TELECOM
No fresh AGR relief beyond SC mandate; no extension on OTT SIM-binding norms: Scindia
With sections of the telecom industry seeking parity and clarity on future AGR-linked liabilities, the minister made it clear that the government’s hands remain tied to the court’s framework.
BUSINESS
India’s smartphone market braces for biggest slump in years as worsening supply squeeze drives up prices
Android smartphones are expected to absorb most of the impact, while Apple’s iPhones are likely to remain comparatively resilient with modest mid-single-digit year-on-year growth
TELECOM
TRAI cuts 5G reserve prices by up to 37%, defers 6 GHz decision, suggests insolvency spectrum reclaim
The 600 MHz band has been given a distinct and more flexible treatment. TRAI has proposed auctioning it in 2x5 MHz blocks with a minimum bid of one block, extending the validity of spectrum by four additional years beyond the standard 20-year term, and deferring rollout obligations for the first four years
TELECOM
India emerging as ‘perfect digital platform’ for AI, says Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden
Beyond cost optimisation, AI will also help telecom operators unlock new revenue opportunities through autonomous and differentiated services, Ekudden tells Moneycontol
BUSINESS
Local-language LLMs key to unlocking India’s AI potential: G42 India CEO Manu Jain
G42, which operates major supercomputing clusters globally and is developing a 5-gigawatt AI campus in Abu Dhabi, aims to use the India deployment to accelerate AI adoption across sectors
BUSINESS
Airtel unveils Rs 20,000-crore NBFC war chest to scale digital lending
The announcement follows Airtel Money receiving its NBFC licence from the RBI on February 13, formally enabling the telecom major to scale its digital lending ambitions
BUSINESS
Intel in talks to join DLI 2.0, backs India AI Mission with push to democratise AI
Participation in DLI would strengthen not just chip design but the broader electronics ecosystem in India, Intel’s India president Gokul V Subramaniam tells Moneycontrol
TELECOM
DoT directs Noida Airport to grant RoW to telcos to deploy networks
The communication follows similar directions recently issued by the DoT to Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), asking it to permit telecom operators to deploy their own network infrastructure at the Navi Mumbai International Airport under the provisions of the new law
BUSINESS
India weighs fresh cyber law amid rising AI-led threat; Airtel-Zscaler set up research center
The announcement signals a broader policy pivot—from responding to cyber incidents to building proactive, AI-enabled defence systems
INDIA
AI in telecom must be transparent, accountable, human centric: TRAI Chief A.K. Lahoti
AI is already being deployed to optimise network performance, predict faults, improve energy efficiency, enhance customer experience, and curb fraud and spam communications. These applications, he noted, demonstrate how AI can improve service quality, resilience and consumer safety when applied responsibly.
TECHNOLOGY
Qualcomm CEO says AI agents will reshape smartphones, 6G to power next leap
According to Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, 6G networks will evolve into large-scale sensing and intelligence platforms.
BUSINESS
Govt directs Adani Group to allow telcos to deploy networks at Navi Mumbai Airport
The DoT clarified that under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the Navi Mumbai International Airport qualifies as a “public entity” for the purposes of the Act and the rules framed under it.
BUSINESS
Red Hat helping enterprises move from AI pilots to scaled deployment; says India among top three APAC markets
As AI moves from support functions into core business operations, Bal said concerns around governance, security, data control, model sizing, and deployment environments become critical.
BUSINESS
India can offer blueprint for affordable AI, says Qualcomm Ventures India MD
AI in India will not mirror the West. It will be cheaper, on-device and built for population scale, a model that can make India the leader in affordable AI adoption,Rama Bethmangalkar tells Moneycontrol
BUSINESS
Qualcomm to invest up to $150 million in India-focused AI venture fund
Qualcomm has backed more than 40 startups in India since 2007, providing not just capital but access to its deep technology expertise and global ecosystem
BUSINESS
India needs a frugal, scalable AI model — not a western copy: Intel India MD Santhosh Viswanathan
Santosh said the bigger opportunity lies in expanding India’s computing footprint, where household PC penetration is still under 10 percent.
BUSINESS
Multiple companies keen on memory chip manufacturing in India: Vaishnaw
Vaishnaw indicated that India’s semiconductor ambitions are expanding beyond assembly and packaging into deeper technology layers.
TELECOM
Telecom backbone ready for AI surge, India actively shaping 6G standards: MoS Pemmasani
The Union Minister of State for Communications emphasised that telecom networks form the foundational layer of India’s digital architecture.
BUSINESS
Telecom networks are foundation of India’s AI revolution, says MoS Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar
The minister said AI is already being deployed at scale within telecom operations — from predictive maintenance that reduces network downtime to dynamic spectrum optimisation and AI-powered energy management systems that can cut energy consumption by up to 30%.
TECHNOLOGY
AI layer on digital infrastructure can redefine governance: Jio Group CTO
This convergence, he argued, is pushing intelligence to the edge — into devices, vehicles, enterprises and public infrastructure — enabling automated decision-making and hyper-personalised services.
BUSINESS
AirPods join iPhones in driving Apple’s India export boom to US, LatAm, Europe; over a million units shipped
Apple’s Taiwanese contract manufacturing partner Foxconn’s subsidiary, Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT), commenced trial production of Apple AirPods in April last year at its Hyderabad facility for exports and began commercial shipments in August, sources said.
BUSINESS
Smartphone maker Nothing doubles down on India, CEO Carl Pei says company investing more
The company opened its first flagship offline store in Bengaluru and plans to expand its physical retail footprint further, signaling a deeper long-term commitment to India beyond its online-first beginnings.
BUSINESS
Nothing CEO Carl Pei bets on AI-native OS by 2028 to challenge iOS-Android duopoly
Pei, who founded Nothing in October 2020 with Akis Evangelidis, argued that true disruption would require rethinking the operating system itself, not just embedding AI tools within current platforms.
BUSINESS
Nothing opens first flagship store in Bengaluru, bets bigger on offline India push
The outlet also houses a content studio for creators, reinforcing Nothing’s community-led marketing strategy and its strong digital-native following.
