Latest news with #Saarc
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Tata Communications renews private 5G push
Nearly three years after first approaching the government for direct spectrum allotment, Tata Communications has renewed its push to get the airwaves for private 5G networks. 'Our representation is that for private 5G, the rules need to be different…we cannot have the same rule of spectrum rollout obligation," Amur Lakshminarayanan, the company's managing director and chief executive officer, told Mint. Unlike telecom operators who serve the broader public with 5G, private networks are targeted to a customer site, and companies cannot have telecom operator-like spectrum rollout obligations, he said. While the government is currently evaluating the prospects, Lakshminarayanan said any decision on the spectrum purchase will depend on pricing and the broader conditions set by the government. The department of telecommunications has initiated a fresh demand survey till 31 July to assess interest in assigning 5G spectrum directly to enterprises for setting up private networks. If approved, the move could allow large firms to bypass telecom service providers for high-speed, automated connectivity within their campuses and factories. Unlike public networks, private 5G networks operate in a closed environment, providing dedicated connectivity to industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, automotive and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). This ensures seamless automation and operational efficiency within factory premises and corporate campuses, free from interference from public networks. Lakshminarayanan, however, said the private 5G demand is slow worldwide as currently enterprises have not reached a stage to realize the full potential of industrial internet of things (IoT) technology. 'If in a factory, there are about 100 usecases of industrial IoT such as for workers safety, assets monitoring,etc, about 80% of them can be implemented without a 5G capability, using 4G or Wi-Fi 6 now," Lakshminarayanan said, adding that besides direct spectrum, there is an important need to shift from wired to wireless equipments in factories for private 5G take off. While Tata Communications is gearing up to play a bigger role in enterprise 5G, it is also managing near-term pressures, especially in its core connectivity business. The company's profitability has come under pressure due to recent local developments, including the US tariff orders, which have led to smaller deal sizes, cautious customer spending, and pricing pressures. In the April-June quarter, the company's Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margin fell 125 basis points to 19.1% year over year (y-o-y). 'Uncertainty continues for customers. They don't cancel the entire contract, but they might downsize. So, that kind of site termination and price erosion has happened," Lakshminarayanan said. He said such headwinds slow down or push out the ambitions by a few quarters. The company has guided for a 23-25% margin by FY27. In the Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region, payment-related delays from clients have slowed business activity for Tata Communications. Tata Communications provides enterprises with network, cloud, mobility and security services. Along with other geopolitical factors, the company's commentary on the global tariff uncertainty triggered by the US government imposing reciprocal tariffs on countries assumes significance as 58% of its data revenue comes from international markets. Despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds and continued pressures across the industry, the company witnessed a 'double-digit growth" in its order book during the quarter. 'At the same time, with new customers, we are able to go in and say how we are able to bring a full network transformation for them and that is the reason for a healthy funnel," Lakshminarayanan said. In the April-June quarter, Tata Communications posted a 6.6% y-o-y growth in consolidated revenue at ₹5,960 crore. The company's net profit, however, fell 43% YoY to ₹190 crore during the quarter. Data Services, which account for 87% of Tata Communications' revenue, saw a 9.5% increase to ₹5,152 crore during the quarter. Data Services include core connectivity services, digital platforms, and connected services. The company is seeing good traction from customers for its AI cloud offering Vayu, and is currently undertaking proof of concept for some clients. 'We have a good amount of interest. We are continuing to invest in our capabilities of the AI Studio platform," Lakshminarayanan said, adding that the scale will come gradually. Tata Communications is exploring partnerships with satellite internet firms along with its sister entity Nelco, Lakshminarayanan said.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
No India, no go? Why a new China-led South Asian bloc may falter
A fresh push by China and Pakistan to redraw the map of South Asian cooperation risks stumbling at the first hurdle, with analysts saying India remains key to future regional cooperation given its economic heft and crisis management credentials. Advertisement According to sources cited in Indian media, discussions between Islamabad and Beijing on a potential replacement for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) are at an advanced stage – a move observers interpret as a broader geopolitical play by China to sideline India in its own neighbourhood. Bangladeshi officials reportedly attended a meeting on June 19 in Kunming, China, about the new bloc, but Dhaka played down any political implications. 'We are not forming any alliance,' foreign affairs adviser M. Touhid Hossain was later quoted as saying. Saarc, formed in 1985 by seven founders including India and later joined by Afghanistan in 2007, has been largely inactive since 2016. A planned summit that year collapsed after India withdrew, citing Pakistan's alleged support for militants who attacked an army base in Kashmir Since then, the group has met only in a limited capacity, according to Swaran Singh, a professor of international relations at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. Advertisement 'The hiccups remain inherently driven largely by India-Pakistan geopolitics,' he said, adding that any regional grouping excluding Delhi would likely leave Islamabad as the de facto leader.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ChiPak Plan: Nepal indifferent on possible South Asian union without India, keen on Saarc
New Delhi: Nepal, as the current Saarc chair and country that hosts the Saarc Secretariat, is not enthusiastic about a recent move by China and Pakistan to create a possible South Asian union without India . Kathmandu is keen that Saarc be revived with full participation of India, ET has learnt. China has not yet approached Nepal with its proposal, but Kathmandu has little enthusiasm for such a move, indicated people in the know. Kathmandu-based sources told ET that Nepal has been a strong believer in Saarc and is hopeful that the process can be revived for a robust region and is not keen at this stage to join any South Asian platform minus India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eating This Daily Helps Empty Your Bowels Every Morning Gundry MD Learn More Undo The last Saarc summit was held in Kathmandu in 2014. The 19th Saarc Summit, planned for Islamabad in 2016, was postponed due to India's decision not to participate following the Uri terror attack. China and Pakistan are trying to put together trilaterals of like-minded countries in South Asia to create a larger regional grouping minus India. Bhutan, a close partner for India, is unlikely to be approached with the proposed idea. Live Events Last month, China hosted foreign secretaries of Pakistan and Bangladesh in the first-ever trilateral format.
India Today
12-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Concern for India as debt diplomacy sees Bangladesh, Pakistan converge with China
Through its debt diplomacy, China has turned Pakistan into a vassal state. It is attempting the same in Bangladesh, whose economy and political stability, particularly after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, are in the doldrums. While Pakistan has seen just Chinese intrusion, Bangladesh is witnessing a convergence of forces and interests inimical to India. The possible convergence of China, Pakistan and Bangladesh in India's strategic backyard has emerged as a major concern for New Delhi, which Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan flagged most recent example of the convergence of interests would be the meeting of representatives from Pakistan, Bangladesh and China for an alternative to the Saarc, a grouping in which India played a key role. The Saarc has been inactive since the 2016 Uri attack by Pakistani terrorists. Representatives of the three countries met in China's Kunming on June 19 on the Saarc has been working for years to spread its tentacles in the Indian subcontinent. In Pakistan and Bangladesh, China's arms deals and loans have deeply rooted its influence, aligning their interests with Beijing. Then there is Turkey, which provided military support to Pakistan during its days-long conflict with India during Operation Sindoor, is deepening its defence engagement with Bangladesh, and is seeking favourable real estate for arms the possibility of a China-led nexus, and with Turkey acting as a common denominator between India's western and eastern neighbours, New Delhi could be entering tricky diplomatic first glance, the tensions between India and Bangladesh, and between India and Pakistan, appear to be bilateral disputes. But just scratching the surface reveals China's Pakistan, for instance – a state that is little more than a borrower of loans and purchaser of weapons. Its economy leans heavily on IMF assistance and loans from China, while over 80% of its military hardware comes from World Bank estimates Pakistan's debt repayments to China could stretch over 40 years. And Beijing is all too willing to tighten this leash on Islamabad for its dominance in South was even allegedly also involved in the mini-war between India and Pakistan in May 2025. Indian Army Deputy Chief Lt Gen Rahul R Singh had alleged that Beijing offered active military support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor – an assertion China observers even described the war as a live testing ground for Chinese has also tried to defame a fighter jet supplier to the other hand, India's eastern neighbour, Bangladesh, is also showing signs of being sucked into China's debt trap, more so after student-led protests dislodged Hasina's government in August 2024. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has shown enough signs of its willingness to join the Chinese Hasina's ouster, Bangladesh has been facing growing economic fragility. Hasina's choice of India for her self-imposed exile has also strained Dhaka's ties with New shrewd regional politics, coupled with China's growing influence over both Pakistan and Bangladesh, is a concerning scenario for CHINA AND PAKISTAN ARE CONVERGING IN BANGLADESHWhile Pakistan has seen Chinese intervention through infrastructure projects, Bangladesh is also leaning closer to Pakistan even as it entangles itself in loans from toppling of Sheikh Hasina's regime on August 5, 2024, created a ground that was perfect for the breeding of this convergence.A June 2025 Chatham House survey indicated that 75% of Bangladeshis view China favourably, compared to just 11% for has been extensive propaganda in the last couple of years that India was propping up the Hasina regime, which was infamous for its authoritarian nature. The anti-Hasina sentiments might have rubbed off on interim government of Muhammad Yunus is cosying up to most noticeable has been the military engagements between the two countries despite the bloody history of the Pakistani army in Bangladesh Navy participated in Aman 2025, a naval exercise in Karachi, after a gap of 12 years. Earlier in January, a high-level Bangladeshi military delegation held talks with Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim and Pakistan have also established trade two countries resumed direct trade in February 2025 for the first time since 1971, when Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) gained liberation from West agreement signed in February will see Bangladesh purchasing 50,000 tonnes of Pakistani the Yunus government is bonding with Pakistan, it is allowing China to gain a firmer a diversion from the past when Hasina smartly balanced Indian and Chinese has capitalised big time on Bangladesh's economic vulnerability to expand its footprint in South China, through its tried and tested debt diplomacy, exploits vulnerabilities across the world, and also in the Indian Ocean Region, which New Delhi considers its strategic loans to Bangladesh are estimated at $6.1 billion, according to a 2023 AidData report. The loans are primarily for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects such as the Padma Bridge, the construction of the Payra Port, and coal-fired power plants. For a developing country whose economy is in tatters, these loans are comes amid the fact that China is the fourth-largest source of foreign loans in Bangladesh, according to a report by the Dhaka-based Prothom March this year, China lent $2.1 billion to Bangladesh. Even before Hasina's ouster, in 2024, Bangladesh had sought a $5 billion soft loan from China to ease pressure on its dollar reserves, but the finalisation remains Reuters reported earlier this year that China would consider Bangladesh's requests to lower interest rates on Chinese loans, and it did. China extended repayment terms from 20 years to 30 years, easing immediate pressure on Bangladesh, reported the Dhaka-based Daily NEXUS HAS A MEMBER FROM WEST ASIAAmid the geopolitical tussle among South Asian neighbours, a West Asian player is stirring the situation deepening engagement with Bangladesh adds a fresh layer to India's July 2025, Haluk Gorgun, the chief of Ankara's defence industries, held talks with Yunus, aiming to establish defence industrial zones in Chittagong and Narayanganj, building on earlier drone exports to military outreach, combined with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency's humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and growing trade engagements, signal a broader alignment in the nexus with Pakistan and Turkey's economic ties with Bangladesh remain modest, its growing footprint on India's eastern borders must be an uncomfortable reality for New without Turkey, the convergence of China, Pakistan and Bangladesh interests would be concerning for India."There is a possible convergence of interests we can talk about between China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh that may have implications for India's stability and security dynamics," CDS General Chauhan said at the ORF event, according to a report in The Indian according to a PTI report, blamed the economic distress in these countries for allowing "outside powers" to leverage their influence, which could "create vulnerabilities for India".India is faced with a new reality in its neighbourhood. While the western front was always a concern, the eastern front has now become a playground for forces that aren't on friendly terms with it.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pak, China mull new regional bloc as Saarc stalls
Islamabad: Pakistan and China are mulling launching a new regional platform amid growing dissatisfaction over the freeze in Saarc activity, with both sides holding consultations on building an alternative bloc to advance connectivity, trade, and political dialogue. Diplomatic sources in Islamabad confirmed that discussions are underway, with the idea gaining traction after a recent China-Pakistan-Bangladesh trilateral in Kunming. While formal details remain under wraps, the proposed grouping is expected to include multiple South and Central Asian countries, including India. However, given the current state of India's ties with both Beijing and Islamabad, New Delhi's participation remains unlikely. 'The idea is to create momentum in the region, not wait indefinitely for Saarc to move,' a Pakistani official familiar with the developments said. Islamabad and Beijing reportedly see the current regional vacuum as an opportunity to reshape multilateral cooperation through new alignments. Saarc has not held a summit since 2014, with the 2016 meet in Islamabad indefinitely shelved after India pulled out in the wake of the Uri terror attack. Since then, the bloc has remained dormant. China, not a Saarc member, has increased its footprint in South Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative, and is seen as a key driver behind the push for a new forum. Analysts say the Kunming trilateral was likely a trial balloon to gauge interest among smaller regional players like Bangladesh. A new bloc could also offer China and Pakistan another multilateral platform to align on CPEC , infrastructure financing, and shared climate and trade challenges, outside the rigid Saarc framework. No timeline has been set for a formal announcement, but officials hinted that a blueprint could emerge by the end of the year, possibly tied to upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meetings where both India and Pakistan are members. While the move signals a shift in regional thinking, much will depend on how other South Asian nations — especially Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh — respond to the idea of replacing Saarc with a China-backed structure. Bangladesh had last week denied forming 'any new alliance' with Beijing and Islamabad. On June 26, Bangladesh foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain said there is 'no new alliance among Bangladesh, China and Pakistan', as he addressed queries from reporters on the June 19 Bangladesh-China-Pakistan meeting in Kunming. 'We are not forming any alliance. It was a meeting at the official level, not at the political level. ..There was no element of formation of any alliance,' Hossain had said, emphasising Dhaka's relationship with New Delhi is now at a 're-adjustment' stage and there is 'no lack of goodwill from our side'. Hossain had described the Kunming meet as 'not anything big and not something structured'. With inputs from Ahsan Tasnim in Dhaka
