engagement and co-create solutions that drive inclusive, resilient, and future-ready digital growth.

    In September last year, the global networking giant inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in India, that will help the company generate more than $1.3 billion annual revenue in combined exports and domestic production, along with creating 1,200 jobs.

    Cisco collaborated with homegrown contract manufacturer Flex to successfully build the facility and bring advanced telecom technology that can help connect citizens in India and globally.

    “The inauguration of the Cisco’s manufacturing facility in India producing advanced telecom equipment is a testament to the country’s growing Atmanirbharta in the global technology landscape,” Scindia had said at the launch of the manufacturing facility. IANS

  • AI aid in Asia Pacific hits $15.4B in 2024 

    AI aid in Asia Pacific hits $15.4B in 2024 

    While AI deal volumes dipped in 2024, total capital invested in AI-native digital businesses (DNBs) in Asia Pacific hit USD 15.4 billion, driven by growing interest in scalable solutions and industry-specific innovation, according to IDC.)

    The information technology sector led AI investment activity in Asia Pacific in 2024, according to IDC, with the majority of deals targeting cloud computing, cybersecurity, SaaS platforms, data analytics, and machine learning. Healthcare followed as a fast-rising sector, driven by breakthroughs in diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalized treatment. Regionally, China, South Korea, and Japan attracted the most AI capital, while India stood out for its software-driven, scalable AI innovation

    Other key highlights include:

    • Over 50% of DNBs in APAC remain in the “repeatable” stage of AI maturity, lagging behind North America and Europe.
    • Only 29% of DNBs have reached the optimized stage with fully scaled AI deployments, creating a significant opportunity for vendors to support infrastructure readiness, data integration, and automation use cases.
    • 42% of DNBs now seek strategic co-innovation from vendors, favoring those that provide modular, scalable platforms and localized support.

    The report is based on IDC’s 2025 AI Wave 1 Survey and includes data from 2,300+ VC deals and direct responses from digital-native businesses across Asia Pacific.

    For technology vendors and investors, this report offers a roadmap to navigate AI investment shifts, assess infrastructure readiness, and identify partnership models tailored for scaling AI adoption across Asia/Pacific’s digital-native ecosystem.

    “With a unique blend of tech ambition, government and policy support, and agility of DNBs, Asia/Pacific is emerging as a global epicentre for AI investments. Those that scale responsibly, localise intelligently, and partner strategically will be the true winners in this space,” says Supriya Deka, research manager, Asia/Pacific small and medium-sized businesses and DNBs, IDC Asia/Pacific. IDC

  • US delays imposing reciprocal tariffs until August 1

    US delays imposing reciprocal tariffs until August 1

    The United States has delayed the implementation of its “Liberation Day” reciprocal tariffs until the 1st of next month, providing additional time for affected countries to finalise interim trade deals with the US. Initially announced by President Donald Trump on April 2, the tariffs were to target several nations, including India, but their enforcement was paused for 90 days, giving trading partners until July 9 to reach agreements.

    The latest update, announced via Trump’s social media platform, outlines new tariff rates on 14 countries, which will come into effect on August 1. According to the announcement, the US will impose 25 percent tariffs on goods from Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kazakhstan; 30 percent tariffs on imports from South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina; 32 percent on Indonesian products; 35 percent on goods from Serbia and Bangladesh; 36 percent on imports from Cambodia and Thailand; and 40 percent on products from Laos and Myanmar. These are in addition to the previously announced 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Japan and South Korea.

    In letters sent to the leaders of the affected countries, Mr Trump warned against retaliatory tariffs, stating that any such measures would prompt the US to further increase import duties. The tariff measures are part of President Trump’s ongoing push to correct trade imbalances and enforce what he describes as “more fair and balanced” trade relationships. News On AIR

  • Many medical organizations sue RFK Jr. for his stance on vaccines

    Many medical organizations sue RFK Jr. for his stance on vaccines

    Several leading medical organizations filed a lawsuit against US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Department of Health and Human Services on Monday, arguing that current policies on Covid-19 vaccines pose an imminent threat to public health.

    The plaintiffs, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association and Infectious Diseases Society of America, have asked the court to vacate Kennedy’s recent directive removing the Covid-19 vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s childhood and pregnant‑women immunization schedules.

    The lawsuit accuses Kennedy of working “to dismantle the longstanding, Congressionally-authorized, science- and evidence-based vaccine infrastructure that has prevented the deaths of untold millions of Americans.”

    Representatives for HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Lead counsel for the plaintiffs Richard Hughes, a partner at law firm Epstein Becker Green, said he hopes to expedite the case, with a hearing in the next few weeks and a permanent order in the case entered by September.

    Kennedy, who for decades has sown doubt about the safety of vaccines contrary to evidence and research by scientists, is head of the department that oversees the CDC. He said in May that the CDC would remove the Covid shot from vaccination schedules for healthy children and healthy pregnant women.

    The complainants alleged that such “baseless and uninformed policy” decisions place critical populations at “grave and immediate risk” of preventable illness, long-term harm, or death.

    HHS’ changes to the Covid vaccine recommendations have led pregnant women and parents to question the value of other recommended vaccines, representatives of the medical societies said.

    “We’re hearing from pediatricians all over the country that parents are having significant concerns about every single vaccine,” Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said at a press conference.

    In addition to the new directive on Covid vaccines, Kennedy fired all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the independent panel of experts that advises the agency on vaccine policy, and replaced them with seven new members, including several who have advocated against vaccines.

    The lawsuit doesn’t address Kennedy’s overhaul of that committee. But Hughes told reporters that he expects the new members will take action against other vaccines and the groups plan to amend their complaint when that happens. Reuters

  • Delhi will launch a four-tiered program for mental health

    Delhi will launch a four-tiered program for mental health

    The Delhi government is set to launch a dedicated mental health programme focused on children, the working class and senior citizens, through a four-tier model offering teleconsultation, counselling, OPD care and a referral system.

    In a bid to tackle the rising cases of stress and anxiety across age groups, a comprehensive mental health programme under the AYUSH intervention will help people of all ages, Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh said

    He said that the initiative — aimed at promoting holistic well-being — will focus on three key population groups: children, the working class and senior citizens.

    The service will be anonymous, accessible and rooted in traditional systems of medicine including Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and Unani, he said, adding that this will be the first focused mental health initiative under Ayush and it will support people at every stage — from a phone call to a consultation, and even hospital-level care if needed.

    Many people hesitate to speak about mental stress. Through this platform, they can reach out anonymously and seek help without fear or stigma, the minister said.

    The programme will operate through a four-level structure starting from telephonic consultations, moving to mental health counselling, followed by OPD services at Ayush hospitals and a final referral stage in case specialised psychiatric intervention is needed.

    The programme is especially significant at a time when stress is increasingly being reported among school children, with some showing early signs of aggression and anxiety. Also, working professionals are burdened with high-pressure targets and a lack of work-life balance.

    Women who juggle home and workplace responsibilities will also be covered within this group. The elderly, too, face isolation and other age-related mental health challenges.

    Under the plan, people can call a dedicated helpline and book a time slot to speak with a counsellor. If the counsellor feels that in-person help is required, the case will be referred to OPDs at Ayush hospitals. There are currently four such teaching hospitals in Delhi — Karol Bagh, Defence Colony, Najafgarh and Nanak Pura.

    If further care is necessary, the final level will involve referral to allopathic or psychiatric facilities based on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

    Functioning under the Delhi government’s health framework, the AYUSH systems comprise Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. PTI

  • BharatNet will give 15M rural homes free broadband

    BharatNet will give 15M rural homes free broadband

    Subsidised broadband will be provided to 1.5 crore rural households under the Bharatnet Phase 3 scheme, Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said.

    While speaking at a roadshow for India Mobile Congress 2025, Pemmasani said BharatNet is the world’s largest rural broadband project, and has already connected over 2.18 lakh gram panchayats with high-speed optical fibre.

    “Under Bharatnet Phase 3, we are investing USD 18 billion (Rs 1.4 lakh crore) to connect an additional 40,000 Gram Panchayats, maintain existing 2.18 lakh village connections, and extend subsidised broadband access to 1.5 crore rural households,” he said.

    The minister said India offers one of the world’s lowest data prices, which has made data accessible and affordable, democratised the digital revolution, allowing millions to connect, create, and contribute.

    He said 10-11 years back, there was a lot of digital divide, and now India has digital dominance.

    “The world’s fastest 5G rollout happened right here in India – over 4.7 lakh 5G sites deployed in just over 2 years, covering 99.6 per cent of our districts,” he said.

    Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal said India Mobile Congress is not just an event, but it reflects the critical role of telecom in driving economic growth, digital connectivity, e-commerce, and even national security.

    “We have often heard that India lagged in 4G, went with the world in 5G, and now wishes to lead in 6G. That ambition is what this event brings together. Telecom is a tough, highly regulated space, dominated by global giants who control standards and platforms. But through schemes and funds, such as the TTDF, the Government of India is reducing risks for startups and enabling them to grow,” he said.

    Last week, Pemmasani had shared that the government has approved around Rs 500 crore till date under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) to 120 projects in areas of 5G, 6G, chipsets and quantum technology.

    The government-backed IMC 2025 is scheduled from October 8 to 11 in New Delhi.

    COAI Chairman Abhijit Kishore said the theme of IMC 2025 will be Innovate to Transform. PTI

  • Indian OTT platforms continue to evolve yet slowly with a little risk

    Indian OTT platforms continue to evolve yet slowly with a little risk

    Majority of Indian media and entertainment companies have got a hang of how over the top (OTT) model works and they have been taking steps to cut extra flabs to push their streaming businesses towards profitability from the earlier cash-burn mode.

    Major players which have pan-India audiences, like Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ (ZEEL) ZEE5 and Ekta Kapoor-backed Balaji Telefilms’ ALTT, have cut operational costs over the years and have also gone through the process of rebranding their over-the-top (OTT) segments.

    While the OTT industry as a whole has been focused on cutting costs, media analysts and executives said that this trend has been more prominent towards the OTT platforms started by Indian companies, as they cannot afford to spend as much as their established global counterparts like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

    The only exception in this case is Reliance Industries-backed JioHotstar.

    “OTT platforms have been present in India for the last 10 to 15 years… Even the most lenient investors would like to see some return right now,” said a media analyst, on the condition of anonymity.

    In the financial year 2025 (FY25), ZEE5 had an Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) loss of ₹550 crore compared with ₹1,110 crore in FY24. One of the major ways through which the company achieved this goal was through cost-cutting.

    In one of its investor presentations, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has said that it aims to achieve breakeven in ZEE5 from Ebitda losses of ₹548 crore (Ebitda loss excluding the costs incurred by the business on ZEEL network) in FY25 and is positioned to become a leading and profitable OTT player, after having completed its recently announced investment cycle.

    On the other hand, ALTT is smaller than what it was earlier, which was a conscious decision made by the company, said Sanjay Dwivedi, group chief executive officer and chief financial officer, Balaji Telefilms.

    This was because the company was burning ₹145 crore of cash almost every year to run this segment, which was not healthy.

    “As a result, we cut down on cost and reworked our strategy. We want to be Thumbs Up to Coke… Netflix and Prime Video will exist and we will exist in a smaller way, as we don’t want to burn cash,” he added.

    Vivek Menon, managing partner, NV Capital, a media and entertainment fund company, said that this trend, to a certain extent, is more prominent among those streaming platforms that target pan-India audiences, unlike regional OTT platforms. “Especially if the platforms had been buying content from Bollywood, Tamil and Telugu languages, as the content costs from these markets are always on the higher side,” Menon said.

    Menon said that OTT as a phenomenon started picking up only post-Covid. Hence, to a certain extent, it is still currently in cash burn mode to enhance its subscriber base and is a long, patient model.

    Ashish Pherwani, leader, media and entertainment sector, EY India, believes that on one side, the video OTT sector is still in its growth phase, while on the other, it needs to manage increasing content costs, customer acquisition costs and churn.

    In this environment, profitability takes a hit, and players who can remain invested in the segment will survive.

    Shemaroo Entertainment’s ShemarooMe, which is majorly focused on Gujarati-language content, is “on the road to profitability and viability,” according to Saurabh Srivastava, COO, digital business, Shemaroo Entertainment.

    Srivastava said that they had seen a very high double-digit growth in revenue in the first quarter of FY26, and the company will continue to invest in the streaming segment. He said that the industry is learning how to rationalise the cost of running the streaming business in the country and also push for higher ROIs (return on investments).

    Additionally, the subscriber base of the company has also risen by a very high double-digit number in Q1FY26 on a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) basis.

    Meanwhile, HoiChoi, a subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming platform that focuses on Bengali-language content, has achieved its cash breakeven from FY24.

    The platform currently has close to 200 original web series. “As a production house creating Bengali films and TV for 30 years, transitioning to web content was a natural evolution,” said Vishnu Mohta, co-founder, Hoichoi.

    Collectively, the media executives and analysts highlighted that the industry is growing, with every platform having its own room for growth, as there are many sub-segments or niches available to all the platforms to capitalise on.

    “Moving forward, it looks like the majority of the networks have got a hang on how the OTT model works and how one can try to monetise the platform through subscription and advertising. The fact that ZEE5 is completely rebranding itself shows that the investment in the sector will continue to grow,” Menon said. Business Standard

  • I&B Ministry proposes altering TRP agency criteria

    I&B Ministry proposes altering TRP agency criteria

    The Information & Broadcasting Ministry is looking to bring amendments in the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India, which were released in 2014. The agencies are involved in audience measurement for TV channels. The Ministry has sought stakeholders’ views on these proposed amendments.

    The amendments are aimed at bringing in relaxations for rating agencies in terms of cross-holding restrictions besides updation of registration norms.

    The proposed amendments state that clauses 1.5 and 1.7 of the Policy Guidelines for Rating Agencies in India “shall be deleted”. Clause 1.5 in the guidelines had prohibited Board of Directors of the audience measurement company “to be in the business of broadcasting, advertising and advertising agencies”. Meanwhile, clause 1.7 defines restrictions in terms of cross-holdings in terms of substantial equity in rating agencies as well as promoter level restrictions. For instance, the guidelines released in 2014 state that ”a promoter company/member of the board of directors of the rating agency cannot have stakes in any broadcaster/ advertiser/advertising agency either directly or through its associates or inter-connected undertakings”.

    Restrictions
    The Ministry is now proposing to do away with such restrictions, which will enable stakeholders from the industry to serve on the boards of audience measurement agencies, among others.

    Another proposed amendment stated: “The company [TRP rating agency] shall not undertake any activity like consultancy or any such advisory role, which would lead to a potential conflict of interest with its main objective of rating.” Earlier, this clause was defined as ” the company’s MoA shall not include any activity like consultancy or any such advisory role, which would lead to a potential conflict of interest with its main objective of rating”. Another amendment is aimed at updating registration norms by changing the reference to the Companies Act 2013 from the Companies Act 1956. “The applicant seeking registration for providing television rating services shall be a company registered in India under the Companies Act, 2013,” it stated.

    Once finalised, the proposed amendments will become effective immediately, and will be applicable to existing rating agencies, the Ministry stated. The Hindu business line