Broadband
New AAE 2 Subsea Cable Announced Linking Asia, Africa & Europe
A new submarine cable project—the **Asia Africa Europe-2 (AAE-2)**—has been announced by a consortium including PCCW Global, Sparkle, Telecom Egypt, and ZOI, aiming to enhance global connectivity across Asia, Africa, and Europe. The AAE-2 cable system will stretch from Hong Kong and Singapore to Italy, incorporating high-capacity terrestrial crossings through strategic regions such as Thailand, […]
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AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone Idea Deal Done for Satellite Broadband
In a strategic move to bridge India’s digital divide, Vodafone Idea (Vi) has announced a partnership with AST SpaceMobile, a U.S.-based satellite cellular broadband provider, to deliver direct-to-device satellite connectivity across underserved and remote regions of India. The collaboration aligns with the Digital India initiative’s goal of universal mobile access. “Collaboration to bring Direct-to-Device satellite […]
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Polycab Secures ₹6,447 Crore BharatNet Contract from BSNL for Karnataka, Goa & Puducherry
Polycab India has signed a major contract worth ₹6,447.54 crore with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to serve as the Project Implementation Agency (PIA) for the BharatNet initiative across the Karnataka, Goa, and Puducherry telecom circles. This agreement falls under Package 4 of the amended BharatNet programme and includes end-to-end responsibilities for design, supply, construction, […]
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Starlink India Launch- Space X President Meets Scindia After License Approval
Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, met with Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday, just days after Starlink secured a long-awaited licence from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to provide satellite internet services in India. Minister Scindia described the meeting as “productive” with discussions focused on expanding collaboration in satellite communications to […]
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Centre Committed to Ladakh’s Growth, BharatNet Expansion to Boost Digital Connectivity: FM Sitharaman
Reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to the holistic development of Ladakh, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced that the upcoming BharatNet expansion and installation of additional mobile towers will ensure digital connectivity across every panchayat in the Union Territory. She expressed satisfaction with the implementation of various government-sponsored schemes in Ladakh and emphasized that, […]
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About Broadband India Forum (BIF)
The Broadband India Forum (BIF) is a non-profit, non-political organization established to promote the development and adoption of broadband and digital communication technologies across India. It serves as a collaborative platform for stakeholders—including technology companies, policymakers, and industry experts—to advocate for policies that enhance broadband penetration and digital infrastructure in the country. Key Objectives and […]
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Elon Musk’s Starlink India Soon to be Start Its Service, Waiting for License
India is poised to welcome Elon Musk’s Starlink into its growing satellite internet ecosystem. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, on June 5, confirmed that Starlink is on track to become the third satellite internet provider licensed to operate in India, alongside Reliance Jio and Bharti’s OneWeb. “In the coming days, the third license will be issued,” […]
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Tech Industry Seeks Global Alignment on 6 GHz Wi-Fi Power Levels in India
India’s technology sector is urging the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to revise the proposed power levels for Wi-Fi and other wireless devices operating in the 6 GHz spectrum band, aligning them with global standards to ensure optimal device performance and affordability. The DoT has released draft rules for the use of low-power and very-low-power wireless […]
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DoT Urges ISPs to Leverage BharatNet Infrastructure for Rural Digital Expansion
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has urged internet service providers (ISPs) to actively utilise the BharatNet infrastructure to bridge the digital divide across India’s rural landscape. This call to action comes as the government accelerates the Amended BharatNet Programme, backed by an investment of ₹1.5 lakh crore. BharatNet: A Renewed Push Speaking at an industry […]
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Starlink Set to Launch in India Within 12 Months, Offering High-Speed Satellite Internet
Starlink, the satellite-based internet service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is gearing up to launch operations in India within the next 9 to 12 months, according to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The initial rollout will deliver 600 to 700 Gbps (gigabits per second) of bandwidth, capable of supporting between 30,000 to 50,000 users in select […]
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