News for 'union-telecom'

How India's New Phygital Centre Aims to Transform Rural Life in Madhya Pradesh

How India's New Phygital Centre Aims to Transform Rural Life in Madhya Pradesh

Rediff.com15 Mar 2026

India has launched its first integrated phygital service centre in Umri village, Madhya Pradesh, aiming to provide online services and boost rural development through digital connectivity and various essential services.

Karnataka Government Considers Sustainable Data Centre Policy to Address Environmental Impact

Karnataka Government Considers Sustainable Data Centre Policy to Address Environmental Impact

Rediff.com11 Mar 2026

The Karnataka government is reviewing its data centre policy to prioritise sustainability due to concerns about the significant water and energy consumption of data centres. The government is exploring coastal locations like Mangaluru for future data centre development and focusing on smaller-scale data centres.

Apple to make all its phones in India: Scindia

Apple to make all its phones in India: Scindia

Rediff.com6 May 2025

Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said investment in India at present makes economic sense for every original equipment manufacturer, as he cited the example of US smart devices major Apple's decision to source majority of the iPhones sold in the US from the country. While speaking at the Bharat Telecom event, Scindia said the investment in India at present is not just an act of goodwill alone but it makes economic sense for every OEM (original equipment manufacturer).

BSNL to start 5G services in 2024

BSNL to start 5G services in 2024

Rediff.com5 Jan 2023

State-owned BSNL will start 5G services in 2024, Union Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday. BSNL has shortlisted a TCS and C-DOT led consortium for rolling out 4G network, which will be upgraded to 5G in about a year of placing the order under the contract. "BSNL will start 5G services in 2024," Vaishnaw said while speaking to reporters in New Delhi.

Govt plans to merge BBNL with BSNL this month

Govt plans to merge BBNL with BSNL this month

Rediff.com20 Mar 2022

The government is planning to merge Bharat Broadband Nigam Limited (BBNL) with the loss-making state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) this month, a senior official has said. BSNL chairman and managing director PK Purwar at a recent event organised by the All India Graduate Engineers and Telecom officers Association (AIGETOA) said that the government is giving the telecom firm an opportunity for a turnaround. "The government has taken a policy decision that BBNL is going to be merged into BSNL. "This means all work of BBNL at the pan-India level is going to come to BSNL," Purwar said at the All India Conference of AIGETOA on March 13.

Cabinet approves Rs 19,041 cr funding for BharatNet

Cabinet approves Rs 19,041 cr funding for BharatNet

Rediff.com30 Jun 2021

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved public private partnership mode for the rollout of BharatNet project for broadband services in villages in 16 states with viability gap funding of Rs 19,041 crore, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. Prasad said the decision to involve private players was taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on August 15, 2020 that around 6 lakh villages in the country will be connected with broadband in 1,000 days. "The Cabinet has in-principle approved implementation of BharatNet in 16 states in a public private partnership model with total expense of Rs 29,430 crore.

Been falsely accused of making offensive remarks: A Raja to EC

Been falsely accused of making offensive remarks: A Raja to EC

Rediff.com31 Mar 2021

The former union telecom minister in his 'interim explanation' said he had not spoken anything 'obscene' or which would lower the dignity of women and motherhood.

CBI, ED's appeals in 2G scam case to be heard daily from October 5

CBI, ED's appeals in 2G scam case to be heard daily from October 5

Rediff.com29 Sep 2020

The Delhi high court on Tuesday allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate's pleas seeking an early hearing into the appeals challenging the acquittal of former telecom minister A Raja and others in the 2G spectrum allocation case.

PM Modi dubs DMK's Raja as 'outdated 2G missile'

PM Modi dubs DMK's Raja as 'outdated 2G missile'

Rediff.com30 Mar 2021

In his first poll rally for the April 6 assembly polls, Modi rooted for the Tamil language, culture and invoked the welfare legacies of M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, late chief ministers and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam icons.

Aakash 4 to be available for Rs 3,999 soon: Sibal

Aakash 4 to be available for Rs 3,999 soon: Sibal

Rediff.com18 Feb 2014

The Aakash project was Sibal's brainchild when he was the HRD minister.

Regulatory delays can hit Idea Cellular's growth

Regulatory delays can hit Idea Cellular's growth

Rediff.com27 Jun 2013

Even if the company's merger issue was sorted out, it would have a lot of ground to cover in order to attract subscribers.

SC asks Maran to face trial in illegal telephone exchange case

SC asks Maran to face trial in illegal telephone exchange case

Rediff.com30 Jul 2018

Maran had challenged the Madras High Court's July 25 decision setting aside a CBI court order discharging him in the case.

2G scam: A Raja rejects JPC chairman's offer

2G scam: A Raja rejects JPC chairman's offer

Rediff.com13 Mar 2013

Former Union Telecom Minister A Raja has rejected Joint Parliamentary Committee chairman P C Chacko's offer giving him a chance to respond on the 2G spectrum allocation issue in written submissions, saying he wants to personally depose before the panel to tender evidence on the matter.

DMK will stand by Raja, says Karunanidhi

DMK will stand by Raja, says Karunanidhi

Rediff.com15 May 2012

Backing his party colleague A Raja, prime accused in 2G spectrum scam, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi on Tuesday expressed happiness over his securing bail.

2G: ED registers money-laundering case against Marans

2G: ED registers money-laundering case against Marans

Rediff.com8 Feb 2012

The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case against former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation case.

Discuss move to regulate networking sites in Parl: BJP

Discuss move to regulate networking sites in Parl: BJP

Rediff.com7 Dec 2011

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday said any move to regulate social networking sites should be made after taking the view of Parliament but maintained that material which would hurt religious sentiments or is defamatory should be checked.

Centre ready for dialogue with CMs on NCTC

Centre ready for dialogue with CMs on NCTC

Rediff.com21 Feb 2012

With the chorus against the formation of the National Counter Terrorism Council turning louder, the government on Tuesday said it is ready for a dialogue to dispel any misgivings or concerns expressed by states opposing it. Union Telecom and Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said each state is already represented in the central council of NCTC and if there was any misgiving, the Centre would remove it through dialogue.

Kolkata set to become first digital metro

Kolkata set to become first digital metro

Rediff.com6 Feb 2015

Mamata launched the 'Jionet' brand Wi-Fi service.

No early hearing of CBI's appeal against 2G acquittals

No early hearing of CBI's appeal against 2G acquittals

Rediff.com30 Jul 2019

The Delhi high court on Tuesday refused to grant early hearing on the Central Bureau of Investigation's appeal challenging the acquittal of former Union telecom minister A Raja and others in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case.

Sibal taunts K'taka BJP; says they have all the entertainment

Sibal taunts K'taka BJP; says they have all the entertainment

Rediff.com8 Feb 2012

The porn clip controversy in Karnataka Assembly led Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal to take a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday saying the party is having "all the entertainment".

India wants access to Google, Skype, Twitter data

India wants access to Google, Skype, Twitter data

Rediff.com13 Jul 2011

Amid a raging controversy over BlackBerry posing security concerns, security agencies have now asked the Union telecom ministry to provide real-time monitoring of various social networking sites like Google, Skype and Twitter, among others.

Bollywood protests against censorship of Internet

Bollywood protests against censorship of Internet

Rediff.com7 Dec 2011

Here's what your favourite celebrities are tweeting.

NGO files charges against Sibal with CVC, CBI

NGO files charges against Sibal with CVC, CBI

Rediff.com26 Jul 2011

NGO files a detailed documented complaint against Sibal for reducing the penalty of Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance from Rs 50 crore to only Rs 5 crore. Sheela Bhatt reports.

'Raja always put DMK's interests above his own'

'Raja always put DMK's interests above his own'

Rediff.com8 Dec 2010

In DMK circles, Raja is seen as the top-most mobiliser of funds for elections. 'The leadership sees him as having done more for the party from Delhi than even Murasoli Maran.'

'Batcha was not soft enough to commit suicide'

'Batcha was not soft enough to commit suicide'

Rediff.com16 Mar 2011

There is definitely a mystery behind Sadiq Batcha's death, says J Gopikrishnan, the Pioneer daily journalist who broke the 2G scam story.

I respect SC verdict on P J Thomas, says PM

I respect SC verdict on P J Thomas, says PM

Rediff.com3 Mar 2011

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said he respected the Supreme Court verdict on the quashing of the appointment of P J Thomas as the Central Vigilance Commissioner.

Arrest Raja's 'godfathers', demands BJP

Arrest Raja's 'godfathers', demands BJP

Rediff.com7 Feb 2011

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday stuck to its demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the 2G spectrum allocation, saying the arrest of former Union Telecom Minister A Raja was not enough and his "godfathers" should be exposed.

Raja Raids: End of DMK-Cong alliance?

Raja Raids: End of DMK-Cong alliance?

Rediff.com16 Dec 2010

The DMK-Congress potboiler has so many layers to it that it makes Inception look like a linear nursery rhyme.

BJP mulls privilege move against Sibal

BJP mulls privilege move against Sibal

Rediff.com10 Dec 2010

Seeking to corner the government, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday said it was "seriously" examining the possibility of bringing a privilege motion against Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal for announcing a probe into the 2G Spectrum allocation from 2001 at a time when Parliament was in session.

Seems days of single party rule are over: Jaya

Seems days of single party rule are over: Jaya

Rediff.com28 Jun 2011

Jayalalithaa had first made an offer of support to the UPA on November 11, 2010, prior to the removal of A Raja as Union Telecom Minister. On Monday, she told TIMES NOW that the November 2010 offer was a onetime offer and that there was no question of working with the Congress at present. By describing her offer as a onetime offer, Ms Jayalalithaa has put an end to talk about a political realignment with the Congress.

Why M K Alagiri is sulking

Why M K Alagiri is sulking

Rediff.com6 Jan 2011

Alagiri's grouse is that the party has not taken strong action against three persons -- A Raja, Kanimozhi and Poongothai Aladi Aruna.

Raja to 'cooperate with CBI to prove innocence'

Raja to 'cooperate with CBI to prove innocence'

Rediff.com11 Dec 2010

Former Union telecom minister A Raja on Saturday said he will cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation to prove his innocence in the wake of the probe agency conducting searches at the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham leader and his aides' residences in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.

2G case: How government defended Raja before SC

2G case: How government defended Raja before SC

Rediff.com23 Nov 2010

Terming Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy's plea for prosecuting former telecom minister A Raja in the 2G spectrum case as "misconceived and premature", the government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the sanction had been sought even before a complaint was filed in a court.

PM 'tolerated Raja till big public scandal'

PM 'tolerated Raja till big public scandal'

Rediff.com18 Nov 2010

'If the prime minister was really serious, then he should have removed Raja long back,' says Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

Did Sunday night phone calls force Raja to quit?

Did Sunday night phone calls force Raja to quit?

Rediff.com15 Nov 2010

Telephone calls from Congress ministers at the Centre, including Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, on behalf of the party high command may have forced Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi to seal the fate of Union Telecom Minister A Raja, who was asked to resign after he landed in Delhi last night.

All about the latest telecom spectrum scam

All about the latest telecom spectrum scam

Rediff.com28 Oct 2009

The latest row -- termed as independent India's largest financial scam -- is centered on the allocation of scare 2G spectrum at throwaway prices.

Trai for no auctioning of 2G spectrum

Trai for no auctioning of 2G spectrum

Rediff.com11 May 2010

Virtually endorsing the Union telecom ministry's decision not to auction 2G spectrum two years ago, telecom regulator Trai on Tuesday said bidding out mobile spectrum would not have yielded major economic gains for the exchequer.

'Ex-CJI was aware of Raja influencing judge'

'Ex-CJI was aware of Raja influencing judge'

Rediff.com14 Dec 2010

In an embarrassment to former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan, Supreme Court Judge H L Gokhale on Tuesday contradicted his claim that he was not aware that it was former Union Telecom Minister A Raja, who had tried to influence a Madras high court judge in a criminal case.

Panel formed to boost domestic IT sector

Panel formed to boost domestic IT sector

Rediff.com25 Mar 2010

Stating that the Centre's focus is on promoting the country's IT sector, he pointed out that this move follows the rising import of electronic as well as IT items, including software and hardware, which is expected to reach $292 billion by 2020.

Spectrum scam: SC notice to Raja, CBI, DoT

Spectrum scam: SC notice to Raja, CBI, DoT

Rediff.com13 Sep 2010

The Apex Court has asked the minister and the two agencies to respond to the notice within the next ten days.