Airtel Lines up $1 Bn Investment for Data Centre Arm Nxtra
Bharti Airtel's data‑centre subsidiary Nxtra Data is raising $1 billion to expand capacity to a gigawatt scale. The round includes $300 million each from Airtel and private‑equity firm Carlyle, and a $400 million commitment from Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed’s Alpha Wave Global. Funds will support Nxtra’s role in the $15 billion Google‑Adani AI hub in Visakhapatnam and accelerate its push to grow market share from 12% to 25% within four years. The capital raise also positions Nxtra for a future public listing.
Jio, Airtel, Vi, Oppose Permitting Internet Providers to Offer DLCs, Seek Forbearance
Indian telecom giants Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and state‑run BSNL have formally opposed a draft regulatory change that would allow Internet Service Providers to offer dedicated leased circuits (DLCs) to enterprises. The operators argue that permitting ISPs to...
Jio IPO Timeline Nears as $4 Billion Listing Looms
Reliance Industries is preparing Jio Platforms' mega‑IPO, slated for early 2026, targeting a $4‑4.5 billion raise by selling a minimum 2.5% free float. Analysts argue the tiny public float could force the shares to trade at a premium, potentially neutralising the...
DoT Seeks Legal Clarity on Dues of Insolvent Telcos
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked the Attorney General for legal guidance on how to handle adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues of insolvent telcos Reliance Communications and Aircel after the Supreme Court ruled that spectrum cannot be transferred or...
'Jio, Airtel Deliver Digital Access to 1.4 Billion Indians Uniquely at $2 per Month'
Cisco President Jeetu Patel highlighted the unprecedented scale of low‑cost broadband in India, where Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel are providing internet to 1.4 billion people at roughly $2 per month. He emphasized Cisco’s role in powering this rollout through networking,...
Jio Platforms Appoints Dan Bailey as President to Lead International Business
Jio Platforms has appointed Dan Bailey as president to head its international business. Bailey, a veteran with 35 years in consulting and investment banking, will join the executive committee and report to Akash Ambani from London. His hiring coincides with...
AI-Based Spam Data Must Be Shared in Hours, Trai to Telcos
TRAI has ordered all Indian mobile operators to share AI‑based spam detection data on a blockchain platform within hours, requiring terminating carriers to flag suspected spam CLIs and originating carriers to notify senders and verify KYC. If five or more...
Bharti Airtel 15% Away From Achieving ARPU of ₹300: Analysts
Bharti Airtel’s average revenue per user (ARPU) stands at ₹259, putting it about 15% short of its ₹300 target, according to BoFA Securities analysts. The shortfall is attributed to the need for higher tariffs in the mid‑to‑upper segment and a...
Ericsson Wins Deals to Modernise Vi's Postpaid Billing, Expand 4G, 5G Networks
Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson has secured new contracts with India’s Vodafone Idea (Vi) to modernize its postpaid billing and extend 4G and 5G coverage nationwide. The agreement adds Ericsson Charging and AI‑driven Telco IT applications, enabling real‑time charging for voice,...
Digital Connectivity Readiness: Trai Proposes New Evaluation, Rating Norms for Real Estate Projects
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has unveiled a proposal to overhaul digital connectivity readiness ratings for real‑estate projects. The plan expands the existing five‑star scale to a nine‑star system with half‑star increments and introduces a design‑stage assessment that...
India on Global 6G Standard-Setting Table for the First Time: Jyotiraditya Scindia
India’s communications minister announced that the country completed the world’s fastest 5G rollout in just 22 months, achieving 99.9% district coverage and connecting 400 million users. For the first time, India has secured a seat at the global 6G standard‑setting tables...
Jio Strengthens Market Leadership in Q3FY26 with Strong Revenue Growth: Report
Reliance Jio reinforced its telecom dominance in Q3 FY26, posting adjusted gross revenue of ₹321 billion, a 3.9% quarterly and 11.2% annual increase. Its AGR market share climbed to 43%, gaining 41 basis points sequentially and 114 basis points year‑on‑year, surpassing...
Trai Holds Off on Net Neutrality Rules for 5G Network Slicing
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has taken a wait‑and‑see stance on whether existing net‑neutrality rules apply to 5G network slicing, offering no immediate guidance. Telecom operators are urging the government to explicitly permit slicing, arguing it is essential...
BSNL Core Operating Profit Grows by 105% in 9-Month Period of FY26: Jyotiraditya Scindia
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited reported a core operating profit (EBITDA) of ₹4,858 crore for the nine months ending 31 December 2025, marking a 105% jump from the same period last year. Revenue rose 13% to ₹17,705 crore in FY 26’s first three quarters, while average...
Viasat Calls for Multi-Orbit Connectivity to Bolster India's Space Sovereignty
Viasat’s President Ben Palmer urged India to adopt multi‑orbit, multi‑band satellite communications to secure spectrum access and resilient SATCOM. He highlighted the company’s push for compact terminals that give beyond‑line‑of‑sight connectivity to tactical unmanned platforms. Palmer praised India’s strategic stance...
Trai Cuts 5G Spectrum Reserve Prices by up to 37% Ahead of Auctions
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has reduced 5G spectrum reserve prices by 7‑37% across nine bands, offering roughly 11,789 MHz of airwaves at an estimated ₹2.10 lakh crore. It also proposes reclaiming spectrum from insolvent players and keeping the upper 6 GHz...
India Seeks to Create Conducive Environment for Submarine Cable Investments, Says TRAI’s AK Lahoti
India is positioning itself as a hub for submarine cable investment, with TRAI chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti announcing a 60% year‑on‑year increase in total lit capacity to 309 Tbps and an 81% rise in activated capacity to 268 Tbps as of December 2025....
India's Tech Infra as Public Good Can Be Emulated for AI Across Global South, Says ITU Official
India’s digital public infrastructure—most notably Aadhaar and UPI—has been highlighted by ITU strategic‑engagement chief Fred Werner as a replicable model for AI diffusion across the Global South. Werner argues that the country’s ability to scale technology for over a billion...
Marvell Aims to Localise Global Semiconductor Solutions for India: Navin Bishnoi
Marvell Technology is localising its global semiconductor portfolio for the Indian market, establishing R&D centres in Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad. The company is collaborating with Indian academia—IITs, NITs and IIITs—to build a talent pipeline and shape semiconductor curricula. Marvell’s data‑centre...
Centre Approves ₹2,432 Crore to Implement Amended BharatNet Programme in Andhra Pradesh
The Indian government has approved ₹2,432 crore to fund the Amended BharatNet programme in Andhra Pradesh. The scheme, managed by the newly formed Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (APBIL), will upgrade 13,426 gram panchayats to a ring‑topology optical fiber network and...
Tata Communications, RailTel Join Hands to Develop AI-Ready Digital Infrastructure
Tata Communications has teamed up with state‑run RailTel to build AI‑ready digital infrastructure for India and global markets. The partnership will modernise RailTel’s 63,000 km optical‑fiber network, add AI‑enabled platforms, and strengthen cyber protection and sovereign cloud capabilities for sensitive workloads....
DoT Asks Noida International Airport to Allow Telcos to Set up Infrastructure
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has formally instructed the upcoming Noida International Airport to treat telecom operators as entitled to in‑building network installations under the Telecommunications Act, mirroring a similar dispute at Navi Mumbai airport. The clarification follows a request from...
