Subhayan Chakraborty, Business Standard

Stories by Subhayan Chakraborty, Business Standard

India's progress on digital inclusion stalled in 2022, says GSMA report

India's progress on digital inclusion stalled in 2022, says GSMA report

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2023

Released on Wednesday, the report shows that 81 per cent of men and 72 per cent of women in India owned a mobile phone as of 2022, translating to a gender gap of 11 per cent. The numbers drop steeply in terms of mobile internet adoption. While 52 per cent of Indian men use mobile internet, women are way behind, with only 31 per cent of them accessing mobile internet, the report pointed out.

I&B ministry may begin independent review of C-band allocation plans

I&B ministry may begin independent review of C-band allocation plans

Rediff.com   3 May 2023

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B ministry) may launch its review of the government's plan to potentially reserve the crucial C-band of radio frequencies for 5G and 6G telecommunication (telecom) use, said officials. While the incumbent broadcasting operators have warned that the plan will leave "precious little spectrum" for broadcasting services, telecom service providers (TSPs) have pressed hard for getting access to the C-band. In multiple letters to the I&B ministry over the past month, the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) has said the industry would be left with precious little spectrum for broadcasting services if the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) further allocates the scant C-band for 5G.

Telecom service providers log in to AI filter to stop pesky calls: Trai

Telecom service providers log in to AI filter to stop pesky calls: Trai

Rediff.com   3 May 2023

Telecom service providers (TSPs) have begun to monitor and prevent spam calls since May 1, with the help of an artificial intelligence and machine language-based system acting on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai) latest directive on the matter, its officials told Business Standard. Touted as the first big technological measure against the growing menace of unsolicited commercial communications, all TSPs have confirmed to Trai that they have rolled out the AI/ML tool. The filter system works on the distributed ledger technology (DLT) platform used by TSPs, and is set to go for incremental updates, rules for which will soon be released, they added.

Jio slams Airtel for 'maligning' its tariff policy

Jio slams Airtel for 'maligning' its tariff policy

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2023

Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJIL) has written to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) stating that a recent complaint against it by Bharti Airtel is a deliberate, malicious attempt at defaming RJIL's consumer-friendly tariff. RJIL has also asked the regulator to warn Airtel against 'making such frivolous complaints in the future'. The move is in response to Airtel recently requesting Trai to bring content aired through broadband under the regulatory fold and keep a check against discriminatory bundling tactics.

Vodafone Idea in talks with vendors for 5G rollout

Vodafone Idea in talks with vendors for 5G rollout

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2023

Vodafone Idea (Vi) is in continuous talks with network vendors to finalise its 5G rollout plans, Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra said. "We are in early stages of 5G deployment. "5G is an important development and we are keeping our eyes on it," Moondra said on Wednesday in a post-result analyst call. Already five months behind rivals Jio and Airtel in the 5G race, Vi's efforts will be on the deployment of 5G in target geographies.

Bharti Airtel hikes entry-level plan in 7 circles to shore up Arpu

Bharti Airtel hikes entry-level plan in 7 circles to shore up Arpu

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2023

Bharti Airtel on Tuesday announced that it has scrapped the minimum recharge plan of Rs 99 in seven circles -- Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Northeast, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh (West). In these circles, the price of the entry-level plan now would be Rs 155. This 57 per cent increase in Airtel's entry-level plan comes two months after the telco discontinued the Rs 99 plan in Haryana and Odisha in November last year.

Budget 2023: Here are the key challenges in technology sector

Budget 2023: Here are the key challenges in technology sector

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2023

"India is the best market right now in the world with the digital initiatives the government has implemented

'India is on a good wicket now'

'India is on a good wicket now'

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2023

'The pitch for India is flat, the ball for India is old, the sun for India is out, and the bowlers are not bowling too well.' 'I think only we can get ourselves out.'

Fix Call Drops, DoT Tells Airtel, Jio, Voda

Fix Call Drops, DoT Tells Airtel, Jio, Voda

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2023

'At a time when massive strides are being made in bringing 5G technology to India, and with TSPs ramping up their infrastructure, it is unacceptable that a large number of complaints over quality issues continue to come in, even from major urban areas.'

'A slip-up can break trust of investors'

'A slip-up can break trust of investors'

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2023

'Strong regulations are crucial for the orderly development of the market.'

IPO Fundraising Dipped To Half in 2022

IPO Fundraising Dipped To Half in 2022

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2023

The turmoil in the markets has been cited as the reason for the dip in the IPO market.

How Covid Spiked Gold Smuggling

How Covid Spiked Gold Smuggling

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2023

Officials were surprised at how quickly smugglers appraised the Covid situation to recruit jobless migrant workers to ship gold.

When Pelemania Gripped India

When Pelemania Gripped India

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2023

The enormous structured global advertising machinery that surrounds every football game on the planet today? Pele was perhaps single-handedly responsible for all of it. By just being brilliant, captivating crowds, and behaving like a being from the future, doing things that STILL provoke oohs and aahs from watchers. Vaibhav Raghunandan salutes the Incomparable Pele.

EV Sales May Cross 100,000 Monthly, But...

EV Sales May Cross 100,000 Monthly, But...

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2023

China's covid crisis could provoke a raw material crunch for India's EV industry later this year.

How Will Gold Perform In 2023?

How Will Gold Perform In 2023?

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2023

Given the prevailing uncertainties, investors must maintain a 10-15 per cent allocation to gold in 2023.

Change Of Guard At Banks, LIC In 2023

Change Of Guard At Banks, LIC In 2023

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2022

The first quarter of calendar 2023 will see new faces heading four large public-sector banks -- Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Indian Overseas Bank, and Bank of India.

Why Govt Must Worry About Fiscal Deficit

Why Govt Must Worry About Fiscal Deficit

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2022

In November, the fiscal deficit widened by Rs 2.2 trillion, the highest ever in any month this financial year.

Russia's Gazprom turns off tap, Gail's hunt for LNG may continue for a year

Russia's Gazprom turns off tap, Gail's hunt for LNG may continue for a year

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2022

So far, GMTS has defaulted on the supply of more than 20 cargoes or shiploads, 13 of which were set to be received in the second quarter (July-September), officials said.

Why Is USFDA Inspecting India Pharma Firms?

Why Is USFDA Inspecting India Pharma Firms?

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2022

Indian drug firms continue to work closely with the FDA, and most have also appointed consultants to help them grasp the regulatory minutiae in the US.

Why We Need Professional Investment Advisors

Why We Need Professional Investment Advisors

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2022

When we are unwell, we consult a doctor, take a prescription, and then buy medicines from a chemist. In finance, too, it is best to keep investment advice and product purchase separate, suggests Bindisha Sarang.