The COAI, India’s telecom industry representative body, praised the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for the introduction of “The Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2023.” The forward-looking move aims to improve the 5G ecosystem and digital connectivity for all citizens.These amendments build upon earlier changes made in 2017, 2021, and 2022 to facilitate the rollout of robust telecom infrastructure in the country. They are part of the many steps the government has taken to improve the ease of doing business in the industry and will help support the industry in enhancing and maintaining networks more quickly. “We welcome the move by DoT to introduce the new amended RoW rules which is a positive step forward for the industry and will contribute to the faster deployment of 5G services in the country,” said Lt. Gen. Dr. SP Kochhar, Director General, COAI. What are The Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules amendmentsThe latest amendment allows licensees to temporarily set up telegraph infrastructure above ground when their existing underground infrastructure is damaged. This helps restore telegraph services quickly and prevents significant disruptions in service to users. The government has also directed that the appropriate authority charge no fees for this temporary setup.The amendment provides clarity in regulations by defining Street Furniture as posts or poles used for electricity, streetlights, traffic lights, traffic signs, bus stops, tram stops, taxi stands, public lavatories, memorials, public sculptures, utility poles, or any similar structure or contrivance established by an appropriate authority on their property to aid in faster rollouts and efficient network deployments.Under the new amendment, licensees can submit a single application for multiple small cell sites. Central authorities can now deploy small cells on their buildings without administrative fees, except for power and fixture charges.These forthcoming changes will provide significant advantages to the telecom industry and the digital connectivity provision for the nation. It will enable rapid network reinstatement in the event of underground telecom infrastructure damage, expedite 5G rollout by utilising the state’s existing infrastructure, simplify application procedures for multiple small cell sites, and allocate Central government areas for small cell deployment at no cost. We believe these measures will collectively enhance ease of doing business within the sector, while aiding in expansive network deployments for ubiquitous connectivity across the country,” Lt. Gen. Dr. Kochhar further added.

Under the updated KYC norms, a subscriber would have to undertake a complete KYC for replacement of SIM card With an eye on curbing fraudulent practices, the government has made it mandatory for telecom operators to register all franchisees, agents and distributors Giving details about the Sanchar Saathi portal, the government said over 66 Lakh suspected mobile connections have been detected since its launch and action taken on them In a bid to tackle the rising cybercrimes and financial frauds, the government has further tightened the know-your-customer (KYC) process related to mobile SIM cards, including for business connections. Besides, the Ministry of Communications has also introduced a series of regulations to prevent misuse of SIM cards through distributors and agents.  “Strengthening of the existing KYC process is one of the tools in protecting the subscribers of telecom services from any probable frauds and thereby enhancing the confidence of the general public in the digital ecosystem,” the ministry said in a statement. Under the updated KYC norms, demographic details will mandatorily be captured by scanning QR code of printed Aadhaar in order to prevent misuse of Aadhaar. A subscriber would also have to undertake a complete KYC for replacement of SIM card and there would be a bar of 24 hours on outgoing and incoming SMS facilities. If a mobile number is disconnected, the number would not be allocated to a new customer for a period of 90 days.  Besides, the government has also introduced various checks for mobile connections for businesses. While entities are free to take any number of mobile connections, it would be subject to complete KYC of all the end users and physical verification of the address of the entity. Telecom operators or licensees will also have to register all franchisees, agents and distributors. The step is taken with an eye on curbing fraudulent practices by these point of sale (PoS) entities who issue SIM cards to anti-social/anti-national elements, the government said. “The PoS registration process includes indisputable verification of PoS by licensee. The process mandates written agreement between the PoS and the Licensees. If a PoS indulges in any illegal activities, it will be terminated and blacklisted for a period of 3 years,” the statement said. All existing PoS will also have to be registered within a period of 12 months. The development comes at a time when there has been a rise in cybercrimes through WhatsApp, Telegram, among others. Earlier this year, the government also launched the Sanchar Saathi portal to curb these frauds. Providing details about the portal’s progress, the ministry said that over 66 Lakh suspected mobile connections have been detected through the portal since its launch. Of these, nearly 52 lakh connections have been disconnected for failing reverification.  Besides, the government also banned over 66,000 WhatsApp accounts in the past three months as part of its crackdown on spam job calls. 

E-commerce giant Amazon is adding a new fee for third-party sellers. This fee will be imposed on sellers who don’t pay for the company’s fulfilment services and ships their own products. Previously, the company didn’t charge sellers any such fee from sellers. Last week, Amazon sent a notice to the merchants (spotted by CNBC). This notice notes that starting October 1, members of Amazon’s Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) program will have to pay the company 2% fee on every product sold. “We’re updating our requirements for Seller Fulfilled Prime to ensure that it provides customers with a great and consistent Prime experience,” the notice mentioned. However, Amazon is yet to respond about the new fee.What is the SFP programIn 2015, Amazon launched the SFP program to allow third-party merchants to sell their products with the Prime badge. These sellers also didn’t need to pay for Amazon’s fulfilment services, known as Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA). In comparison, the SFP program hasn’t attracted as many users as the FBA. However, in SFP, sellers need to meet the company’s Prime delivery standards, which include speedy shipping and weekend service. In June 2019, Amazon suspended enrollment in SFP. The company reopened sign-ups for the invite-only program earlier this year. Apart from this, Amazon also charges sellers a referral fee between 8% and 15% on each sale. Also, sellers may need to pay for other things like warehouse storage, packing and shipping, as well as advertising fees. FTC’s looming lawsuit a concern for AmazonAmazon’s marketplace is reportedly under the scanner of multiple antitrust investigators both in the US and abroad. Multiple regulators suspect that the company uses its dominance to squeeze the merchants that sell on its platform. Regulators are examining whether Amazon pressurises sellers into using its services for getting preferential treatment in the marketplace.US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is also reportedly planning to file a long-awaited lawsuit against Amazon. The agency is investigating the company on multiple fronts which include its treatment of sellers on the marketplace.

Realme has already confirmed that it will launch its new Realme 11 series smartphones in India on August 23. The smartphone maker has now revealed the other devices that will launch along with the smartphones. Realme India has confirmed that along with the Realme 11 5G and Realme 11X 5G it will launch the new Realme Buds Air 5 series. The company has confirmed that it will launch the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro and the Realme Buds Air 5 true wireless earbuds in the country on August 23. “Join us as we unveil not one, but two groundbreaking audio products – the realme Buds Air 5 Pro and the realme Buds Air 5. These next-generation earbuds are poised to set new industry standards with their exceptional features, unmatched sound quality, and cutting-edge technology,” said the company in an invite. Realme Buds Air 5 series true wireless earbuds featuresThe upcoming Realme Buds Air 5 Pro and Buds Air 5 true wireless earbuds feature a pebble-shaped charging case. The company has confirmed that the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro will feature coaxial dual drivers. The earbuds will sport an 11mm bass driver unit and a 6mm micro-planar tweeter. The smartphone maker also claims that the Realme Buds Air 5 Pro true wireless earbuds will offer clear sound quality and promises to deliver an immersive audio experience. On the other hand, the Realme Buds Air 5 will house an upgraded 12.4mm mega titanizing driver. The true wireless earbuds will also come with fast charging support. The company claims that the earbuds can deliver up to 7 hours of music playback with just 10 minutes of charging.

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It was perhaps a problem that was just waiting to emerge. With generative AI making its presence felt and a lot of users relying on it to create content, it was a matter of time when the copyright issue came into play, especially when it is ‘original’ content. According to a report by NPR, The New York Times is exploring the possibility of suing OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, the popular chatbot. The report reveals that the publication and OpenAI have been in talks over a licensing deal. The New York Times wants OpenAI to pay for all the content — news stories, articles — that the AI firm uses for its tools like ChatGPT. However, the negotiations have reportedly gone sour and, as per NPR, the publication is looking at a potential lawsuit. The newspaper is keen to protect all the intellectual property rights that come with the reportage done for news stories. Why the matter may end up in court According to the report, senior executives at the publication believe ChatGPT is emerging as a competitor based on writings that appeared in the paper. ChatGPT can create text and answer questions based on information that may have appeared in the publication. AI tools like ChatGPT can cite sources but also rephrase the original text that was carried out in the publication first. The worry, for NYT, here is that a lot of users may not end up visiting its own website.There are laws against copyright issues when it comes to artificial intelligence tools. The report indicates that if the case does end up in court and OpenAI is found guilty of the violation of copyrights, then the law does suggest all the articles/text needs to be removed. Getty Images has already filed a copyright case against Stability AI for using millions of images without authorisation. If the licensing deal between OpenAI and the publication falls through, it could have massive implications on how AI tools generate content.

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The alleged fraudulent app was functional for a period of nine days during which the Chinese national managed to dupe victims ranging from age of 15 to 75 years The accused set up up shell companies to channel the money of users overseas through hawala networks By the time the Gujarat Police filed an FIR against the Chinese national, he fled the country to China The spate of scams related to online gaming continue unabated in the country. The Gujarat Police has now reportedly unearthed a major online gaming scam in which a Chinese national duped 1,200 people of nearly INR 1,400 Cr in a span of mere nine days.  At the heart of the matter is a gaming platform called ‘Dani Data’ app which allegedly lured users with high returns. After the users deposited the money, the app became non-functional after the nine-day period, and the depositors were unable to access their funds.  A senior police official told The Times of India that the app was functional for a period of nine days during which the Chinese national managed to dupe victims ranging from age of 15 to 75 years.  The users, who were expecting a windfall, were left to fend for themselves after the app became non-functional after nine days. It was then that the victims realised that their invested money was syphoned off. As complaints began to trickle, the Gujarat Police formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the matter. As per a local official, the issue first came to light in June 2022 when the local police learned that certain persons were targeting people in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh via the Dani Data app.  After Agra police initiated a probe into the matter, the CID (Crime) team of the Gujarat Police began their investigation and found links between the fraudulent app and several other people in north Gujarat. As the investigation progressed, the name of a Chinese national, Woo Uyanbe, reportedly came to light.  “During our investigation, we learned that the Chinese national was in India between 2020 and 2022. He spent time in Patan and Banaskantha, where he met numerous locals and lured them with promises of wealth. He and his accomplices in Gujarat then launched the app in May 2022. It invited bets and promised substantial returns,” a police official was quoted as saying.  As the scam transpired and complaints piled up, the police acted swiftly and apprehended nine individuals connected to the matter. The accused are said to have allegedly helped Uyanbe by setting up shell companies to channel the money of users overseas by hawala networks.  Eventually, the Gujarat Police filed an FIR in Patan against Uyanbe for cheating and flouting the Information Technology Act. By then, the Chinese national, who operated the alleged scam out of Patan and Banskantha, fled the country to China. Eventually, a chargesheet was filed in the case in March this year. As per the report, the police is yet to gather sufficient evidence in the case against Uyanbe, while the government is yet to file an extradition request for the accused. Police sources also told the publication that Uyanbe continues to operate multiple fraudulent apps and currently operates his network out of China (Shenzhen) and regions such as Hong Kong and Singapore. This is the latest in a series of alleged money laundering scams, involving gaming apps, that have surfaced in the past few months. Earlier this week, it was reported that Cyprus-based online gaming platform Parimatch allegedly syphoned off INR 700 Cr outside India through a web of 400 shell companies with dummy directors.  Meanwhile, the government continues to tighten its grip on such offshore and Chinese-linked online gaming and betting platforms. In April this year, the DGGI issued notices to 38 such offshore platforms for allegedly laundering money and evading taxes. The government has also issued advisories to broadcasters, streaming platforms, Google and digital news publishers against airing online betting ads. 

Domestic brand Boult expanded its product portfolio in India with the launch of two new smartwatches and TWS earbuds. The latest wearables are — the Crown R, Drift 2 smartwatch and the W40 TWS earbuds. Both Crown R and the Drift 2 smartwatches have bezel-less HD displays. Meanwhile, the Boult W40TWS earbuds promise 48 hours of playtime and a quad-mic setup.The latest Boult smartwatches will be available on the company’s official website andFlipkart. On the other hand, the W40 TWS earbuds will be available on the e-commerce platform Amazon and Boult’s official website. Boult Crown R: Price, availability and specsThe Boult Crown R smartwatch is priced at Rs 2,499 and features a zinc alloy metallic frame. The company also offers dual-coloured metal straps, including Bullet Silver and Coal Black for this watch. This watch sports a 1.52-inch round bezel-less screen that supports HD resolution and 600 nits peak brightness. The Crown R supports 100 sports modes and health features like — SpO2 Blood Oxygen monitoring and Heart Rate tracking. Customers can also choose from 50 cloud-based watch faces on the Crown R which has a IP67 water-resistant rating.Boult Drift 2: Price, availability and specsThis smartwatch succeeds the Drift smartwatch which was launched in 2022. Priced at Rs 1,499, the latest Drift 2 watch boasts a 1.85-inch HD screen and supports over 100 sports modes. This watch also includes health features like SpO2 Blood Oxygen monitoring and Heart Rate tracking. The watch also supports SMS and notifications. Users can also long-press the crown to access Siri and Google Assistant. The Drift 2 has a zinc alloy frame and offers multiple strap colour options including — Pink, Blue and Black.Boult W40 TWS earbuds: Price, availability and specsBoult promises 48 hours of playtime and an ultra-low latency of 45ms for the latest W40 TWS earbuds. These earbuds also have a rubber grip and quad-mic setup that improves the calling experience. The Boult W40 is priced at Rs 899 and is available in four different colour variants — Berry Red, Ivory White, Denim Blue and Khaki Green.

The MoU between India and Trinidad and Tobago aims to leverage India Stack for joint digital progress, knowledge exchange and scaling local startup ecosystems India Stack comprises open APIs and digital public goods designed to facilitate identity, data, and payment services India has also inked similar MoUs with countries such as Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, and Antigua & Barbuda India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Trinidad and Tobago to share the India Stack with the Caribbean nation for mutual digital advancement. The two countries will work together to cooperate in the areas of ‘digital transformation’ by leveraging the capabilities of India Stack.  “Both sides agreed to cooperate in the areas of digital transformation by means of capacity building, training programmes, exchange of best practices, exchange of public officials and experts, development of pilot or demo solutions…,” the Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology (MeitY) said in a statement on Thursday (August 17).  As per Minister of State (MoS) for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the partnership will create a robust and innovative ecosystem of startups, developers and system integrators. “With the help of India Stack, these countries can climb up the digitalisation ladder rapidly and transform their economies and governance… It shall create a robust ecosystem of startups, developers & system integrators working around it on next-gen innovation,” Chandrasekhar said. The signing ceremony was attended by officials from MeitY and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).  The collaboration comes close on the heels of a meeting between Chandrasekhar and Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Digital Transformation Hassel Bacchus in which they discussed mutual cooperation in the fields of IT, emerging technologies, and the India Stack. India Stack comprises open application programming interfaces (APIs) and digital public goods designed to facilitate identity, data, and payment services. It promotes interoperability by seamlessly integrating components like government identification, payment networks, and data-driven services. The partnership will allow the two countries to collaboratively build innovative public goods infrastructure and enable efficient systems for government services. Besides, the MoU will also pave the way for rapid digitalisation, allowing both countries to climb the technological ladder and unlock new opportunities for economic growth. With the MoU, Trinidad and Tobago has joined a growing list of countries that are looking to adopt the homegrown state-backed initiative. India recently inked similar MoUs with countries such as Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, and Antigua & Barbuda, indicating the growing global interest in India Stack.  Mauritius and Saudi Arabia are also on track to deploy the India Stack, while countries such as France, the UAE, Singapore, and Sri Lanka have begun accepting the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a key element of the India Stack.  The latest development comes a day after the Union Cabinet approved the expansion of the Digital India initiative with an additional outlay of INR 14,903 Cr. With India Stack, the government aims to leverage the growing scope of the Indian economy and scale the offering globally to increase India Stack’s acceptability and spur usage.