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No direct 5G spectrum allocation anti-competitive for enterprises: BIF

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5G

As India prepares for 5G spectrum auction next month, the Broadband India Forum (BIF) on Monday said that not allowing direct spectrum allocation to enterprises will be anti-competitive and only favour the telecom operators.

Based on some of the media reports, it is understood that the government is initially considering to include only the framework for enterprises to set up private 5G networks in partnership with telecom operators, by taking spectrum on lease or by getting their networks built by them.

BIF said in a statement that such an action, if taken, will provide a regulatory advantage to one side, more so since that side is already “overly strong and has the advantages of huge external market power of an incumbent network, which directly impacts the businesses of the weak non-telecom vertical players, i.e. enterprises”.

The Department of Telecom has released a notice inviting applications (NIA) for the auction of spectrum in 600, 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2500, 3300 MHz and 26GHz bands.

The NIA provides explicit clarity on the subject of Captive Non-Public Networks (CNPN).

“The Section 2.4 of the NIA on CNPN has laid down the principle that a CNPN can be set up in any of the four possible ways, including the one where CNPNs for non-telecom verticals may obtain the spectrum directly from DoT and establish their own isolated network,” read the BIF letter.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in its recommendations, has also clearly stated the rationale for including direct allocation of spectrum to non-telecom verticals/enterprises for captive private 5G networks.

“The government must prevent distortion of competition and undue advantage to certain industry sections,” the industry body reiterated.

According to TV Ramachandran, President, BIF, if media reports are taken to be true, “these guidelines would surely distort competition and go against the essence of the Cabinet decision as well as the NIA dated 15th June 2022, wherein there was no indication that the options for incumbents to offer these services first were to be facilitated”.

“Besides creating undesired differences in the system at the very beginning, it would also lead to uncertainty and a Hobson’s choice for the enterprises for setting up their CNPNs. That, in turn, would lead to suboptimal outcomes for them as regards efficiency, quality and cost of service being offered/made available to them,” he stressed.

The industry body requested the government to “truly implement the Cabinet decision in letter and spirit”.

Business

Mumbai: Social Activist Demands Action Against Police Officers For Negligence In Torres Multi-Crore Scam Investigation

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Mumbai: In a serious development concerning Torres massive financial fraud case, a Social Activist Shashikant Kawale has called for action against police officers who allegedly neglected their duty despite receiving prior warnings about fraudulent activities. 

Social Activist Shashikant Kawale wrote a letter addressed to senior law enforcement authorities, including the Commissioners of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Police, the Maharashtra Cyber Crime Department, the Economic Offences Wing, and the Enforcement Directorate, has raised serious questions about the delay in action against fraudulent companies operating in Mumbai and surrounding areas. The letter highlights gross negligence by responsible officers despite early warnings regarding Torres Scam.

Whistle Blower Flags Concerns

The Whistle blower Shashikant Kawale had previously flagged concerns, urging the authorities to investigate the legality of these companies’ operations, government-issued licenses, mandates, board of directors, and operational documents. Specifically, the letter called for a detailed probe into the working methods and financial inflows/outflows of the company, Records of investors and agents involved and The suspiciously high monthly returns promised by the Torres Company.

About The Allegations

The letter alleges that had an inquiry been launched promptly, it would have prevented many investors from falling prey to false promises, sparing them from financial devastation. Despite explicit warnings that the companies were preparing to flee after defrauding investors, no significant action was taken.

The Social Activist Kawale has demanded an inquiry into officers who failed to act on the provided information, urging that those found guilty be held accountable under applicable regulations. The letter further appeals for systemic reforms to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.A social activist from Dharavi, Shashikant Kavale, first raised red flags in November last year and approached the Shivaji Park police and EOW, highlighting Torres’ dubious practices.

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Business

JSW MG Motor India Unveils Cyberster Roadster & M9 Limousine At Bharat Mobility Expo 2025

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New Delhi: MG Motor India has made a bold statement at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 with the launch of two groundbreaking electric vehicles—the MG Cyberster, India’s first all-electric roadster, and the MG M9, India’s first electric three-row presidential limousine.

These models, introduced under the new luxury brand channel, MG Select, highlight the company’s vision of bringing intelligent, sustainable, and customer-focused mobility solutions to India.

MG Cyberster: The All-Electric Roadster of the Future

The MG Cyberster takes luxury and performance to new heights as India’s first electric roadster. It features India’s first-ever electric scissor doors, opening and closing in just five seconds via a single-touch button. The built-in Dual Radar sensors ensure safety while opening the doors, while an anti-pinch feature prevents harm when closing.

Under the hood, the Cyberster delivers blistering acceleration, going from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3.2 seconds. The sleek, aerodynamic design is complemented by the industry’s slimmest 77 kWh battery pack, ensuring the vehicle remains both powerful and efficient, setting a new standard for modern roadsters.

MG M9: The Ultimate Electric Limousine

The MG M9 takes luxury to the next level with India’s first electric three-row presidential limousine. Designed for ultimate comfort, it features a touchscreen armrest for controlling reclining ottoman seats with 8 massage modes and 3-zone climate control.

The spacious cabin can accommodate seven passengers and offers features like a panoramic sunroof, front-opening skylight, and advanced audio systems for a theatre-like experience. With an electric-powered design, the MG M9 redefines the concept of luxury on wheels, offering unparalleled comfort and performance for discerning customers.

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Business

Internet users to surpass 900 million in India this year, AI a game changer

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New Delhi, Jan 16: Driven by the growing use of Indic languages for digital content, the internet user base in India is set to surpass 900 million by 2025, driven by the growing use of Indic languages for digital content, a report showed on Thursday.

The number of active internet users in India reached 886 million in 2024, marking a robust 8 per cent year-on-year growth. Rural India, with 488 million users, leads this growth and now accounts for 55 per cent of the total internet population, according to the report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kantar.

Nearly all internet users (98 per cent) accessed content in Indic languages, with Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam emerging as the most popular due to their extensive availability.

Over half (57 per cent) of urban internet users prefer consuming content in regional languages, underscoring the growing demand for local language content across platforms, according to the report.

AI has emerged as a significant game changer over the past year. Nine out of 10 internet users have interacted with apps featuring embedded AI capabilities.

“The widespread acceptance and enthusiasm surrounding AI should encourage digital companies to introduce more next-generation AI features in India,” Biswapriya Bhattacharya, Director, B2B and Technology, Kantar Insights–South Asia, said.

The digital gender gap in India is steadily narrowing, with 47 per cent of all internet users in the country being women — so far the highest.

Female internet users now form a significant portion of shared device users in rural India at 58 per cent. This marks substantial progress in making digital access more inclusive and equitable over the years, the report noted.

Rural India dominates online engagement for top activities, including OTT video and music streaming, online communication, and social media usage, outpacing urban users in these categories.

Urban India leads in the adoption of non-traditional devices such as smart TVs and smart speakers, which have grown by 54 per cent between 2023 and 2024.

Concurrently, mobile devices remain the primary means of accessing the internet across both urban and rural demographics, said the report.

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