| CAS/DTH
| | Signal Lost with Airtel, Tata Seeks New DTH Connection Tata Group is set to renew the hunt for new buyers for Tata Play direct-to home (DTH) business after the abandonment of talks with Bharti Airtel to merge their DTH businesses due to sharp differences over valuation, people familiar with the matter told ET .
The Tatas are looking to exit the DTH business as they find it as non scalable and non-strategic to the group.
The Tata Group was pushing for a valuation of about ?7,000 crore for Tata Play in the proposed merger with Bharti Telemedia — an Airtel unit that owns Airtel Digital TV, the people said. However, Airtel had pegged the valuation of Tatas’ DTH business significantly lower, at less than ?5,000 crore, which was a key deal breaker, they added.
“The Tata Group reckoned it has a strong brand in Tata Play, which is India’s largest DTH services player, and merited a higher valuation,” said one of the persons cited above.
Airtel is also believed to have walked away from the DTH merger deal as it has recently rolled out internet based IPTV services—seen as an emerging opportunity for converting its 120 million-odd cable TV households, most of whom are still to subscribe to streaming services.
Airtel as a 5G mobile operator is also investing heavily in 5G-based fixed wireless access (FWA) services, and in high-speed fibre broadband rollouts, which would allow it to offer live streaming services on digital platforms, the people said.
Tata Sons and Bharti Airtel did not respond to queries.
“Differences over valuations may have been the key reason why Airtel and the Tatas scrapped plans to merge their DTH businesses,” said Rohan Dhamija, head (India & Middle East) at management consulting firm Analysys Mason.
“But Airtel also possibly didn’t see much value in merging Bharti Telemedia with Tata Play, given its focus on FWA and access to high-speed fibre broadband networks, which enables it to offer the gamut of video and live streaming services on digital platforms and reduces its dependence on linear pay TV platforms.”
He added that Airtel’s recent launch of IPTV services across 2,000 cities would further reduce its dependence on pay TV platforms.
IPTV, on Internet Protocol Television, is a method of delivering TV content over the internet—also seen as an alternative to mainline cable or satellite TV.
“The compulsion to exit the DTH business was more in case of the Tatas, while Airtel was merely weighing the pros and cons of merging the DTH businesses, and it ultimately didn’t make the cut as DTH is not a core business for Bharti, and as a leading telco with access to a countrywide fibre broadband network and now IPTV services, it is better positioned to dominate the OTT (over the top) aggregation space via its scale and ability to bundle data with content,” a second person said.
A Tata-Bharti DTH deal, though, would have marked the second major deal in the DTH space in about a decade, after the Dish TV-Videocon d2h merger in 2016. It would also have coincided with Reliance Industries and Walt Disney merging Star India and Viacom18 to form JioStar, India’s largest media and entertainment company.
Tata Play—originally Tata Sky—began as a joint venture with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. The Walt Disney Co. took over the stake when it acquired Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox six years ago.
Tata Sons, the holding company of the diversified Tata conglomerate, holds 70% in Tata Play, having reportedly acquired Singapore investment firm Temasek Holding’s 10% stake in April 2024 for ?835 crore, valuing the company at around $1 billion. Tata Play has over 23 million users.
ET had reported this February that the Tata and Bharti groups were finalising a merger between their loss-making DTH businesses. The deal was expected to bolster Airtel’s triple play strategy of bundling telecom, broadband and DTH services. Bharti had confirmed the talks with the Tatas but both parties mutually decided to terminate the discussions earlier this month.
| - by: (Economic Times) | Top |
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| | Zee Entertainment Q4FY25 net profit jumps 14-fold to Rs 188.4 crore Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) reported a 14-fold increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 188.4 crore for the January–March quarter (Q4FY25) compared to the same period last year. The profit figure includes gains from the company’s portfolio rationalisation initiative and the treatment of Margo Networks as a discontinuing operation, valued at Rs 7.9 crore.
The Mumbai-headquartered company`s revenue from operations rose marginally by 0.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 2,184.1 crore in Q4FY25. The modest growth was largely due to a sharp 24.56 per cent decline in advertising revenue, which fell to Rs 837.5 crore.
“Domestic advertising revenue declined by 27 per cent YoY for the quarter due to a slowdown in the macro advertising environment, postponement of the Zee Cine Awards, a busy sports calendar and a higher base in Q4FY24,” the company stated in its investor presentation.
In contrast, subscription revenue rose by around 4 per cent YoY to Rs 986.5 crore during the quarter, driven by both linear TV subscriptions and growth on ZEE5, the company’s digital streaming platform.
ZEEL’s other sales and services revenue—which includes the distribution business—tripled to Rs 360.1 crore in Q4FY25. The rise was attributed to a higher number of film releases and increased syndication revenue. In the quarter, 16 shows and movies were released, including four ZEE5 originals.
However, profit before interest, depreciation and tax (PBIDT) remained flat, dipping marginally by 0.1 per cent to Rs 98.2 crore for the quarter.
There is not much meat left in us to cut,” a company executive said during the earnings call, referencing ZEEL’s cost-cutting measures, particularly in its digital business, ZEE5. The executive added that future growth would now rely on increasing revenue as the scope for further cost reductions has been exhausted.
| - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| CORPORATE
| | Airtel Africa Q4 profit at $80 million on revenue growth, lower costs A sustained rise in revenue and lower finance costs helped Airtel Africa to post $80 million consolidated net profit in the January to March quarter of the financial year 2024-25 (FY25). This was up from a $91 million loss in Q4FY24.
As a result, the telecom operator saw its annual net profit rise to $328 million in FY25, up from a $89 million loss in FY24.
Quarterly finance costs fell 52 per cent in Q4 to $221 million, down from $465 million in Q4FY24. Total finance costs for FY25 stood at $822 million, down 51 per cent from the $1.7 billion in FY24. It was impacted by $179 million of derivative and foreign exchange losses as a result of the Nigerian naira’s devaluation in the first half of FY25, which has been partially offset, the company said.
Airtel Africa reported a 17.8 per cent rise in revenue to $1.31 billion, up from $ 1.1 billion in Q4FY24. The rise in revenue accelerated from a 2.42 per cent rise in Q3, and two straight quarters of revenue contraction. Strong execution and the tariff adjustments in Nigeria contributed to a further quarter of accelerating growth, with Q4 revenue growth of 23.2 per cent in constant currency and 17.8 per cent in reported currency as currency headwinds eased.
The earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) was recorded at $623 million, up 19.8 per cent from the $520 million in the same quarter of the previous year. Underlying Ebitda declined by 5.1 percent in reported currency to $2.3 million with margins of 46.5 per cent, compared to 48.8 per cent in the prior year, impacted by increased fuel prices and the lower contribution of Nigeria to the Group.
With operations in 14 sub-Saharan Africa countries, Airtel Africa is among the largest telecom providers in the continent. The total customer base in the latest quarter expanded by 8.7 percent to 166.1 million, as mobile data and mobile money service penetration continued to climb. The quarter saw a 14.1 percent surge in data customers to 73.4 million, and a 17.3 per cent increase in mobile money customers to 44.6 million.
| - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| | Jio Credit looks to raise Rs 1K cr in maiden bond issue next week Jio Credit, formerly known as Jio Finance, is stepping into the domestic capital market next week with its maiden bond issue. The subsidiary of Jio Financial Services plans to raise up to ?1,000 crore by selling bonds maturing in 2 years and 10 months, sources said.
The issue includes a base size of ?500 crore and a green shoe option of ?500 crore. The bidding for the bond issuance would take place on May 14, sources said, adding that the company is anticipating a coupon rate of 7.19 per cent.
ICICI Securities Primary Dealership is the sole arranger for the issue, sources said.
An email sent to Jio Financial Services did not elicit a response until going to press.
The yields on 10-year government securities have hovered around 6.35 per cent in May. However, 10-year yields shot up to 6.40 per cent on Thursday due to escalation in tension between India and Pakistan.
In March, Jio Finance was considering entering the domestic capital market to raise up to ?3,000 crore. However, the firm delayed the issuance as yields on corporate bonds were trending higher, and there was expectation of yields softening in the coming months, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was expected to deliver a 25 basis points (bps) rate cut in April.
The company completed its maiden commercial paper issuance, raising ?1,000 crore at a yield of 7.80 per cent by selling commercial papers with a tenure of three months.
In its April meeting, the RBI’s six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) cut the policy rate by 25 bps to 6 per cent, and changed the stance to “accommodative” from “neutral”, indicating further rate cuts.
The liquidity conditions were pretty tight in March as banking system liquidity was in deficit. It turned into a surplus in the last week of March because of RBI’s measures, including open market operations, dollar–rupee–buy– sell swaps, among other things.
In April, yields on issuances by AAA-rated state-owned entities fell below the 7 per cent mark, driven by declining yields on 10-year government securities, improved liquidity conditions, and expectations of further rate cuts by the RBI
April saw close to ?1 trillion worth of bonds being issued. In FY25, domestic companies raised a record amount – around ?11 trillion – from the domestic capital market by issuing bonds. In FY24, corporates raised a little over ?10 trillion from the capital market.
Jio Financial Services is a core investment company registered with the RBI. It operates its financial services business through consumer-facing entities, including Jio Finance, Jio Insurance Broking, Jio Payment Solutions, Jio Leasing Services, Jio Finance Platform and Service, and Jio Payments Bank.
Shares of Jio Financial Services closed 1.91 per cent lower on the BSE at ?251.25. | - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| | Telcos set for tariff hike this year as subscriber growth stabilises The telecom operators may go for another round of tariff hikes in the second half of the current fiscal, as subscriber additions stabilise and the impact of the July 2024 hikes begins to taper off, according to analysts.
Data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) shows a steady return to net subscriber growth, led by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Jio, in particular, has seen consistent additions since January 2025, adding 2.17 million users in March, up from 1.7 million the previous month. Airtel added 1.25 million users in March, while Vodafone Idea continued to shed subscribers, losing over 541,000 in the same period.
Total industry additions stood at 2.9 million in March, signalling improving momentum for the sector. Analysts at Jefferies noted that these numbers suggest the market has fully absorbed the July 2024 tariff hikes and may now be ready for the next round. They also pointed to Jio’s rebound in active subscriber additions, outpacing Airtel after three consecutive months of lagging behind, as a positive signal for overall sector pricing power.
Jio’s active subscriber base increased by 5.03 million to reach 451 million by the end of March, while Airtel’s grew by 1.5 million to 389.68 million. Vodafone Idea’s active base slipped by 40,000 users.
Jio highlighted during its Q4FY25 earnings call that 45% of its subscriber base now uses 5G services, with data consumption per user rising steadily. While the company stopped short of offering any timeline for the next hike, management said increased content consumption and 5G usage present a significant monetisation opportunity.
Given that Jio accounted for around 70% of the industry’s net additions in March, analysts believe it may feel more confident leading a price hike in the coming months. However, not everyone agrees that a hike is imminent. UBS analysts argue that the market may still struggle to absorb another round of price increases. Since the July hike, Airtel has gained 0.8 million subscribers, but Jio and Vodafone Idea have together lost close to 19 million, raising concerns about consumer price sensitivity.
Despite these concerns, telcos may still choose to push through a hike to improve their customer mix and lift average revenue per user (Arpu). Jio’s Arpu rose from Rs 181.7 to Rs 206.2 between Q2FY25 and the end of March 2025.
As of March 2025, Jio had a total subscriber base of 469.76 million, Airtel stood at 389.8 million, and Vodafone Idea at 205.36 million. The latter, which has been steadily losing market share, had earlier advocated for more frequent tariff hikes during its Q3 earnings call. | - by: (Financial Express) | Top |
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| DIGITAL PAYMENT
| | Cashfree Payments supports over 140 currencies on upgraded global gateway Payments company Cashfree Payments today announced that it supports over 140 currencies on its international payment gateway, becoming the first Indian fintech to offer the widest range of currency acceptance for Indian businesses.
This feature enables both one-time and recurring transactions on international cards. This upgrade aims to help Indian merchants expand business by up to 30 per cent, claimed the company.
Nitin Pulyani, SVP – Product at Cashfree Payments, said, “The surge in cross-border payments signals a growing demand for faster, cost-efficient global transactions. With support for 140+ currencies, our upgraded international payments gateway gives Indian businesses instant global reach, better access to an international consumer base, and the ability to drive higher revenue.
Pulyani also added that this will enable the Indian diaspora to shop from and engage with Indian brands more seamlessly.
As India’s e-commerce exports head toward a projected $200 billion by 2026, many merchants still face hurdles in going global—chief among them, the friction caused by currency conversion during cross-border transactions. For international customers, seeing prices only in INR can cause confusion and drop-offs, directly impacting customer conversions and revenue.
Cashfree Payments addresses this very challenge by enabling merchants to offer their global customers a seamless, localised checkout experience, said the company. Powered by its Pay Native feature, customers can now pay in their local currency while businesses get settled in INR.
Cashfree Payments was one of the first entities to be authorised by the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a payment aggregator for both domestic and cross-border payments (import and export). It is also authorised to issue prepaid instruments. Cashfree Payments currently processes $80 billion annually and works with 800,000 businesses, from internet start-ups to public enterprises.
In India, Cashfree Payments is trusted by brands like Swiggy, redBus, Zepto, Astro Talk, HDFC Life, and more. In addition to India, Cashfree Payments is expanding its footprint in the UAE and sees significant growth potential offering payments and related products across the Middle East. | - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| | Paytm, founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma settle ESOP case with Sebi Indian payments firm Paytm and its founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma have settled an employee stock options violations case with the country`s markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India said on Thursday.
As part of the settlement, Sharma has been prohibited from accepting fresh employee stock options (ESOPs) from any listed company for three years, while Paytm and Sharma each paid ?1.1 crore ($129,884) each, SEBI said.
Last August, the SEBI determined that the grant of 21 million ESOPs to Sharma violated its rules governing share-based employee benefits. As per Indian rules, large shareholders who can influence company decisions cannot hold ESOPs.
Consequently, last month, Sharma had foregone these ESOPs and as a result, Paytm took a related ?492 crore one-time charge in the previous quarter.
Sharma owned a 14.7% stake in Paytm a year before the company went public in 2021. To become eligible for ESOP grants, he reduced his shareholding to 9.1% by transferring 30.97 million shares to Axis Trustee Services, which acted on behalf of the Sharma family trust.
Sharma`s brother, Ajay Shekhar Sharma, also settled with SEBI in the same case by cancelling the stock options granted to him.
| - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
|
| HANDSETS
| | Google trolls iPhone 17 Air’s Pixel-inspired look in hilarious new ad; Watch viral video here Google has released a playful new YouTube video poking fun at Apple for reportedly borrowing the Pixel’s rear camera design. Since the debut of the Pixel 6 lineup in 2021, the horizontal camera bar has become a signature element of Google’s smartphones.
The video is part of Google’s humorous #BestPhonesForever series, featuring a lighthearted podcast chat between animated versions of the Pixel and iPhone.
The two phone characters discuss circulating rumors about the iPhone 17’s updated appearance. When a headline flashes across the screen suggesting the upcoming iPhone closely resembles the Pixel, the iPhone character chuckles and says, “Imagine me doing what you did years ago—crazy, right?”
Leaked visuals of the rumored iPhone 17 Air support the claim, showing a rear camera design that mirrors the Pixel’s iconic layout. While the horizontal visor became prominent with the Pixel 6, it actually traces back to the Nexus 6P from 2015.
As the conversation unfolds, Pixel responds with a knowing smile. The ad also casually points out that several features—like Night Sight for dark scenes, Magic Eraser for cleaning up photos, and interactive home screen widgets—were pioneered by Google before Apple introduced similar capabilities.
The commercial wraps up with the two phones sharing a laugh, underlining a message of friendly rivalry and mutual respect. | - by: (Financial Express) | Top |
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| | OnePlus 13s to debut `Plus Key` similar to iPhone`s Action button: Details OnePlus has released a new video teaser for its upcoming OnePlus 13s smartphone, revealing that it will feature a new customisable button, called the “Plus Key.” The new Plus Key will allow users to customise it as per their preference for performing actions like changing the audio profile, launching the camera app, enabling flash, starting audio recording, setting up translation, and more. This new button replaces the signature alert slider on OnePlus devices, which allowed the limited function of switching sound profiles.
Earlier this year, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau confirmed plans to replace the alert slider with a more versatile and user-programmable button. The upcoming OnePlus 13s will be the first OnePlus smartphone to get the new button.
OnePlus 13s: What to expect
The company has confirmed that the OnePlus 13s will sport a 6.32-inch display, making it the smallest and most compact model in the OnePlus 13 flagship series. The company has also confirmed that the smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and is expected to come with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage.
The display is said to be a full-HD+ OLED panel with LTPO support, offering a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits for HDR content. Regarding imaging, the device is expected to carry a 50MP dual rear camera set-up and a 16MP front camera. Powering it all will likely be a 6,260mAh battery with 80W wired fast charging support.
OnePlus 13s: Expected specifications
Display: 6.32-inch OLED, fullHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (LTPO), 1600 nits HDR
Brightness, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM: up to 16GB (LPDDR5x)
Storage: up to 1TB (UFS 4.0)
Rear camera: 50 MP primary (autofocus and OIS) + 50 MP telephoto (OIS)
Front camera: 16 MP
Battery: 6,260 mAh
Charging: 80W wired
| - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| | Realme to launch GT 7, GT 7T smartphones on May 27: Expected specs, more Chinese smartphone brand Realme has announced that it will be launching its GT 7 series smartphones on May 27. The company is hosting a “global launch event” in Paris, where the company will debut the Realme GT 7 and Realme GT 7T smartphones. The company has already confirmed that both these smartphones will be made available in India through the company’s official website, e-commerce platform Amazon and select mainline stores.
The new smartphones will join the Realme GT 7 Pro model which launched in India last year, becoming the first smartphone to be powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
Realme GT 7 series: What to expect
The Realme GT 7 is expected to be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It could feature a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 6,000 nits. Regarding optics, the phone may sport a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 16MP front camera for selfies and video calls. The device is also tipped to include a massive 7,500mAh battery with support for 120W wired fast charging, and come with an IP68/IP69 rating for water and dust resistance.
The company revealed that the Realme GT 7 will feature IceSense Graphene technology, which is said to offer higher thermal conductivity and 360-degree heat dissipation.
The Realme GT 7T, on the other hand, is expected to be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8400 chip, along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. According to Smartprix, it may offer a slightly larger 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display with the same 6,000 nits peak brightness. For photography, the GT 7T is likely to feature a dual 50MP rear camera set-up and a 32MP front-facing camera. The phone could be backed by a 6,000mAh battery, also supporting 120W wired fast charging, and is expected to run Android 15 out of the box.
Realme GT 7: Expected specifications
Display: 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED, 6,000 nits peak brightness
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9300+
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB
Rear camera: 50MP primary + 8MP ultra-wide
Front camera: 16MP
Battery: 7,500mAh, 120W wired charging
OS: Android 15
Protection: IP68/IP69
Realme GT 7T : Expected specifications
Display: 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED, 6,000 nits peak brightness
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8400
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB
Rear camera: 50MP primary + 50MP ultra-wide
Front camera: 32MP
Battery: 6,000mAh, 120W wired charging
OS: Android 15
Protection: IP68/IP69
| - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| | Samsung launches Galaxy F56 5G smartphone in India: Check price, specs Samsung has launched the Galaxy F56 5G smartphone in India. Starting at Rs 25,999, the smartphone is powered by the Exynos 1480 processor and sports a 6.7-inch full HD+ Super AMOLED+ display. Measuring 7.2mm in thickness, the company claims that the Galaxy F56 is the slimmest smartphone in the F series.
Samsung Galaxy F56 : Price and offers
8GB RAM +128GB Storage: Rs 27,999
8GB RAM +256GB Storage: Rs 30,999
Colours: Green and Violet
As an introductory offer, customers can get a bank discount of Rs 2,000 on select bank cards.
Samsung Galaxy F56: Details
The Galaxy F56 smartphone is powered by the Exynos 1480 chipset combined with 8GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage. The smartphone features a 6.7-inch full HD+ Super AMOLED+ display with 1,200 nits of brightness in High Brightness Mode (HBM), and a 120Hz refresh rate. It offers Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection on both the front and back of the smartphones.
For imaging, the smartphone includes a 50MP primary sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS). At the front, there is a 12MP camera for selfies, video calls and more. It also supports 4K video recording at 30 frames per second (fps) in 10-bit HDR.
On the software side, the device runs on Android 15-based One UI 7. Samsung promises six generations of Android updates and six years of security updates. The Galaxy F56 also offers Google Gemini integration.
The smartphone has a 5,000mAh battery supporting 45W wired charging. It is rated IP65 for resistance against dust and water splashes. The Samsung Galaxy F56 also supports the Samsung Knox Vault security feature, and the Tap and pay Samsung wallet feature.
Samsung Galaxy F56: Specifications
Display: 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED+, 120Hz refresh rate, 1,200 nits High brightness
Processor: Exynos 1480 chipset
RAM: 8GB
Storage: Up to 256GB
Rear Camera: 50MP primary (OIS)
Front Camera: 16MP
Battery: 5,000mAh, 45W wired charging
Operating System: One UI 7
| - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| | Samsung to launch ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge on May 13: What to expect Samsung has announced that it will launch the new sleek Galaxy S25 Edge smartphone on May 13. The online event, titled “Beyond slim,” will kick off at 9:00 am KST (5:30 am IST) and will be livestreamed on Samsung’s official website. Along with the launch date, the company has also shared key details of the upcoming device, including its camera specifications.
Samsung’s Beyond slim event: Details
Date: May 13
Time: 9 AM (KST)/ 5:30 AM (IST)
Livestream: Samsung official website
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Details
In its announcement, Samsung described the Galaxy S25 Edge as a “breakthrough in precise engineering,” highlighting that every curve and component is designed to deliver a premium experience befitting the S series.
The Galaxy S25 Edge will join the S25 series line-up with a 200MP primary camera sensor and support for Galaxy AI features—consistent with other flagship Galaxy devices.
Samsung also teased a new AI ability that could debut alongside the phone. According to the company, the camera system will “transform into a smart lens that helps recognise what matters to create new memories.” This hints at a possible feature similar to Apple’s Memory Movie, which generates videos from stored photos and clips using text prompts.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: What to expect
The Galaxy S25 Edge is expected to feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The front is likely protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, while the back may use Gorilla Glass Victus 2. An ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is expected to be embedded under the display.
The smartphone will likely be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage. It could also have a 3,900mAh battery.
Samsung has confirmed a 200MP primary rear camera, which is expected to be the same sensor used in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It may be accompanied by a 12MP ultra-wide lens. For selfies and video calls, the device is expected to include a 12MP front-facing camera.
Initially previewed at MWC 2025 in Barcelona, the Galaxy S25 Edge is expected to feature an ultra-thin body with a flat-frame design, measuring just 5.85mm in thickness. The phone is also expected to be lightweight at 163g and rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. It will likely be offered in three colourways: Titanium Silver, Titanium Icyblue, and Titanium Jet Black.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: Expected specification
Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM: 12GB
Storage: up to 512GB
Rear camera: 200MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide
Front camera: 12MP
Battery: 3900mAh
OS: Android 15-based One UI 7
| - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| MOBILITY
| | BSNL rolls out Mother’s Day discounts on THESE popular recharge plans Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has introduced a unique promotional offer in honor of Mother’s Day, providing customers with a limited-time chance to benefit from discounts on specific long-term prepaid recharge plans. The offer are active till May 14 and is available to users who recharge through the official BSNL website or the self-care mobile app. Mother’s Day falls on May 11 this year, which is a Sunday.
BSNL is offering a 5% discount on three of its prepaid plans—Rs 2399, Rs 997, and Rs 599. Following the discount, the Rs 2399 plan will be priced at Rs 2279, the Rs 997 plan will be reduced to Rs 947, and the Rs 599 plan will be available for Rs 569. Subscribers can benefit from total savings of up to Rs 120 by taking advantage of this limited-time promotion, as announced in a post on BSNL’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.
BSNL Rs 2399 Recharge Offer
Designed for long-term users, this plan provides 395 days of service and comes loaded with valuable benefits. Subscribers can make unlimited voice calls nationwide, use 2GB of high-speed data each day, and send 100 SMS daily at no additional cost. Additionally, BSNL includes complimentary access to BiTV, which allows users to enjoy over 350 live TV channels directly on their smartphones.
BSNL Rs 997 Recharge Offer
Valid for 160 days, this mid-range plan delivers unlimited voice calling across India. It also offers 2GB of high-speed data per day and 100 SMS daily. As a bonus, users receive free access to BiTV, making the plan more entertaining and useful.
BSNL Rs 599 Recharge Offer
Ideal for short-term users, this plan remains active for 84 days. It includes unlimited national calling, 3GB of high-speed daily data, and 100 SMS every day. Like the other plans, BiTV access is provided at no extra charge, letting users stream hundreds of live channels on the go.
| - by: (Financial Express) | Top |
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| PAYMENT BANK
| | Cashfree Payments to support 140 currencies via its gateway Cashfree Payments, a RBI authorised payment aggregator for both domestic and cross-border payments, has announced that it supports over 140 currencies on its international payment gateway, becoming the first Indian fintech to offer the widest range of currency acceptance for Indian businesses.
The feature enables both one-time and recurring transactions on international cards. The upgrade aims to help Indian merchants expand business by up to 30 per cent.
Nitin Pulyani, SVP – Product, Cashfree Payments said that with support for 140 currencies, the upgraded international payments gateway gives Indian businesses instant global reach, better access to an international consumer base.
It also enables the Indian diaspora to shop from and engage with Indian brands more seamlessly, he said
As India’s e-commerce exports head toward a projected $200 billion by 2026, many merchants still face hurdles in going global including the friction caused by currency conversion during cross-border transactions. For international customers, seeing prices only in the rupee can cause confusion and drop-offs, directly impacting customer conversions and revenue.
Powered by its Pay Native feature, customers can now pay in their local currency while businesses get settled in the rupee —boosting trust, precision pricing and customer acquisition.
From major currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP to emerging market options like AED, BRL, and MYR, Cashfree’s international card acceptance solution is the first Indian initiative to support such a diverse range of currencies. Leading players across quick-commerce, travel, spiritual tech, and e-commerce are already live with this upgrade.
Cashfree Payments currently processes $80 billion annually and works with 8 lakh businesses, from internet start-ups to public enterprises.
In India, Cashfree Payments is used by leading brands like Swiggy, redBus, Zepto, Astro Talk, HDFC Life and more. In addition to India, it is expanding its footprint in the UAE and sees significant growth potential offering payments and related products across the Middle East.
Founded in 2015, it was incubated by PayPal and backed by Silicon Valley investor Y Combinator, Apis Partners, State Bank of India. |
| SATELLITE
| | Musk`s Starlink gains from Trump tariff as nations try to ease tensions Several countries have accelerated regulatory approvals for Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, in an effort to ease tensions over new US tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. An investigation by The Washington Post highlighted this pattern of how Starlink has gained footholds in countries such as Lesotho, India, Somalia, Vietnam, and Cambodia — often during or shortly after trade negotiations prompted by the imposition of new import duties.
While there is no documented evidence of the Trump administration directly demanding regulatory favours for Starlink in exchange for tariff relief, internal state department communications reviewed by The Washington Post suggest that diplomatic missions have repeatedly advocated for Musk’s company.
The cables also reveal a continuation of US diplomatic support for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet providers that began under the Biden administration, albeit with a broader emphasis on multiple vendors. Starlink operates with over 7,000 LEO satellites and provides satellite internet services in more than 100 countries.
Under Trump, however, state department communications increasingly cite Starlink by name and urge embassies to advocate for its inclusion in foreign markets.
India may have fast-tracked Starlink’s approvals with the understanding that doing so could smooth broader trade discussions.
As reported by Business Standard, the latest developments show the Indian government has approved Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, to operate in India, more than two years after the company applied for a license. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a letter of intent, pending final approval. A similar license has already been granted to Airtel-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite division, Jio Space Ltd.
Starlink now awaits final authorisation from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) must also provide recommendations on satellite spectrum allocation, including pricing, which is expected soon.
The DoT has approved Starlink’s application for a GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) license, which is required to offer satellite-based broadband services in India. Starlink’s application has been under review since November 2022.
According to The Washington Post, such regulatory gains could open up massive revenue streams for the satellite provider. Even a modest share of India’s broadband market could yield close to $1 billion in annual revenue, with comparable growth prospects in Latin America and Africa.
starlink began engaging with Lesotho’s government in late 2023, looking to enhance internet connectivity in the country. Lesotho, in Southern Africa, granted Starlink a 10-year operating license on April 14, shortly after President Donald Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on its goods, signalling a possible gesture of goodwill amid pending trade talks.
Similar sentiments have reportedly been echoed in African nations such as Mali and Cambodia, where embassy memos suggest local authorities have considered Starlink’s market entry as a means of improving relations with the US.
Somalia
Discussions between Starlink and Somalia’s National Communications Authority (NCA) commenced in March 2023, with Starlink expressing interest in providing services. Somalia finally granted Starlink a licence to operate on April 13, following the Trump tariff announcements.
Vietnam
SpaceX expressed interest in entering Vietnam’s market in 2023, proposing a $1.5 billion investment. The pilot programme for this was approved in March 2025, around the time Trump`s tariff threats began.
Starlink has been approved to operate without foreign ownership restrictions until 2030. The move was largely seen as an “olive branch” to the Trump administration.
Cambodia
On February 20, 2025, Rebecca Hunter, Marketing Director of SpaceX-Starlink, met with Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss investment opportunities, but no formal announcement has taken place yet. The report by The Washington Post suggests that discussions between American Chamber of Commerce representatives and local officials included recommendations to approve Starlink’s license and offer tariff exemptions for US goods, including Ford vehicles.
Trump denies conflict of interest
Though the Trump administration has denied any conflict of interest while working with Elon Musk. The closeness between the tech billionaire and the US President has drawn scrutiny from the public and even caused tensions within the Trump administration.
Musk is currently serving in the administration, overseeing the US DOGE agency, though he has stated that he will step down from the position soon. | - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| | Starlink gets nod for satcom services as telecom department issues letter of intent Starlink, backed by billionaire Elon Musk, on Wednesday received the Government’s nod for satcom services in India, as the Department of Telecommunications issued a letter of intent (LoI) to it.
Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX -- the American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded in 2002 by the world’s richest man Musk.
It provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet worldwide using satellite technology and is aptly described by some as broadband beamed from the skies.
Unlike conventional satellite services that rely on distant geostationary satellites, Starlink utilises the world’s largest low Earth orbit or LEO constellation (550 km above Earth).
This constellation of LEO satellites (7,000 now but eventually set to grow to over 40,000) and its mesh delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, and video calls.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) on Wednesday issued a Letter of Intent to Starlink, sources said adding the latter has agreed to the security terms.
The nod for the satcom offering -- known for its resilience in harsh conditions and conflict zones -- came on a day when India pounded terror camps in Pakistan and POK in pre-dawn strikes, retaliating to the Pahalgam massacre.
DoT sources, however, said that the decision was independent of the developments of the day.
The government has already issued licences to Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications -- the players will be able to start their services after the allocation of radio wave frequencies.
Telecom regulator TRAI is finalising the recommendations for the allocation of satcom spectrum on an administrative basis.
Earlier this week, the government issued stringent security norms mandating legal interception of satellite communication services and barred companies from linking the connection of users in any form with any terminal or facility located outside the country’s border, as well as processing of their data overseas.
The tighter security rules also mandate service providers to indigenise at least 20 per cent of the ground segment of their satellite network within years of their establishment in the country.
According to the instruction, the satcom service licence holder will require security clearances for specific gateway and hub locations in India and compliance to monitoring, interception facilities and equipment requirements.
India’s rules mandate satcom firms should demonstrate system capabilities with respect to security aspects, including monitoring, to the Department of Telecom (DoT) or its authorised representatives before starting operations in India.
On Tuesday, Union Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, while speaking at an industry event, had said that grant of approval to Elon Musk-led satellite internet provider Starlink is a complicated issue but that it is in the final stages.
The Minister of State for Telecom had said the government’s security norms for satcom are important, especially in the present scenario where the hostile nation Pakistan is making an attempt to hack the country’s system.
The minister had, however, added that Starlink will have a minuscule role in connectivity compared to traditional telecom networks.
“Starlink or the others, I wanted you to understand that in the entire world the number of subscribers Starlink has is less than 50 lakh. It’s not much. If you look at the speed and other stuff it’s much slower than the traditional networks. There should not be too much worry about... Starlink coming, taking over, all those things. People don’t understand this,” Pemmasani had said.
According to him, the role of Starlink or other satcom players will be mainly to connect remote areas where traditional networks find it difficult to reach, and it will be primarily for inside home connectivity, not for mobile services.
The minister had also sought to allay fears around satcom services eating into the addressable market of traditional telecom services, saying, “I want people to know whether Starlink and all that stuff, whether they come or not... they will be very small players even if they come.” “It’s very expensive to install the initial equipment. It is 10 times more expensive than our traditional models.” He said that the monthly payment for consumers will also be quite expensive.
Starlink, which had been vying for a India licence for some time now, recently signed pacts with Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Mittal’s Bharti Airtel, which together control more than 70 per cent of the country’s telecom market, to bring the US satellite internet giant’s services to India.
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| | Starlink requires IN-SPACe nod to launch satellite communication services With Starlink application for satellite communication services in India getting the go-ahead from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the company needs to secure IN-SPACe clearance in record time if it wants to roll out signals alongside others, industry insiders say.
It`s competitors Airtel-backed Eutelsat Oneweb had received a global mobile personal communication by satellite (GMPCS) license from August 2021 while Jio Satellite Communication has held it since March 2022. However, the two companies had secured the space regulators nod nearly two years after getting their GMPCS licenses, in November 2023 and June 2024, respectively, people in the know pointed out.
Established in June,2020, IN-SPACe is an autonomous agency under the Department of Space that promotes and regulates space activities for non-government entities. It acts as a single-window for private sector participation in the space sector, facilitating activities, providing space-based services, and sharing infrastructure.
“Given the rigorous scrutiny by the DoT and others, the application is expected to sail through. But one can`t be certain of the timing given that IN-SPACe has to ensure that all entrants in India`s space sector benefit it both strategically and economically”, a source involved in the discussions said.
Meanwhile, officials said the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is expected to soon bring out its recommendations on satellite spectrum. It will detail the modalities for allocation of space spectrum, including its price, licensing conditions such as duration, and technical parameters like frequency bands and bandwidth use. In case Trai releases its recommendations soon, and the DoT begins implementing it, Starlink would need to play catch up.
The Centre on Wednesday gave Elon Musk’s firm approval to operate satellite internet services in India, over two years after the US firm had applied for a GMPCS services license, needed to offer satellite-based broadband services in India. The DoT issued a letter of intent in this regard, pending final clearance from other bodies, officials said.
Starlink`s application for a GMPCS services license has remained under processing since November 2022.
"The DoT has extensively scrutinized Starlink`s application. They have provided an undertaking to meet all the license conditions, including the updated technical and security requirements announced earlier this week. The license is expected to be given soon after Starlink demonstrates its ability to meet all the conditions," an official said on Thursday. However, he stressed the space regulator is not expected to hold up Starlink`s application.
Starlink provides satcom services in over a 100-countries through a constellation of over 7,000 low earth orbit satellites operated by SpaceX.
Firm needs to secure IN-SPACe clearance in record time if it wants to roll out signals
- Subsequently, it also needs trial spectrum to give a demo of its services
- It needs to demonstrate ability to comply with security and technical guidelines
- Trai to bring out recommendations on administrative allocation of satellite spectrum
- The satcom operator needs to get ground infrastructure and above permissions in place, before this
Further steps
After securing the necessary authorization from IN-SPACe, Starlink has to apply for satellite spectrum on a trial basis from the government to showcase a demo of its technology, and service.
| - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| | With DoT nod, Starlink to begin infra investments Following the receipt of a letter of intent (LoI) from the department of telecommunications (DoT), SpaceX, the parent company of satellite Internet provider Starlink, will start the process of making investments in the satellite communication (satcom) infrastructure, sources familiar with the matter said.
With the LoI in hand, SpaceX is now permitted to begin constructing ground infrastructure, including earth stations and gateways, which are vital to supporting satellite-based broadband services. These facilities act as communication hubs that connect the orbiting Starlink satellites to the terrestrial Internet network, enabling high-speed Internet access across wide areas, including remote and underserved regions.
The LoI was granted following mandatory security clearances from the ministry of home affairs, a requirement for all foreign satcom players entering the Indian market. This clearance is often seen as a significant hurdle, and its successful acquisition allows SpaceX to begin laying the technical groundwork for its services. The company, which has already entered into distribution partnerships with major telecom operators Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, can now initiate investments while waiting for additional permissions from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
In parallel, Starlink is actively scouting locations to establish its earth stations, a move seen as critical to ensuring service readiness. These ground stations are essential for uplinking and downlinking data to and from satellites in low earth orbit, ensuring reliable connectivity.
While the LoI brings SpaceX closer to competitors like Jio and Airtel, both of whom have secured all necessary regulatory approvals, the allocation of satellite spectrum remains a key step before commercial services can commence. After considerable debate, the government has decided that the DoT, rather than relying on spectrum auctions used for terrestrial telecom, will directly allocate spectrum for satellite services.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is currently working on recommendations for spectrum pricing and distribution methodology. Once finalised, these will be reviewed by the DoT and forwarded to the Digital Communications Commission for further deliberation. If required, the matter will proceed to the Union Cabinet for final approval. This entire process, according to telecom analysts, could take anywhere between six to nine months.
With regulatory progress now underway, SpaceX’s Starlink is steadily positioning itself to launch operations in India, a move that could significantly enhance broadband penetration in the country’s rural and remote regions. | - by: (Financial Express) | Top |
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| SEMICONDUCTOR
| | Chipmakers Find a Ray of Hope in AI Chipsets Amid US Tariff Gloom Top chip makers Qualcomm and MediaTek view the evolving US tariff situation as creating uncertainties in almost all markets around the world and dragging growth but are positive about demand for AI-enabled chipsets, particularly in the premium smartphone segment that’s growing fast in emerging markets like India.
“For the short term, as trade negotiations continue to unfold, we are closely observing their impact on global economies by working with our global supply chain partners and customers to navigate the uncertainty,” Rick Tsai, CEO at MediaTek, said at the company’s recent earnings call.
“In the meantime, we are carefully monitoring our inventory and managing our operations. For the midto long-term, we believe the trend to our ubiquitous AI remains intact, and our growth prospects remain solid,” he said, while expecting a moderate decline in demand.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said the company’s business strategy remains unchanged despite the uncertainties, albeit providing a lower revenue guideline than market expectations for the June quarter.
“We do not see any material direct impact to us at this point, the landscape obviously is dynamic, so we`re closely monitoring, but we`re very focused on things we control and very focused on supporting our customers as well... We have a very diversified global supply chain.
And so that positions us very well to navigate challenges that might happen as a result of tariffs,” Amon said.
Both chip makers said they have not faced any changes in orders from customers, partly due to the long production cycle. Interestingly, tariff uncertainties may have even contributed to better-than-expected demand in the first quarter, as brands looked at building inventory in advance.
Market trackers said chip makers are insulated from significant tariff impact due to the nature of their supply chain. The manufacturing of the chip sets largely takes place in Taiwan or Korea, which insulates the companies from a trade fallout with China. The origin of the final assembled device is often what determines the tariff applicability when shipped to a market like the US, so MediaTek and Qualcomm are not directly exposed to the evolving uncertainties, analysts said.
“However, if their customers face higher costs due to tariffs on the final devices, they might ask Qualcomm and MediaTek to share that cost burden,” said Parv Sharma, analyst at Counterpoint Research.
| - by: (Economic Times) | Top |
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| TECHNOLOGY
| | Centre asks OTT, streaming platforms to take down Pakistani-origin content The Centre has asked OTT players and platforms to discontinue streaming of Pakistani-origin web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other media content with immediate effect. This comes in the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, which was India’s response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 and the shelling
“In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content, whether made available on a subscription based model or otherwise, having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect,” an advisory by Information & Broadcasting released on Thursday stated.
The advisory noted that, “several terrorist attacks in India have been established to have cross border linkages with Pakistan based State and non-State actors. Recently, on April, 22, 2025, the terrorist attack in Pahalgam led to the killing of several Indians, one Nepali citizen, and injuries to a number of others.”
code of ethics
The advisory citied provisions of the code of ethics that online curated content providers are required to adhere to under the IT Rules, 2021. The codes of ethics states that a publisher must consider a publisher shall take into consideration certain factors, when deciding to feature or transmit or publish or exhibit any content, after duly considering the implications and “shall exercise due caution and discretion in relation to the same.”
This includes content which “affects the sovereignty and integrity of India”, “threatens, endangers or jeopardises the security of the State”, “content which is detrimental to India’s friendly relations with foreign countries” and “content which is likely to incite violence or disturb the maintenance of public order”
“Further, rule 3(1)(b) of Part-II of the IT Rules, 2021 provides that intermediaries shall make reasonable efforts by itself, and to cause the users of its computer resource to not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share any information that inter-alia “threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security 0r sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order,” the advisory noted. |
| | Jiostar steps into influencer marketing with the launch of Jiostarverse Jiostar has launched a data-led influencer marketing platform ‘Jiostarverse’ on Wednesday for brands and agencies with over 500 influencers/talent across genres.
The platform will provide marketing intelligence, engagement insights and content performance on its pool of talent, for effective collaborations. JioStarverse also enables real-time performance tracking and audience intelligence.
Ajit Varghese, Head of Revenue, Entertainment and International, JioStar, said, “Marketers are looking for authenticity, brand relevance and a clear link to business impact. JioStarverse’s AI-led insights, precision targeting and campaign optimisation capabilities align with our goal of offering scalable, and accountable influencer solutions to brands.”
He added, “JioStar is home to iconic characters who are influencers both on and off screens, and this association gives us better visibility into our deep talent pool, allowing more impactful, and brand-relevant campaigns. |
| | OpenAI to store ChatGPT Enterprise and API user data locally in India OpenAI on Thursday said the data of Indian ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT Edu, and OpenAI API (application programming interface) platform users will now be stored locally in the country.
“This will help companies using these products meet local data sovereignty requirements when using OpenAI products in their businesses and building new solutions with artificial intelligence (AI).”
For ChatGPT Enterprise and ChatGPT Edu users in India, this will mean that their conversations with ChatGPT and custom GPTs, including user prompts, uploaded files, and content across text, vision, and image modalities, will be stored in India.
Eligible customers of the ChatGPT API platform can enable data residency by creating a new project in the API platform dashboard and selecting the relevant country. Currently, data storage for the API platform will be stored in the selected region,” OpenAI said.
had reported in February that OpenAI had initiated the process of setting up data centre operations in India to support the growing number of users and the burgeoning load of the extensive use cases of its AI tools in the country.
India has grown to be the second-largest market for OpenAI, and the number of users in the country tripled by 2024, the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) Sam Altman had said during his visit to the country in February.
“Seeing what people are building in India with AI at all the levels of the stack, chips, models…you know all of the incredible applications, I think India should be doing everything. It is quite amazing to see what the country has done and embraced the technology,” Altman had said during his India visit.
After Altman’s visit, OpenAI executives had later that week held two separate meetings, the first with government officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, the US Embassy in India, the ministry of finance, the ministry of home affairs, and the second with technology policy advocacy groups which was organised by The Quantum Hub.
Both these meetings also saw OpenAI executives, including Vice-President of engineering Srinivas Narayanan, explain the products and offerings and the importance of the country in the overall plans of the company, sources had then told Business Standard.
On Thursday, OpenAI also announced a data residency programme for ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT Edu, and the API Platform users in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. The company had earlier announced similar data residency programmes in Europe.
Data residency builds on OpenAI’s robust data privacy, security, and compliance features, which support hundreds of organisations partnering with OpenAI across Asia today — startups, large enterprises, academic institutions etc — including Kakao, SoftBank, Grab, Singapore Airlines, and many more,” the company said in a blog post. | - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| | Techno Electric launches $1 bn digital infrastructure arm to power India’s data revolution Techno Electric & Engineering Company Ltd. (TEECL), an EPC service provider in India’s energy sector, has launched Techno Digital Infra Pvt Ltd, its wholly-owned digital infrastructure arm. Backed by an investment plan of $1 billion, Techno Digital plans an integrated network of hyperscale and edge data centers targeting a cumulative capacity of 250 MW spread across the country.
TEECL shared it is leveraging its domain expertise in power infrastructure and sustainability to build an eco-conscious network of data centers.
“The decision to enter the digital infrastructure space is both timely and visionary,” said Padam Prakash Gupta, MD, Techno Electric & Engineering Co Ltd. “India’s data economy is poised for exponential growth, and with our legacy in power infrastructure and EPC, we see ourselves as natural enablers of this transformation. Techno Digital is not just a business venture—it’s a national mission to bridge the digital divide and power a truly connected India.”
Techno is building a 36 MW hyperscale data center in Chennai within SIPCOT IT Park, Siruseri. This Rated-3 facility spans around 2 Lakh Sq. ft. houses up to 2400 racks and integrates renewable energy with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for continuous sustainability, adiabatic cooling for water efficiency (WUE), 25% green cover, and facility design PUE of 1.35. Future locations for hyperscale facilities include Kolkata and Noida.
“We are not just building data centers, we are powering India’s digital revolution,” said Amit Agrawal, President, of Techno Digital. “Our hybrid strategy integrating hyperscale and edge will redefine how data is hosted, processed, and delivered. Whether AI, OTT, fintech, or governance, our infrastructure is designed for the next decade of digital growth. We are empowering our ecosystem partners to offer unique solutions around cloud, security, and managed services thereby ensuring cutting-edge technology’s ubiquitous availability and affordability.”
Techno has also partnered with RailTel Corporation of India Ltd, a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, to develop Edge Data Centers in 102 cities across 23 Indian states. This landmark project is said to be among the largest deployments of its kind, bringing low-latency computing closer to users in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, empowering sectors such as AI, BFSI, telecom, OTT, e-sports, healthcare, e-governance, and manufacturing. |
| | US-based Korcomptenz to expand operations in India with AI hub in Chennai Korcomptenz Inc., the US-based IT company, is expanding its presence in India by setting up an artificial intelligence (AI) Innovation Hub in Chennai. The hub was launched on Wednesday, The company has set up offices in the city and Hyderabad, the company’s President Clara D’Silva, told newspersons on Thursday.
The hub will be used to showcase the company’s AI-powered solutions to industries like manufacturing, retail, banking, financial services and healthcare, she said..
As a global partner for Microsoft, SAP and Salesforce, Korcomptenz has around 350 employees globally with 250 in Chennai. The company’s clients in clude Dentsply Sirana, Berkshire Hathaway, Adfast, Napoleon and Westlife Foodworld.
Prakash Anthony, CEO and Co-founder, Korcomptenz, said, the AI innovation hub will be critical for the company’s India expansion initiatives. “We want to create IPs and AI patents in 1-2 years to get a turnover of $100 million,” he added.
The company’s current revenue is around $50 million, and is likely to reach around $300 million in 3-4 years, said Anthony.
Christian Twiste, Chief Digital Office, Korcomptenz, said the company engages with clients on e-commerce, web content management, mobile applications. It enables ERP implementation, support and audit, and infrastructure management. The company also accelerates AI, analytics and business insights for clients. |
| TIE-UP
| | BBC Studios focuses on BBC Player in India, partners with Tata Play Binge BBC Player, the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service of BBC Studios, is the key focus area for driving BBC Studios’ digital innovation in India, as it announced a new partnership with Tata Play Binge, an OTT aggregation platform, on Thursday, a senior executive told Business Standard.
Following this, content from BBC Player will be available through Tata Play Binge. Previously, content from BBC Player was available through Amazon Prime Video as an add-on subscription in India.
“We [BBC Studios] want to invest our time, energy and creativity in growing the platform and understanding the audiences that watch content on Tata Play Binge and, accordingly, curate content that sort of fits with their [consumers’] mindset and sync the BBC Player brand. That is the key focus for now,” said Stanley Fernandes, vice-president, distribution, South Asia, BBC Studios.
Fernandes further added that the company expects good growth in subscriptions to BBC Player both on Amazon Prime Video and through its new partnership with Tata Play Binge.
In particular, we know that Tata Play will give us exposure to a new set of young audience primarily due to the digital business model. We are looking forward to seeing growth in this space,” he said. While he did not share the expected boost in revenue and subscribers for BBC Player in the country following the new partnership, he cited that BBC Player’s number of active subscribers had quadrupled in the first three months after its launch on Amazon Prime Video in July 2023. He anticipates similar growth from the Tata Play Binge partnership.
BBC Studios had earlier stated its aim to double business and profitability by 2028, and Fernandes added that the Indian market forms a key part of this goal. In 2024, BBC Studios generated £1.8 billion in revenue globally. In the Southeast Asian region, he noted that India remains a “predominantly priority market” for the company.
“BBC Studios is committed to growing our business in India and bringing our wealth of content to audiences across the country. Moving forward, our investment in this area lies in our partnership with Banijay [Asia], and we are excited to see the fantastic British formats we can bring to life for Indian audiences in the future,” said Fernandes.
This follows BBC Studios’ partnership with Banijay Asia earlier in 2025 to continue its production business in the country. As of now, the company has no plans to partner with any other production house or form a new joint venture in the near future.
With the prominence of live entertainment growing in India, Fernandes explained that although BBC Studios has a live entertainment segment, it is not yet a focus for the Indian market.
| - by: (Business Standard) | Top |
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| TOWER
| WORLDWIDE
| | From Apple to GM, Trump tariffs to cost companies tens of billions From Apple Inc. to General Motors Co., corporate America is bracing for tens of billions of dollars in damages from Trump’s trade war — and that’s before most affected goods have landed.
Among US companies that have disclosed financial projections so far, GM sees a $5 billion hit this year, while Apple expects $900 million in higher costs in the current quarter. Nvidia is taking a $5.5 billion charge to account for new export controls.
President Donald Trump’s administration imposed across-the-board tariffs on most imports and targeted some countries and industries for additional levies. Duties are as high as 145 per cent on many Chinese imports, and Beijing retaliated with import taxes of 125 per cent on American goods. Foreign-made steel and aluminum also face a 25 per cent US tariff.
The preemptive warnings from these and other blue chips may vastly underestimate the overall hit to bottom lines. Many companies have yet to provide guidance, with some taking a wait-and-see approach. Others have foreshadowed the pain by widening expense ranges, pulling their full-year outlooks or warning price hikes will erode consumer demand.
Meta Platforms Inc., for instance, lifted its capital spending projection for the year by as much as $7 billion, blaming the change in part on higher-than-expected costs for globally sourced equipment.
“There’s just a lot of uncertainty around this given the ongoing trade discussions,” Susan Li, chief financial officer of the owner of Facebook and Instagram, said on a call with analysts.
The word “uncertainty” has become a go-to descriptor for many executives during quarterly financial results calls. The u-word has cropped up more than 9,000 times so far in those corporate calls this season — more than when it last peaked, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the highest mentions recorded in Bloomberg data.
Dozens of companies have yet to report their latest earnings and answer analyst questions about the blow from tariffs, including Nvidia, Oracle Corp., Home Depot Inc. and Walmart Inc. Some industries, such as online advertising, will likely be impacted later in the year, and only if businesses cut their budgets to offset ongoing elevated costs or lower consumer demand.
Corporate managers are responding in a multitude of ways, including making attempts to shift production out of China and front load material orders ahead of anticipated price hikes.
Microsoft Corp. said sales of its Windows software and other products rose faster than expected as customers stocked up on inventory. Amazon.com Inc. accelerated some inventory purchases in the first quarter ahead of anticipated tariffs. Combined with unrelated costs associated with customer returns, the move lowered its profitability during the first quarter by roughly $1 billion.
“Obviously, none of us knows exactly where tariffs will settle or when,” Andy Jassy, Amazon’s chief executive officer, told analysts on a conference call.
Import Models
GM, which imports vehicles from South Korea, Canada and Mexico, is among the biggest losers so far in Corporate America. The Detroit-based company and other carmakers are among the hardest hit, with a 25 per cent duty on most imported vehicles. Separate duties on imported parts also are taking a toll on vehicles built at US auto plants.
Rival Ford Motor Co., which domestically produces 80 per cent of the cars it sells in the US, said May 5 that it sees the duties reducing earnings before interest and taxes by about $1.5 billion this year. And motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc. estimates tariffs could cost it as much as $175 million this year.
It’s not just American carmakers. Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday that US tariffs will cut its operating income by $1.3 billion in just the first two months since April 2, which Trump called his trade “Liberation Day.”
Other manufacturers are similarly feeling the pinch on profits from tariffs. Procter & Gamble Co. estimated current and proposed levies could add $1 billion to $1.5 billion to its annual costs. The consumer goods giant plans to counter that in part by raising prices on its products.
It’s not immaterial,” P&G CFO Andre Schulten said on a April 24 earnings call with analysts.
Stanley Black & Decker Inc., which makes power tools and lawn mowers, estimated a gross tariff impact of $1.7 billion on an annualized basis. Even with supply-chain tweaks and price increases to lessen the blow, the company still expects a roughly 15 per cent haircut to its earnings this year. That’s assuming that sticker shock doesn’t curb demand beyond the point at which the company can contain the damage through cost cuts.
“Price increases will be necessary in the US market due to the current tariffs, and we have implemented a substantial increase in April,” Stanley CEO Donald Allan told analysts on an April 30 conference call. He added the company has “notified our customers that further price action is likely required if existing tariffs stay at current levels.”
Industrial Impact
Aerospace and defense giant RTX Corp. said April 22 it’s bracing for an $850 million blow to operating profits, even with mitigation efforts. Honeywell International Inc., GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. and GE Aerospace each project a 2025 hit from tariffs on the order of $500 million before accounting for supply-chain changes and price increases.
Boeing Co. expects tariffs to increase its manufacturing costs by less than $500 million annually, including a 10 per cent duty assessed on large components of its 787 Dreamliner that are made in Japan and Italy. The fallout could worsen if the European Union joins China in imposing reciprocal tariffs that make Boeing’s planes prohibitively expensive for local buyers.
3M Co. told investors April 22 that tariffs would cost it as much as $850 million a year — but only if it took no steps to blunt the impact. The diversified industrial product manufacturer said planned countermeasures will cut its earnings exposure this year to less than half that amount.
Danaher Corp., which makes life sciences and diagnostics equipment, told analysts on a April 22 call that a projected $350 million tariff hit will likely come down as it takes steps to offset the damage, such as adding surcharges and relocating manufacturing. And chemicals giant Dupont de Nemours Inc. is taking measures to reduce estimated tariff costs of $500 million down to $60 million, or about 10 cents a share.
Our teams have been carefully analyzing ongoing global supply-chain dynamics, engaging with our customer and supplier base, and actively working on a number of tariff mitigation actions, including production shifts, sourcing alternatives, surcharges, and product exemptions,” CEO Lori Koch told analysts on a May 2 earnings call.
Passing Along Costs
GE Vernova Inc., the energy business that GE spun off last year, expects tariffs to add as much as $400 million in costs this year. The company plans to counteract that impact by leaning on inflation-protection provisions and change-of-law clauses in contracts to pass on some of the cost of tariffs to customers, while also cutting expenses and reorganizing its supply chain to lessen its dependence on China.
Medical instrument specialist Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and Johnson & Johnson each said they expect to lose $400 million to tariffs in 2025. Another drugmaker, Merck & Co., said tariffs will cost it $200 million this year.
Even food companies are getting dinged by the import duties. Hershey Co. said it sees $15 million to $20 million of tariff-driven costs in the second quarter. But as cocoa inventories wane, the chocolate- and candy-maker said it expects duties to drive up costs by as much as $100 million in both the third and fourth quarter before accounting for offsetting actions.
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