News for 'State for Telecom'

How the govt plans to revamp the scam-hit telecom sector

How the govt plans to revamp the scam-hit telecom sector

Rediff.com29 Jan 2015

'Our mandate is to work in a transparent manner, keeping two objectives in mind - consumer interest and growth of the telecom sector.'

World entering a highly disruptive green energy era, says Mukesh Ambani

World entering a highly disruptive green energy era, says Mukesh Ambani

Rediff.com7 Aug 2023

Reliance Industries (RIL's) annual report released on Sunday highlighted the company's focus on new energy solutions, with chairman and managing director (MD) Mukesh Ambani stating that the age of fossil fuels will not continue much longer. RIL has sought shareholders' approval to give Ambani another five-year term as MD till 2029 at nil salary. The recently demerged Jio Financial Services, which "will leverage the prowess of digital and retail businesses", was expected to be listed soon.

India, Italy elevate ties to strategic partnership

India, Italy elevate ties to strategic partnership

Rediff.com2 Mar 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Italy have decided to elevate their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, opening a new chapter on defence cooperation.

India Needs Foxconn And Vice Versa

India Needs Foxconn And Vice Versa

Rediff.com22 Aug 2023

Clearly, Foxconn Chairman Young Liu and his team are looking to raise their game in India.

Street positive on long-term capex plans of Power Grid Corp

Street positive on long-term capex plans of Power Grid Corp

Rediff.com10 Aug 2023

Despite enduring a weak first quarter of the 2023-24 financial year (Q1FY24), Power Grid Corporation (PGCIL) has laid out an ambitious capex plan going forward. It is looking to invest around Rs 1.8 trillion on an existing asset base of Rs 2.7 trillion to aim at keeping over 50 per cent market share in the transmission market. This includes opportunities from the Rs 2.4 trillion green energy corridor.

TCS set to win $2-billion deal from BSNL for 4G and 5G roll-out

TCS set to win $2-billion deal from BSNL for 4G and 5G roll-out

Rediff.com4 Oct 2022

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is set to secure a $2 billion deal from Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) to roll out its 4G and 5G services across the country. However, the final approvals from the publicly-owned telco may take a couple of months, sources in the know said. As part of the deal, TCS will develop 4G core and Radio Access Network (RAN) technology for BSNL's telecom services.

NSA Ajit Doval leads A-team to US for crucial talks on emerging tech

NSA Ajit Doval leads A-team to US for crucial talks on emerging tech

Rediff.com30 Jan 2023

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will hold crucial talks with the top US leadership, including his counterpart Jake Sullivan, on the first high-level dialogue on Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

New bill moots up to Rs 250 cr fine for violating data protection norms

New bill moots up to Rs 250 cr fine for violating data protection norms

Rediff.com3 Aug 2023

The government on Thursday tabled the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 in the Lok Sabha with an aim to protect the privacy of Indian citizens, while proposing a penalty of up to Rs 250 crore on entities for misusing or failing to protect digital data of individuals.

Ration shops to double up as financial service providers in Chhattisgarh

Ration shops to double up as financial service providers in Chhattisgarh

Rediff.com22 Nov 2022

The Chhattisgarh government has decided to set up model fair-price shops (FPS) in each district and encourage owners to act as banking correspondents for providing financial services. The state has around 12,300 fair-price shops across 33 districts. The state government is, however, encouraging FPS owners to provide a host of services besides acting as a banking correspondent.

Telcos will be able to invest fearlessly: Sunil Mittal

Telcos will be able to invest fearlessly: Sunil Mittal

Rediff.com15 Sep 2021

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal on Wednesday said the telecom sector reforms approved by the Cabinet will ensure that the industry is able to invest fearlessly, and the company will respond to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to invest and accelerate the country's growth. Among a series of breathers for the stressed telecom sector, the Cabinet has approved the inclusion of revenues earned only from telecom services in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR), and the removal of penalty on dues to be paid to the government prospectively. Mittal congratulated and thanked the government for undertaking these seminal reforms to lift an industry that is at the core of his Digital India vision.

PSU Disinvestment: Modi Missing The Bus

PSU Disinvestment: Modi Missing The Bus

Rediff.com3 Oct 2023

'Inter-ministerial coordination, information on the proposed PSUs, and due diligence are taking longer than expected to conclude the process.'

Mr Varun Gandhi, please pay your Rs 38,000 phone bill

Mr Varun Gandhi, please pay your Rs 38,000 phone bill

Rediff.com10 Apr 2019

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has sent a letter to the Pilibhit District Election Officer seeking necessary action against Bharatiya Janata Party MP.

Technology has become democratic in its truest sense: Modi

Technology has become democratic in its truest sense: Modi

Rediff.com1 Oct 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched 5G technology services in India and said that technology has become democratic in its truest sense since even the poor of the country have always come forward in adopting new technologies. He said that this is a major step in the vision of Digital India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. "Talking about Digital India, some people think that this is just a government scheme.

India's exports cross $800 bn in first 6 months of 2023

India's exports cross $800 bn in first 6 months of 2023

Rediff.com21 Aug 2023

A healthy growth in India's services segments has helped the country's total exports and imports of goods and services to cross the $800 billion mark during the first half of 2023, despite a slowdown in global demand, think tank GTRI said in a report on Monday. According to the analysis of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), exports of goods and services rose by 1.5 per cent to $385.4 billion during January-June this year, as against $379.5 billion in January-June 2022. Imports, however, dipped by 5.9 per cent to $415.5 billion during the six months of this year, as against $441.7 billion in January-June 2022.

PM Modi's US visit: India's entry into critical mineral alliance on table

PM Modi's US visit: India's entry into critical mineral alliance on table

Rediff.com21 Jun 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US is expected to see discussion on India's possible entry into a US-led global alliance on critical minerals, officials told Business Standard. In June last year, the US, the European Union, and other G7 partners launched the Minerals Security Partnership to ensure that China did not further strengthen its grip on supplies of critical minerals the world over. Various ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, have communicated to the Ministry of External Affairs to explore the possibility of India joining the partnership, officials said.

Sensex, Nifty rise on gains in metal, auto stocks

Sensex, Nifty rise on gains in metal, auto stocks

Rediff.com2 Jun 2023

Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher on Friday after two days of fall, helped by buying in metal, telecom and auto stocks amid a firm trend in global markets. Automakers led by Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra reporting robust wholesales of passenger vehicles and GST collections crossing Rs 1.50 lakh crore for the third straight month in May also added to the optimism. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 118.57 points or 0.19 per cent to settle at 62,547.11.

Stock Picks: 10 Value Bets For Rich Payoffs

Stock Picks: 10 Value Bets For Rich Payoffs

Rediff.com7 Nov 2023

10 non-bank and non-finance stocks from the BSE500 Index universe that offer an optimal blend of low valuation, reasonably robust revenue and earnings growth in recent quarters, a strong balance sheet, and most importantly, positive cash flow from their operations.

Parliament nod for data protection bill, to come into force in 10 months

Parliament nod for data protection bill, to come into force in 10 months

Rediff.com9 Aug 2023

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 by voice vote following a walkout by opposition members over the Manipur issue.

Afwaah Review: Thrilling Take On Rumour Mongering

Afwaah Review: Thrilling Take On Rumour Mongering

Rediff.com5 May 2023

Afwaah is a sum of Sudhir Mishra's thought-provoking reflections and appeal to question what's real, what's rumour, notes Sukanya Verma.

Jio tops 4G chart with 20.9 Mbps download speed in Sep: Trai

Jio tops 4G chart with 20.9 Mbps download speed in Sep: Trai

Rediff.com18 Oct 2021

Reliance Jio maintained the top position in the 4G speed chart with a 20.9 megabit per second (Mbps) average download rate in September, while Vodafone Idea topped in the upload segment with 7.2 Mbps data speed, as per telecom regulator Trai. Reliance Jio's 4G network speed increased by about 15 per cent in September while its competitors Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (VIL) speed jumped by about 85 per cent and 60 per cent month-on-month to 11.9 Mbps and 14.4 Mbps, respectively, according to data published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

Avaya gets nod to buy 25% in Tata Telecom

Avaya gets nod to buy 25% in Tata Telecom

Rediff.com4 Jun 2004

The United States-based communication services provider Avaya International will pick up to 25 per cent stake in Tata Telecom following clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.

Govt launches '181' women's helpline for all states

Govt launches '181' women's helpline for all states

Rediff.com21 Jan 2013

A month after releasing the three-digit emergency number for women in Delhi, the government Monday said it will make available the '181' women helpline number to all states of the country.

Curfew in Odisha's Sambalpur after fresh violence during Hanuman Jayanti rally

Curfew in Odisha's Sambalpur after fresh violence during Hanuman Jayanti rally

Rediff.com15 Apr 2023

The violence came after Friday evening's Hanuman Jayanti processions were held under tight security.

'We are not saying everybody has to pay that much'

'We are not saying everybody has to pay that much'

Rediff.com12 Jun 2023

'If you are going to have only a handful of telecom players on whom the entire dream of Digital India rests, it's important they are financially sustainable.'

Vodafone Idea defers Rs 8,837 cr AGR dues payment

Vodafone Idea defers Rs 8,837 cr AGR dues payment

Rediff.com23 Jun 2022

Debt-ridden telecom operator Vodafone Idea has decided to defer payment of additional adjusted gross revenues of Rs 8,837 crore dues by a period of four years. The company in a late night filing on June 22, said that the DoT on June 15, has raised adjusted gross revenue (AGR) demand for additional two financial years beyond 2016-17, which were not covered under the Supreme court order on the statutory dues. Vodafone Idea (VIL) in the filing said that its board of directors "has approved the exercise of the option of deferment of the AGR related dues by a period of four years with immediate effect, in accordance with the said DoT Letter.

'Private Sector Is Not Firing At 100%'

'Private Sector Is Not Firing At 100%'

Rediff.com4 Feb 2023

'They have started becoming an important player, but not at the same level as they were in the earlier part of the decade.'

BSNL, MTNL asset sale norms may be relaxed

BSNL, MTNL asset sale norms may be relaxed

Rediff.com17 Mar 2022

The Centre is considering relaxing some norms that led to the failure in attracting bids for assets of Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) as they look to restart the auction for their non-core assets. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) had listed six properties of BSNL and MTNL for sale through its new e-bidding portal, developed by state-run MSTC, but the auction failed to garner an adequate interest. DIPAM had asked government-appointed property consultants to identify issues in the bidding criteria for resolution.

Sibal writes to states for special status to mobiles

Sibal writes to states for special status to mobiles

Rediff.com12 Feb 2013

It will help to lower their costs by 7-8 per cent.

Airtel prepays Rs 15,519 cr to DoT

Airtel prepays Rs 15,519 cr to DoT

Rediff.com17 Dec 2021

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Friday said it has paid Rs 15,519 crore to the government towards prepayment of its entire deferred liability pertaining to spectrum acquired in the 2014 auction. The company had acquired 128.4 MHz spectrum (including Telenor spectrum) for a consideration of Rs 19,051 crore in the 2014 auction, Airtel said in a statement. The company estimates that the prepayment to Department of Telecom (DoT) will likely result in interest cost savings of at least Rs 3,400 crore over the residual life for fully substituted capital.

Economy to grow 13-fold to $40 trillion by 2047: Mukesh Ambani

Economy to grow 13-fold to $40 trillion by 2047: Mukesh Ambani

Rediff.com22 Nov 2022

India is likely to become a $40 trillion economy by 2047 -- a 13-fold jump from its current size -- driven primarily by a clean energy revolution and digitalisation, billionaire Mukesh Ambani said on Tuesday. Ambani's estimate for the Indian economy, currently the fifth largest in the world behind only the US, China, Japan and Germany, is more optimistic than Asia's richest man Gautam Adani, who last week stated that India will become a $30 trillion economy by 2050 on back of rising consumption and socio-economic reforms. "From a 3 trillion-dollar economy, India will grow to become a 40 trillion-dollar economy by 2047, ranking among the top three economies of the world," Ambani said at the 10th convocation of Pandit Deendayal Energy University in Gandhinagar.

What Will China Attack First?

What Will China Attack First?

Rediff.com12 Jun 2023

In all likelihood, the next conventional Chinese attack on India would be preceded by a massive cyber attack designed to cripple Indian networks and interfere with our disaster-relief programmes.

Pakistan blocks Wikipedia over blasphemous content

Pakistan blocks Wikipedia over blasphemous content

Rediff.com4 Feb 2023

The blacklisting of Wikipedia comes days after the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) degraded Wikipedia services for 48 hours, threatening to block it if the content deemed 'blasphemous' was not deleted.

Corruption in India:  People or the State?

Corruption in India: People or the State?

Rediff.com2 Feb 2011

Corruption is again dominating the news in India. Long-standing issues like broad attempts to avoid taxes have simmered back to the surface and been joined by new accusations against the wealthy, major companies, and the government. Scandals have crossed finance, property, and telecom.

IT, telecom mkt in Asia-Pacific region to grow 11%

IT, telecom mkt in Asia-Pacific region to grow 11%

Rediff.com2 Jan 2003

IT, telecom market in Asia-Pacific region to grow 11% in 2003: IDC

Jio to invest Rs 2 lakh cr in 5G; rollout in metros by Diwali

Jio to invest Rs 2 lakh cr in 5G; rollout in metros by Diwali

Rediff.com29 Aug 2022

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani on Monday announced a Rs 2 lakh crore investment in deploying fifth-generation or 5G telephony with rollout in metro cities by Diwali. Jio, the nation's largest telecom operator, has deployed standalone 5G stack rather than upgrading the existing 4G network, to offer ultra-high speed internet, he said at Reliance Industries' 45th AGM.

Cyclone Jawad: Ensure safe evacuation of people, Modi tells officials

Cyclone Jawad: Ensure safe evacuation of people, Modi tells officials

Rediff.com2 Dec 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the preparedness to deal with the situation arising out of the likely formation of Cyclone Jawad that is expected to hit the North Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast and directed officials to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated.

Modi launches 5G mobile services, calls it dawn of new era

Modi launches 5G mobile services, calls it dawn of new era

Rediff.com1 Oct 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the 6th India Mobile Congress at Pragati Maidan in Delhi and launched 5G services. The 5G telecom services seek to provide seamless coverage, high data rate, low latency and highly reliable communications system. The three major telecom operators of the country demonstrated one use case each in front of the prime minister to show the potential of 5G technology in India.

'Foxconn is clearly bullish about India'

'Foxconn is clearly bullish about India'

Rediff.com20 Mar 2023

Foxconn means serious business in India. Its delegation to India was led by its Chairman Young Liu who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Telcos pay Rs 17,873 crore as first instalment of 5G spectrum dues

Telcos pay Rs 17,873 crore as first instalment of 5G spectrum dues

Rediff.com18 Aug 2022

The Department of Telecommunications (DOT) on Wednesday received over Rs 17,873 crore from companies towards 5G spectrum dues. Nearly half the amount (Rs 8312.4 crore) was paid by Bharti Airtel, which made advance payments for four years to free up cash for future investments. Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea paid Rs 7,864 crore and Rs 1,680 crore, respectively.