Latest news with #TRAI
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Margao woman loses Rs 2.6 crore in digital arrest, Kerala man held
Panaji: Goa police on Friday arrested a Kerala native Rijas K for his role in an alleged high-value cyber fraud case amounting to over Rs 2.6 crore. SP (Crime branch) Rahul Gupta said that the Cyber Crime police station registered a first information report (FIR) based on a complaint from a Margao woman. According to the complaint, the victim received multiple phone calls and WhatsApp messages from individuals impersonating senior officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Mumbai. 'Using mobile number +91 90xxx85182 and WhatsApp numbers +91 967xxx2769 and +91 814xxx0910, the accused falsely informed the complainant that a police complaint was registered against her name and Aadhaar number,' Gupta said. 'The fraudsters further sent a forged Supreme Court order and coerced the complainant into transferring a total of Rs 2.6 crore into various bank accounts.' During the investigation, it was found that an amount of over Rs 76 lakh was credited on May 22, in two separate transactions to a bank account, which was identified to be in the name of one Rijas K, a resident of Kozhikode, Kerala, the SP said. A team from the Cyber Crime police station proceeded to Kozhikode. 'With the assistance of local police, Rijas K (age 35 years) was apprehended and placed under arrest,' he said. During custodial interrogation, it was revealed that the accused is a habitual cyber fraudster and is involved in at least 11 cybercrimes across India, with the total fraud amount estimated to be around Rs 22 crore.
India.com
9 hours ago
- Business
- India.com
Mukesh Ambani pays Rs 294640000000 to govt, Sunil Mittal's Bharti Airtel paid Rs 263240000000, due to…
Telecom operators saw a 12.44% year-on-year growth in Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), reaching Rs 79,226 crore for the quarter ending March 2025, according to a report released by sector regulator TRAI on Thursday. Reliance Jio led the chart with Rs 29,464 crore AGR — the amount from which the government collects its share as licence fee and spectrum usage charge. Bharti Group followed Jio with an AGR of Rs 26,324 crore, but it recorded the highest growth rate of 25.64 per cent in the segment during the reported quarter on a year-on-year basis. Debt-ridden Vodafone Idea recorded a 3.84 per cent growth in AGR at Rs 7,653.53 crore, while BSNL saw a 12.45 per cent growth at Rs 2,239.54 crore. Tata Teleservices registered a growth of 2.31 per cent at Rs 677 crore and MTNL's AGR declined by 6.04 per cent to Rs 147 crore during the quarter. The gross revenue of telecom service providers increased by 11.74 per cent annually to Rs 98,250 crore in the March 2025 quarter, as per the Trai's Performance Indicator Report. The move led to an increase of 19.16 per cent in average revenue per user (ARPU) to Rs 182.95 for telcos. The government's collection in the form of licence fee imposed on AGR increased by 12.46 per cent annually to Rs 6,340 crore while spectrum usage charges rose by 15.08 per cent to Rs 1,000 crore. (With Inputs From PTI)
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Unpacking Cannes' best & Aamir's bold cinema bet
Dear Readers, Hope you're all having a fantastic week! Here in Mumbai, the monsoon air is crisp, and so are the conversations swirling around the media and advertising world. We've got some really juicy topics to chew on this time, from the global stage of creativity to a truly bold move by one of India's biggest stars. Let's dive in! Media Moments of Truth: Cannes Lions Top Picks - BE Extraordinary This piece highlights some truly ingenious media campaigns from Cannes . Think about how brands are using data, real-time insights, and even subtle emotional cues to connect with audiences in incredibly smart ways. It's a masterclass in how media can be more than just a channel, but a creative canvas itself. Read here.. Why you should care: Cannes Lions is basically the Oscars for the global advertising and creative industry. These "top picks" aren't just pretty ads; they're the campaigns that are setting new benchmarks for innovation, effectiveness, and pushing boundaries. Understanding what wins here gives you a crystal ball into future marketing trends, consumer engagement strategies, and the kind of creativity that truly cuts through the noise. Cinema First: Aamir Khan's Bold OTT Rejection Aamir Khan, known for his unconventional choices, has reportedly turned down a huge sum by rejecting an early OTT release for his upcoming film. His stance? He believes shorter theatrical windows are "destroying cinema's long-term viability" and wants to ensure films get a fair chance to draw audiences to theatres. This is a bold gamble that could either revive the cinema experience or highlight the irreversible shift towards digital. Read the full story Why you should care: This isn't just about one superstar's decision; it's a potential seismic shift in the economics and cultural consumption of Indian cinema . Aamir Khan's refusal of a massive OTT deal to champion the theatrical experience could redefine the release window strategies for major films. It's a direct challenge to the perceived dominance of streaming and a reaffirmation of the magic of the big screen. Is Cannes the Creative Monarchy? This piece challenges the notion of Cannes as the ultimate, undisputed arbiter of creative excellence. It raises questions about the cost of participation, the representation of smaller agencies, and whether the focus on awards might sometimes overshadow real business impact. A timely and thought-provoking read that pushes us to look beyond the glamour. Click here to read Why you should care: While Cannes is celebrated, it's also a subject of debate. This article digs into the critical question of whether the festival truly represents the diverse, global creative landscape or if it's becoming an exclusive club. For anyone in the advertising or marketing space, it's crucial to understand these underlying dynamics. More from this week Mokobara's Diljit Dosanjh Ad: A Splash of Sci-Fi, Humour and Déjà vu Indian Pay DTH sees 1.3 mn subs drop in Jan-March: TRAI Box office grows 27% in 2025 but Bollywood remains worried Transparency is good but some opaqueness in audience data is essential to protect media value: Zee's Ashish Sehgal WPP media's EssenceMediacom wins Nilkamal's media mandate What a week it's been for the media in India and globally! From creative triumphs at Cannes to pivotal decisions in Bollywood's future, the conversations are as dynamic as ever. This is precisely why we love bringing these insights to our community – to collectively unravel what's next. Tag us on LinkedIn (ET BrandEquity) with your thoughts. Stay tuned for the next edition of the Media & Entertainment newsletter, coming to you every Friday. Until next time, stay sharp and keep creating! —Team ETBrandEquity
India.com
11 hours ago
- Business
- India.com
India's Telecom Subscriber Base Crosses 1.2 Billion Mark: TRAI
New Delhi: India's telecom sector continues to show growth, with the total number of telephone subscribers crossing the 1.2 billion mark, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Thursday. The total subscriber base increased from 1,189.92 million in December 2024 to 1,200.80 million in March 2025. Tele-density also rose during the quarter -- reflecting better connectivity across urban and rural areas. Urban subscribers grew to 666.11 million, while rural subscribers touched 534.69 million. This growth led to an increase in rural tele-density, indicating deeper digital reach in remote regions. The share of rural subscriptions also rose from 44.31 per cent at the end of December 2024 to 44.53 per cent at the end of March 2025. Wireless subscriptions witnessed significant growth, with more than 13 million new connections added during the quarter ending March 31. The combined mobile and 5G FWA user base reached 1,163.76 million, while traditional mobile connections alone rose to 1,156.99 million. This suggests growing interest in mobile services across consumer segments. India's broadband internet landscape remains robust, with over 944 million subscribers. This reflects India's continued dominance as one of the world's largest internet user bases, even as new technologies shape the way people connect. The sector also saw an improvement in financial performance. Gross Revenue (GR) for the quarter stood at Rs 98,250 crore, with Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) touching Rs 79,226 crore. License fee collections also grew, underlining the strong demand for telecom services. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for wireless services rose to Rs 182.95, with prepaid users contributing Rs 182.53 and postpaid users averaging Rs 187.48 per month. User engagement remained high, as average minutes of usage per month increased to 1,026 -- showing higher interaction with telecom services for voice, data, and content. The broadcasting sector remained stable, with 333 satellite pay TV channels reported out of 908 permitted channels, including 101 HD channels. The Pay DTH segment recorded an active user base of 56.92 million, offering a wide range of content alongside Doordarshan's free services.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
BIF claims telcos attempting to block entry of satellite services into India
The ongoing dispute between Indian telecom service providers and satellite communications (satcom) operators has further intensified, as the Broadband India Forum (BIF) — an association of Big Tech and satellite companies — has written a letter to the government accusing telcos of attempting to block entry of next-generation satellite services into India. BIF; whose members include Google, Meta, OneWeb, Hughes, Amazon, and Tata's Nelco; addressed the letter to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Secretary, Neeraj Mittal. The letter stated the telcos' claim of a "level playing field" are unfounded in the current context, based on inaccurate data, and incorrect in law. 'We respectfully urge that any request by the Association for review based on the misrepresented and flawed 'level playing field' argument and any other arguments made in their submission should be summarily dismissed,' reads the letter. This rebuttal from BIF comes in response to a letter by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) to the government, in which it criticized the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) satellite spectrum pricing as 'unjustifiably low, non-transparent, and non-competitive.' COAI—which represents the country's three private telecom giants, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea—argued that TRAI's pricing would unfairly benefit satellite internet providers like Elon Musk's Starlink, to the detriment of terrestrial network operators. COAI warned that satcom services are becoming direct competitors to traditional telecom networks and alleged that TRAI failed to adequately incorporate inputs from local operators before finalizing its recommendations, which are currently under review by the telecom ministry. According to TRAI's proposal, satellite service providers would pay spectrum usage charges (SUC) equivalent to 4% of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) or Rs 3,500 per MHz annually—whichever is higher. In addition, under existing DoT rules, satcom providers must pay an annual license fee of 8% of AGR. TRAI has also proposed an additional urban-area charge of Rs 500 per subscriber annually for satellite services.
