Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani urged BRICS nations to collaborate on building institutional capacity and advocating for fair standards in international telecom and ICT bodies. He highlighted India's willingness to share its modular, open-source digital public infrastructure frameworks like Aadhaar and DigiLocker, emphasising their role in sustainable development and economic growth across the Global South.
India's government has implemented stringent new regulations under the Telecommunications Act 2023, mandating that all communication infrastructure providers, including those utilising cloud-based networks, must store telecommunication data exclusively within the country, a move expected to significantly impact domestic data centre demand.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced a new authorisation regime, replacing multiple licences with a single permission for principal telecom services, aiming to simplify compliance and accommodate evolving technologies. This move is expected to ease business operations, enhance fraud prevention with AI, and expand connectivity, especially through satellite networks.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Sateesh Seth and Gautam Doshi, former directors of Reliance Telecom Ltd, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Mumbai. They are being taken to Delhi for a case registered in the national capital.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has instructed telecom operators to refuse new mobile connections to individuals who already possess nine or more SIM cards, effective from August 24, 2026.
A top SBI official has highlighted the challenges bankers face in lending to MSMEs using only GST data, advocating for the integration of alternative data sources like power consumption and telecom records through credit bureaus to improve credit assessment.
Reliance Jio's reintroduction of Jio Prime membership with a price lock until September 2027 and the retention of its entry-level daily unlimited data plan at ~299 rupees are seen by industry analysts as strong indicators of imminent tariff hikes across the Indian telecom sector.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has expanded the 1600-number series to include utilities, courier, and logistics companies, introducing the new 1601 series to help consumers identify legitimate calls and prevent widespread fraud and impersonation.
Flash floods in Tibet's Gyirong County, near the China-Nepal border, have resulted in five deaths and 558 missing individuals, including 260 foreign nationals. The disaster also caused significant casualties in Nepal and disrupted infrastructure. Rescue operations are underway, and concerns are rising over a newly formed barrier lake that poses a risk of further flooding.
Devastating flash floods near the Tibet-Nepal border have led to the evacuation of over 1,000 people, including tourists, from Gyirong County. The floods caused casualties in both Tibet and Nepal, disrupted infrastructure, and prompted a Level-IV alert due to a rapidly forming barrier lake with a high risk of breaching and causing further downstream flooding.
Broadband technology firm GX Group is set to commence manufacturing operations at its advanced photonics facility in India from December, investing Rs 500 crore. This initiative aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing, create skilled jobs, and reduce dependence on imported optical components crucial for high-speed data networks and AI data centres.
Chandra's tenure also saw a big jump in Tata Sons' other income, such as brand fee from group companies, treasury gains, and other non-recurring income.
Vodafone Idea (Vi) significantly reduced its losses in Q1 FY27 to approximately 3,754 crore, driven by an exceptional gain and increased average revenue per user (Arpu). The company also reported its first net subscriber additions since its 2018 merger, indicating a positive shift in its operational trajectory.
In the next 36 months nearly 25 to 40 per cent of jobs will be under threat from AI and job losses are inevitable.
High memory costs have driven average mobile phone prices up by 15 per cent.
Telecom czar Sunil Bharti Mittal plans to hand over the reins of Bharti Airtel to his children in the next decade and desires that promoter firm Bharti Telecom regains over 50 per cent stake in the company.
Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator, reported a 37.3 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to 8,167 crore for Q1 FY27, driven by the addition of high-paying premium customers, despite missing Bloomberg consensus estimates.
Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has uncovered a Rs 1.5 crore WhatsApp fraud, leading to the arrest of two key SIM and OTP suppliers in West Bengal. The investigation revealed a sophisticated international cybercrime network spanning China, Pakistan, India, and Hong Kong, operating a "boss scam" and utilizing a "Cybercrime as a Service" model. Police recovered a significant portion of the defrauded amount and secured thousands of devices.
Reliance Industries shares rose over 1 per cent after the company reported record quarterly core profit and EBITDA for the June quarter, driven by strong performances in its oil-to-chemicals and telecom businesses.
Indian stock markets saw a significant rebound, with the Sensex jumping nearly 790 points, primarily fuelled by strong buying interest in telecom, pharma, and private banking shares, despite a volatile trading session and a weakening rupee.
Reliance Industries (RIL) delivered a better-than-expected operational performance in Q1FY27, driven by a recovery in its oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business and robust gains in the telecom (Jio) segment, though its retail arm missed estimates. Analysts highlight the upcoming Jio Platforms IPO and execution in new energy and consumer businesses as key triggers for the stock's future growth.
A Goldman Sachs report indicates that up to 12% of India's non-agricultural workforce is at risk of substitution by generative AI, while 42-48% could be complemented. The report highlights uneven impacts across sectors and job types, with IT-enabled services facing higher risk and physical tasks remaining less affected. Gen-AI is projected to boost India's labour productivity growth over the next decade.
Bharti Airtel's first-quarter (April-June/Q1) performance for 2026-27 (FY27) surpassed estimates across most metrics, fuelled by robust growth in both its India and Africa operations, with significant increases in average revenue per user (Arpu) and subscriber additions.
The Delhi government is set to introduce a comprehensive drone policy aimed at creating over 1,000 jobs and regulating drone operations. The policy will focus on establishing research clusters, flight testing facilities, and providing subsidies, while also addressing drone usage for government purposes like traffic management and surveillance, considering the city's extensive 'no drone zones'.
DIIs invested $22.8 billion in Indian equities in Q2CY26.
India's fair trade regulator, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), has dismissed a complaint alleging anti-competitive conduct against Reliance Jio Infocom Ltd and over 4,500 other firms across various sectors, citing a lack of specific evidence.
'... that work is done. The task is to reallocate what has been built, with the courage of a founder and the discipline of an owner.'
'1991 was an exceptional period in Indian history.' 'A big 400-volt shock was administered to the system, which was required. Today, we are in a much, much better position.'
Brokerages are forecasting a strong first quarter (April-June/Q1) for Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) in FY2026-27, with double-digit revenue growth, Ebitda increases of around 12 per cent, and net profit rising up to 10 per cent, primarily driven by its oil-to-chemicals (O2C), retail, and Jio businesses.
Trai Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti highlighted the transformative role of satellite communications in expanding seamless connectivity across India, especially in remote areas. He noted that India's space economy is projected to grow significantly, driven by satcom technology that will bridge the digital divide, provide resilient infrastructure during disasters, and support strategic sectors.
Trai Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti highlighted the transformative role of satellite communications in expanding seamless connectivity across India, especially in remote areas. He noted that India's space economy is projected to grow significantly, driven by satcom technology that will bridge the digital divide, provide resilient infrastructure during disasters, and support strategic sectors.
'Healthy double-digit returns are still possible, though a sharp rally is unlikely.'
Assam's flood death toll has climbed to 75 with seven new fatalities, even as the number of affected people decreased. The state government has increased the ex gratia payment to Rs 9 lakh per deceased family and relaxed norms for claiming compensation, including waiving mandatory post-mortem reports.
Reliance Industries Ltd reported a 22 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit for the June quarter, primarily because the previous year's earnings were inflated by a one-time gain from the sale of its stake in Asian Paints.
TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti highlights the increasing importance of Artificial Intelligence in the design, management, and experience of telecom networks in India, noting its role in self-optimising networks, cybersecurity, and preparing for 6G technology.
Bharti Airtel is strategically shifting its focus towards data centres, cloud services, and financial services as key drivers for its next phase of growth, leveraging significant past investments in digital infrastructure, as outlined by Chairman Sunil Mittal in the company's Annual Report for 2025-26.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced a significant tumble in early trade, primarily driven by heavy selling in HDFC Bank following its quarterly earnings and a sharp spike in Brent crude oil prices due to escalating tensions between the US and Iran. Track Sensex, Nifty
A telecom agent in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, has been arrested for allegedly issuing 84 SIM cards to different individuals using a single photograph, raising concerns about identity fraud and security.
Indian stock markets this week will be primarily influenced by a series of corporate Q1 earnings, the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia, and fluctuations in crude oil prices, according to market analysts.
Shares of Reliance Industries climbed nearly 3 per cent after its digital unit, Jio Platforms, filed draft papers for what could become India's largest-ever initial public offering, with the offering potentially raising around Rs 37,700 crore (USD 4 billion).
