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Economic Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
India needs more telecom unicorns, says DoT secretary Neeraj Mittal
ETTelecom Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, DoT With the Union Cabinet approving the ₹1 lakh crore research, development, and innovation (RDI) scheme, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is hopeful that it will provide a much-needed boost to telecom startups in the Mittal, secretary, DoT, told ET on the sidelines of an event in Bengaluru on Tuesday that the department looks forward to working closely with the scheme and startups. The scheme aims to scale up research, development, and innovation in sunrise domains and sectors critical to economic security, strategic interests, and self-reliance. 'Deep tech is essential for the country's growth. The only difference between deep tech and tech is that you need patient capital, and telecom would fall in that category for various reasons,' Mittal said. During his address at the Matrix Global Summit 2025 on 6G technology, the DoT Secretary also noted that while telecom may not be an easy space to innovate in, the government is attempting to reduce the risk through the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF), particularly in the early stages. He added that India needs several unicorns in the telecom space. With the department targeting at least 10% of global patents in 6G technology ahead of the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027, Mittal said, 'There are more expectations from institutions that patents will come from them, from research faculties, IITs, NITs, and all these institutions which are participating. We have a call for proposals on 6G, and we hope that it will result in a lot of papers.' During a similar discussion, Reliance Jio's senior vice president, Satish Jamadagni, underscored that despite building a homegrown 5G stack, true export viability hinges on domestic chip production. Simply having a cost advantage will not 'help in selling,' he said. 'When we missed the 4G bandwagon and jumped straight to 5G, the projected technology isn't yet at its best. When we talk about exporting a 5G stack, if you don't make the chip in the country, it's not really selling,' he added. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Inside TechM CEO's 'baptism by fire' and the blaze he still needs to douse Why the RBI's stability report must go beyond rituals and routines How the sinking of MSC Elsa 3 exposed India's maritime blind spots Profits plenty, prices attractive, still PSU stocks languish. Why? The bike taxi dreams of Rapido, Uber, and Ola just got a jolt. But they're winning public favour Stock Radar: Indus Tower stock breaks out from Symmetrical Triangle pattern; could hit fresh 52-week high – check target & stop loss Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus Will worst of perception be over in Q1 earning season? 9 IT stocks, probably best contrarian bets. Use a different way to be contrarian Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and return potential of more than 25% in 1 year
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
TTDF-funded projects to support India's leadership in network technologies: Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani
NEW DELHI: The research and development (R&D) projects funded by the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) will support India's leadership in key network technology domains, according to Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani . 'Through the Telecom Technology Development Fund, over 120 high-impact R&D projects are under way—spanning quantum communication, AI-automated networks, and indigenous core infrastructure. These are the seeds of future leadership,' Pemmasani said during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 roadshow in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Further, Pemmasani said India has made rapid strides in expanding connectivity nationwide. As per the minister, India now has over 1.18 billion mobile subscribers — the second-largest telecom network globally, while nearly 1 billion access broadband, a massive 1452% jump from 2014 figures. BharatNet , the world's largest rural broadband project, has already connected over 2.18 lakh Gram Panchayats with high-speed optical fiber. 'Under BharatNet Phase 3, we're investing $18 billion (₹1.4 lakh crore) to connect an additional 40,000 Gram Panchayats, maintain existing 2.18 lakh village connections, and extend subsidized broadband access to 1.5 crore rural households,' he added. Pemmasani said that 4G saturation has reached over 95% of India's 6.4 lakh villages, and recalled that the world's fastest 5G rollout happened in India, with over 4.7 lakh 5G sites deployed in just over two years, covering 99.6% of districts. 'India offers one of the world's lowest data prices. By making data accessible and affordable, we have democratized the digital revolution, allowing millions to connect, create, and contribute,' the minister said. As per him, India was importing 75% of handsets, but today, the country exports phones worth ₹1.8 trillion per year, marking a shift from "Made for India" to "Made by India." Union Minister of Communications & Development of North East Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, in March unveiled the ninth edition of the IMC 2025, which is set to take place between October 8 to October 11. Organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), IMC 2025 is expected to attract over 1.5 lakh visitors from more than 150 countries, feature over 400 exhibitors and partners, and more than 7,000 global delegates.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Strong domestic innovation boosting India's 6G ambition: Neeraj Mittal
The Centre is working on multiple initiatives to accelerate homegrown innovation in a bid to facilitate India's contribution to next generation (6G) technology. In an interaction with ETTelecom's Muntazir Abbas, Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and Chairman, Digital Communications Commission (DCC) talks on sectoral health, Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) levy, technology development fund, 6G preparedness, satellite communications (satcom), terahertz spectrum band, and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) 4G network. Edited excerpts. Is there any new relief package in the works for the telecom sector? There is no proposal at present. Industry has been demanding a cut in Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) levy for a long time. Is DoT considering any reduction? There is no proposal of reduction. Do you think a 3+1 telco market is healthy enough for a country like India? India has large numbers of telecom licensees having authorisation to offer various telecom services. Market dynamics determine equilibrium. How has been the progress of Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) so far? How much disbursement has been made till date? A total of 120 proposals covering areas such as 5G development under the 'India 5G Stack', 6G and beyond technology development, Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) development, and other telecom technologies are being funded under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme, amounting to ₹500 crore. These also include 100 proposals aimed at advancing the development of 6G technologies and ensuring robust, efficient, and sustainable connectivity solutions. As of now about ₹180 crores have been disbursed. India's 6G preparedness seems to be slow-paced as against the ambition of at least 10% of the global patents by 2030. What steps are you taking to fast-forward the progress? India is gearing up for 6G by 2030 with a strong push for domestic innovation, guided by the Bharat 6G Vision . Building on its 5G research foundation, the country has launched over 100 research and development (R&D) projects and set up indigenous test beds and labs. Key events like the TTDF Symposium 2025 and the upcoming 3GPP RAN meeting in Bengaluru underscore India's growing role in shaping global telecom standards. Do you think terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks will be complementary to each other? Terrestrial networks offer dense, high-speed coverage, while non-terrestrial networks like satellites extend reach to remote and underserved areas. Together, they enable seamless, global connectivity across land, air, and sea. Share an update on terahertz band (95 GHz-3THz) and terahertz experimental authorisation (THEA), as proposed by Trai, to promote R&D and trials? TRAI recommendations on Terahertz band and Terahertz Experimental Authorisation, are under the Department of Telecommunications' consideration. What are the top 2-3 focus areas for BSNL in the current fiscal? What steps are you taking to sustain profitability? The focus areas of BSNL include rollout of indigenous 4G network, improving quality of service, improving customer service, and eventually make the company profitable. Share an update on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) assets monetisation exercise? Total earnings generated through asset monetization of BSNL and MTNL, is ₹12,984 crores since the approval of 2019 revival plan, from sale and rental. By when will the BharatNet 3 program be completed? The amended BharatNet project is for ten years.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
About ₹500 crore approved till date under TTDF for 120 tech projects: MoS Telecom
The government has approved around ₹500 crore till date under Telecom Technology Development Fund to 120 projects in areas of 5G, 6G, chipsets and quantum technology , Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said on Wednesday. The minister shared the information about his review meeting of the TTDF on his social media account. "TTDF is our flagship fund to support R&D and innovation in telecom technologies. Since launch, ₹499.6 Cr approved for 120 projects in 5G, 6G, chipsets & quantum tech," Pemmasani said on social media platform X. Launched on October 1, 2022 and implemented by Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), TTDF supports cutting-edge research in areas such as 6G, quantum communication, secure chipsets, and intelligent rural connectivity. Since inception, the scheme has received over 1,340 proposals, with 120 R&D projects approved and ₹499.6 crore sanctioned, of which ₹187 crore has already been disbursed. DoT sources, who were aware of the developments at the meeting, shared that the minister emphasised the need for measurable outcomes from public investments in R&D and suggested a series of reforms to strengthen TTDF's implementation framework. "He highlighted that projects supported under TTDF should be closely aligned with real-world objectives, backed by clear monitoring mechanisms. To expedite decision-making, he suggested that the structure of evaluation committees may be streamlined and timelines clearly defined," a source said. He also encouraged greater involvement of reputed private equity professionals and domain experts to enrich the assessment process and improve sectoral relevance, the source added. The review came shortly after the TTDF Symposium 2025, held at IIT Madras Research Park from June 19-21, where 112 funded projects were evaluated across 12 technology verticals by over 40 expert mentors. Recognising the importance of sustained oversight, Pemmasani is learnt to have proposed monthly reviews of TTDF's progress at his level to enable timely feedback and course correction. "In a bid to boost participation from emerging enterprises, he suggested simplifying the scheme guidelines to reduce entry barriers for startups and MSMEs. Structural streamlining of existing committees and feedback mechanisms were also recommended to ensure improved execution and support," an official source said.
Mint
25-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
About ₹500 cr approved till date under TTDF for 120 tech projects: MoS Telecom
New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) The government has approved around ₹ 500 crore till date under Telecom Technology Development Fund to 120 projects in areas of 5G, 6G, chipsets and quantum technology, Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said on Wednesday. The minister shared the information about his review meeting of the TTDF on his social media account. "TTDF is our flagship fund to support R&D and innovation in telecom technologies. Since launch, ₹ 499.6 Cr approved for 120 projects in 5G, 6G, chipsets & quantum tech," Pemmasani said on social media platform X. Launched on October 1, 2022 and implemented by Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), TTDF supports cutting-edge research in areas such as 6G, quantum communication, secure chipsets, and intelligent rural connectivity. Since inception, the scheme has received over 1,340 proposals, with 120 R&D projects approved and ₹ 499.6 crore sanctioned, of which ₹ 187 crore has already been disbursed. DoT sources, who were aware of the developments at the meeting, shared that the minister emphasised the need for measurable outcomes from public investments in R&D and suggested a series of reforms to strengthen TTDF's implementation framework. "He highlighted that projects supported under TTDF should be closely aligned with real-world objectives, backed by clear monitoring mechanisms. To expedite decision-making, he suggested that the structure of evaluation committees may be streamlined and timelines clearly defined," a source said. He also encouraged greater involvement of reputed private equity professionals and domain experts to enrich the assessment process and improve sectoral relevance, the source added. The review came shortly after the TTDF Symposium 2025, held at IIT Madras Research Park from June 19-21, where 112 funded projects were evaluated across 12 technology verticals by over 40 expert mentors. Recognising the importance of sustained oversight, Pemmasani is learnt to have proposed monthly reviews of TTDF's progress at his level to enable timely feedback and course correction.
