Latest news with #BharatNet
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Alphion India ropes in former BSNL CMD Shrivastava as senior advisor
NEW DELHI: Alphion India , a provider of broadband, optical networking and the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, has roped in Anupam Shrivastava , the former chairman and managing director (CMD) of Bharat Sachar Nigam Limited ( BSNL ) as a senior advisor to the company. 'Shrivastava's extensive industry insight will help steer Alphion India's next leg of growth as it rides the wave of rapid digital adoption across enterprises and consumers, and the government's focus on rural broadband ,' the Mumbai-headquartered vendor said on Wednesday. In this key role, Shrivastava will assist Alphion in formulating its company and product policy framework and drive engagement with government agencies. During his tenure as the CMD from January 2015 to June 2019, Shrivastava was instrumental in enabling the state-controlled telecom carrier in achieving three consecutive years of operational profitability (FY2015-2017). Shrivastava also played a vital role in guiding BSNL through a period of major industry disruption, during which the company withstood competitive pressure from new market entrants. He also helped execute critical government projects exceeding ₹1 lakh crore, including BharatNet , and the expansion of mobile services to remote areas. 'We are thrilled to welcome Mr Shrivastava to Alphion,' said Bharat Dave, founder, Alphion India. 'His vast knowledge of India's telecom sector and the policy ecosystem will accelerate our market development strategy and deepen our presence in India's digital landscape,' he added. 'At a time when the world is increasingly focused on self-reliance, companies like Alphion, which embody the ' Make in India ' spirit, will play a crucial role in shaping the future of connectivity. Alphion's next-generation initiatives will be pivotal in advancing digital connectivity,' Shrivastava said. 'Drawing on my experience, I will drive Alphion's mission and deepen its engagement with the public sector,' he added.
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
'Era Of Buffering Ended With Congress': Scindia Fires Data Salvo To Counter Kharge On Digital India
Last Updated: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Narendra Modi-led government on 'Digital India', saying it led to "lofty claims and unfulfilled promises" Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched a scathing attack against the Congress after party president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Narendra Modi-led government on its 10-year flagship initiative of 'Digital India'. Kharge, in a lengthy post on X, alleged that the central government's 'lofty claims of Digital India is marred by" unfulfilled promises and false claims, digital exclusion of the marginalised, as well as weakened privacy and transparency. Responding to this, Scindia took a swipe at Kharge saying 'Bharat's era of buffering ended with the Congress". 'Bharat's era of 'buffering' ended with the Congress. Under the Prime Minister, the nation shifted to 5G," he said in a post on X. The fine print of Modi Govt's lofty claims of 'Digital India' is marred by —1⃣Unfulfilled Promises & False Claims ????As of 26th June 2025, under the BharatNet project, a total of 6.55 lakh villages were supposed to be targeted for broadband connectivity. Out of these, 4.53… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 1, 2025 'Thank you, Mr Kharge, for yet another opportunity to enlighten you. Each time you have questioned us in the past, we have responded with results. For years, while your party offered dial-up promises, we built and delivered a world class telecom network, UPI, Aadhaar, and BharatNet, on the ground, and at scale," he added. Scindia unleashed a string of data, ranging from BSNL's consecutive profit after 18 years to connecting over two lakh gram panchayats with broadband, on social media platform X to counter Kharge's claims. He suggested to the Congress president to go check on the web for telecom scams in India, which will show activities related to the UPA regime while the present regime is recognised with leadership in technology. 'Mr. @Kharge , let me offer a simple suggestion: try a basic web search for 'telecom scams in India." What you'll find is a list featuring Congress/UPA-led crony capitalism at its best!" he said. He further said at present when the world looks at India as a global leader in telecom, 5G, and satellite connectivity, it is the Modi government that made it possible, not by doing favours, but by doing reforms and 'undoing the mess of the Grand Old Party". 'The Congress' contribution to Digital India has been very clear which is to Scam India and leaving behind a legacy steeped in kleptocracy and institutionalised corruption," he added. WHAT DID KHARGE SAY? Kharge had alleged that false claims have been made by the Centre citing several instances, including coverage of villages aimed at under the Bharatnet project, abysmal performance of BSNL despite a financial package of over Rs 3 lakh crore, rise in cyber crimes, weakening of RTI by Data Protection Law in works. He alleged that as of June 26, 2025, under the BharatNet project, a total of 6.55 lakh villages were supposed to be targeted for broadband connectivity but 4.53 lakh villages, about 65 per cent, are yet to be covered. 'The project's deadline has been revised at least 8 times in 11 years," Kharge said in his post on X. He said when the private players are opting for 5G, BSNL has not yet completed its target of deploying 1 lakh 4G towers. 'Even after receiving three revival packages worth over Rs 3 lakh crore — Rs 69,000 crore in 2019, Rs 1.64 lakh crore in 2022, and Rs 89,047 crore in 2023, it still lags behind private players," he added. He also said BSNL's debt rose by 291.7 per cent from Rs 5,948 crore in March 2014 to Rs 23,297 crore in March 2024 and MTNL's debt increased by 136.2 per cent, from Rs 14,210 crore to Rs 33,568 crore over the same period. He had alleged that 'RTI Act brought by the Congress party is being weakened by bringing a flawed Data Protection Law".
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
India should lead innovation around 6G, aim for 10% of global 6G patents by 2030: Minister Pemmasani
As India's telecom ecosystem is readying 6G testbeds, Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani has urged start-ups and industry players to aim for 10% global patents on 6G, the sixth generation of wireless cellular technology, by 2030. The Minister felt the country needed to step up and lead 6G innovations towards the global roll-out of the technology and the country should target at least 10% of global patents around emerging 6G technologies by 2030. 'Hopefully, at least 10% of the patents can be from India by 2030. We missed the boat for 2G, 3G, 4G, and even for 5G,' he stated. Speaking at the Bengaluru roadshow of India Mobile Congress 2025 on Tuesday, the Minister said, India's telecommunication sector has achieved a transformative growth in the last 10 years, moving away from 'digital divide' to 'digital dominance' and now the country should aim for bigger things. Elaborating on India's dominance in telecom and connectivity, he said, some 95% of rural India has access to 4G, has a mobile subscriber base of 1.2 billion and around a billion broadband connections. The country, already the second largest telecom market in the world, would be investing $18 billion to connect 40,000 gram panchayats, and this would bring over 1.5 crore rural households under high-speed internet connectivity via subsidies, all leading towards an ICT democratisation, he observed. The government also established 500 5G labs at various educational institutions so that students, researchers, and start-ups could test applications. The country also has the largest rural connectivity under BharatNet, which covers close to 2.2 lakh villages. Minister Pemmasani further said the country today was the second largest manufacturer of mobile phones. Ten years ago, 75% the mobile phones used in the country were imported and now the country is exporting mobile phones worth ₹1.8 trillion. 'This moved us from made for India to make in India. Still, we have to go a long way.' Also, through the Telecom Technology Development Fund, the country supported 120 high-tech start-ups with nearly ₹500 crore. Speaking on the occasion, Neeraj Mittal, Chairman, DCC & Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, said, 'We've often heard that India lagged in 4G, went with the world in 5G, and now we wish to lead in 6G.'
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Modi government's 'lofty' claims about Digital India marred by 'unfulfilled promises': Kharge
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) charged that the government's lofty claims of Digital India are marred by unfulfilled promises and false claims, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reflect on his government's "multiple failures and frauds" instead. His remarks came after the Prime Minister stated that the Digital India initiative, launched a decade ago, bridged the digital divide between haves and have-nots, and democratised opportunity, stressing that it has become a people's movement. In a post on X, Mr. Kharge said as of June 26, under the BharatNet project, a total of 6.55 lakh villages were supposed to be targeted for broadband connectivity of which 4.53 lakh villages — 65% of them are yet to be covered. The project's deadline has been revised at least eight times in 11 years, and a meagre 0.73% (766) gram panchayats currently have active Wi-Fi services, he said. Mr. Kharge said when private players are opting for 5G, BSNL has not yet completed its target of deploying 1 lakh 4G towers, as one-third towers left to be installed. The Congress chief said even after receiving three revival packages worth over ₹3 lakh crore — ₹69,000 crore in 2019, ₹1.64 lakh crore in 2022, and ₹89,047 crore in 2023 — it still lags behind private players. "BSNL's debt rose by 291.7%, from ₹5,948 crore in March 2014 to ₹23,297 crore in March 2024. MTNL's debt increased by 136.2%, from ₹14,210 crore to ₹33,568 crore over the same period," he said. Claiming digital exclusion of the marginalised, Mr. Kharge said 75.3% of people aged 15 and above in the country do not know how to use a computer. "This includes 81.9% in rural areas and 60.4% in urban areas, highlighting a significant digital skills gap. [NSS survey, 2020-21]. Nearly 7 crore registered workers excluded from MNREGA by imposing the condition of AADHAAR based payment," he said. The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said, "54% of government schools do not have an internet connection, 79 per cent have no desktop computer, 85% lack a projector, and 79%t do not have a smart classroom. [UDISE+ 2023-24 report]". Accusing the government of hurting privacy and weakening transparency, he said none less than PM Modi himself, reportedly, told ministers and secretaries that India saw over 10 crore cyber attacks since the Pahalgam terror attack. 'Cybersecurity incidents rose by about 76.25% from 2020 to 2024. These cases increased from 11.58 lakh in 2020 to over 20.41 lakh in 2024. [CERT-In data]' "Between 2022 and 2024, digital arrest scams and related cybercrimes in India nearly tripled, and the money lost rose 21 times. [Rajya Sabha reply]," he said in his post. Mr. Kharge also alleged that the RTI Act brought by the Congress is being weakened by bringing a flawed Data Protection Law. "We were told that demonetisation will reduce cash transactions, but cash in circulation has risen, even in the last year [RBI]," he said. "Narendra Modi ji, we need to place on record that it was under the then PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, that we created the Direct Benefits through AADHAAR & UPI architecture, which has made India a leader in Digital transactions," he said. The Congress president claimed that the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) which runs UPI transactions was established by the UPA government in 2009 itself. First Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme - PaHaL for LPG subsidy to 9.55 crore beneficiaries was launched by Congress-UPA in June 2013, he also said.. "So, instead of glossing over National achievements, and trying to seek credit for #10YearsOfDigitalIndia, perhaps you should reflect on the multiple failures and frauds inflicted by your government," Mr. Kharge said.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Full of failures, frauds, false claims: Cong chief Kharge on 10 years of Digital India
New Delhi: On the day the Modi government's flagship 'Digital India' initiative completed ten years, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday launched a blistering attack, alleging that the ambitious programme has delivered more "failures and frauds" than digital empowerment. In a sharply-worded post on his X handle, Kharge accused the Modi government of making lofty claims while hiding glaring gaps in execution, digital access and data security. 'The fine print of Modi Govt's lofty claims of 'Digital India' is marred by unfulfilled promises, digital exclusion, and weakened transparency,' Kharge wrote. Citing official data, Kharge highlighted that out of the 6.55 lakh villages targeted for broadband connectivity under the BharatNet project, only 35 per cent have been covered so far, despite the deadline being revised eight times over 11 years. 'Only 766 Gram Panchayats — just 0.73 per cent — have active Wi-Fi services,' he noted. The Congress chief also targeted BSNL's performance, pointing out that even after receiving three revival packages worth over Rs 3 lakh crore since 2019, the PSU has not completed the installation of 1 lakh 4G towers. He added that BSNL and MTNL's debt has ballooned by 291.7 per cent and 136.2 per cent respectively, between 2014 and 2024. Kharge didn't stop at infrastructure failures. He accused the Modi government of digitally excluding the poor and marginalised. Quoting National Sample Surveys data, he said 75.3 per cent of Indians above 15 years still do not know how to use a computer, including 81.9 per cent in rural areas. 'Even today, 54 per cent of government schools don't have an Internet connection, 79 per cent have no computers, and 85 per cent lack smart classrooms,' he said. Raising concerns about data security, Kharge claimed that India has witnessed over 10 crore cyberattacks since the Pahalgam terror incident. CERT-In data showed a 76 per cent spike in cybersecurity incidents between 2020 and 2024. He also accused the ruling government of undermining transparency, citing the weakening of the RTI Act and replacing it with a "flawed" Data Protection Law. Taking a swipe at the BJP for taking credit for initiatives launched by previous governments, Kharge reminded that it was the UPA government under Dr Manmohan Singh that laid the foundation for Aadhaar, UPI, and Direct Benefit Transfers. "Instead of glossing over national achievements, and trying to seek credit for 10 years of Digital India, perhaps you should reflect on the multiple 'failures' and 'frauds' inflicted by your government", Kharge said.
