Today’s telecom news includes announcements on BharatNet, Indus Tower, DoT, ZTE, among others.
India Hits 99.9 Percent 5G Coverage: A Landmark Leap in Digital Connectivity
India has achieved a major connectivity milestone with 5G services now available in 99.9 percent of districts, powered by the deployment of over 5.08 lakh 5G base stations nationwide. The government is accelerating innovation through BharatNet’s rural broadband expansion, simplified Right of Way rules, and the GatiShakti Sanchar portal, which streamlines approvals and speeds up network rollout. These efforts reflect strong investment in digital infrastructure and aim to improve customer experience by reducing call drops and enabling faster, more reliable internet access.
Indus Towers Powers Ahead with Strong Shareholder Backing and Growth Plans
Indus Towers’ latest ownership analysis shows strong strategic stability, with Bharti Airtel holding nearly 50 percent of the company and institutional investors owning around 30 percent. This concentrated yet credible shareholder base reflects high confidence in the company’s telecom-infrastructure leadership. The mix supports consistent investments in tower upgrades, energy-efficient solutions, and nationwide expansion that align with operator needs and customer expectations. With Airtel as a major stakeholder, Indus Towers is positioned to advance innovation, improve service reliability, and scale infrastructure to meet growing 4G and 5G demand, reinforcing its role as a critical backbone player in India’s digital growth.
DoT Pushes to Rein in Telemarketers, Eyes Stronger Consumer Protection
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has again approached the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for recommendations on regulating telemarketers, marking the third such request after earlier responses were delayed. DoT aims to finalise an authorisation framework under the Telecommunications Act, ensuring accountability for entities sending commercial calls and messages. Telecom operators support the move, noting stronger rules could curb spam and unsolicited communications by addressing responsibility at the source. TRAI has expressed concerns over the potential impact of regulation, which has slowed progress.
ZTE Sets Global Benchmark with 6G Transport Breakthroughs
ZTE has achieved major breakthroughs in 6G transport technology and international standardization of the Slicing Packet Network (SPN)/Metro Transport Network (MTN), with the 800G MTN standard approved as the first proposed international 6G transmission standard at the ITU‑T SG15 meeting in Geneva. This reflects investment in cutting‑edge R&D and industry collaboration with partners like China Mobile, State Grid, and China Southern Power Grid to drive ultra‑high bandwidth, ultra‑low latency, deterministic transmission, and computing‑network convergence.
Shafana Fazal
