Category: Communications

A data transfer deal agreed by the European Union and the United States two years ago to replace two previous pacts rejected by a higher tribunal was given the green light by Europe’s second-highest court.

The ruling will provide legal certainty to thousands of companies, ranging from banks to tech companies to drugmakers and car manufacturers, that transfer personal data across the Atlantic for commercial use such as payroll purposes and cloud infrastructure.

The case comes at a time of tension in EU-US relations following an EU crackdown on Big Tech and threats of retaliation by US President Donald Trump.

The European Commission, which negotiated the accord on behalf of the 27 EU member states in 2023, had said it offered an adequate level of protection for Europeans’ personal data transferred to the US.

French lawmaker Philippe Latombe subsequently sued the EU executive, saying there were inadequate guarantees of respect for private and family life in the agreement because of the widespread and bulk collection of personal data.

He criticised the new US appeal body to which Europeans could resort, saying it was not an independent tribunal and did not offer guarantees similar to those required by EU law.

The Luxembourg-based General Court sided with the Commission.

“The General Court dismisses an action for annulment of the new framework for the transfer of personal data between the European Union and the United States,” it said in a ruling.

“On the date of adoption of the contested decision, the United States of America ensured an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the European Union to organisations in that country.”

Judges dismissed privacy concerns about US surveillance.

“In the present case, it is apparent from the file that, under US law, signals intelligence activities carried out by US intelligence agencies are subject to ex post judicial oversight by the DPRC,” they said, referring to the US Data Protection Review Court.

Latombe can appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) – Europe’s highest – on matters of law.

The CJEU scuppered the previous two deals after challenges by Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems because of concerns about US. intelligence agencies’ accessing European citizens’ private data.

Schrems said he still had concerns about the pact despite the ruling, suggesting a broader review of US law would yield “a different result”. Reuters

Reliance Jio said on Wednesday it had crossed 500 million users, completing nine years of operations and becoming the world’s largest mobile data network. Its user base now exceeds the combined populations of the United States, the United Kingdom and France.

“This scale within a single nation highlights the power of connectivity in shaping a vibrant digital society,” Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, said.

Having introduced free nationwide voice calls and brought down data prices, the telco said it would launch a slew of offers for users.

Jio is offering a weekend of unlimited data from September 5–7 for 5G smartphone users, and a Rs 349 celebration plan from September 5 to October 5. The plan features unlimited 5G data, 2 per cent extra digital gold through Jio Finance and celebration vouchers worth Rs 3,000, including subscriptions to JioHotstar, JioSaavn Pro, Zomato Gold, Netmeds First, Reliance Digital cashback, AJIO fashion deals and EaseMyTrip travel benefits. A two-month free trial on JioHome is also included.

These benefits extend to all postpaid customers as well. Users already on 2GB/day long-term plans or plans below Rs 349 can add a Rs 100 pack to access the full suite of benefits.

Additionally, Jio is offering a 13th month free with on-time monthly recharges of Rs 349 for 12 months during the anniversary year. The company said it would continue to introduce new services and benefits throughout the year.

New JioHome customers can avail a special Rs 1,200 celebration plan from September 5 to October 5. It includes two months of service with over 1,000 TV channels, 30 Mbps unlimited data, subscriptions to 12+ OTT apps such as JioHotstar, a WiFi-6 router and a 4K Smart Set Top Box. Additional benefits include two months of Amazon Prime Lite, 2 per cent extra digital gold and celebration vouchers worth Rs 3,000. Business Standard

Reliance Jio has rolled out free unlimited data for all users with graded duration based on their existing plans, the company said on Wednesday.

The company is offering one month of unlimited data for users subscribed to a plan priced Rs 349 onwards, starting September 5 to October 5, along with entertainment and other apps subscription bundled with the offer.

At present, Jio offers unlimited 5G data only to 5G smartphone users for plans priced at Rs 349 onwards.

“On Jio’s 9th anniversary, I feel truly humbled that more than 500 million Indians have placed their trust in us. Reaching this scale within a single nation is a reflection of how deeply Jio has become a part of everyday life. I want to personally thank every single Jio user for making this milestone possible,” Reliance Jio Infocomm Chairman Akash Ambani said in the statement.

The company is offering unlimited free data on weekends starting September 5 to 7 to all 5G smartphones irrespective of their plan cost.

4G smartphone users will also get unlimited 4G data with 3GB upper limit at high speed by paying Rs 39 for data during the weekend.

As part of the anniversary celebration, Jio has announced free service in the 13th month to subscribers who complete 12 on-time monthly recharges of Rs 349.

The company has announced a two-month service under Rs 1,200 plan for the new JioHome Connection. PTI

State-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has extended its highly popular ₹1 Freedom Offer recharge plan until September 15, 2025. Originally scheduled to end on August 31, the offer has been prolonged to give new subscribers more time to avail themselves of one of the most affordable plans in the Indian telecom market.

BSNL officially confirmed the extension via a post on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting that the plan is exclusively available to new SIM users during the promotional period. The operator has also bundled the offer with a free SIM card, making it an attractive entry-level deal.

Benefits of BSNL ₹1 Freedom Offer Plan
This affordable plan brings unlimited calls, daily data, SMS, and new SIM benefits for first-time users.

For a nominal recharge of just Rs. 1, customers can unlock:

• Unlimited local and national voice calls for 30 days
• 2GB of 4G data per day
• 100 SMS per day
• Nationwide roaming benefits

This plan is designed to boost BSNL’s subscriber base and bring first-time users into its network. To get the Freedom Offer, customers need to visit the nearest BSNL Customer Service Centre with valid KYC documents for SIM activation.

Other BSNL Plans for Existing Users
While the ₹1 plan is limited to new customers, BSNL has also introduced a ₹199 recharge plan for existing subscribers. This pack includes:

• Unlimited voice calls
• 2GB of high-speed data per day
• 100 SMS per day
• 28 days validity

This ensures that even current BSNL users can access affordable voice and data benefits.

BSNL BiTV Premium Pack: OTT + Live TV Entertainment
In addition to its telecom plans, BSNL has launched the BiTV Premium Pack priced at ₹151. The pack offers:

• Access to 25+ OTT platforms
• Over 450 live TV channels via the BiTV app

BiTv was first rolled out in February as a free trial service, and has now transitioned into a paid premium pack. It offers the leading OTT partners like: ZEE5, SonyLIV, Aha, Sun NXT, Shemaroo, Lionsgate Play, Chaupal, ETV Win, Discovery, and Epic ON, making it a comprehensive entertainment bundle for the BSNL users.

Why It Matters
BSNL is trying to stay competitive in the Indian telecom sector that is currently dominated by Airtel and Jio, and this ₹1 plan extension confirms it. By offering this unmatched affordability, the state owned operators aim to attract new users. Also its BiTV an OTT based service positions it as more entertainment-driven telecom players

With affordable recharge options and bundled digital services, BSNL appears to be aligning itself with the evolving needs of India’s mobile-first population. LiveMint

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Tuesday presented the Vikram 32-bit processor and test chips from four approved projects to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Semicon India 2025.

Vikram 32-bit processor unveiled
Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Semiconductor Laboratory, Vikram is the country’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor certified for use in the extreme conditions of launch vehicles. Alongside, 28 other chips designed by students under the Chips to Startup programme have been fabricated and packaged at the Mohali semiconductor hub.

“Just a few years ago, we met for the first time to make a new beginning driven by our Prime Minister’s farsighted vision, and we launched the India Semiconductor Mission. In a short span of 3.5 years, we have the world looking at India with confidence. Today, the construction of five semiconductor units is going on at a rapid pace. We just presented the first ‘Made-in-India’ chip to PM Modi,” Vaishnaw said.

While addressing the global companies, he added, “We are living in unprecedented times, and global policy turmoil has created huge uncertainty. In these turbulent times, India stands as a lighthouse of stability and growth. In these uncertain times, you should come to India because our policies are stable.”

Semicon India 2025 opens in New Delhi
The three-day Semicon India conference, inaugurated in New Delhi, aims to strengthen the country’s semiconductor ecosystem. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the event will run until Thursday and includes a roundtable with global CEOs.

Sessions at the conference will address semiconductor fabrication and advanced packaging projects, infrastructure readiness, innovations in artificial intelligence and research, investment opportunities, smart manufacturing, and state-level policy implementation. Dedicated segments will also focus on the Design Linked Incentive scheme, the startup ecosystem, international collaboration, and workforce development.

This year’s edition has drawn over 20,750 participants, including more than 2,500 delegates from 48 countries, 150 speakers, and more than 350 exhibitors. Country-specific roundtables and pavilions are also part of the programme.

Semicon India conferences have previously been held in Bengaluru (2022), Gandhinagar (2023), and Greater Noida (2024). LiveMint

SK Telecom announced on the 2nd that it has officially opened the ‘AI Governance Portal’ to systematically manage the reliability and safety of its artificial intelligence (AI) services.

The ‘AI Governance Portal’ will play a crucial role in strengthening the reliability and safety of AI technology by analyzing risks and opportunities of AI services based on SK Telecom’s established AI governance principle ‘T.H.E. AI’ and diagnosing compliance with checklist requirements according to risk levels.

‘T.H.E. AI’ is an acronym for △’by Telco’, which signifies consolidation and trust based on telecommunications technology; △’for Humanity’, which aims for diversity and inclusion for the welfare of humanity; and △’with Ethics’, which emphasizes transparency in decision-making and ethical accountability.

The core function of the ‘AI Governance Portal’ is to provide analysis of risks and opportunities related to AI services based on ‘T.H.E. AI’ and to deliver the outcomes. The analysis of risks and opportunities will apply a dual process involving the self-assessment area of the business team and the review/consultation area of the AI governance team and Red Team.

The business team conducts risk and opportunity assessments based on compliance with ‘T.H.E. AI’ and development principles, performing self-assessments through over 60 checklists across four areas: Reliability diversity and inclusion decision transparency ethical accountability.

Subsequently, a second assessment and evaluation will be conducted by the Red Team, composed of various experts in technology, services, and governance, along with the AI governance team. The second assessment will provide in-depth feedback on technical flaws, risk factors, copyrights, response biases, and governance areas; particularly, the Red Team will conduct a rigorous evaluation analyzing vulnerabilities of AI services based on the results of the self-assessment and demanding improvements.

Assessment and evaluations will not be a one-time occurrence but will be continuously conducted throughout the entire lifecycle of the service. Support is provided to enhance safety from pre-launch stages, including planning, development, and testing, to post-launch efforts such as operations, fault management, and improvements. All these processes will be conducted through the ‘AI Governance Portal’, and the assessment results will be presented in a dashboard format to facilitate lifecycle tracking. Chosun Biz

China’s Ministry of Commerce has condemned Washington’s decision to revoke “validated end-user” (VEU) authorisations for three semiconductor companies operating in China, calling the move a misuse of export controls that threatens global supply chains. In a statement issued on Saturday night, Beijing urged the United States to “immediately correct its wrongdoings” and safeguard the security of global industrial systems.

The US Department of Commerce announced on Friday that Intel Semiconductor (Dalian) Co Ltd, Samsung China Semiconductor Co Ltd, and SK Hynix Semiconductor (China) Ltd would be removed from the VEU list. The decision effectively eliminates a mechanism that allowed the firms to import certain chipmaking equipment without repeatedly applying for licences.

China warns of global consequences
A ministry spokesperson said the US action, “driven by self-interest,” has turned export controls into a political weapon. The measure, they added, will have a “serious negative impact on the stability of the global semiconductor industry and supply chains.”

“Semiconductors are a highly globalised sector shaped over decades by market forces and business choices,” the spokesperson said, stressing that Beijing will take “necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its enterprises.”

What do we know about VEU system?
The VEU system dates back to 2023, when the Biden administration granted South Korean chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix indefinite exemptions from broader restrictions that bar the export of advanced chipmaking equipment to China. These waivers were seen as a pragmatic step, allowing the firms to sustain and expand their major operations in the world’s largest semiconductor market.

By revoking the waivers, Washington has signalled that it wants to close what it views as loopholes in export controls. The US Commerce Department stated that it had “no intention of granting licences that would allow companies to expand capacity or upgrade technology” at their manufacturing facilities in China.

Impact on South Korean chipmakers
The decision poses risks for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both of which rely heavily on China for memory chip production. These components are essential for smartphones, laptops, and other consumer electronics, much of which are assembled in China.

In a statement, SK Hynix said it would maintain close communication with both the South Korean and US governments to minimise the impact on its operations. Samsung has not yet issued a formal response.

The announcement also affects a former Intel unit in Dalian, now owned by SK Hynix. Under the new rules, the companies have 120 days before the waivers expire, after which they must apply for individual licences to continue importing necessary equipment.

US justification
According to Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler, the step is part of a broader effort to tighten export controls that, in Washington’s view, had disadvantaged American firms. “The Trump administration is committed to closing export control loopholes particularly those that put US companies at a competitive disadvantage,” Kessler said.

Officials argue that the previous waivers effectively supported foreign competitors without yielding reciprocal benefits for US manufacturers. The decision is intended to limit Beijing’s ability to access advanced technologies while bolstering America’s strategic edge in semiconductor innovation.

The revocation highlights the intensifying struggle over semiconductors, a sector central to military, economic, and technological power. China views the move as part of Washington’s broader strategy to contain its rise in advanced technology, while the US insists the restrictions are vital to protect national security and competitiveness. Financial Express

Kazakhstan is preparing to channel some of its national wealth into artificial intelligence infrastructure, joining a global rush where venture capital firms and energy-rich states are betting billions on the sector despite volatility and surging valuations.

The National Investment Corp., a unit of the Kazakh central bank that manages part of the country’s $60 billion oil fund, sees data centers and other AI architecture as a path to stronger returns in a challenging environment, Chief Executive Officer Serikzhan Rysbekov said in an interview at the firm’s headquarters in Astana.

This year, the NIC, which manages $3.4 billion, plans its first capital allocations into infrastructure funds that include investments in AI facilities, Rysbekov, 40, said.

The move by Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest oil producer, is the latest example of the AI boom reshaping national investment priorities. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are deploying billions of dollars to back firms like OpenAI, build data centers or secure chip supplies.

The move isn’t without risks. Big tech companies are throwing money at AI, but it’s still unclear when those investments will pay off.

The country’s embrace of AI isn’t limited to finance either. State-run Kazakhtelecom has separately launched an initiative to support the local build out of local AI infrastructure in partnership with Nvidia.

AI also has made venture capital more attractive, Rysbekov said.

“We declined to invest in venture capital in 2021,” he said, citing inflated valuations. “Now the development of AI is going on, we see this as an attractive investment, and expect the market to grow.”

The company plans to choose one or two venture capital funds and place about $50 million in each, he said.

Separately, the Astana-based company also intends to increase the share of investments in secondary funds and private credit funds, Rysbekov said. This year, the company is looking to decide on two or three funds representing each vehicle type, investing roughly $50 million in each, he said.

“We plan to diversify the different asset classes in our portfolio,” and in the medium-term, anticipate specialized mandates focused on geography and various industries, Rysbekov said.

GCM Grosvenor, which invests some of the Kazakh firm’s money into hedge funds, will advise the central bank unit on investments into infrastructure funds, Rysbekov said. He said the firm was discussing a possible strategy of taking core positions in funds run by global managers. “For example, one in the US, one in Europe and one in Asia, and then gradually building a portfolio around them.”

NIC is also considering investing in US hedge funds that use quantitative models to buy stocks, he said.

Rysbekov said his group has observed some changes in managers’ behavior amid a global, private equity cash crunch. That’s included discounts for investing early and offers of additional services like consultations.

So far, the firm has invested more than 50% of its assets in private equity funds, about 20% in hedge funds, and the rest diversified between bonds, real estate and private debt, the latter being a newcomer to the firm’s portfolio. Roughly one third of the investments are handled by external managers, with the remainder managed directly by the investment unit.

Right now, the firm’s assets under management consist of an even split between the central bank’s reserves and holdings from the oil fund.

The NIC has currently allocated roughly 3% of the assets in the national oil fund’s saving portfolio, but it’s allowed to invest as much as 5% — a cap it hopes is raised amid the hunt for new profit opportunities, Rysbekov said. Bloomberg

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia appealed to students to focus on innovation instead of imitating others and build for the nation to achieve global leadership.

While addressing the audience at ESYA, the tech fest of Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi, Scindia said that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s visit to the institute last year shows that it is time for India when the country is building AI systems for responsible use in transforming lives of people.

“I urge you to light the fire of innovation, carry forward the spirit of Asia to explore, build, dream and to create an India that is a leader and not a follower. Create an India that is not an imitator but an innovator,” Scindia said.

He said that IIIT-Delhi in collaboration with the Department of Telecom is looking at concepts like trustworthy and responsible AI systems.
“AI for me is not only artificial intelligence. AI for me is aspirational India,” Scindia said.

The minister, who is a Stanford Business School alumnus, said that many students will go overseas to pursue their higher education and appealed to them to come back to India after acquiring knowledge to contribute to the growth of the nation.

“Contribute with the knowledge that you have acquired and come back with ambition. The brain drain that India went through 40 years ago today is being converted into a brain gain because the opportunity for the next 100 years across the world only lies in India,” Scindia said.

The minister said that the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) under the DoT has already invested in over 120 futuristic projects spanning quantum computing, terahertz communication, bio-nano systems, indigenous chipsets, and encrypted routers.

He reaffirmed India’s goal to emerge as a global leader in 6G and contribute at least 10 per cent of global patents by 2030 and the heart of this ambitious target lies within the students of India. PTI

What to do about Intel Corp., the once-storied, now-spiraling US chipmaker?

After years of poor decision-making, Intel’s semiconductors lag competitors and its foundry business has no major customers. It has mostly missed the boat on artificial intelligence. Last year, amid a restructuring, it fired its chief executive, slashed its dividend, undertook mass layoffs and lost about $19 billion.

One thing not to do: Give the US government a 10% equity stake in the company, as the White House has just done. Although the administration has given few details about how this arrangement will work, the risks are all too clear.

A government stake of this size in a private company will almost certainly lead to conflicting objectives and politicized decision-making. It could impede productivity, innovation and growth. It will surely distort competition, invite corruption and set a bad precedent. (Those free-market Republicans newly open to the idea might ponder what a Gavin Newsom administration would do with such powers.)

In fact, nearly every problem Intel faces could be worsened by this idea. Hard decisions will likely be delayed, perhaps indefinitely. Shareholder concerns may be subordinated to partisan ones. A federal backstop may temporarily shore up the company’s stock price but will also erode its competitiveness over time. Has such an arrangement — anytime, anywhere — ever yielded the sort of inventiveness or strategic insight that Intel’s turnaround will require?

Making matters worse, according to some reports, the administration may pressure other technology companies to use Intel’s foundry or buy its chips, thereby forcing more productive actors to subsidize their competitor’s failures — against their will and to their detriment. Although Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has denied that such a step is under consideration, one has to wonder.

After all, the administration seems partial to this kind of thing. It has previously proposed taking a stake in the social-media platform TikTok, offered export-control exemptions to chip companies that agree to cough up 15% of their revenue, and extracted a “golden share” in United States Steel Corp. as part of a deal to approve its sale to a Japanese buyer. Last month, the Pentagon took a $400 million stake in a rare-earth mining company. Other “deals” are reportedly on the table.

Added up, these ideas start to look like patronage-as-policy. What should happen instead?
Where semiconductors are concerned, Congress should undertake some overdue reforms: Offer a chipmaker’s visa and otherwise expand skilled immigration; do more to rein in the costly legal wrangling induced by permitting laws; slash tariffs on relevant parts and components; invest in transmission lines and grid expansion; eliminate labor and procurement terms that inflate costs; boost semiconductor R&D funding; improve the tax treatment of investment spending; and more. None of this would fix Intel overnight, but it would make US chip manufacturing more competitive, which is supposedly the objective.

To the extent the administration is concerned about national security, a better approach is to bolster efforts like the Pentagon’s Trusted Foundry and quantifiable-assurance programs, which aim to create secure areas and processes in commercial plants to meet the military’s needs. A separate effort, called Secure Enclave, which has extended some $3 billion to Intel to produce chips at a specialized facility, is unlikely to be sustainable unless it’s opened to more companies; the goal should be cost-effective subsides tightly focused on defense requirements, not an open-ended bailout.

As for Intel itself? In the normal course of things, the free market would determine its fate and creative destruction would work its magic as needed. If the government wants to impede this process, it should explain its rationale, offer a plausible vision for the future, and try to mitigate the predictable drawbacks. So far, it’s offering nothing of the sort. Bloomberg