Adani group grants Airtel rights to use 5G spectrum
According to a Tuesday release from Airtel, the transaction is subject to standard conditions, including compliance with Spectrum Trading Guidelines and requisite statutory approvals. The spectrum allocation is distributed across several key regions: Gujarat (100 MHz), Mumbai (100 MHz), Andhra Pradesh (50 MHz), Rajasthan (50 MHz), Karnataka (50 MHz), and Tamil Nadu (50 MHz).
Adani Data Network holds a unified license for access services, enabling it to offer all telecom services in India. The company made headlines in 2022 when it entered the telecom space by participating in the spectrum auction alongside Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea. It acquired 400 MHz in the 26 GHz band for Rs 212 crore during the July 2022 auction. The holdings include 100 MHz each in Gujarat and Mumbai, and 50 MHz each in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Following the acquisition of the unified license, there was speculation that Adani might enter the consumer telecom market, potentially becoming a competitor to Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. However, the company later clarified that the spectrum would be used for its enterprise operations—such as data centers, airports, gas retail, and port infrastructure—rather than for public telecom services.
Since the auction, Adani has not launched any telecom services or participated in subsequent spectrum auctions. However, it has continued to incur penalties for not meeting the rollout obligations tied to its spectrum holdings.
According to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), for 5G spectrum in the 3.3–3.5 GHz band, telecom operators must commercially launch services in at least one metro area and one city or town in a non-metro area within the first year of acquisition.
For the 26 GHz band, operators are required to roll out commercial services anywhere in the licensed service area within a year. Failure to meet these obligations results in penalties of Rs 1 lakh per week for the first 13 weeks, increasing to Rs 2 lakh per week for the next 13 weeks.
Additionally, spectrum can only be surrendered after 10 years. Only then can a company reclaim the amount paid for the airwaves and relinquish its rights for the following 10 years.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Apple event preview: iPhone 17 lineup specs and prices leak ahead of September launch
September is almost here, and that means one thing in the tech calendar: Apple is about to unveil its latest iPhones -- the iPhone 17 series. The Cupertino giant is expected to pull the wraps off the iPhone 17 line-up, complete with the new iOS 26 out of the box. While the official event is still a few weeks away, the internet is already awash with leaks, renders and bold claims about what Apple might have in store this year. So, what's on the cards? Here's a round-up of the most credible 17 lineup rumoured pricesPricing is always the million-dollar question. Apple has reportedly managed to blunt the full impact of Trump-era tariffs thanks to its growing US manufacturing partnerships. That said, with Asia still central to its supply chain, price swings remain a latest chatter suggests Apple may increase base storage to 256GB across the iPhone 17 range, up from 128GB. If that happens, insiders say a $50 (around Rs 4,400) price bump could follow. So this means, if the iPhone 16 (vanilla variant) was launched at Rs 79,900, the iPhone 17 would cost around Rs 83,300. If the rumours are true, then the high-end variants will also witness a big price hike. As for the brand-new iPhone 17 Air, several sources have reportedly pointed to a price tag of around $900 (Rs 78,886). That would place it above the standard iPhone 17 but below the Pro models, carving out its own niche in the line-up. Since this is the US pricing, for Indian users, the iPhone 17 Air could range between Rs 90,000 to Rs 1 lakh. iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Air expected specsiPhone 17 Air: Rumoured to be Apple's thinnest phone yet, borrowing the 'Air' name from its ultralight laptops. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports it will use a basic A19 chip, a single rear camera, and Apple's in-house modem introduced earlier this year. Credit: X/@appltrack Battery leaks suggest a tiny 2,800mAh cell, just 2.49mm thick, slimmer than the Pro's battery. Expect a 6.6-inch screen, Dynamic Island, Camera Control button, and a titanium frame. Colour choices may include black, white, light blue and light 17 and 17 Pro: Leaks hint at aluminium builds, lighter than titanium, and potentially a new full-width 'camera island' design. The Pro model could also feature a redesigned antenna for stronger wireless reception, according to leaker Majin Bu. Colours tipped include black, white, steel grey, green, purple and light blue for the standard 17, and bolder shades (black, white, grey, dark blue and orange) for the Pro versions. iPhone 17 Pro Max: As usual, expect the larger, longer-lasting variant to round out the line-up. Rumours suggest the same aluminium frame and camera island design as the Pro, with added battery life thanks to its 17 launch dateApple traditionally hosts its iPhone event in September, and this year appears no different. According to citing German carrier sources, the date pencilled in is Tuesday, September 9, typically sends invites only a week or two before the big day, so nothing is official yet. Still, based on past precedent, early September is a safe bet. Looking forward, some reports hint that from 2026, Apple may stagger its launches, unveiling Pro models in autumn and standard versions in spring. For the iPhone 17 family, however, everything is expected to land together next month.- Ends
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
KMRL begins process to set up ballastless track
KOCHI: Speeding up the second phase of the 'Pink Line' project, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has initiated the process to set up ballastless track of standard gauge in the elevated section from JLN Stadium station to Infopark Phase 2 station. It has invited open e-tenders online for Rs 127.91 crore for 'Design, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Ballastless Track', a work that is aimed to be financed by availing a loan from the Beijing-headquartered Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The successful bidder should complete the work in 16 months from the date of the Letter of Award. The last date of tender submission is September 1, while the bids will be opened on September 9. The contract awardee can subcontract the work, limited to 50% of the contract price. The tender shall be valid for 180 days (both inclusive) from the last date of submission of tenders. Last week, KMRL floated open tenders for supply of a third rail traction system as well. The Phase 2 project involves the construction of an elevated, electrified metro rail system spanning 11.2km and comprising 11 stations along the JLN Stadium-Infopark section. While the original deadline was the end of 2025, it was revised to December 31, 2026, after the work suffered a delay due to a fund shortage and issues related to utility shifting. 'While the complete section is targeted to be completed by next year's end, we plan to open the first reach up to Padamughal by June 30, 2026. Hence, the successful bidder should complete the work in that session quickly by March 2026. It requires another three months for testing and other purposes,' a senior KMRL official said.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
UPI to remove money request feature from October 1: What it means for you
Starting October 1, 2025, the way Indians use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will change. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced that it is retiring the money request option for person-to-person (P2P) transfers, a move intended to clamp down on scams that have increasingly targeted unsuspecting money request button was, at least on paper, a neat tool. Rather than awkwardly asking someone to send money, you could simply raise a request, whether for splitting the bill after dinner or reminding a forgetful friend about that Rs 500 they still owed. The recipient had the choice to approve or why this change? While the tool was neat, fraudsters quickly discovered a loophole. Fake requests became a common trick, and many people, thinking they were confirming a genuine payment, accidentally authorised transfers straight out of their accounts. NPCI's new directive leaves little room for ambiguity. From October 2, 'no P2P collect transaction should be initiated, routed or processed,' it said in a note to banks, payment service providers and UPI apps. Systems must be updated to block such requests doesn't mean UPI itself is getting harder to use. In fact, most features remain untouched. You can still:-- Send money instantly using a UPI ID, mobile number, or bank details.-- Scan a QR code to pay friends, family, or shopkeepers.-- Approve requests from verified merchants, such as delivery apps or online change applies solely to peer-to-peer collection requests. Merchant collection requests will continue, with their existing higher transaction caps. (Previously, P2P collection was limited to Rs 2,000 per request.)Safety over simplicityBy cutting off P2P collection, NPCI is removing what it sees as one of UPI's weakest security links. Approving a fraudulent request required little more than a careless tap, making it a favoured trick in online fraud kits.'The objective is to protect consumers and strengthen trust in UPI,' the organisation has said, framing the decision as a pre-emptive strike against rising fraud course, for genuine users, it does mean losing a shortcut. Instead of raising a request, you'll now have to ask for your share directly, either by sharing your UPI ID, generating a QR code, or simply dropping a payment reminder on has been India's digital payments crown jewel, handling billions of transactions every month. Its popularity rests on three things: speed, simplicity, and zero transaction costs. But that very simplicity has left it vulnerable to have tried everything from phishing texts and fake OTP requests to imitating bank officials. The collect request feature was just another arrow in their quiver. Removing it, NPCI argues, is about building resilience before the problem grows this means for usersadvertisementFor most people, little will change. Sending money will remain instant, free, and widely accepted. The only thing missing will be that polite nudge via UPI. It might be mildly inconvenient to craft your own reminder messages or share a QR code instead, but the trade-off is clear: fewer ways for fraudsters to trick people into parting with their future, then, is one of tightened safeguards, less about offering every possible shortcut, and more about ensuring every tap and swipe is secure.- Ends
