Telecom

Reliance Infrastructure Ltd and Reliance Power Ltd have issued formal clarifications affirming their independence following the State Bank of India’s decision to designate the loan account of Reliance Communications (RCom) as fraudulent. The two Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) companies emphasized there is no financial, operational, or managerial overlap with RCom, nor does Anil Ambani hold board positions in either company.

AMD has underscored India’s significance as a critical market and engineering hub, deepening its collaboration with telecom giant Reliance Jio to deploy cutting-edge GPU technology for AI and data center applications. With over 8,000 employees in India, AMD is positioning itself as a key player in the country’s burgeoning AI ecosystem. The company’s leadership highlights the importance of a diversified AI hardware landscape, countering Nvidia’s perceived dominance.

India’s Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a government-backed telecom R&D entity, is set to generate a projected Rs. 1,000 crore in revenue in the current fiscal year, marking a significant leap in its commercial and technological evolution. In addition to this, a government grant of Rs. 400 crore will bolster its capabilities. Minister of State for Telecom, Dr.

In a significant development, State Bank of India (SBI) has officially designated Reliance Communications Ltd.’s (RCom) loan account as “fraud,” implicating its former director, Anil Ambani, in the process. The move prompted swift responses from two other Reliance Group entities—Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Power—both of which issued clarifying statements to assure markets of their independence from RCom. Despite their efforts to contain the damage, investor sentiment weakened, with shares of both companies falling sharply on July 4.

India’s largest lender, the State Bank of India (SBI), has officially designated the loan account of Reliance Communications, a debt-laden telecom company once led by Anil Ambani, as “fraudulent.” The classification comes after months of correspondence and a failure by the company to justify loan irregularities. This move follows a similar declaration by Canara Bank in 2024, which was subsequently stayed by the Bombay High Court.

India’s BharatNet Phase 3 initiative aims to extend subsidized high-speed broadband connectivity to 1.5 crore rural households, a significant expansion of the world's largest rural broadband network. Announced by Minister of State for Telecom, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, the project involves an investment of USD 18 billion (Rs 1.4 lakh crore) to connect an additional 40,000 gram panchayats while maintaining existing infrastructure.

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has initiated a fresh review of spectrum demand for Captive Non-Public Networks (CNPNs), also known as private 5G networks. This marks the second demand survey since provisions for CNPNs were introduced in mid-2022. With enterprise adoption still in its early stages, and telecom operators opposing direct spectrum allocation to private entities, the DoT aims to identify viable frequency bands better aligned with global device ecosystems. Stakeholders, including companies with a net worth above Rs.

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has initiated a fresh evaluation of spectrum demand for captive non-public networks (CNPNs), commonly referred to as private 5G networks. This reassessment comes amid limited adoption and pushback from telecom operators who oppose direct spectrum allocation to enterprises. The DoT aims to identify more viable frequency bands and bolster the technology ecosystem. As industrial interest grows, particularly among system integrators, the government is seeking input from high-net-worth enterprises by July 31.

Vodafone Idea (Vi), despite its significant debt burden, has ambitiously expanded its 5G footprint to 23 additional cities across India, including key state capitals like Jaipur, Kolkata, and Lucknow. Building on its initial 5G launch in five major metros, the telecom operator now offers next-generation connectivity to a wider audience. Concurrently, Vi is enhancing its 4G infrastructure by deploying spectrum across multiple bands, resulting in improved data capacity and speed.

India’s telecom production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, launched in April 2021 to boost domestic manufacturing, has disbursed Rs. 1,162 crore in incentives to 21 of 42 eligible manufacturers by March 31, 2025. Despite ambitious targets — including Rs. 4,115 crore in allocated incentives, Rs. 2.45 lakh crore in sales generation, and over 44,000 jobs — the scheme has faced hurdles such as non-achievement of production thresholds and concerns over white-labeling of imported products. Beneficiaries have reported Rs.