Shreya Jai, Subhayan Chakraborty

Stories by Shreya Jai, Subhayan Chakraborty

Data stickiness likely to see users absorb mobile tariff hike: Analysts

Data stickiness likely to see users absorb mobile tariff hike: Analysts

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2024

Consumers are unlikely to disconnect their mobile connections and will most likely absorb the up to 22 per cent tariff hike imposed last week by Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi), according to analysts. The last major tariff hike in 2021 was followed by a 4-5 per cent SIM consolidation, with people leaving mobile operators with more expensive plans for their peers offering comparatively affordable options.

Why Adani Solar Sought Visas For Chinese

Why Adani Solar Sought Visas For Chinese

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2024

In seeking visa approvals for engineers from China, the company has reasoned that India lacks the expertise to set up such a solar facility.

India takes first steps to meet 2070 net-zero goal, Niti Aayog forms panels

India takes first steps to meet 2070 net-zero goal, Niti Aayog forms panels

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2024

Three years after India declared its goal to become a net-zero economy by 2070, the policy design for achieving the target has begun, with the NITI Aayog forming dedicated multi-sectoral committees to prepare a transition plan. In 2021, India joined a select group of nations that set a target year for becoming net-zero carbon economy. At COP26 in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined a five-pronged 'Panchamitra' climate action target for India and committed to a net-zero target by 2070, joining nations like the US, the UK, and China.

BEWARE! Govt Can Intercept Messages

BEWARE! Govt Can Intercept Messages

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2024

Messages sent through Internet-based messaging service providers such as Whatsapp, Signal, and Telegram, as well as those which are encrypted, are understood to be within the Act's ambit.

DoT Sets 100 Days Agenda For New Telecom Rules

DoT Sets 100 Days Agenda For New Telecom Rules

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2024

'The idea is to frame the ToR quickly, so that Trai can begin its consultations with industry stakeholders.'

What Star Rating Does Your AC Have?

What Star Rating Does Your AC Have?

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2024

Since 2008, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is running a star rating programme, under which electric equipment are rated according to their efficiency. This in turn helps the consumers save electricity.

India AI mission to be key priority for telecom ministry

India AI mission to be key priority for telecom ministry

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2024

Many who track the ministry and the technology sector closely believe that the space won't see much impact on the policymaking side, but the gestation time for regulations might get long, as now there could be a wider consensus-building exercise on policy matters under a coalition government.

Balancing green concerns with soaring energy demand

Balancing green concerns with soaring energy demand

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2024

Rising energy demand could tilt India's energy basket towards fossil fuels from coal to oil, natural gas.

How Trai Plans To Scuttle Scams

How Trai Plans To Scuttle Scams

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2024

Numbers could be classified further into (140) marketing and (160 or 161) for service calls to easily identify the purpose of the call in the future.

China Remains Jaishankar's Main Problem

China Remains Jaishankar's Main Problem

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2024

'China is India's primary strategic challenge, which will not go away.

Telcos reiterate demands over FSC, 6 GHz spectrum

Telcos reiterate demands over FSC, 6 GHz spectrum

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2024

Telecom service providers have doubled down on their demands for a proposed fair-share charge (FSC) to be levied on major over-the-top (OTT) service providers, opening up the 6 GHz spectrum band and increasing the number of testing labs for telecommunication products. Telecom industry body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Wednesday said these were the topmost demands for Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. The industry body wants this additional capital expenditure to be borne by these Large Traffic Generator (LTGs) OTTs as a proposed fair-share charge.

BPCL divestment completely off the table, says Hardeep Singh Puri

BPCL divestment completely off the table, says Hardeep Singh Puri

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2024

BPCL is a high revenue-earning public-sector undertaking (PSU) and plans to privatise it are completely off the table, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday after assuming charge of the ministry for the second time. "Why would we divest ourselves of highly successful Maharatnas like BPCL," Puri said, arguing the Centre was not in favour of divesting its stake in oil PSUs.

Why Megacities Are Not Cooling Down

Why Megacities Are Not Cooling Down

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2024

The heat index in major metro cities in the country has majorly risen since 2010 compared to a decade earlier.

Spectrum auctions: Airtel likely to edge past Jio

Spectrum auctions: Airtel likely to edge past Jio

Rediff.com   29 May 2024

Bharti Airtel may end up cumulatively bidding for more spectrum than market leader Reliance Jio in the upcoming auctions. This is owing to its need for spectrum renewal, and a requirement for 900 MHz in a few circles, analysts have said. Despite the muted bidding expected in the upcoming auctions, Airtel may end up making more bids than Jio, they added.

How DoT Plans To Check Rising Spam

How DoT Plans To Check Rising Spam

Rediff.com   15 May 2024

Launched in March, it triggers re-verification of suspected fraudulent numbers. Failing re-verification, the number will be disconnected.

Analysts wary of Vodafone Idea's falling subscribers, broadband users

Analysts wary of Vodafone Idea's falling subscribers, broadband users

Rediff.com   14 May 2024

Vodafone Idea's (Vi's) subscriber loss reduced to a seven-month low in March, and alongside the company added 1.1 million broadband users after two months of net loss -- two things analysts have noted as key trends that need to be monitored. While Vi has been losing customers for more than two and a half years now, the churn reduced to below a million after five straight months in March, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) data has shown. "Jio's softer than usual subscriber growth in March, and VIL's slowing subscriber market share loss are key trends to keep an eye on going forward," global investment banking and financial services major UBS said in an analyst note.

'Now China Is Afraid'

'Now China Is Afraid'

Rediff.com   4 May 2024

'Ladakh will be dealt with in Modi's third term.'

West Asia tensions stall India's plans to import crude oil from Iran

West Asia tensions stall India's plans to import crude oil from Iran

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2024

The latest flashpoint in West Asia has derailed India's preliminary plans to resume crude oil imports from Iran, officials said. In January, officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had told Business Standard that the government had been studying proposals for the same, given that India was trying to expand sources of imports. "We are always monitoring the situation when it comes to crude flows.

Rajasthan enters fray to attract Tesla India plant

Rajasthan enters fray to attract Tesla India plant

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2024

With US-based electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla scouting for a suitable location for its foray in India, Rajasthan has joined the fray with a host of offers to woo the Elon Musk-led company. Other challengers include Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Sources privy to the development said that an initial meeting between the senior executives of Tesla and the government of Rajasthan, which was held last week, turned out to be "quite positive." Tesla would now carry out a survey and is expected to share the survey details with the state's investment promotion department soon.

Centre in a huddle to understand impact of the Iran-Israel tensions

Centre in a huddle to understand impact of the Iran-Israel tensions

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2024

Top government officials in New Delhi have started discussions with stakeholders ranging from shipping and container companies to export promotion councils to understand the impact of the Iran-Israel tensions and plan ahead. Inter-ministerial talks are also being lined up amid the crisis situation in West Asia, sources confirmed. While the crude flows are not directly under any threat, elevated oil prices remain a concern, according to officials.