Category: Communications

A total of 29 companies had attended the pre-bid meeting on BSNL’s 5G tender for Delhi. Only three companies, Tejas Networks, Lekha Wireless, and Galore Network put in their bids to roll out indigenous 5G in standalone (SA) architecture across 1,876 sites in Delhi.

A weak response to BSNL’s 5G tender with a miss from larger companies has come because of the tender terms and conditions, which require selected bidders to incur capital expenditure (CapEx) and operating expenses (OpEx), according to industry executives. This is different from the 4G tender, where BSNL has paid the money to selected bidders for the services.

In the 5G tender, BSNL will have a revenue-sharing mechanism with the bidders selected and has asked for a minimum 70% share from the bidders after services are rolled out.

Notably, a total of 29 companies such as L&T Technology, TCS, Tejas, VVDN, Lekha, HFCL, among others, attended the pre-bid meeting on the 5G tender.

“We have the product and technology in place but we need backing from investors to incur the CapEx,” said Ramu T Srinivasiah, founder and director at Lekha Wireless. Lekha has applied to supply radios for the BSNL’s 5G services in Delhi.

For deploying 4G networks across the country, BSNL awarded a Rs 15,000 crore tender to TCS consortium. BSNL has so far launched over 65,000 4G sites on indigenous stack.

According to the tender document, BSNL will utilise the 900 MHz and 3300 MHz bands to provide 5G SA services across the designated sites. Estimates suggest that the selected bidders will have to incur a CapEx of over Rs 500 crore to deploy core network and radio solutions for BSNL’s 5G services.

The rollout is initially planned to serve 100,000 registered subscribers, with a simultaneous launch of fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband services.

“It will be the first time in the world that we are having a revenue share model and the bidders will not only have their roles in R&D design, equipment design but service provisioning,” said Rakesh Bhatnagar, director general of VoICE, which represents domestic telecom solution providers.

“Hopefully, this should lead us to have domestic export players in the developing world where presently we have only five suppliers of 5G,” Bhatnagar added.

Currently, the telecom equipment space is dominated by the likes of global players such as Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, ZTE, and Samsung.

BSNL intends to partner with two service providers in Delhi: a primary 5G-as-a-service provider and a secondary provider. The primary 5G as a service provider will deploy one 5G SA core and a 5G-RAN using up to two original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), while the secondary provider will also deploy 5G-RAN equipment from up to two OEMs.

The duration of the contract between BSNL and service providers will be seven years from the date of commissioning of the 5G network and it being ready to use for offering services to end customers. After seven years, BSNL shall be at liberty to extend the contract for the next 3 years or more on mutually agreed terms and conditions, according to the tender document. Financial Express

The State of Mobile 2025 Report by Sensor Tower reveals a significant surge in mobile monetisation, with global in-app purchase (IAP) revenue across iOS and Google Play reaching $150 billion in 2024, marking a 13% year-on-year increase. This represents the highest growth rate since 2021, encompassing spending on in-app purchases, subscriptions, and paid apps and games.

Mobile users spent an astonishing 4.2 trillion hours on apps in 2024, averaging 3.5 hours per user daily. However, signs of slowing growth in mobile usage are emerging, as digital fatigue begins to take hold in certain markets. Global usage grew by 5.8% year-on-year, a decline from the 7.7% increase observed in 2023. Countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, and China saw usage plateau.

India continues to lead globally, with over 25 billion app downloads in 2023 and 2024, cementing its dominance in mobile app consumption. Meanwhile, Europe outpaced the United States in revenue growth, with IAP revenue increasing by 24% year-on-year, double the global average. Key markets like the UK, Germany, France, and Italy contributed significantly to this rise.

Social apps remained the top category for consumer engagement, with 3 trillion hours spent globally on social media and messaging apps in 2024, a 6% increase from the previous year. India played a key role, with time spent on social apps rising by 16% year-on-year. Globally, time spent on social apps surpassed 600 billion hours per quarter, with India witnessing a remarkable doubling of usage since 2021.

In the gaming sector, mobile game revenue reached $80.9 billion in 2024, driven by emerging markets such as India, Mexico, and Thailand. These countries saw spending increases of 17%, 21%, and 16%, respectively. However, North Asia faced challenges, with Japan reporting a 7% decline in mobile game revenue due to economic and currency issues.

Streaming apps experienced growth in in-app revenue and downloads but faced declining engagement in key markets, including the United States and China. While time spent on streaming apps remained steady globally, India saw pockets of growth. Consumers continue to embrace paying for streaming services on mobile devices, despite increased competition from social apps and other platforms.

As mobile trends evolve, India’s influence in app downloads, usage, and revenue underscores its growing role in the global mobile ecosystem. Social Samosa

Indonesian Digital telecommunications company Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat or IOH) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India-based AIonOS to transform Indonesia’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem, a release said.

The MoU represents the first large-scale AI-focused partnership between the two nations, symbolising a shared commitment to leverage the power of AI to drive innovation, economic growth, and sociocultural transformation.

AIonOS, a joint venture between InterGlobe and Assago Group, is dedicated to transforming businesses into AI-led enterprises while Indosat is Indonesia’s leading telecommunications provider.

According to the release, the partnership aims to create transformative solutions, especially in areas like tourism, knowledge economy, and sustainable agriculture, driving innovations that can reshape the country’s digital economy and strengthen its global competitiveness.

The partnership will leverage advanced AI and technology solutions to increase agricultural productivity and resilience, particularly in the face of challenging climate conditions, thereby enhancing food security and empowering local farmers.

CP Gurnani, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, AIonOS, said, “By leveraging Indosat’s local expertise with AIonOS’s AI innovations, this initiative aims to empower Indonesians with AI skills, boost growth in key sectors like tourism and sustainable agriculture, and strengthen Indonesia’s human capital to drive its digital transformation. As an enabler and accelerator of progress, this positions India to build an enterprise-scale AI platform and unlock industry-wide adoption globally.”

Vikram Sinha, President Director and Chief Executive Officer Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, said, “By focusing on key sectors like talent development, food security, and tourism, this initiative aims to support Indonesia’s Golden Vision 2045 through technological advancement. AIonOS’s collaboration with Indosat serves as a beacon of innovation, strengthening Indonesia-India ties and setting the stage for Indonesia to emerge as a regional hub for AI-driven progress. This partnership will co-create solutions that will benefit millions in Indonesia.”

The release added that the MoU sets a benchmark for international tech diplomacy and showcases how cross-border collaboration can drive shared prosperity.

With focus on tourism, skills development, and food security, the partnership highlights AI’s potential to drive innovation, address critical challenges and create meaningful economic impact, it added. The Print

Depositors who lost their money in the BSNL Engineers’ Cooperative Society (T-950) scam have urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the BSNL management to investigate the involvement of BSNL staff in the scam and take action against them.

Along with their complaints to the police and the State government, several depositors have lodged complaints with the top officials of the BSNL Kerala circle.

The case pertains to the alleged embezzlement of ₹260 crore by the past office- bearers of the society. The Crime Branch and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) are currently investigating the case. However, depositors allege that the BSNL management is yet to initiate any concrete action.

Depositors who lost their money in the BSNL Engineers’ Cooperative Society (T-950) scam have urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the BSNL management to investigate the involvement of BSNL staff in the scam and take action against them.

Along with their complaints to the police and the State government, several depositors have lodged complaints with the top officials of the BSNL Kerala circle.

The case pertains to the alleged embezzlement of ₹260 crore by the past office- bearers of the society. The Crime Branch and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) are currently investigating the case. However, depositors allege that the BSNL management is yet to initiate any concrete action.

Depositors allege that the cooperative society was originally established with DoT and BSNL approval and housed within the premises of the BSNL Thiruvananthapuram office. Though established with the aim of supporting retired DoT and BSNL employees, the society deviated from its original purpose, they said.

Victims of the scam include financially struggling and retired individuals who are facing severe financial distress, one of the depositors noted in his complaint. The DoT and BSNL have a moral and ethical responsibility to act in this context, he said.

Meanwhile, senior officials of the BSNL said the cooperative society had no links with BSNL. Besides, as the Crime Branch and ED probes were in progress, they had limitations in initiating action. BSNL (Kerala Circle) chief general manager B. Sunil Kumar said that the complaints received from the depositors have been forwarded to the corporate office.

The victims include several hundreds of depositors, the vast majority of whom are in the 65-85 age group, who had invested in deposit schemes in the society and, were cheated of their life savings, according to multiple complaints lodged with the police and the Registrar of Cooperative Societies.

On January 10, the Kerala High Court had directed the ED to file a statement on the progress of the investigation into the financial scam. The Hindu

Apple is in discussions with Bharat Forge, part of the Kalyani Group, to include the Indian manufacturer in its supply chain. If the deal is finalised, Bharat Forge will supply components, including mechanical parts, to the US-based tech giant.

This development would make Bharat Forge the latest Indian company to partner with Apple, joining the Tata Group, Motherson Group, and Aequs.

The report quoted a source as saying that Apple is exploring collaborations with some of India’s largest companies and has initiated talks with Bharat Forge, based in Pune, Maharashtra.

In recent years, Apple has been actively expanding its supplier ecosystem in India to enhance local value addition as part of its strategy to reduce reliance on China.

Existing Apple suppliers in India
Apple’s supplier base in India includes three iPhone assembly plants, with Foxconn operating the largest facility in Tamil Nadu. The Tata Group runs two additional units in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Other key suppliers in India include Sunwoda, which provides battery packs, Foxlink for cables, and Aequs for enclosures. Salcomp, one of Apple’s earliest suppliers in India, has expanded its portfolio beyond coils and power packs to include magnetics.

Additionally, Amperex Technology Ltd (ATL), a major Apple supplier, is preparing to manufacture battery cells at a 180-acre facility in Manesar, Haryana.

Bharat Forge, a prominent Indian manufacturing company, employs nearly 5,000 people. The company operates across sectors such as automotive, energy, aerospace, and defence. Led by 76-year-old Baba Kalyani, Bharat Forge has numerous subsidiaries and an extensive global presence.

Local value addition growth
Since initiating production in India under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in 2020, Apple has significantly increased its local value addition. The percentage of local value addition has grown from 5–8 per cent in 2020 to 20 per cent across various iPhone models by 2024.

In 2024, Apple achieved a production milestone of $17.5 billion worth of iPhones, with exports reaching a record $12.8 billion.

Industry experts predict that Apple will continue onboarding local suppliers in the coming year, complementing the Tata Group’s Hosur unit in Tamil Nadu. Reports from August 2024 indicate that the Motherson Group is also pursuing a collaboration with Hong Kong-based BIEL Crystal Manufactory to join Apple’s supply chain. Business Standard

Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, are joining proceedings against OpenAI for improperly using copyright content, legal papers show.

Courts globally are hearing claims by authors, news organisations and musicians who accuse technology firms of using their copyrighted work to train AI services without permission or payment.

India has more than 690 million smartphone users thanks to cheap mobile data plans and OpenAI has said the country is a critical market.

The Indian media outlets, including Adani’s NDTV and Ambani’s Network18 have told a New Delhi court they want to join an ongoing lawsuit against the ChatGPT creator as they are worried their news websites are being scraped to store and reproduce their work for users of the powerful AI tool.

Reuters was first to report the case filing by the news publishers, which escalates an ongoing legal battle against ChatGPT in India. In the most high-profile battle, local news agency ANI was first to file a lawsuit against OpenAI last year. Global and Indian book publishers have also joined the lawsuit.

The 135-page case filing, which is not public but was reviewed by Reuters, argues OpenAI’s conduct constitutes “a clear and present danger to the valuable copyrights” of Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) members and other outlets.

It refers to OpenAI’s “wilful scraping … and adaptation of content”, adding that “the disproportionate power of tech companies in prioritising content and extracting advertising revenue has raised concerns among publishers.”

The filing was made by the Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Adani’s NDTV and the DNPA, which represents roughly 20 companies including Mukesh Ambani Network18 and players like Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar, Zee News, India Today Group and the Hindu. Many of these outlets have a flourishing newspaper and television news business too.

The Times of India is not part of the legal challenge despite being member of the DNPA, the filing said, without elaborating on the reasons.

Asked for comment, OpenAI reiterated an earlier statement that it was engaged in constructive partnerships with many news organisations, including in India, and was using publicly available data in a manner protected by fair use principles to builds its AI models.

None of the Indian media companies involved immediately responded to Reuters request for comment.

The global AI market is expected to grow to $320 billion to $380 billion by 2027, expanding 25% to 35% each year, with the India market likely to follow that trend, according to Boston Consulting Group and India’s tech lobby group NASSCOM.

In the United States, the New York Times sued OpenAI and its largest financial backer Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab in December 2023, accusing them of using millions of its articles without permission to train chatbots to provide information to users.

The new Indian intervention will add firepower to ANI’s lawsuit against OpenAI in India’s most high-profile legal proceedings on the issue.
A hearing in ANI’s lawsuit against OpenAI is scheduled for Tuesday.

Responding to the ANI case, OpenAI said in a court filing reported by Reuters last week that any order to delete training data would result in a violation of its U.S. legal obligations, and Indian judges have no jurisdiction to hear a copyright case against the company as its servers are located abroad.

Reuters, which holds a 26% interest in ANI, has said in a statement it is not involved in ANI’s business practices or operations.

In recent months, OpenAI has signed deals with Time magazine, the Financial Times, Business Insider-owner Axel Springer, France’s Le Monde and Spain’s Prisa Media to display content.

The Indian publishers in their new filing argue OpenAI has entered into partnership agreements with media outlets abroad, but has not entered into similar deals in India, hurting the media companies.

Such conduct by OpenAI “in India betrays an inexplicable defiance of the law,” the Indian media outlets’ filing said.

The publishers also said OpenAI was set to become a profit-driven business benefiting from the creative works of the media industry. This would result in a “weakened press” and would not be in the best interests of a vibrant democracy, their filing said.

OpenAI made its first India hire last year when it tapped a former WhatsApp executive, Pragya Misra, to handle public policy and partnerships in the country of 1.4 billion people.

“India is really important because it’s the youngest demographic in the world … we’ve seen massive uptake of ChatGPT, it’s almost our second largest country in terms of users outside of the US,” Misra said in a recent interview with AIM TV.

OpenAI kicked off an investment, consumer and corporate frenzy in generative AI after the Nov. 2022 launch of ChatGPT. It wants to be ahead in the AI race after raising $6.6 billion last year. Reuters

India should move urgently to secure strategic autonomy by building its own IP/products, and create a clear preference for Indian trusted chips for government purchases, in light of new geopolitics and an increasingly “unipolar world”, according to Ajai Chowdhry, Founder HCL and Chairman of EPIC Foundation.

India has already made significant strides with the development of RISC-V chip technology at IIT-Madras, eliminating the need to pay license fees, he noted.

“Building on this, we should focus on designing our own chips using RISC-V to safeguard against future sanctions,” Chowdhry said in a statement.

India, he said, must create a clear preference for Indian trusted chips for government purchases to help create the market and make startups and others successful.

“We suggested (to) the government to prioritise high-quality chips for the nation and provided a list of 30 chips and 30 priority products that should be developed and manufactured in India. The country’s fabless and product industries will both benefit from this,” he said.

The EPIC Foundation has batted for allocating Rs 44,000 crore to the ‘Product Nation’, with Rs 15,000 crore going toward system products and Rs 11,000 crore for semiconductor products.

“The balance is for additional incentives and acquisitions. The most critical ones that are needed to be done in the budget are at least the semiconductor products so that we become self-sufficient over a short period of time because that’s the demand of the new unipolar world,” he said.

In light of the new geopolitics, India must leverage its strengths in chip design and its large home market to become a critical part of the global value chain, he added. PTI

An Indian tribunal temporarily suspended a five-year data sharing ban between WhatsApp and owner Meta Platforms, a major relief for the U.S. giant which had warned its advertising business will be affected.

Meta had challenged the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) directive issued in November that imposed a ban on data sharing between WhatsApp and other Meta entities for advertising purposes, warning it may have to roll back some features. Meta also criticized the CCI for not having the “technical expertise” to understand the ramifications of its order.

On Thursday, India’s National Company Law Appellate Tribunal ordered a suspension of the data sharing ban while it continues to hear Meta’s challenge to the antitrust ruling.

The ban “may lead to a collapse” of WhatsApp’s business model, the tribunal noted.

India is the biggest market for Meta where it has more than 350 million Facebook users and over 500 million people using WhatsApp.

Meta earlier told the appeals tribunal that it may have to “roll back or pause” some features such as those that would allow an Indian fashion business, for example, to personalize ads on Facebook or Instagram based on their interaction with a WhatsApp user.

Facebook’s registered entity engaged in selling advertising in India – Facebook India Online Services – reported revenue of $351 million in 2023-24, the highest in at least five years.

A Meta spokesperson said it welcomed the ruling and “will evaluate next steps.” The CCI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling, although the watchdog can challenge the decision in the Supreme Court if it wants to.

In 2021, WhatsApp was accused of violating European Union laws by failing to clarify changes to its policy in plain and intelligible language. It later agreed to explain the changes to EU users.

The Indian case started in 2021 amid criticism of WhatsApp’s privacy policy changes. The CCI’s ruling in November found WhatsApp’s policy pushed users to accept the change or risk losing access to the service.

Meta has argued the changes were only to provide information about how optional business messaging features work and did not expand its data collection and sharing ability.

The watchdog however ordered in November that WhatsApp must allow users to decide whether they want the messaging service to share data with Meta or not. Reuters

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India’s Trusted Telecom Partner, further expanded the IFTV offering to UP East – a groundbreaking initiative set to redefine entertainment for millions of Indians.

BSNL’s IFTV brings over 500+ live TV channels, including premium channels, to FTTH users in UP East, free of cost. Following the success of its pilot launch in Puducherry, this marks the first rollout of the service in UP as a pilot for FTTH users. The expansion showcases BSNL’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge entertainment into everyday life. This service delivers high-quality entertainment, making digital content easily accessible to all BSNL users, irrespective of their plans; at no cost to all its FTTH customers of UP East.

Why Choose IFTV?

• Unlimited Entertainment: Apart from live TV, enjoy movies, web series, and documentaries in multiple languages, all at no cost.
• Seamless Technology: Powered by BSNL’s secure mobile intranet, IFTV ensures uninterrupted streaming with exceptional video quality.
• Future Expansion: After UP East, IFTV will be rolled out to Maharashtra, Bihar & Jharkhand in February 2025, with nationwide availability planned soon.

BSNL CMD’s Thought: “With IFTV, through our partners, BSNL is giving every customer the power to access entertainment on the go, ‘anytime, anywhere’, free of cost, irrespective of the plan they are, making it a perfect alternative to the outdated PRBT systems; by combining cutting-edge technology with top-tier content. BSNL will be one of the first telecom service provider to revolutionize its old PRBT by offering this groundbreaking service.”

Co-founder and CEO of OTTplay, Avinash Mudaliar shared: “With new IFTV innovation, we’re proud to bring world-class entertainment to BSNL customers across India. Together, we’re unlocking the magic of cinema and entertainment across genres, languages, and regions and redefining how BSNL customers experience digital entertainment in India.”

Transforming Digital India
With this partnership, OTTplay and BSNL together promote digital inclusion and are responsible for fostering connectivity in rural and urban areas. By combining BSNL’s extensive network reach with OTTplay’s engaging content, the partnership aims to pave the way for a digitally connected India where every citizen has access to quality services, anytime and anywhere. Passionate In Marketing

India’s strides in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing are poised to generate 8,500 high-tech jobs, signaling a significant leap in the nation’s industrial and technological growth. Ahead of the Union Budget 2025-26, the Union Finance Ministry has highlighted this achievement, crediting flagship initiatives like the Semicon India Programme and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme.

Launched in December 2021, the Semicon India Programme spearheads efforts to establish the nation as a global semiconductor hub. So far, five semiconductor projects and 16 design firms have been greenlit, expected to generate 25,000 advanced technology direct jobs and an additional 60,000 indirect roles. Within this, 8,500 positions will directly emerge from semiconductor packaging and designing, reflecting the government’s focus on nurturing a specialised, tech-ready workforce.

In tandem, the PLI Scheme for electronics manufacturing is amplifying India’s technological prowess. With production valued at Rs 6.14 lakh crore and exports reaching Rs 3.12 lakh crore, the initiative has already created 1.28 lakh direct jobs. Together, these schemes underscore a holistic strategy to strengthen India’s electronics ecosystem while boosting employment.

The programme also envisions attracting investments worth Rs 1.52 lakh crore, solidifying India’s position in the global supply chain. These initiatives aim not just at job creation but also at developing a highly skilled workforce to cater to the burgeoning demands of cutting-edge industries like semiconductors and electronics manufacturing.

As the Union Budget approaches, the narrative focuses on expanding these initiatives to sustain momentum. The commitment to job creation and skill development reflects a forward-thinking approach to equip India’s workforce for the demands of a rapidly evolving global tech landscape. These efforts not only enhance India’s economic self-reliance but also establish it as a key player in the global technology sector.

The challenge ahead will be scaling these achievements and maintaining the trajectory, ensuring India’s industrial ambitions continue to translate into meaningful opportunities for its workforce. HR Katha