ITV

Tag: Elon Musk

  • India launches its heftiest satellite yet

    India launches its heftiest satellite yet

    SRIHARIKOTA: India just flexed its space muscles. On 2 November, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) hurled its heaviest communications satellite ever into orbit from home soil—a 4,400 kg behemoth called CMS-03 that will keep the navy’s ships, submarines and aircraft chattering across the Indian Ocean. The launch from Sriharikota at 5:26 pm marked the end of an embarrassing era: no longer must India send its bulkiest satellites abroad for a lift.

    The rocket doing the heavy lifting was LVM3, ISRO’s most powerful launcher and now nicknamed “Bahubali” for its Herculean payload capacity. This souped-up version sports a beefier cryogenic upper stage—the C32, carrying 32,000kg of fuel and belching 22 tonnes of thrust, a 10 per cent upgrade on the previous model. It can now haul 4,000kg to geosynchronous orbit and 8,000kg to low Earth orbit without breaking a sweat.

    Until now, India’s chunkier satellites hitched rides with foreigners. France’s Arianespace launched the 5,854kg GSAT-11 and 4,181kg GSAT-24. Elon Musk’s SpaceX ferried the 4,700kg GSAT-20. No more. Isro chairman V Narayanan crowed about the mission being “a shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat”—self-reliant India, in case the point wasn’t clear enough.

    The CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, isn’t just heavy; it’s clever. Bristling with indigenous components, the multiband satellite will provide encrypted voice, data and video links for 15 years, giving the Indian Navy real-time situational awareness across a vast oceanic region. The navy called it a testament to national self-sufficiency in maritime defence.

    This was LVM3’s eighth consecutive successful launch, following triumphs like Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 (which made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole), and OneWeb satellite deployments. The upgraded rocket also feeds directly into Isro’s Gaganyaan programme, which aims to send astronauts into space. Three uncrewed missions are planned first, including one carrying Vyommitra, a robotic astronaut, later this year.

    Narayanan said the space organisation is eyeing seven more launches by March 2026, with another LVM3 mission slated for December. India’s space sector, he declared, is “soaring high.

    With launches this meaty, it’s hard to argue.

  • Karnataka court tells X it must bow to Indian content rules

    Karnataka court tells X it must bow to Indian content rules

    BENGALURU: X has lost its battle against India’s content regulators. The Karnataka high court today rejected a petition by Elon Musk’s social-media company challenging the government’s authority to issue information-blocking orders.

    “Social media needs to be regulated, and its regulation is a must, more so in cases of offences against women,” declared justice M. Nagaprasanna. The court warned that without proper oversight, citizens’ constitutional right to dignity would be “railroaded.”

    X, formerly Twitter, had argued that only specific provisions of the Information Technology Act gave officials the power to block content. The company wanted a declaration that section 79(3)(b) of the 2000 act did not empower government officers to issue such orders. Instead, it claimed only section 69A, combined with 2009 blocking rules, provided the proper legal framework.

    The platform also sought to avoid joining the government’s Sahyog portal, a compliance mechanism for social-media companies.

    After months of hearings that concluded in late July, justice Nagaprasanna delivered a stinging rebuke to X’s American-style free-speech arguments. “Information and communication has never been left unchecked and unregulated,” he noted. “American judicial thought cannot be transplanted into the soil of Indian constitutional thought.”

    The Centre had opposed X’s petition, arguing that unlawful content deserved less constitutional protection than legitimate speech. The ruling reinforces India’s increasingly assertive approach to regulating global tech platforms, requiring them to comply with local content standards regardless of their corporate preferences.

    The decision comes as India tightens its grip on social media, with companies facing mounting pressure to remove content deemed harmful to public order or national security.

  • Elon Musk’s Starlink clears final regulatory hurdle in India

    Elon Musk’s Starlink clears final regulatory hurdle in India

    MUMBAI: Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture Starlink has finally received the green light from India’s space regulator, In-Space, clearing the last major regulatory roadblock to launch commercial operations in the country.

    On 8 July, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (In-Space) Igranted Starlink permission to operate its Gen1 non-Indian GSO and NGSO satellite constellation for broadband services over Indian territory. The authorisation is valid until July 7, 2030.

    The nod includes specific frequency band allocations. For gateway beams, Starlink can use uplink bands of 27.5–29.1 GHz and 29.5–30 GHz, and downlink bands of 17.8–18.6 GHz and 18.8–19.3 GHz. For user terminals, the uplink band is 14.0–14.5 GHz (LHCP), while the downlink is 10.7–12.7 GHz (RHCP).

    The approval follows Starlink’s receipt of a Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence from the department of telecommunications (DoT), positioning it as the third player—after Eutelsat-OneWeb and Reliance Jio—to secure full clearance to provide satellite broadband in India.

    Next on the to-do list: acquiring administrative spectrum from the government, setting up ground stations, and passing security compliance trials. Starlink plans to establish three gateway stations across the country as part of its rollout.

    Sources say the DoT will soon allocate trial spectrum to facilitate security demonstrations. Final spectrum pricing and allocation guidelines are also expected shortly, following recent recommendations from TRAI.

    Starlink has already inked deals with Indian VSAT providers, signalling a B2B and B2G push ahead of a consumer rollout. Insiders hint that Starlink could soon begin offering direct-to-consumer connections via its website, though pricing is still under wraps. A promotional plan pegged at Rs 840 per month is reportedly on the table, but not officially confirmed.

    The road to India hasn’t been easy. Starlink has waited since 2022 for regulatory approvals, facing national security concerns and policy disputes with Jio over spectrum allocation. Eventually, the government backed Musk’s view that satellite spectrum should be assigned, not auctioned.

    Meanwhile, Amazon’s rival satcom venture, Project Kuiper, remains stuck in regulatory limbo. Despite completing operational and security checks, its application is still under review. Kuiper is proposing a more ambitious infrastructure plan, including 10 gateways and PoPs in Mumbai and Chennai—well ahead of Starlink’s three.

    India, the world’s second-largest internet market, is shaping up as a critical battleground for satellite broadband. With Musk’s firm now officially in the race, the stage is set for a high-stakes space-age showdown.

  • Anil Agarwal embraces Ghibli AI trend, showcasing digital innovation

    Anil Agarwal embraces Ghibli AI trend, showcasing digital innovation

    MUMBAI: Vedanta Ltd. chairman, Anil Agarwal, has joined the viral Ghibli AI trend, aligning himself with global figures such as Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Assam’s chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma. His participation brings an Indian corporate head into the evolving digital landscape.

    Vedanta has long championed a tech-driven, digital-first approach, leveraging automation and innovation to enhance efficiency and operational excellence. Now, engaging with this AI-powered trend, Agarwal said, “Today the youngsters in my office were trying a new feature on Chatgpt jisse Ghibli-style art banta hai. So, I asked them to make one for me too. Zamana toh AI ka hi hai and I have started using it recently. It comes up with such amazing results.”

    Beyond its own operations, Vedanta actively promotes technological advancements, integrating AI and automation while fostering innovation across industries. The company’s commitment extends beyond business, embracing cultural and digital shifts that shape the future.

  • Airtel signs up with SpaceX to bring Starlink services to India

    Airtel signs up with SpaceX to bring Starlink services to India

    MUMBAI; In a dramatic move set to shake up India’s telecommunications landscape, Airtel has today inked an agreement with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink’s lightning-fast internet services to the subcontinent.
    The landmark deal—the first of its kind in India—hinges on SpaceX securing regulatory approvals  to peddle Starlink services in the country. Once green-lit, the partnership promises to dramatically expand high-speed connectivity to even the most far-flung corners of India.

    Under the ambitious arrangement, Airtel shops could soon display Starlink equipment, whilst the telecom giant will offer Starlink services to its business customers. The collaboration aims to connect remote communities, schools and health centres currently languishing in digital darkness.

    Airtel and SpaceX will also explore how Starlink could help expand and enhance the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX’s ability to utilise and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in India.

    Airtel managing director Gopal Vittal  hailed the partnership as a “significant milestone” in the company’s quest to deliver “world-class high-speed broadband to even the most remote parts of India.”

    “This collaboration enhances our ability to ensure that every individual, business, and community has reliable internet,” Vittal declared. “Starlink will complement and enhance Airtel’s suite of products to ensure reliable and affordable broadband for our Indian customers—wherever they live and work.”

    “Technology is always evolving and we’re committed to staying at the forefront of innovation so that we can continue to bring the best connectivity experience for our customers. This includes collaborating with global leaders like SpaceX to extend our reach and add new coverage to customers throughout all of India.”

    SpaceX’s President Gwynne Shotwell matched Vittal’s enthusiasm, stating: “We are excited to work with Airtel and unlock the transformative impact Starlink can bring to the people of India. We are constantly amazed by the incredible and inspiring things that people, businesses and organizations do when they are connected via Starlink. The team at Airtel has played a pivotal role in India’s telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering makes great sense for our business.”

    The deal represents a clever strategic move for Airtel, which already boasts over 550 million customers across 15 countries. By adding Starlink to its portfolio alongside existing partner Eutelsat OneWeb, Airtel strengthens its position as India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider.

    Starlink, which operates the world’s first and largest low Earth orbit satellite constellation, delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, gaming and video calls to users worldwide. The service is engineered and operated by SpaceX, the world’s leading rocket launch provider.

    The collaboration signals a new chapter in India’s digital transformation saga, potentially bridging the stubborn digital divide that has long hampered the nation’s development ambition

  • Razorpay introduces ‘Razorpay PaaS’ on April Fools Day

    Razorpay introduces ‘Razorpay PaaS’ on April Fools Day

    Mumbai: Expanding its horizons beyond pioneering payments and continually serving India with disruptive solutions, Razorpay, India’s Leading Omnichannel Payments, and Banking Platform for Businesses launched an Industry-first & World’s Only Podcast as a Service Platform, ‘Razorpay PaaS’*, on 1 April. Taking customization to a whole new level, this path-breaking platform by Razorpay will enable users to create a podcast within minutes on a topic of their choice, at a time most convenient to them, with over 20 Celebrity Guests including Mark Zuckerberg, Joe Biden, Batman, Ironman, Rihanna, Morgan Freeman, Rafael Nadal, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Serene Williams among others.

    India is the third-largest podcast consumer in the world with over 57.6 Mn monthly listeners, according to PWC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2020-24 Report. One of the major roadblocks to adoption is getting hyper-personalised content of choice. For instance, if a user wishes to hear Batman and Bill Gates on the best tax-saving mutual funds and pension plans or Elon Musk and Sam Altman on ‘Zen Mode’, Tesla’s new autopilot feature for Indian roads – there is no tool at the user’s disposal to tune to these very intriguing and important conversations. However, Razorpay PaaS is indeed that ‘genie at the click of a button’ that can make this and so much more, happen in a jiffy! With Razorpay PaaS, users will now be empowered to decide what kind of podcast they want to tune in to. From Taylor Swift and Adele on how to write a song without getting your heart broken to Donald Trump and Barack Obama on the seven secrets of teenage parenting, Razorpay PaaS is poised to revolutionise the podcast landscape like never before.

    Excited to launch a platform such as this, Razorpay spokesperson said, “The recent surge in consumption of in-depth insightful conversations in the form of podcasts has been astounding. An avid podcast listener myself, I have resorted to some of the best podcasts, be it while commuting to work, walking my dog, or having a ‘Sleepless In Seattle’ moment. I’ve always been fascinated by the enriching knowledge and experience they offer, expanding one’s mental horizons and sparking

    unconventional thinking. After immersing myself in countless podcasts, the idea of empowering others to create their own podcasts felt like the next logical step. With Razorpay PaaS, we’re not just introducing a service; we are unleashing a platform that will seamlessly integrate into the fabric of daily life of every human.”

    The Spokesperson added, “At Razorpay, we continue to introduce many firsts in the ecosystem and we believe this one will truly disrupt consumption patterns like never before. I can’t wait to see the stories, insights, and conversations that will emerge as a result of this.” 

    Disclaimer: April 1 is all about humour and this is our attempt at it. Razorpay has no intention to demean any person or event or otherwise cause any harm. All voices are AI-generated parodies meant for entertainment purposes only and do not involve the actual participation or endorsement of any person. Listener discretion is advised . Razorpay encourages the responsible use of AI technology.

  • Cyrus Broacha’s apology to Kapil Dev and the launch of ‘Bluntly Streaming’ podcast with Sumedha

    Cyrus Broacha’s apology to Kapil Dev and the launch of ‘Bluntly Streaming’ podcast with Sumedha

    Mumbai: Cyrus Broacha, the iconic talkative personality who has entertained audiences since the ’90s, was on top of his witty and sarcastic best in the debut episode of the brand-new podcast, “Bluntly Streaming.” Inside the cracking 21-minute of the episode hosted by Sumedha Malhotra, the original “Bakra Boy of India” offered an unexpected apology that set off a series of thumbs up for him on social media.

    Broacha’s humor has always been known for its sharp wit and satirical edge. In the same spirit, his recent comparison of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, to an Indian politician left the twitter world rolling in laughter. This unusual pairing can only be Broacha’s brainchild 🙂 As candid as he can be, he also is compassionate and recounted how he once felt compelled to apologize to Kapil Dev, acknowledging that his words could be misinterpreted.

    The incident belongs to a time when Cyrus’ Dad, the renowned lawyer Mr. Broacha, who he recently lost, had reprimanded him. He’d apparently warned Cyrus to stay away from insulting and demeaning a legend like Kapil Dev in any way whatsoever. The joke was supposed to be humorous and satirical, but Cyrus understood that it may have been misinterpreted by many people who saw it. “Mr. Kapil Dev’s contributions to cricket and his country are immense and they deserve nothing but respect from me and everyone else on this planet. I deeply regret any offence my comments may have caused.” He approached Kapil Dev.

    The aftermath of the apology left fans and the media in suspense, appreciating his down to earth demeanour. Amidst all this, Broacha continued to do what he does best – making people laugh and scratch their heads. His most recent suggestion to shut down the internet for six months is just one of his many absurd propositions. And while some laughed, others seriously pondered its implications on modern life as a poignant point.

    “Bluntly Streaming” is not digging out a controversy; it offers relief as a hilarious and insightful journey into the life and experiences of a true entertainment icon. In the debut episode, Broacha candidly discusses a range of topics, from his thoughts on Bigg Boss and how it wasn’t the bickerings but the foodie’s nightmare meals that made him lose weight

    The conversation covers Broacha’s erstwhile weekly show, “The Week That Wasn’t,” that drew ire from politicians, his early days at MTV, his acting experiences, and humorous anecdotes from his career. He even touches upon topics like reality shows, Elon Musk’s influence on the world, and the addictive nature of smartphones. In summary, “Bluntly Streaming” promises to provide laughter and entertainment in every episode.

    For those interested in a good dose of laughter and entertainment, “Bluntly Streaming” is a must-listen podcast. It’s hosted by Sumedha, who brings a fresh and candid perspective to the show with a new guest every time, pun at a time.

  • Elon Musk announces a potential subscription model for X (formerly Twitter)

    Elon Musk announces a potential subscription model for X (formerly Twitter)

    Mumbai: Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), has suggested that users may soon be required to pay a subscription fee for platform access. Musk alluded to the possibility of implementing a paywall to combat the proliferation of bot accounts, which has posed a significant challenge.

    He stated, “We are moving towards implementing a small monthly fee for system usage.”

    This revelation occurred during a meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Tesla Motors in California. Currently, users are charged for accessing premium features on X, such as verification checkmarks for accounts. Introducing subscriptions may dissuade bot account creators from establishing new accounts.

    However, Musk has not disclosed the exact cost of the new paid service or the special features it will offer. During the meeting with Netanyahu, Musk also addressed the issue of antisemitism that persists on the platform.

  • Meta to unveil web version of Threads next week, suggest media reports

    Meta to unveil web version of Threads next week, suggest media reports

    Mumbai: Meta, the social media mammoth, is planning to launch the web version of Threads next week, as per media reports. Threads, as we all are aware, is the rival app to Elon Musk’s Twitter/X.

    The reports mention that Meta is planning to roll out the web version of Threads early next week but the plans aren’t yet final and it could be changed. The users can see the thread’s posts on the web but access to it is limited as the threads app is built keeping mobile users in mind.

    Last week, Threads and Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri brought to the fore that the web version of Threads is being tested internally.  The reports noted that Threads had started showing labels for state-controlled media outlets in a bid to stop fake news and propaganda.

  • Meta to unveil web version of Threads next week, suggest media reports

    Meta to unveil web version of Threads next week, suggest media reports

    Mumbai: Meta, the social media mammoth, is planning to launch the web version of Threads next week, as per media reports. Threads, as we all are aware, is the rival app to Elon Musk’s Twitter/X.

    The reports mention that Meta is planning to roll out the web version of Threads early next week but the plans aren’t yet final and it could be changed. The users can see the thread’s posts on the web but access to it is limited as the threads app is built keeping mobile users in mind.

    Last week, Threads and Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri brought to the fore that the web version of Threads is being tested internally.  The reports noted that Threads had started showing labels for state-controlled media outlets in a bid to stop fake news and propaganda.

    In a post on Threads, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the web version would reach users over the next few days. Meta brought out that it will add more features to the web version of Threads in the coming weeks. But, some features of the mobile app won’t be available just yet. For instance, web users won’t be able to edit their profile or send a thread over to Instagram direct messages.

    Meta revealed that the web experience would permit posting, viewing the feed, and interacting with others’ posts.

    Threads crossed 100 million sign-ups for the app within five days of its launch on 5 July. Consequently, it saw a decline in its number of users.

    The launch of the web version of Threads is much awaited and is expected to receive wider acceptance among companies, brands, advertisers, and media professionals – they would be able to exploit the platform’s web version to its full potential.

    As per a Reuters report citing analytics platform Similarweb data, the daily active users on Android version of Threads app fell to 10.3 million from the peak of 49.3 million in a period of over a month.