Page 6 - Jyotiraditya Scindia

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

India's own 4G stack to be rolled out by mid-2025: Scindia at AIMA event

India's own 4G technology stack will be rolled out by mid-2025, Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia said on Wednesday as he outlined three key targets for the country and the government. Scindia, Minister of Communications, was delivering a keynote address at the 51st edition of the AIMA National Management Convention here. "India, for the first time in her existence, has developed her own 4G technology stack that will be rolled out by the middle of next year," he said. It is important not only to implement technology, but also to design and develop indigenous technology, Scindia further said. "There are three targets that we have set for ourselves. The first target is to ensure saturation...Every corner of our country must be connected digitally. Every single person must be able to avail of every single opportunity through the digital revolution," he said. India has raised almost four and a half lakh towers across the country, he said, adding that the government has committed

Rs 80,000 crore 'Digital Bharat Nidhi' fund to boost urban telecom services

To secure the funds, the projects have to meet certain criteria, such as improving telecom service affordability and security

Adani, Accenture set to headline investment conclave in Gwalior on Wed

This conclave will build on the earlier editions held in Ujjain and Jabalpur as the Gwalior-Chambal region is better connected to other parts of the country

Telecom minister Scindia asks telcos to take lead in 6G development

Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in second advisory committee meeting with telecom operators on Friday asked them to take lead in the development of 6G technology. According to sources, who were present in the meeting, telecom operators reiterated their old demand of easing right of way permits, rationalisation of power tariffs and lowering of levies in the meeting. "Had a productive meeting with the Advisory Group of Telecom Service providers. Discussed issues pertaining to quality of services, India's 6G vision and promoting research and development to take our sector to new heights of development," Scindia said on social media platform X. Minister of State for Communications, Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal, Digital Communications Commission member (Finance) Manish Sinha and other senior officials from the Department of Telecom were present at the meeting. Reliance Jio Managing Director Pankaj Pawar, Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra, BSNL ..

Shah, Scindia to attend 1st NEC meeting in Agartala after B'desh protests

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will attend the two-day meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC) scheduled to begin in Agartala on August 31, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Monday. Governors, chief ministers, chief secretaries and DGPs of all the northeastern states will also join the meeting. "Tripura is going to host the two-day meeting of the NEC. Home Minister Amit Shah and DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will be present in the meeting," Saha said. He said the border issues, development activities, and implementation of various projects will be discussed in the meeting. "Since the state has a porous international border with Bangladesh, it will certainly be discussed in the meeting," he said, adding that other states will also put forward their wishlists for the overall development of the region. Saha said he would chair a review meeting to check the preparations. This is the first meeting of the NEC after the regime chan

Scindia attacks Oppn on Dhankhar-Jaya face-off; says must apologise to V-P

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday demanded that the Opposition apologise to Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdish Dhankhar, referring to a spat between the chair and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan. Dhankhar and Jaya Bachchan on Friday locked horns after the actor-politician accused him of speaking to her in the Upper House in an unacceptable tone inviting an angry retort that he can't be schooled. The vice president also said even a celebrity has to follow the House decorum. The Opposition had then walked out calling the matter disrespect to democracy and Constitution. Responding to a question here about the face-off, Scindia said the way the Rajya Sabha chairman has been treated is very sad. He is not only the Speaker of the House but also the Vice President of the country. Every person in the Opposition should apologise for this behaviour. This is not an insult of the Speaker of the House and Vice President but of the Constitution and ou

Hindenburg row: Congress interested in anarchy, controversies, says Scindia

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday accused the Congress of spreading anarchy and controversies over the Hindenburg Research's allegations against SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch. A political firestorm erupted after the US short-seller alleged that it suspects SEBI's unwillingness to act against the Adani group may be because its head Madhabi Puri Buch had stakes in offshore funds linked to the conglomerate. "Congress's work is only to spread anarchy and entangle the country in controversial matters," said Scindia while responding to reporters' query on the Hindenburg Research report. The Guna MP said PM Narendra Modi and BJP workers are carrying the torch of development and progress, whereas the Congress has been trying to mislead the country and keep it in the dark for years. The SEBI has slammed Hindenburg Research's allegations as "baseless" while the Adani group said it never had any commercial relations with Buch. Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhav

BSNL subscribers on rise, homegrown 4G network ready: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday claimed that the subscriber base for the government-run BSNL has been increasing, while a homegrown 4G network is also ready and work is on to convert it to 5G. Talking to reporters here, the Union minister for communications said under Atmanirbhar Bharat, a 4G network with indigenous technology is ready and, in a few months, its services will be available across the country through the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). "Several people had asked when Jio, Airtel and Vodafone rolled out the 4G network, why not BSNL? It was the prime minister's resolution that if we have to develop a government-run company's network, we will not use equipment from China or any other foreign country," Scindia said. It was decided that an indigenous technology would be developed, he said. "PM Modi has resolved under Atmanirbhar Bharat that India will develop its own 4G stack, core system or towers called radiation access network (RAN). India will devel

Call rates in India among lowest in world: Telecom minister Scindia

India now has 117 crore mobile connections and 93 crore internet connections, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday while noting that call rates in the country are one of the lowest in the world. Scindia said the cost of call for every minute was 53 paisa and it has come down to just 3 paisa now, which is a 93 per cent reduction, one of the lowest rates in the world. At present, India has 117 crore mobile connectivity and 93 crore internet connections, he said. He said the cost of one GB data is Rs 9.12, which is cheapest in the world. The minister said under the Digital India Initiative, various technology-led startups and innovation schemes like Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE 2.0), Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS), domain specific Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) have been undertaken with a total funding outlay of around Rs 800 crore in tier-2 and tier-3 ...

Scindia promises 100% telecom connectivity in all villages in next 1 yr

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia said on Saturday that 100 per cent coverage of villages in terms of telecom connectivity in the country is targeted in the next 12 months. Scindia, the Union minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), said special funds have been sanctioned by the Cabinet for the purpose and he has himself been monitoring the progress of work every week. Addressing a press conference here, he said, The prime minister is committed to 100 per cent saturation. We have identified around 24,000 villages in the country that still need saturation in terms of telecom connection. A special scheme to reach all these villages has already been rolled out along with funds sanctioned for the purpose, he said. Areas in the northeastern states are among these villages, and strategies are being worked out to reach these places, the minister said. Provisions of the new telecom Act enable setting up required infrastructure and mixed technologies

Telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, telco chiefs discuss sector road map

Jio's Akash Ambani, Airtel's Sunil Mittal, and Vi CEO Akshaya Moondra attend meet