National B’band Mission 2.0 targets 100 Mbps speed by 2030

National B’band Mission 2.0 targets 100 Mbps speed by 2030

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia yesterday informed Parliament that BharatNet has connected nearly 2.14 lakh gram panchayats (village administrations) across the country and played a transformative role in expanding broadband access in rural India, as he outlined the government’s progress under the ...


Airtel, Jio add users in Dec '25; Vi, BSNL continue to lose base

Airtel, Jio add users in Dec ’25; Vi, BSNL continue to lose base

India’s wireless subscriber base expanded in December 2025, but the gains were concentrated largely with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, while Vodafone Idea Ltd and state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) continued to see subscriber erosion, according to operator-wise data released yesterday by the Telecom Regulato...


Telecom budget

Telecom budget proposed at Rs 73,990cr ; BSNL gets major boost

The government has proposed a sharp increase in the outlay for the Department of Telecommunications, pegging it at Rs 73,990 crore, a jump of nearly 38 per cent over the previous year. The higher allocation is largely driven by a substantial rise in capital infusion for state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), as the Centre...


Apple Pay likely to enter India by end-2026

Apple Pay likely to enter India by end-2026

Apple Inc.’s digital payments service Apple Pay is expected to make its debut in India by late 2026, as the company looks to strengthen its ecosystem play in one of its fastest-growing markets. The move is aligned with Apple’s broader expansion strategy in the country, supported by rising iPhone shipments and increasing demand for premium device...


Mobile phone makers lobby Indian Govt for customs duty cuts

Mobile phone makers lobby Indian Govt for customs duty cuts

Mobile phone firms have sought a customs duty reduction on mobile parts like microphones, printed circuit boards, and wearables, as well as tariff correction on capital goods and other components, to lower the handset production cost, industry body ICEA said in its budget recommendations.

The mobile phone makers...