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India has overtaken most markets to become the world’s second-largest 5G network by user base, crossing an estimated 400 million subscribers as operators expand coverage and devices become more affordable. The scale of adoption places the country behind only China, underscoring the pace at which fifth-generation services have spread across cities, towns and large rural corridors.

Official tallies compiled from industry disclosures and regulatory filings show nationwide 5G availability across all states and union territories, with more than 450,000 base stations activated since commercial launch in October 2022. Data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India indicates that fifth-generation users now account for a substantial share of total mobile broadband connections, a shift that has occurred faster than earlier transitions from 2G to 3G and 4G.

India’s 5G surge reshapes global rankings as operators leveraged aggressive rollouts and introductory pricing to seed usage. The government’s early spectrum auctions, coupled with simplified right-of-way rules for fibre and towers, reduced deployment friction. Policymakers also pushed indigenous manufacturing through production-linked incentives, lowering equipment costs and shortening supply chains.

Market leaders have driven much of the momentum. Reliance Jio built a standalone 5G network using mid-band spectrum and dense fibre backhaul, prioritising urban clusters and industrial zones before pushing into smaller towns. Bharti Airtel opted for a non-standalone architecture initially, upgrading existing 4G sites to accelerate time-to-market while expanding capacity. Vodafone Idea has begun selective launches following capital infusions, focusing on circles with higher data demand.

Subscriber growth has been supported by falling handset prices and a rapid refresh cycle. Entry-level 5G smartphones from domestic and global brands now sit near mass-market price points, while older devices have been phased out as networks refarm spectrum. Analysts note that average data consumption per user has climbed as video streaming, cloud gaming and real-time navigation benefit from lower latency and higher throughput.

Enterprise use cases are also gaining ground. Private 5G deployments are being tested in ports, manufacturing plants and campuses to support automation, predictive maintenance and machine vision. The Department of Telecommunications has approved pilot licences for captive networks, enabling firms to experiment without relying solely on public networks. Healthcare applications such as remote diagnostics and education tools like immersive classrooms are being trialled in partnership with state governments.

The speed of expansion reflects a competitive pricing environment. Unlimited 5G plans bundled with 4G subscriptions reduced barriers to trial, while promotional offers encouraged device upgrades. Industry executives argue that scale efficiencies and declining network costs will support sustainable pricing even as data traffic rises.

Challenges persist. Monetisation remains uneven as consumers expect higher speeds at similar prices, pressuring average revenue per user. Network densification in dense urban areas requires continued capital expenditure, and power availability in remote regions complicates operations. Cybersecurity and data privacy frameworks must keep pace with new applications that rely on ultra-reliable connectivity.

Spectrum policy will shape the next phase. Operators are seeking clarity on millimetre-wave allocations to unlock ultra-high-capacity hotspots for campuses and stadiums. Backhaul capacity, particularly fibreisation of towers, is another bottleneck that policymakers are addressing through coordinated infrastructure planning.

Globally, India’s ascent alters competitive dynamics. Vendors see the market as a proving ground for large-scale deployments, while application developers view it as a launchpad for services that require millions of concurrent users. The country’s experience is being studied by emerging economies looking to leapfrog directly to advanced mobile broadband.

By Nitya Chakraborty The Washington talks for discussing the future of Greenland failed on Wednesday with the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland returning back home with the message from White House that Greenland rightfully belongs to USA and Trump will be deciding on the timing of its takeover. The U.S. does not care for […]

The article How Far European Union Can Go To Defend Greenland From Trump Annexation? appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

By Ashok Nilakantan Ayers When India’s finance minister Ms Nirmala Sitharaman rises to present the 7th Union Budget on February 1, a record of sorts, the moment will carry an uncommon weight. This is no routine fiscal exercise, no mere balancing of columns and commas. Instead, the budget is being cast — by industry leaders, […]

The article 2026-27 Budget Offers Modi Govt A Great Opportunity To Reshape Strategy appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

National Stock Exchange of India has set its sights on filing draft initial public offering documents by the end of March, signalling a decisive step towards a long-anticipated market listing after years of regulatory uncertainty and governance resets.

People familiar with the matter say preparatory work is advancing, with internal approvals and compliance checks being aligned to meet the timeline. The exchange, which dominates equity and derivatives trading in the country, has been seeking to revive its listing plans after earlier attempts were stalled by regulatory scrutiny and leadership changes.

The move hinges on the receipt of a no-objection certificate from the market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India, which would clear the way for formal appointments of investment bankers and legal advisers. Those appointments are expected to follow swiftly once regulatory clearance is in hand, allowing the exchange to progress towards a draft red herring prospectus.

A potential filing by the end of March would place the exchange on track for a listing later in the financial year, subject to market conditions and regulatory review. Such a timeline would mark a turning point for the bourse, which has remained unlisted despite being among the world’s largest exchanges by trading volumes.

The exchange’s renewed push comes after a period of structural and governance reforms aimed at addressing issues that emerged earlier in the decade. These included concerns around preferential access to trading systems and lapses in oversight, which led to enforcement actions and delayed the listing roadmap. Since then, the exchange has reconstituted its board, strengthened compliance frameworks, and worked to restore regulatory confidence.

Market participants view the IPO as a significant milestone for capital markets, offering investors exposure to a cash-generative infrastructure asset with a dominant market position. The exchange commands a substantial share of equity derivatives trading globally and has expanded its product offerings across equities, indices, commodities, and data services.

Financial performance has also supported renewed listing ambitions. The exchange has reported steady growth in revenues driven by trading fees, clearing and settlement income, and technology-related services. Operating margins have remained robust, reflecting the scale advantages of its platform and relatively low incremental costs as volumes rise.

Valuation expectations, while not formally disclosed, have been the subject of market discussion for several years. Unofficial estimates have ranged widely depending on assumptions around growth, regulatory constraints, and competitive dynamics. A formal IPO filing would provide the first detailed, regulator-reviewed snapshot of the exchange’s finances, risks, and strategic priorities.

The listing process is expected to draw intense scrutiny from the regulator, given the exchange’s systemic importance and its history. Any draft filing will need to address past issues comprehensively, outline governance safeguards, and demonstrate sustained compliance with regulatory norms. Observers expect the regulator to take a cautious but structured approach, balancing investor protection with the broader objective of deepening capital markets.

For investors, the exchange’s ownership structure adds another layer of interest. Several domestic and global financial institutions hold stakes, some of which have been illiquid for years due to the absence of a public market. An IPO would offer a potential exit route and price discovery mechanism for these shareholders, while also broadening public participation in a key piece of market infrastructure.

Competition in the exchange space has intensified, particularly in derivatives and technology-driven trading solutions. Rival platforms have sought to chip away at market share through pricing, product innovation, and regulatory appeals. Even so, the exchange’s network effects, liquidity depth, and brand recognition continue to underpin its leading position.

Analysts note that the timing of an IPO will also be influenced by broader market conditions. Equity markets have shown periods of volatility, and new listings have faced varying levels of investor appetite. A filing by March-end would allow flexibility to choose a launch window that aligns with sentiment and valuations.

By Nantoo Banerjee The theatres of state-sponsored piracy are expanding, from the traditional Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Somali Basin to the Black Sea and now the Atlantic. The recent US seizure of Russian-flagged oil tanker, Marinera, originally known as the Bella-1, after pursuing the vessel for weeks across the Atlantic, may be considered as […]

The article US Gunboat Diplomacy Challenges The World Order appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Government authorities are moving to compel smartphone manufacturers to submit portions of their operating system source code for mandatory security audits, escalating a standoff with global technology companies that warn such a requirement could undermine intellectual property protections and user privacy. The proposal, under discussion within policy circles in New Delhi, reflects mounting concern about cyber intrusions, supply-chain vulnerabilities and the growing role of mobile devices in payments, governance and national security.

Officials familiar with the matter say the plan would require vendors selling smartphones in the country to make critical software components available for inspection by government-approved laboratories. The focus would be on core operating system layers, firmware and security modules rather than consumer-facing applications. Proponents argue that access to code is essential to verify whether hidden vulnerabilities, backdoors or insecure update mechanisms could be exploited by hostile actors.

The push has brought the government into direct tension with companies such as Apple and Samsung, whose devices dominate the premium and mass-market segments. Executives and industry representatives have privately conveyed resistance, arguing that exposing proprietary code, even to auditors bound by confidentiality, creates unacceptable risks of leaks and reverse engineering. They also contend that global platforms already undergo extensive third-party security testing and comply with international standards.

At the heart of the debate is whether national security imperatives justify a departure from prevailing global norms. Countries including China and Russia operate regimes that allow state scrutiny of technology products, though often under opaque processes that foreign firms say are difficult to reconcile with commercial safeguards. Western regulators have largely relied on certification frameworks, vulnerability disclosure programmes and cooperation with vendors rather than direct access to source code. India’s approach, if formalised, would place it closer to the former camp, potentially setting a precedent for other large emerging markets.

Government officials counter that smartphones have become gateways to sensitive data far beyond personal communications. Devices are routinely used for digital identity verification, financial transactions and access to public services. Any systemic weakness could have cascading effects. They also point to a rise in sophisticated cyber operations attributed by security researchers to state-linked groups, arguing that reliance on vendor assurances is no longer sufficient.

The proposal is understood to be steered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which has expanded its remit in cybersecurity and digital governance. Policy discussions have examined models ranging from escrow-based code access, where source material is held by a trusted intermediary, to controlled on-site inspections without code being copied. Each option presents trade-offs between assurance and exposure.

Industry bodies warn that mandatory disclosure could chill investment and complicate product launches. Smartphone operating systems are developed on global codebases, updated frequently and protected by layers of licensing agreements with component suppliers. Altering that structure for a single market risks fragmenting development and delaying security patches. There are also concerns about reciprocity: once one jurisdiction demands code access, others may follow, multiplying compliance burdens.

Privacy advocates occupy an ambivalent position. Some support deeper scrutiny to ensure devices do not surreptitiously collect or transmit data. Others caution that state access to low-level software could itself become a vector for abuse if oversight is weak. They stress the need for transparent audit criteria, independent supervision and clear limits on how findings are used.

The commercial stakes are significant. India is one of the world’s largest smartphone markets by volume and a critical manufacturing hub under production-linked incentive schemes. Companies have invested heavily in assembly plants and local supply chains, betting on policy stability. A protracted dispute over code access could influence decisions on future capacity and research investment, even if an outright exit is unlikely.