The India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released the Draft Right of Way (RoW) Rules under the Telecommunications Act 2023, marking a significant milestone in the regulation of telecommunications networks across both public and private properties. The primary objective of these rules is to streamline procedures for establishing and maintaining telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring efficient deployment while addressing crucial concerns related to public safety, property rights, and operational standards. These draft rules are currently open for public consultation, reflecting the government’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity in policy-making.
The Draft RoW Rules in India are comprehensive, comprising seven chapters outlining detailed guidelines for overground and underground telecommunications networks. These guidelines cover many aspects, from application processes to maintenance protocols. The rules define their applicability to public and private properties, specifying the procedures required for network establishment. Emphasising adherence to safety standards and regulatory approvals, the rules aim to ensure telecommunications infrastructure’s structural integrity and safety throughout its lifecycle.
The draft mandates that facility providers submit detailed applications through a designated online portal for public properties. These applications must include technical designs, safety certifications, and mitigation plans to address potential public inconvenience. Underground infrastructure regulations are tailored to minimise environmental impact and operational disruptions during installation and maintenance.
The draft also specifies post-RoW obligations for facility providers, which include compliance with permission conditions, ongoing public safety measures, and real-time information sharing on network status. In the case of private properties, the rules mandate mutual consent agreements for network deployment, detailing terms for entry, compensation for property use, and responsibilities for damage restoration.
The group aims to reduce the barriers to entering the digital economy for low-income populations, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The GSMA highlighted that handset affordability is the most significant obstacle preventing people from going online.
In many low and middle-income countries, mobile phones are often the only means of accessing the internet. Currently, 38% of the global population cannot use mobile internet due to high costs and lack of skills. The coalition will work together to improve access to affordable internet-enabled devices, aiming to close the ‘Usage Gap’ that hinders around three billion people from fully participating in the global digital economy.
Sri Lanka’s parliament amended an old law to permit Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite branch of SpaceX, to commence operations in the country. The original law did not permit satellite internet service providers to operate in the country, and according to a parliamentary statement, it is the first amendment made to the telecommunications law in 28 years.
Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Technology, Kanaka Herath, explained how the new telecommunications bill will create a license category allowing Starlink to apply as a service provider in Sri Lanka. The amendments will effectively introduce three new types of licences, one of which will enable Starlink to enter Sri Lanka’s telecoms market as a licensed service provider, pending approval from the telecoms regulator. Herath stated that Starlink had proposed setting up operations in Sri Lanka way back in March, and the country granted preliminary approval in June after expediting the process.
The minister also emphasised, ‘This opportunity is not just for Starlink but any other company that wants to invest in Sri Lanka’. Explaining their rationale, Herath explained that ‘We plan to grow the IT sector to a $15 billion industry by 2030. So we must attract international companies to provide internet, especially to rural areas.’
Telecom Egypt has partnered with Hungarian telecom firm 4iG Group to form a joint venture to build, operate, and commercialise fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and fibre-to-the-site (FTTS) access infrastructure wholesale across Egypt. The two companies have agreed on the ambitious project’s business model, ownership structure, governance processes, and technological specifications. This ambitious project will see a combined investment of $600 million over the next ten years to provide high-speed internet to at least six million households.
This initiative aligns with Egypt’s Digital Egypt and Vision 2030 strategies. As a result, the agreement was signed in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr Amr Talaat.
Moreover, the FTTS component of the network will enhance the capacity of Egypt’s mobile network, facilitating a faster rollout of 5G technology. This infrastructure will also support other next-generation services, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and enterprise networks. Mohamed Nasr, managing director and CEO of Telecom Egypt, highlighted the project’s potential to deliver unparalleled performance and future-proof connectivity, reinforcing Telecom Egypt’s leadership in the ICT sector.
OpenAI has announced that the ChatGPT app is now available to all macOS users. This update, shared via OpenAI’s official X account, extends access beyond the initial rollout to Plus subscribers.
After downloading the app, you can simply open the service by pressing the Option + Space, similar to Apple’s current Command + Space function for Spotlight Search. Clearly, this new app is ‘designed to integrate seamlessly’ with your Mac experience.
First introduced in May, the app’s announcement was somewhat overshadowed by the release of the chatbot’s newest version, GPT-4o. At the time it was reserved exclusively to users paying for the OpenAI Plus subscription, but now, any user running macOS 14.0 Sonoma or later can use the chatbot for various tasks. Making the app more accessible and integrated is in line with Apple’s vision for its partnership with OpenAI.
The release of the app is a first test in Apple’s strategy to incorporate external AI tools into its devices. A ChatGPT app already exists for the iPhone. However, at WWDC, it was revealed that OpenAI’s technologies would also be integrated on iPhones and iPads. Soon, users will be able to use ChatGPT through Siri and other AI-powered tools with Apple’s upcoming operating systems.
The annual State of Broadband report serves as a comprehensive global assessment of broadband access, affordability, and usage trends. This year’s edition, titled ‘Leveraging AI for Universal Connectivity,’ is being released in two parts. The first part, unveiled on June 20, 2024, outlines how AI applications are transforming sectors like e-government, education, healthcare, finance, and environmental management. It also examines the implications of AI for bridging or exacerbating the digital divide.
Authored by over 50 high-level Commissioners, including UN leaders, industry CEOs, and government officials, the report highlights AI’s potential to drive development while cautioning against its risks. The second part of the report, yet to be released, will provide updated data and deeper insights from the Broadband Commissioners, offering a more detailed analysis of AI’s evolving role in the digital realm.
As the Broadband Commission tracks progress towards its 2025 Advocacy Targets and prepares for future global summits, the report underscores the critical role of policymakers in maximizing the benefits of AI while ensuring equitable access to digital opportunities. It aims to inform strategic decisions that align with sustainable development goals, emphasising the need for proactive measures to harness AI responsibly and inclusively.
Reliance Industries’ Jio Platforms, a major player in the Indian telecommunications market, has recently cleared a significant regulatory hurdle in its ambitious plan to launch satellite internet services in India. That development marks a pivotal step forward in Jio’s mission to expand its digital footprint and offer high-speed internet across the country’s vast and diverse landscape. The approval comes from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), which is responsible for regulating and promoting private sector participation in the country’s space sector. The nod of approval is crucial for Jio Platforms as it paves the way for the deployment of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide internet services.
Jio’s satellite internet project aims to deliver high-speed broadband connectivity to remote and rural areas, where traditional fiber-optic networks are challenging to implement. That initiative aligns with the Indian government’s vision of a ‘Digital India’ aimed at bridging the digital divide and ensuring that every citizen has access to the internet. In its endeavor to roll out satellite internet, Jio Platforms is collaborating with SES, a Luxembourg-based satellite telecommunications company. The partnership is expected to leverage SES’s expertise in satellite technology and Jio’s robust terrestrial infrastructure, creating a seamless internet experience for users.
The technology underpinning this initiative involves the use of LEO satellites, which orbit closer to the Earth compared to traditional geostationary satellites. That proximity results in lower latency and faster internet speeds, making it a viable solution for real-time applications such as video conferencing, online gaming, and streaming services. The market in India presents a massive opportunity for satellite internet providers, given its large population and the significant number of underserved regions. According to industry estimates, India has over 700 million internet users, yet millions still lack reliable internet access, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Jio Platforms’ entry into the satellite internet space will position it against other global players like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Starlink project, as well as Amazon’s Project Kuiper. Two other companies, Inmarsat and Eutelsat‘s Bharti Enterprises-backed OneWeb, have also received approval to operate satellites over India, with OneWeb having secured all its necessary permissions late last year. IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka also noted that the agency would soon authorise private companies to operate ground stations, enabling satellite operators to download data as they pass over India. This year, India opened the gates for foreign direct investment in the sector, allowing outside companies to invest in the manufacture of components and systems or subsystems for satellites up to 100% without approval.
Why does it matter?
The Indian satellite broadband service market is expected to grow 36% annually over the next five years and reach $1.9 billion by 2030, according to consultancy Deloitte. That indicates substantial growth potential and a transformative impact on the country’s internet accessibility.
Sri Lanka has granted preliminary approval to Elon Musk’s Starlink to offer internet services in the country, as announced by the president’s office recently. The decision was expedited following a meeting between Musk and President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Indonesia during the 10th World Water Forum.
According to the president’s office, the telecommunications regulator approved the proposal after a public consultation. Discussions between Musk and Wickremesinghe focused on enhancing internet connectivity in rural areas of Sri Lanka and exploring potential renewable energy collaborations.
The Coalition for Open Digital Ecosystems (CODE), a collaborative industry initiative launched in late 2023 by tech giants like Meta, Google and Qualcomm, held its first public event in Brussels advocating for open digital ecosystems to stimulate growth, foster innovation, and empower consumers, particularly within the challenging global context of the EU’s economy. The event hosted a high-level panel discussion with representatives from Meta, BEUC, the European Parliament and Copenhagen Business School.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon gave an interview to Euractiv where he emphasised CODE’s three key elements of openness – seamless connectivity and interoperability, consumer choice, an an environment of open access. These elements aim to enhance user experience, maintain data access, and provide fair access to digital tools for developers, particularly smaller companies and startups. Amon highlighted the importance of interoperability and fair access for developers, especially as platforms evolve and become more relevant for various devices, including cars. He also stressed the need to provide fair access for smaller companies with new ideas to participate and reach customers in a competitive environment.
He said that Qualcomm is focused on developing computing engines, such as the Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which is designed to run all the time and handle multiple models. This development aims to add computing capability to various devices while addressing the challenge of integrating this new engine into devices without compromising battery life. Amon also expressed a positive view of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), applauding the European regulatory leadership for their focus on the importance of open and interoperable platforms.
Why does it matter?
The panel discussion envisioned a positive scenario for the European digital agenda, highlighting the importance of openness, interoperability, and collaboration for consumers, businesses, and innovation. CODE’s emergence as a new stakeholder in the Brussels digital, tech, and competition policy space highlights the growing recognition of the importance of open digital ecosystems in fostering growth, innovation, and consumer empowerment within the EU’s digital landscape.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that Zimbabwe has granted Elon Musk’s Starlink the license to operate in the country, marking a significant step towards enhancing internet access. The approval is anticipated to bring high-speed, low-cost satellite internet to Zimbabwe, mainly benefiting rural areas with low-Earth-orbit (LEO) technology.
Starlink will partner exclusively with IMC Communications to provide its services in Zimbabwe. Only 34.8% of the population currently has internet access, as noted in a 2021 World Bank report, with three major mobile operators dominating the market. The introduction of Starlink aims to bridge this gap, offering a more extensive and affordable internet infrastructure.
The development follows issues with unregistered users smuggling Starlink kits from neighbouring countries, such as Zambia. Starlink’s official presence in Africa is expanding, with services already available in Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, and Malawi. However, regulatory challenges remain in Cameroon, where authorities recently seized Starlink equipment due to licensing issues.
