&w=3840&q=100)
Cosmic connection: D2D technology may redefine telecom rules in India
Direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity would allow users to access satellite connectivity on existing 4G or 5G smartphones - no special satellite phone would be needed
premium
Surajeet Das Gupta New Delhi
Listen to This Article
By next year, mobile smartphone users in India could access a new technology that would allow them to stay connected even in areas with weak or no terrestrial network coverage — without changing their existing devices.
This innovation is enabled by direct-to-device or direct-to-cell (D2D) services, where the smartphone gets connected through satellites, allowing users to make calls, send texts, or use data in remote areas.
The first to announce its plans to offer this service in India is Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL). Despite ongoing financial challenges, last fortnight, VIL announced a partnership with Texas-headquartered AST SpaceMobile to provide D2D
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Radisson Group looking at doubling hotel portfolio in India: South Asia MD Nikhil Sharma
Belgium-headquartered Radisson Hotel Group is eyeing to double its portfolio in India in the next few years, from over 200 operational hotels at present, with a focus on a sustainable and inclusive growth model, according to a senior company official. In an interview to PTI, Radisson Hotel Group Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer for South Asia Nikhil Sharma said its hotel in Pahalgam is currently operating at an occupancy rate of 20-30 per cent of what the occupancies were last year, in the aftermath of the recent terror attack on tourists that shook the nation. Notably, Radisson is the largest luxury hotel chain in Jammu and Kashmir , with seven hotels in operation, including five in the valley, and 2-3 hotels in the pipeline. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gentle Japanese hair growth method for men and women's scalp Hair's Rich Learn More Undo "We are, I would say, operating between 20 to 30 per cent in cities like Pahalgam. So in Srinagar, we are about 50 per cent of what the occupancies were last year. Last year, about 35 lakh tourists came into the valley. "This year, we are not seeing those numbers. But I truly believe that Kashmir is an all-weather destination, and we are going to be working with the government, making sure that we promote tourism in all seasons," Nikhil shared. Live Events He asserted that Radisson Hotels Group will require an additional workforce of 16,000 in India, as it ramps up its presence in the country with 8,000 keys in the pipeline, and growth centred around Tier-II, Tier-III and Tier-IV cities. Radisson Hotels Group's currently has around 19,000 employees. "This year we will open 20 hotels. In the last five years, we've signed 51 hotels, which has been the highest signings ever. Last year itself, we did 36 signings. ...Our growth will be in Tier-II, Tier-III, Tier-IV, cities, or even destinations that we want to be flag planters," he said. Nikhil shared that Radisson is looking at eventually doubling its portfolio in India in the next few years, because it's a "golden era" for the company, while underscoring the need for sustainable and inclusive growth and ensuring that the local community gets hired and works in its hotels. "We have close to 19,000 employees at the moment and every room takes 1.2 to 1.9 team members. We have a pipeline of about 8,000 more keys that we are going to be developing. So another 16,000 team members at any given point of time will be joining us in the near future," Sharma said.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Business Standard
Radisson Group looking at doubling hotel portfolio in India: South Asia MD
Belgium-headquartered Radisson Hotel Group is eyeing to double its portfolio in India in the next few years, from over 200 operational hotels at present, with a focus on a sustainable and inclusive growth model, according to a senior company official. In an interview to PTI, Radisson Hotel Group Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer for South Asia Nikhil Sharma said its hotel in Pahalgam is currently operating at an occupancy rate of 20-30 per cent of what the occupancies were last year, in the aftermath of the recent terror attack on tourists that shook the nation. Notably, Radisson is the largest luxury hotel chain in Jammu and Kashmir, with seven hotels in operation, including five in the valley, and 2-3 hotels in the pipeline. "We are, I would say, operating between 20 to 30 per cent in cities like Pahalgam. So in Srinagar, we are about 50 per cent of what the occupancies were last year. Last year, about 35 lakh tourists came into the valley. "This year, we are not seeing those numbers. But I truly believe that Kashmir is an all-weather destination, and we are going to be working with the government, making sure that we promote tourism in all seasons," Nikhil shared. He asserted that Radisson Hotels Group will require an additional workforce of 16,000 in India, as it ramps up its presence in the country with 8,000 keys in the pipeline, and growth centred around Tier-II, Tier-III and Tier-IV cities. Radisson Hotels Group's currently has around 19,000 employees. "This year we will open 20 hotels. In the last five years, we've signed 51 hotels, which has been the highest signings ever. Last year itself, we did 36 signings. ...Our growth will be in Tier-II, Tier-III, Tier-IV, cities, or even destinations that we want to be flag planters," he said. Nikhil shared that Radisson is looking at eventually doubling its portfolio in India in the next few years, because it's a "golden era" for the company, while underscoring the need for sustainable and inclusive growth and ensuring that the local community gets hired and works in its hotels. "We have close to 19,000 employees at the moment and every room takes 1.2 to 1.9 team members. We have a pipeline of about 8,000 more keys that we are going to be developing. So another 16,000 team members at any given point of time will be joining us in the near future," Sharma said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Global minimum tax: G7 endorses 'side-by-side' system replacing top-up levies; US, UK firms exempted
In a landmark development, the Group of Seven (G7) nations have agreed to exempt US-headquartered multinational corporations from key provisions of the global minimum tax agreement under a new "side-by-side" system. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now British businesses will also benefit from similar relief. As per news agency ANI, the new proposal, backed by the US and its G7 partners, will allow American firms to be taxed only domestically, on both foreign and local profits, rather than face additional top-up taxes overseas. The framework recognises existing US tax laws, specifically its domestic minimum tax, and offers a carve-out from the OECD's Income Inclusion Rule (IIR) and Undertaxed Profits Rule (UTPR). The G7 announcement, released by Canada, which currently holds the rotating presidency, said the system was intended to 'provide greater stability and certainty in the international tax system moving forward.' The breakthrough came after the United States dropped Section 899, a controversial clause in US President Donald Trump's tax bill, which had proposed retaliatory taxes on foreign companies operating in the US. According to news agency Reuters, its removal paved the way for broader agreement and eased concerns in countries like the UK, where businesses feared exposure to punitive tax provisions. British finance minister Rachel Reeves welcomed the development and was quoted by Reuters as saying, 'Today's agreement provides much-needed certainty and stability for those businesses after they had raised their concerns.' Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Reeves also reaffirmed the UK's continued efforts to combat aggressive tax avoidance globally. The move follows concerns raised earlier this year after Trump pulled the US out of the 2021 OECD-brokered global tax deal through an executive order. That landmark agreement, supported by nearly 140 countries under the Inclusive Framework, had aimed to ensure large multinational companies pay at least a 15% tax rate globally. According to news agency AFP, Trump also threatened retaliatory taxes on countries applying the global rules to US companies, a step that created apprehension among international investors. With the Section 899 provision now withdrawn, the new dual-track solution reflects a broader consensus among G7 nations to preserve tax sovereignty while maintaining progress on tackling base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). The US Treasury said on X that this side-by-side approach would "preserve important gains made by jurisdictions inside the Inclusive Framework" and that it looks forward to developing this solution further through constructive discussions. The agreement now awaits further deliberation at the OECD level to determine how exemptions for US and UK firms will be formally recognised under the global tax regime. G7 leaders reiterated that the final solution must be "acceptable and implementable to all."
