
Data, traffic accumulated by Elon Musk's Starlink will be stored in India: Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani
Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani
said on Thursday that the network data, traffic, and other details accumulated by Elon Musk's
Starlink
satellite internet service will be locally stored in India. He added that the domestic user traffic is not to be mirrored to any system or server located abroad.
Pemmasani, in a written reply, informed the Rajya Sabha, 'Security conditions, inter-alia, include the establishment of earth station gateway(s) in India for providing satellite-based communication services with no user traffic originating from or destined for India to be routed through any gateway located outside India, no copying and decryption of the Indian data outside the country, and the Indian user traffic is not to be mirrored to any system/server located abroad.'
US-based Starlink is the third
satcom
operator after Bharti-backed Eutelsat
OneWeb
and Reliance Jio-SES JV to secure all clearances for offering commercial broadband from space services in India, a market expected to grow exponentially in the coming years.
Starlink received its Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) permit last month.
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) authorised Starlink's Gen 1 constellation to provide satellite communication services in India. Gen 1 is Starlink's low Earth orbit (LEO) network of 4408 satellites which can offer 600 Gbps throughput in India.
India's top telecom incumbents, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, earlier this year partnered with Musk's aerospace company SpaceX to deliver Starlink services in the country.
The minister, meanwhile, said that the satcom sector is expected to generate employment as it is an emerging area.
'Satellite-based communication services is an upcoming area and, as any new economic activity would do, it is also expected to generate employment in the country, as it involves, inter alia, the installation, operation and maintenance of the telecom network including user terminal equipment,' Pemmasani said in his reply.
Starlink now needs to acquire spectrum from the government and establish ground infrastructure for its services.
Two other global satcom majors -Jeff Bezos-owned Amazon Kuiper and Apple's satcom partner Globalstar - are also awaiting approvals from Indian authorities.
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Indian Express
3 minutes ago
- Indian Express
When US promised not to let Pakistan down: ‘If there is another attack, we will react violently'
Post Operation Sindoor, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was hosted by the United States and, if news reports are correct, he is again headed to America for a second visit in three months. The US has always maintained friendly relations with Pakistan, even during conflicts with India, and this was amply demonstrated before and after the 1971 war. There were active attempts by the US at the highest level of President Richard Nixon and his advisor on national security affairs, Henry Kissinger, to channel military aid to Pakistan through Jordan and Iran. In this week's column, we look at how, post the 1971 war, the US reassured Pakistan that it would stand by it if India initiated any military action against what was then West Pakistan, and also considered a Pakistani offer of military bases on Pakistani soil for the US. The memorandum of a conversation in the US State Department Archives for March 29, 1972, records a meeting where Nixon, Kissinger, and Aziz Ahmed, secretary-general of Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, and many others participated. Kissinger referred to how 'we went through tragic days together in December (1971)' and said that Pakistan enjoyed the US' goodwill. He further said it was important for Pakistan to get through the next six months, and felt that it was inconceivable that there would be an Indian attack before the forthcoming summit meeting in Moscow, or even for some time after that. 'Dr. Kissinger continued that the President makes the policy, and 'we won't let Pakistan down. If there is another attack, we will react violently'. He noted that we have told the Indian Ambassador that we cannot cut off military aid to Pakistan unless India is prepared to forego Soviet military aid. We have said that we will not restore the $87 million of aid that had been suspended,' the memorandum records Kissinger as saying. He went on to say that the US did not believe that one country should have the right to impose its will on its neighbours. 'The President has very warm feelings for Pakistan,' he added. Aziz Ahmed expressed concerns that India had moved three Army divisions to the West Pakistani border. 'General Manekshaw has gone to Moscow, presumably to seek equipment to replace India's war losses. India is going ahead—with whatever plans it has-either exerting pressure on Pakistan for the negotiations or for a more serious attack. There has been some thought that the Indians would seize Azad Kashmir. The Chinese, however, felt that an attack on Azad Kashmir would be unlikely until after President Nixon's visit to Moscow,' he said. On March 17, 1971, US Secretary of State William P Rogers wrote a memorandum to President Nixon titled 'President Bhutto's Proposals for Closer Military Collaboration'. This memo discussed specific proposals, which involved: The memo further quotes the Pakistani Defence Secretary Ghias Uddin Ahmed as suggesting that Pakistani military facilities could be made available to the US if that country wished. 'He said this would include facilities on land or at ports. With regard to the latter, he mentioned locations along the Arabian Sea coast, including (from west to east) Jiwani, Gwadar, Sonmiani Bay, Karachi, and the area south and east of Karachi. He thought the US might be interested in developing a port such as at Gwadar, which would be important for the economic development of that region of Pakistan,' the memo notes. The reason for this approach, Ghias said, was that Pakistan now faced an entirely new situation after the recent war, when it had suffered defeat by India with Soviet collaboration. The Pakistani Government was increasingly concerned about the intentions of both the Soviets and the Indians. 'Pakistan needed to bolster up its defenses in order to provide some credible deterrent. Ghias acknowledged that Pakistan was now only a small fraction compared to India in size and strength. He went on [to say] that Pakistan could not contemplate attacking India, but it needed some assurance about its defense. In this regard, he thought Pakistan would be looking to closer defense collaboration with Iran and Turkey, and seeking to improve its relations with Afghanistan,' the memo says. Ghias also referred to close Soviet collaboration with Indians both at the port of Visakhapatnam and on the Andaman Islands, which he interpreted as providing important naval facilities for the USSR. A month earlier, on February 3, 1972, President Nixon had a meeting with the US Ambassador to India, Kenneth Keating, and Henry Kissinger. Referring to India and Pakistan, President Nixon said, 'Neither country should be a country. They are too poor, too bloodthirsty'. Ambassador Keating responded, 'Yes, there should be a regional solution, like the EEC (European Economic Community)'. President Nixon was of the opinion that India shouldn't waste its resources fighting Pakistan and that China was India's bigger problem. 'Let me give you my view. I'll tell you what I'll do. I am afraid they'll leak it, so of course we can't announce it. Let me tell you where we went wrong. I was too soft on Mrs. Gandhi. When she was here. I led her on. If we were going to restrain them at all, we should have been tougher. I am not mad at Mrs. Gandhi. She has not had a better friend in this office than me. I have taken the line that India should have to compete with the PRC. I have always defended India,' he said. Nixon went on to say that India has a friend in the White House. 'They should know this. We are going to China for reasons of our own. We took action on India because our law requires it. In reality, we are India's best friend. Right, Henry?,' he said. Henry Kissinger gave a guarded reply, reflecting his pro-Pakistan stance. 'That is true. But we must move at a measured pace,' he said.
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Business Standard
3 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India set to join top William Grant markets with Balvenie Fifty launch
India is a high priority market for the leading Scotch whisky and premium spirits maker William Grant & Sons, with potential to become one of its top five markets globally in the coming years, a top company official has said. The family-owned premium spirits company, which owns various brands, including Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder, Balvenie and Hendrick's Gin, entered India 10 years ago. And the growth in the country has been very promising, William Grant & Sons India Managing Director Sachin Mehta told PTI. The Scotland-based premium spirits maker has unveiled 'The Balvenie Fifty', a 50-year-old ultra-rare Speyside single malt scotch whisky in the Indian market. Only one bottle of The Balvenie Fifty First Edition' aged in a European oak refill cask, filled in 1973, has been made available in India, offering a unique opportunity for collectors and connoisseurs to own a piece of whisky history. When asked about its price, Mehta said: "Balvenie Fifty is probably going to be in the range of Rs 70 lakh thereabouts". William Grant & Sons India operates in the premium alcoholic beverage segment, where its portfolio includes Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder, Balvenie, Grant's and Hendrick's Gin. "And our latest addition is a brand called The Famous Grouse," which has been added since July, he noted. According to Mehta, India is among the top ten markets for William Grant & Sons and one of the few markets where it has established its own distribution company. "It is one of the top priority markets within the global network of William Grant & Sons," he said. India is the largest whisky market globally, where the market is witnessing premiumisation, supported by various factors, like a growing economy, rising middle-class income, growing numbers of millennials and white collar professionals. When asked whether India has the potential to become one of the top 5 markets for William Grant & Sons, Mehta said: "India certainly has a very large potential. The story of the potential that India has is not hidden, and everybody knows about it. And that is true across all categories. And so much so, even for the single malts and Balvenie. So surely, it can be one of the top markets". Moreover, factors like the recent free trade agreement between the governments of India and the UK, which, according to Mehta, is an "achievement" and the policies of the state governments in India are becoming "more and more progressive and consumer-friendly", with an increasing ease of doing business. India is already a leading market for major global spirits makers. It is now the largest market for French spirit maker Pernod Ricard by volume and the second largest by value. It is also a key contributor to the British premium spirits maker Diageo. On its single malt brand Glenfiddich, Mehta said, "It's one of the top-selling single malts in the country". "Similarly, India is one of the top priority markets for that brand (Glenfiddich) as well, like it is for the Balvenie and it is for the rest of our portfolio," he added. Besides, Mehta also expects growth from Balvenie, which operates in the premium side of single-malt whisky. "India is a large whisky market, and there has been a lot of premiumisation. It really goes on to give us the confidence that our Indian consumer is now really looking for great value, and that value comes from aspirational brands like the Balvenie," he said. Earlier, Balvenie was available in selected cities only, as it is an allocated product to specific markets. However, with increased allocation, it is now available in more cities across India. "We are able to increase the stock availability in India, and we are looking to make it available in more and more cities," he said. Besides, 50-year-old single malt scotch whisky, it has also amplified its play in the super premium segment - The Balvenie Thirty and The Balvenie Twenty-Five, both of which are available in a highly exclusive and limited release.


Hindustan Times
3 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘A clean voter roll is imperative for free and fair elections': Rahul Gandhi
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday doubled down on his claims of "vote chori" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and noted that a "clean" voter roll is imperative for free and fair elections. "Vote Chori is an attack on the foundational idea of 'one man, one vote'," Rahul Gandhi said on X. (File/Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo) The Congress MP linked his stand to a fight to "protect" democracy. "Vote Chori is an attack on the foundational idea of 'one man, one vote'. A clean voter roll is imperative for free and fair elections. Our demand from the EC is clear - be transparent and release digital voter rolls so that people and parties can audit them. This fight is to protect our democracy," the Congress MP posted on X. Meanwhile, the Congress party said that it will hold a meeting of its general secretaries, in-charges, and frontal organisation heads on August 11 to discuss a nationwide campaign against "voter list manipulation and election fraud. "The party is also opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, along with other partners of the INDIA bloc."Just as Bapu gave us the 'Do or Die' call during the Quit India movement, we today must embark upon a similar do-or-die mission to save Indian democracy. To discuss the party's further nationwide campaign against voter list manipulation and election fraud, as exposed by LOP Sh. @RahulGandhi ji, a meeting of AICC General Secretaries, In-charges, and Frontal Organisation Heads will be held on 11th August at 4:30 PM at 24 Akbar Road, presided over by INC President Sh. Mallikarjun @kharge ji," Congress general secretary KC Venugopal wrote in a post on X on Friday. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 100,250 votes. Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 100,250 votes. "Our internal polling told us we would win 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We focused on Mahadevapur... All data is 2024 data from the Election Commission; the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakhs. The BJP won with 658,915, securing a margin of 32,707. But then we look at Mahadevapura, where Congress polls 115,586 and BJP polls 229,632. Congress wins all Vidhan Sabhas but this one," the Congress leader said. "We found 100,250 votes stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, in a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, there is no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," he said. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday has again asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either give a declaration as per the rules or apologise to the country for his "false" allegations regarding the voter lists. "Rahul Gandhi should either give a Declaration as per rules or apologise to the country for his false allegations," ECI said in a statement.