Today’s telecom news includes announcements on TRAI on low-cost mobile plans , Bharti Airtel, Google, ZTE, XLSMART, among others.
TRAI Extends Deadline for Cheaper Voice-Only Mobile Plans
India’s telecom regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), has extended the deadline for stakeholder comments on its proposed low-cost mobile plans without data services to May 5, from the earlier April 28 cutoff. The draft regulation under the Telecom Consumers Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) aims to make it mandatory for telecom operators to offer cheaper plans that include only voice calls and SMS. TRAI noted that earlier voice-only packs were not priced proportionately lower despite excluding data benefits, limiting consumer advantage. The regulator is seeking broader feedback to refine the proposal, with counter-comments due by May 12.
Airtel Jumps in as Google Unveils $15bn AI Mega Hub in India
Bharti Airtel has announced a partnership in Google’s $15 billion AI hub project in Visakhapatnam, marking a major boost for India’s digital infrastructure. The telecom giant, through its data centre arm Nxtra, will help build advanced data centres, fibre connectivity, and subsea cable systems for the gigawatt-scale facility. The hub, developed alongside AdaniConneX, is set to become India’s first large-scale AI ecosystem, supporting cloud, enterprise, and digital services. Following the announcement, Airtel’s shares rose amid investor optimism. The project, spanning multiple campuses, will also focus on green energy integration and aims to strengthen India’s position as a global AI and technology hub.
ZTE & XLSMART Launch Jakarta Innovation Hub to Fast-Track 5G-A and AI Adoption ZTE and XLSMART have jointly launched an innovation center in Jakarta to accelerate Indonesia’s readiness for 5G-Advanced (5G-A) and artificial intelligence. The facility will act as a real-world testing hub for new use cases and business models across industries, supporting digital transformation. Key focus areas include AI-driven network optimization, energy-efficient infrastructure, and future connectivity research. Designed as an open collaboration platform, it brings together government, industry, and academia to co-develop solutions tailored to local needs. The initiative strengthens Indonesia’s digital ecosystem and aims to boost competitiveness while advancing sustainable and intelligent network development.
SHAFANA FAZAL
