Page 5 - Jyotiraditya Scindia

Scindia optimistic on non-terrestrial networks to connect unconnected India

Union Telecom Minister Jyotriaditya Scindia on Monday said he is looking at the evolution of satellite communication networks or non-terrestrial networks with great optimism and believes it will open up new frontiers in communication technologies besides connecting the unconnected. While speaking at the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators Council hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), Scindia said the non-terrestrial networks will ignite the advent of new applications and advance the resolve of the government towards United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. "The advent of non-terrestrial networks, in addition to the GEO satellites, the medium earth orbit, and the low earth orbit satellites, has now given a new inflection point to telecommunication technology. I believe that presents a huge opportunity to be able to connect the hitherto unconnected population across the length and breadth of our country," Scindia said. The government has decided to ...

Fraud detection system blocks 13.5 mn calls, saves Rs 2,500 cr: Scindia

The technical system deployed by the government is blocking 1.35 crore fraud calls daily and has helped save people's assets worth Rs 2,500 crore till date, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia has said. The minister, in an interview with PTI, said most of the spam calls originate from servers outside the country, and the systems have been able to block the majority of such fraudulent calls. "In terms of the number of marketing calls you get in your phone, the number of fraud calls that come in, we have put in place a full system to be able to tackle that. Our DoT fraud detection network has saved close to about Rs 2,500 crore of people's assets today, as we speak, through Sanchar Sathi and Chakshu," Scindia said. The systems have led to the disconnection of close to about 2.9 lakh phones and blocked close to about 1.8 million headers that were used for sending out messages, he added. "Along with that, (there) was another vicarious method through which people woul

Jyotiraditya Scindia says no to spectrum auction pitch from Ambani, Mittal

In a boost to Elon Musk's Starlink, Communications Minister Scindia has said the spectrum for satellite broadband will be allocated and not auctioned as sought by Indian billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal. The satellite broadband spectrum will however be not given free and sector regulator Trai will fix a price for the resource, he told PTI in a text and video interview. "Every country has to follow the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which is the organisation that lays out the policy for spectrum in space or satellites, and the ITU has been very clear in terms of the spectrum being given out on an assignment basis. In addition, if you look across the world today, I cannot think of a single country that auctions spectrum for satellite," Scindia said. India is a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN agency for digital technology. Musk's Starlink and global peers like Amazon's Project Kuiper back an administrative allocation. While ..

Congress slams Jyotiraditya, reminds of 'Scindia rulers' support to British

The Congress on Thursday slammed BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia for his criticism of Rahul Gandhi on his article on "new breed of monopolists" and recalled how the Scindia rulers had "supported" the East India Company during the British period. The Congress' jibe at the Union minister came after Scindia tagged Gandhi's article in the Indian Express on Wednesday and said, "those who sell hatred have no right to lecture on Indian pride and history". "Rahul Gandhi's ignorance about Bharat's rich heritage and his colonial mindset have crossed all limits," Scindia said in a post on X Wednesday. Responding to Scindia's post, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "His Highness Scindia ji, you took Rahul ji's attack on the monopolistic corporation a little too personally. This corporation had looted India by enslaving India by intimidating the Nawabs and Rajas and Princes of India with its hold." According to history, the role of the Scindia family of Gwalior was

India to push for global standards in upcoming technologies, says Scindia

India will push for creation of global standards to ensure the upcoming technologies serve as instruments of growth and empowerment, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said. The Union minister was addressing the assemblage during the closing ceremony of the International Telecommunication Union-World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) 2024 here on Thursday. The minister said there is a need to harness technology so that it acts as a catalyst for positive change. "We will continue to champion international collaboration. We will continue to contribute to the creation of global standards. And we will work tirelessly to ensure the technologies of tomorrow serve as instruments of growth and empowerment," Scindia said. "Technology...unfolds tremendous opportunities, but must also have in its heart the concepts of inclusion, the concept of equity, the concept of progress, the concept of ethics, morality, transparency. And that...is the role that the WTSA plays fo

BSNL making operating profit, added subscribers in last 3 months: Scindia

State-owned telecom giant BSNL has added subscribers in every single month in the last quarter and its subscriber base has grown by 50-60 lakhs as it scripts a turnaround story after recording operating profit in the last two years, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said Wednesday. Speaking at Express Adda, he said Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is offering telephone services in remotest village and a network upgrade is improving its service. In June last year, the Union cabinet had approved an Rs 89,047 crore revival package for loss-making state-owned telecom operator deploy 4G and 5G services in a market dominated by private players. Debt-laden BSNL, grappling with poor infrastructure, had posted losses for the past 12 years. "In terms of financials, yes, BSNL was bleeding. But in the last 2 years, we have had a positive EBITDA. So we are not in the red on EBITDA," he said. While EBIDTA is positive, its bottomline was still in red. The minister did not say when the

BSNL's 7 new offerings include spam blockers, auto SIM kiosks to woo users

State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) on Tuesday launched a slew of new offerings and initiatives - a lineup that ranges from spam blockers to automated SIM kiosks and direct-to-device services. BSNL also introduced low latency 5G connectivity for mining operations in partnership with CDAC, leveraging Made in India equipment and BSNL's technological expertise. The new services - 7 in all - were launched by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. BSNL's spam-blocking solutions automatically filter out phishing attempts and malicious SMS and aim to create a safer communication environment for the telco's users. Automated SIM kiosks allow users to purchase, upgrade, port or replace SIMs on a 24X7 basis leveraging UPI or QR-enabled payments with seamless KYC integration and multi-lingual access. India's first direct-to-device connectivity solution converges satellite and terrestrial mobile networks to deliver "reliable connectivity", a release said adding the technology is

6G standards, regulations must ensure inclusivity: Union minister Scindia

Speaking at the India Mobile Congress, Scindia emphasised on the scope of India's tremendous opportunity in advancing 6G technology

Govt says no auction of satellite spectrum after Musk decries move

Telecoms Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said during a New Delhi event that the spectrum will be allocated administratively in line with Indian laws, and its pricing worked out by the telecom watchdog

India set to lead 6G revolution; our telecom sector aggressive: Scindia

India is resolved to lead the world in 6G, communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday, terming the telecom sector of the country as 'aggressive' and 'ambitious'. Scindia, speaking at the inauguration of India Mobile Congress and World Telecommunication Standardization (WTSA) 2024, said with the Bharat 6G Alliance, India hopes to contribute at least 10 per cent patents to 6G standardisation. "It is our belief and our commitment -- India followed the world in 4G, we marched with the world in 5G, but we shall lead the world in 6G," the minister asserted. With the fastest 5G rollout in India wherein 98 per cent of districts and 90 per cent of all villages were covered in a span of just 21 months, Scindia said it is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's effort of not just embracing, but bracing the country to become the first-mover in 6G technology. "It is noteworthy that the Indian Mobile Congress and the International 6G Symposium demonstrates both local and global ...

DoT to crack down on telemarketers; new rules to curb spam calls & messages

Telecom companies have consistently raised concerns that they are penalised for spam that originates from third-party telemarketers over whom they have little control

BSNL to switch to 5G network by June 2025, says Jyotiraditya Scindia

State-run telecom firm BSNL will complete the rollout of indigenously developed 4G technology through 1 lakh base stations by May next year and thereafter switch to 5G network by June 2025, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Monday. While speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Scindia said that India followed the world in 4G, marched with the world in 5G and will lead the world in 6G technology. The minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very clear that the government company is not going to use anyone else's equipment. "We now have a core and a radio access network that's fully functional. We have got a plan of 1 lakh sites by April-May of next year. We've rolled out 38,300 sites as of yesterday. We are going to roll out our own 4G network, which is going to switch to 5G by June of 2025. We will be the sixth country in the world to be able to do that," Scindia said. BSNL is using 4G technology developed by a consortium of state-run C-DO

AI enables unmatched agility; deployment be guided by regulations: Scindia

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is enabling unmatched agility and precision but its deployment must be guided by ethical considerations and robust regulatory framework, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Monday. Speaking at the ITUWTSA event, the Minister asserted that governance of AI and Internet of Things (IoT) cannot be an "afterthought" and added that concerns of privacy and bias must be addressed to ensure that these technologies serve as a "force for good." "... We must address concerns of privacy, of bias and of transparency, ensuring that these technologies serve as a force for good," Scindia said. AI is reshaping contours of how information is stored and processed, the Minister said, adding it is enabling companies and individuals by unlocking unparalleled agility, precision and scalability. The Minister emphasised that the digital landscape and tech deployment therefore must be "guided by ethical considerations and robust regulatory framework". Speaking a

Centre setting up telecom equipment manufacturing zones, says Scindia

The government of India is setting up telecommunication equipment manufacturing zones in the country, as the sector is expected to go through a revolution in attracting foreign direct investments, Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia said on Friday. The Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern region, said the country during the last 10 years exported mobile phones worth Rs 1.28 lakh crore under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Recalling that India imported the majority of mobile phones and shipped just Rs 1,500 crore worth of mobiles to overseas, he said, "we became the second largest producer of mobile phones in the world with 30 crore of mobile phones being produced in India." "Value addition (in mobile phones) has gone up by 20 per cent and that has happened because our government has changed the FDI norm," he said at an event here. Elaborating, he said, "India had close to USD 98 billion of FDI and in the last 10 years. We have grown b

Cisco inaugurates manufacturing facility in Chennai; to create 1,200 jobs

The facility was launched by Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins. Other key dignitaries included Cisco India President Daisy Chittilapilly and other

Telcom firms, Scindia discuss AGR, OTP apps exclusion from licensing rules

Telecom operators in a meeting with Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed concerns over regulator Trai excluding messaging and calling apps like WhatsApp and Telegram in its recommendation on new licensing rules, sources aware of the development said. Operators also discussed issues concerning adjusted gross revenue payments, they added. The meeting was attended by Reliance Jio Chairman Akash Ambani, Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra, Bharti Airtel MD and CEO Gopal Vittal and BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Robert J Ravi. "All telecom operators expressed concern over the exclusion of over-the-top apps by Trai in its recommendation on Service Authorisation. Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel raised the issue of adjusted gross revenue," a source said. Telecom operators have been demanding for a long time to bring calling and messaging apps, called as OTTs, under the ambit of telecom licences as they provide calling and messaging services like any telecom operator. The Telec

97% of cities, 80% population covered by 5G: Jyotiraditya Scindia

9,560 unconnected villages got signal in first 100 days of govt

Both Meitei, Kuki must learn to live, co-exist together: Scindia on Manipur

Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday said both the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur must learn to live and co-exist together. Ethnic violence has been going on in Manipur since May 3 last year after a tribal solidarity march was taken out in the hill districts of the northeastern state to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. More than 220 people, including members of both the Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel, have been killed in the continuing violence. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of North East Students Festival, Scindia said the principle of unity in diversity should be followed by every citizen of the country. "This is an issue which has been present since the last many many decades. We are all praying that both sides will certainly, hopefully live in peace, come together. They must learn to live and co-exist together," he sai

25,000 villages to get telecom connection in 2025: Minister Scindia

20,000 towers being put up and Rs 45,000 crore committed for the purpose, he says

Eyeing 10% share of worldwide patents in 6G services: Minister Scindia

After the fastest 5G rollout, India is targeting a tenth of all worldwide patents in sixth generation mobile services, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia said on Wednesday. He was delivering a keynote address at the 51st edition of the AIMA National Management Convention here. "Whilst we have the fastest growing 5G network in the world, in 22 months building out 4.5 lakh 4G towers, building out our own 4G technology for BSNL, we are also embarking on our path towards 6G by setting up the Bharat 6G Alliance. "Our target is to ensure 10 per cent of international worldwide patents for India in 6G through this Bharat 6G alliance in the days to come," he said. India has emerged as a beacon of hope and stability amid tremendous amount of global economic and social turbulence, the minister said. "She (India) today is rising on the world stage, no longer an embodiment of a struggling economy, but an economy that is on the rise, an economy that is rising like a phoenix in the co