ITV

Tag: Kunal Shah

  • Golden Hour! ET Now Swadesh polishes investment wisdom with ‘Gold Mahakumbh’

    Golden Hour! ET Now Swadesh polishes investment wisdom with ‘Gold Mahakumbh’

    MUMBAI: It’s not just about buying bling this Akshaya Tritiya, it’s about investing smartly in it! ET Now Swadesh is set to unwrap a glittering feast of insights with its special broadcast ‘Gold Mahakumbh’ on 29 April 2025, from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, aiming to make gold and silver investments shine a little brighter for Indian households.

    Spearheaded by ET Now and ET Now Swadesh editor-in-chief Nikunj Dalmia, the special programming promises to turn viewers into savvy investors with a line-up of India’s sharpest financial minds, including Vishwamohan Kumar and Kavita Thapliyal as anchors.

    The glittering line-up includes key segments such as Golden Call (3:30 pm – 4:00 pm), HDFC AMC MD & CEO Navneet Munot, will break down the ABCs of gold investing covering ETFs, mutual funds, liquidity, taxation, and how to ride the gold wave for long-term returns. In a volatile market, this primer could be worth its weight in, well, gold.

    Sone Mein Ab Laakh Take Ki Baat (4:00 pm – 4:30 pm), Industry heavyweights like Chirag Sheth, Amit Goel, Ajay Kedia, Kunal Shah, Kishore Narne, and Nitin Kedia will polish viewers’ understanding of gold pricing, future forecasts, and what domestic and global factors could add or shave off a few carats from their investments.

    Golden Shopping (4:30 pm – 5:00 pm), Thinking of buying jewellery? Saiyam Mehra, Ashish Pethe, Rajesh Rokde, and Chetan Thadeshwar will navigate viewers through the dazzling (and often daunting) world of hallmarking (HUID), smart purchasing tips, and consumer rights when buying gold ornaments.

    Sunehra Nivesh (5:00 pm – 5:30 pm), Digital gold or a shiny necklace? Physical coins or a sleek ETF? Experts like Sachin Jain and Vikram Dhawan will help demystify gold investment vehicles and arm investors with knowledge about returns, liquidity, and risks.

    Jewellery Kaarobaar Mein Chunautiyaan (5:30 pm – 6:00 pm), From metal loans to risk management, Manoj Jha, Sahil Mehra, and Nitin Kedia will spotlight the behind-the-scenes challenges faced by the jewellery trade and what it means for everyday buyers.

    Silver Shopping (6:00 pm – 6:30 pm), Because silver isn’t just second-best! Rahul Mehta, Vikram Dhawan, and Ajay Kedia will map emerging opportunities in silver, navigating price volatility, sourcing, and what savvy investors should keep an eye on.

    With India’s emotional and financial bond with gold showing no signs of losing its lustre, Gold Mahakumbh comes at the perfect time, blending festive sentiment with sharp market strategy. ET Now Swadesh, true to its mission of bolstering financial literacy, is ensuring that this Akshaya Tritiya, viewers don’t just buy gold, they invest wisely in it.

    It’s time to sparkle smarter!

  • Anchor finds its North Star with Aimee Baruah in sparkling new campaigns

    Anchor finds its North Star with Aimee Baruah in sparkling new campaigns

    MUMBAI: In a move that’s all smiles and sparkle, Anchor Oral Care has announced acclaimed actor and cultural icon Aimee Baruah as its brand ambassador for the North East region. With this appointment, the leading Indian oral care brand is aiming to widen its grin across the region, already a key market for the brand for decades.

    The new face of Anchor comes hand-in-hand with a refreshed marketing push that includes two culturally rooted campaigns Laal. Kamaal. Bemisaal. and Naye Zamane Ki Nayi Suraksha aimed at tapping into North East India’s strong preferences for natural, high-efficacy oral care products.

    Speaking on the development, Anchor Consumer Products director Karan Shah stated: “At Anchor Oral Care, we are committed to providing high-quality, effective, and natural oral care solutions. North East is a priority market for us, and our investment in this region reflects our dedication to serving consumers with superior products that meet their needs. Partnering with Aimee Baruah marks a significant milestone in our journey, and she will play a crucial role in raising oral health awareness across North East. With a legacy of trust and quality, Anchor Oral Care remains devoted to offering innovative solutions tailored to the evolving needs of North East consumers.”

    Anchor Consumer Products Creative Director Kunal Shah shared insights on the campaign’s vision: “With ‘Laal. Kamaal. Bemisaal.’ and ‘Naye Zamane Ki Nayi Suraksha,’ we aimed to create a fresh and culturally relevant narrative that resonates deeply with North East consumers. Anchor Oral Care is more than just a product it’s about building trust and reinforcing the importance of holistic oral health.”

    The Laal. Kamaal. Bemisaal. campaign champions Anchor Red Toothpaste, a herbal formulation boasting 10 Ayurvedic benefits made with ingredients like Tulsi, Laung, and Pudina. From strengthening teeth to promoting gum health, it blends time-tested wisdom with refreshing taste.

    Meanwhile, Naye Zamane Ki Nayi Suraksha, also starring Baruah, positions Anchor as a forward-thinking, scientifically backed brand with a focus on vegetarian and globally certified oral care. The TVC centres on Anchor’s CalFlo formulation, designed to deliver stronger, whiter teeth with long-lasting protection tailor-made for today’s health-conscious families.

    Expressing her enthusiasm, Aimee Baruah said, “I am thrilled to collaborate with Anchor Oral Care, a brand synonymous with trust, innovation, and holistic oral health. Good oral hygiene is essential for overall well-being, and I truly believe in Anchor’s dedication to providing effective and modern solutions for families. I look forward to being part of this meaningful journey.”

    Anchor Consumer Products sr. vice president of sales Asit Roy of  emphasized the brand’s strengthened focus on North East: ” North East is a high potential market and we are one of the leading brands in Oral Care. Our partnership with Aimee Baruah, along with our new campaigns, will enable us to deepen our engagement with consumers, expand our distribution, and strengthen our position in the oral care category.”

    Anchor Consumer Products, marketing head Sandeep Abbhi added, “Aimee Baruah is trusted, admired and culturally rooted personality in North East. Her strong credibility and connection with North East families make her the perfect choice to represent Anchor Oral Care. Beyond the TVC, she will be actively involved in digital campaigns, in-store promotions, and consumer engagement activities. Our creative approach leverages her real-life personality to establish a genuine and personal connection with our audience.”

    Anchor’s expansion into the North East is underpinned by a strategic focus on natural ingredients, ethical production, and high-quality, effective solutions. With growing awareness around dental health and a clear consumer preference for holistic care, the brand’s combination of tradition and science looks poised to win smiles and market share.

  • Anchor Oral Care expands in Odisha, signs Archita Sahu as brand ambassador

    Anchor Oral Care expands in Odisha, signs Archita Sahu as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: A campaign as refreshing as that first morning brush is what happens when a beloved brand and a cultural icon join forces. Anchor Oral Care is making big waves in Odisha by appointing renowned Odia actor Archita Sahu as its brand ambassador. This move signals Anchor’s deep commitment to the region, strengthening its market presence and reinforcing its position as a leader in oral care.

    Odisha has always been a priority for Anchor, and this latest step underscores its dedication to meeting the evolving oral care needs of Odia families. With Sahu—a household name known for her credibility, cultural connection, and widespread appeal—leading the charge, Anchor Oral Care is ready to win even more smiles across the state.

    To celebrate this milestone, Anchor Oral Care has rolled out two brand-new campaigns, ensuring a powerful brand message that resonates with Odia consumers.

    “Laal. Kamaal. Bemisaal.” – This campaign spotlights Anchor Red Toothpaste, a trusted herbal formulation with 10 Ayurvedic benefits and 6 core Ayurvedic ingredients. The TVC captures a fun yet relatable shopping moment, demonstrating why this toothpaste is the top choice for stronger teeth and healthier gums.

    “Naye Zamane Ki Nayi Suraksha” – Featuring Sahu, this campaign highlights the importance of complete oral care for the modern Odia family. It positions Anchor Oral Care as a scientifically advanced, ethically conscious brand, promising whiter, stronger, and healthier teeth with its 100% vegetarian formulations.

    Anchor Consumer Products director Karan Shah expressed his enthusiasm for this strategic move, “At Anchor Oral Care, we are committed to providing high-quality, effective, and natural oral care solutions. Odisha is a priority market for us, and our investment in this region reflects our dedication to serving consumers with superior products that meet their needs. Partnering with Archita Sahu marks a significant milestone in our journey, and she will play a crucial role in raising oral health awareness across Odisha. These initiatives will enable us to deepen our engagement with consumers, expand our distribution, and strengthen our position in the oral care category. With a legacy of trust and quality, Anchor Oral Care remains devoted to offering innovative solutions tailored to the evolving needs of Odia consumers.”

    Adding to this, Anchor Consumer Products creative director Kunal Shah provided insights into the campaign’s vision, “With ‘Laal. Kamaal. Bemisaal.’ and ‘Naye Zamane Ki Nayi Suraksha,’ we aimed to create a fresh and culturally relevant narrative that resonates deeply with Odia consumers. Anchor Oral Care is more than just a product—it’s about building trust and reinforcing the importance of holistic oral health.”

    Sahu shared her excitement about this partnership, “I am thrilled to collaborate with Anchor Oral Care, a brand synonymous with trust, innovation, and holistic oral health. Good oral hygiene is essential for overall well-being, and I truly believe in Anchor’s dedication to providing effective and modern solutions for families. I look forward to being part of this meaningful journey.”

    Beyond the TVCs, Sahu will actively participate in digital campaigns, in-store promotions, and consumer engagement events, further deepening the brand’s reach across Odisha. Her real-life personality and strong cultural resonance make her the ideal ambassador to foster genuine connections with consumers.

    Odia consumers have long shown a strong preference for herbal and natural oral care products, making Anchor Red Toothpaste the perfect choice with its unique blend of six Ayurvedic ingredients. With an ever-growing demand for high-quality, trusted oral care solutions, Anchor Oral Care is poised to become a household name in the state, delivering effective and innovative solutions tailored to Odia families.

    Through this expansion, Anchor Oral Care is setting new benchmarks in oral hygiene, proving that a smile isn’t just about teeth—it’s about trust, tradition, and a touch of modern science.

  • Felicity Games secures $700K pre-seed funding

    Felicity Games secures $700K pre-seed funding

    Mumbai: Felicity Games, a casual game developer and publisher, has secured a $700K pre-seed funding from DeVC, Visceral Capital and marquee angel investors including Kunal Shah of CRED, former Nazara CEO, Manish Agarwal, Sriharsha Majety, Nandan Reddy of Swiggy and Google Cloud (APAC) head of gaming Sameer Pittalwala, among others.

    Felicity was founded in 2023 by ex-Swiggy executive Anurag Choudhary with an aim to become India’s leading mobile game publisher. In under a year, Felicity has launched over 10 game titles, which are played by more than a million monthly users across 14 geographies. The company will use the funds towards testing 10 more such games by March 2025. The company aims to scale revenue by 10x by the end of this year.

    The company’s success lies in rapidly prototyping and testing casual games in partnership with Indian game developers for commercial viability using a proprietary framework called ‘Pokhran’, and accordingly scaling only the successful ones.

    Felicity Games founder and CEO Anurag Choudhary said, “Given our cost and skill advantages, Felicity Games is well placed to build a multi-million dollar casual gaming business from India for the world.”

    “Felicity has a unique vision to mobilise the growing ecosystem of Indie developers with the capability of producing high-quality game prototypes at a fraction of the cost. Felicity combines an objective approach to commercial testing with iterations on non-conventional channels to drive risk-adjusted growth for new IPs, unlocking developer friendly publishing for the indie ecosystem” said founding member Divyanshi Chowdhary from DeVC.

    Felicity recently launched two titles ‘Seek & Find’, and ‘Nova Solitaire’ which are already unit economics positive in the US and other western markets with 100,000 plus downloads within a period of three months.

    Beyond game development and publishing, Felicity Games distinguishes itself through strategic partnerships with studios and brands to co-create compelling intellectual properties (IPs). This collaborative approach not only enriches the gaming ecosystem but also expands the company’s reach and influence within the industry.

  • CRED founder Kunal Shah joins the board of Pine Labs

    CRED founder Kunal Shah joins the board of Pine Labs

    Mumbai: Merchant commerce platform Pine Labs on Tuesday announced the appointment of CRED founder Kunal Shah to the company’s board.

    “Kunal joins a marquee set of investors, advisors, and other visionary board members who are all committed to take Pine Labs to newer heights. Kunal’s deep understanding of the consumer business will be invaluable to us as we explore new opportunities and step into our next phase of growth,” said Pine Labs CEO, B Amrish Rau.

    Shah is an entrepreneur and an investor. He has nearly 100 investments across financial services, consumer, and technology. “An ardent believer in the role of financial well-being in driving progress, Kunal actively promotes and participates in financial literacy, wealth-creation, and female workforce participation initiatives in India and around the world,” the company said in a statement.

    Shah has been an advisor to the board of Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd (Times of India), the chairman of the Internet and Mobile Association of India, and an advisor to Sequoia Capital India. Before CRED, Kunal founded Freecharge.

    “The pandemic has catalysed behaviour change among consumers, merchants, and institutions that will drive the fintech sector,” Kunal Shah stated. “Shaping this transformation for the benefit of all stakeholders is a collective responsibility. Pine Labs is a player in digital payments adoption and joining its board is an opportunity to contribute to the ecosystem.” 

  • Supari Studios creates launch campaign for CRED

    Supari Studios creates launch campaign for CRED

    India: Supari Studios, the award-winning content studio invites you to watch the quirkiest explainer video to hit our screens yet – the launch campaign of the members-only platform CRED that allows users to manage their credit card payments from one place.

    Founded by Freecharge Co-founder, Kunal Shah, the team at CRED was eager to push creative boundaries; their brief to Supari Studios simply being, “Make this the best fu**ing film you’ve made”. The concept behind the launch film was to bring to life CRED’s several attributes and uniqueness, in the form of a quirky and engaging explainer video using a protagonist who is both charming and funny.

    Jim Sarbh, portrayed as a typical CRED member- young, tech-savvy and sophisticatedly worldly, chronicles the many attributes of CRED in an unassuming yet humorous manner that keeps the infotainment gripping from the start. Directed by Supari Studios’ Co-founder and CCO, Akshat Gupt, the film is set in a studio that emulates life, with its narrative flowing seamlessly through very specific camera movements and transitions, serving as the hook of the film and holding it together.

    Here is a link to the launch film:

    Akshat Gupt, Co-founder and CCO, Supari Studios, and Director of the film on the launch campaign says “When CRED approached us to create this launch film, their ask was simple: ‘Make this the best fu**ing film you’ve made’. Keeping that in mind, I really wanted to experiment and do something we’ve not pulled off before. This was an introduction to the brand; whose character Jim embodies perfectly. Cool, suave and confident. That’s exactly why we needed someone like Jim who could pull off explaining the brand’s features while really keeping you glued.

    In terms of production, we challenged ourselves and wanted to do a couple of long one- takes. We put significant effort into the production process and did several things in-camera itself rather than in post – used single-takes where we felt it could really elevate the script and narrative, rigged every light from the main source down to the smallest practical and timed them, allowing transitions from one set to another to be as smooth as possible. For one sequence, we even built a custom circular turntable that could hold Jim and our camera in position, while they transitioned between different setups – from a theatre to backstage with DIVINE, in a single take.

    We had a free reign in terms of length as well, and since all features had to be showcased, we indulged ourselves with a run time of over three minutes! It’s been a unique experience shooting this one. After the 20th take, when all the elements of the camera, acting and direction came together perfectly, it felt poetic.”

    CREDIT LIST:

    Produced by Supari Studios

    Client: CRED

    Creative Team (CRED): Neelaksh Mathur

    Director: Akshat Gupt

    Executive Producer: Mitali Sharma

    DOP: Siddharth Vasani

    Creative Producer: Richa Rungta

    Lead Producer: Nitika Kanodia

    Line Producer: Sumit Gyanchandaney

    Chief AD: Kelvin Mendonca

    2nd AD/DA: Ladasha Kapse

    Production Managers: Himank Gupta, Sagar Ghatalia

    Project Intern: Suchi Dembla

    Production Interns: Kamna Gurnasinghani, Rohan Aggarwal

    Production Designers: Kalyani Shah & Nikita Rana (Craftsworth Designs)

    Art Assistants: Fagun Parikh, Vidhi Jain

    1st AC: Raju

    Gaffer: Umesh

    Focus Puller: Gagandeep Bawa

    Camera Intern: Sahil Shah

    Intelligent Lights Operator: Prathamesh

    Onset sound recordist: Maxie Mendonca

    BTS: Karan Sharma

    Stylist (Jim Sarbh): Tanya Vora

    Hair & Makeup (Jim Sarbh): Priya Lahon

    Stylist (Divine + Secondary Cast): Naomi Chowdary

    Hair & Makeup (Divine + Secondary Cast): Areej Shaikh

    Offline Edit: Gaurav Joshi

    Graphic Design: Riffat Aga

    Animation: Pratik Satam

    VFX: Ajay Roshan Singh, Divya Luthra, Shri Ranjan Rath

    Colorist: Avinash Shukla (After Studios)

    Music Composition & Mix: Donn Bhat

    Camera Equipment: RD Equipments

    Light Equipment: One Stop Services, Light Craft

    Spot Boys: Ilyas Bhai, Baba Bhai, Iqbal Bhai, Umesh

  • Poker Sports League to excite Indian minds in 2017

    Poker Sports League to excite Indian minds in 2017

    MUMBAI: Creating a unique platform for skilled ‘mind sports’, Amit Burman has announced the launch of an exciting new league – Poker Sports League. The Poker Sports League forays into the space of intellectual and mind challenges and aims to popularize mind skill games. This game changing league will offer a never before experience to poker players with varying degree of expertise but a passion for the game, to unite and celebrate their love for the game as well as hone their poker skills under the guidance of well-established professional poker players.

    In its first season, the Poker Sports League will consist of 12 teams, seven of which have already been sold and the remaining five shall be made available for sale shortly. These teams are associated with some of the well-known names from corporate India such as Kunal Shah (Co-Founder, FreeCharge), Mehul Shah (Original Promoter, Anchor Electrical), Rishi Kajaria (Joint MD, Kajaria Ceramics), Karan Bhagat (Co-Founder, IIFL Wealth), Purrshottam Bhaggeria (Joint MD, Filatex Group), Ankkit Bahadur (Co-Owner, Playboy North India) and Gaurav Mohan (Founder, Eventwala) who strongly believe in the potential of the game and its ability to harness the latent talent from across the nation.

    The 12 teams will consist of a total of 108 players who will play for the prize money of INR 3.36 crore. These teams will be selected through 70+ qualifying rounds held across various cities for a period of nearly 3 months, as well as through online tournaments that will begin early in 2017. The players who qualify to the 12 teams will then compete to play at the Mega Finals, where the best and the finest of India’s poker talent will be invited to a display of skill and entertainment.

    The league would include four amateur players, who would be selected through nationwide qualifiers which will be held both online and offline. Two wild cards players would make-up the team to nine players. The qualifiers would begin early 2017 and the finals are scheduled to take place in mid-2017.

    PSL founder Amit Burman said, “Poker is a popular mind sport across the globe and has gained tremendous traction within India, amongst individuals looking to challenge their mind, grit and decision making abilities. Although the game is played with cards and there is an element of luck – the vast majority of the game depends on pure skill, mathematics, probability and decision making strategy. With no entry fee and sizeable prize money to aim for, the Poker Sports League is a unique opportunity for players of the game to hone their skills as well as popularise the game that is set to be recognized by the International Mind Sports association along with Chess, Bridge and Draughts”.

    True to its vision of harnessing talent across India, the Poker Sports League will offer players an opportunity to play and learn from some of the best players in India. Every team will also have a professional poker player as a mentor and captain to develop team strategy and help young players sharpen their skills during the play.

    At the helm of the Poker Sports League will be a core team that includes some of the well known names associated with poker in India, and known for their expertise, knowledge and passion for the game. The team includes India’s largest poker portal Adda52.com founder Anuj Gupta, who is also a co-founder of Poker Sports League.

    The team is further strengthened by India Poker founder Pranav Bagai. Besides, being the co-founder of the league, Pranav has also been appointed as the CEO of PSL, and Nikita Luther, who is India’s top female Poker professional, will take charge as COO for the league.

  • Poker Sports League to excite Indian minds in 2017

    Poker Sports League to excite Indian minds in 2017

    MUMBAI: Creating a unique platform for skilled ‘mind sports’, Amit Burman has announced the launch of an exciting new league – Poker Sports League. The Poker Sports League forays into the space of intellectual and mind challenges and aims to popularize mind skill games. This game changing league will offer a never before experience to poker players with varying degree of expertise but a passion for the game, to unite and celebrate their love for the game as well as hone their poker skills under the guidance of well-established professional poker players.

    In its first season, the Poker Sports League will consist of 12 teams, seven of which have already been sold and the remaining five shall be made available for sale shortly. These teams are associated with some of the well-known names from corporate India such as Kunal Shah (Co-Founder, FreeCharge), Mehul Shah (Original Promoter, Anchor Electrical), Rishi Kajaria (Joint MD, Kajaria Ceramics), Karan Bhagat (Co-Founder, IIFL Wealth), Purrshottam Bhaggeria (Joint MD, Filatex Group), Ankkit Bahadur (Co-Owner, Playboy North India) and Gaurav Mohan (Founder, Eventwala) who strongly believe in the potential of the game and its ability to harness the latent talent from across the nation.

    The 12 teams will consist of a total of 108 players who will play for the prize money of INR 3.36 crore. These teams will be selected through 70+ qualifying rounds held across various cities for a period of nearly 3 months, as well as through online tournaments that will begin early in 2017. The players who qualify to the 12 teams will then compete to play at the Mega Finals, where the best and the finest of India’s poker talent will be invited to a display of skill and entertainment.

    The league would include four amateur players, who would be selected through nationwide qualifiers which will be held both online and offline. Two wild cards players would make-up the team to nine players. The qualifiers would begin early 2017 and the finals are scheduled to take place in mid-2017.

    PSL founder Amit Burman said, “Poker is a popular mind sport across the globe and has gained tremendous traction within India, amongst individuals looking to challenge their mind, grit and decision making abilities. Although the game is played with cards and there is an element of luck – the vast majority of the game depends on pure skill, mathematics, probability and decision making strategy. With no entry fee and sizeable prize money to aim for, the Poker Sports League is a unique opportunity for players of the game to hone their skills as well as popularise the game that is set to be recognized by the International Mind Sports association along with Chess, Bridge and Draughts”.

    True to its vision of harnessing talent across India, the Poker Sports League will offer players an opportunity to play and learn from some of the best players in India. Every team will also have a professional poker player as a mentor and captain to develop team strategy and help young players sharpen their skills during the play.

    At the helm of the Poker Sports League will be a core team that includes some of the well known names associated with poker in India, and known for their expertise, knowledge and passion for the game. The team includes India’s largest poker portal Adda52.com founder Anuj Gupta, who is also a co-founder of Poker Sports League.

    The team is further strengthened by India Poker founder Pranav Bagai. Besides, being the co-founder of the league, Pranav has also been appointed as the CEO of PSL, and Nikita Luther, who is India’s top female Poker professional, will take charge as COO for the league.

  • TRAI chief R S Sharma defends differential pricing regulation

    TRAI chief R S Sharma defends differential pricing regulation

    NEW DELHI: While defending the decision on differential pricing for data services from telecom companies, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman R S Sharma categorically stated that with the digital landscape changing constantly, the policy would be reviewed every two years.

    Speaking at the 10th India Digital Summit on the theme ‘Stand Up Start Up’ organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), Sharma stressed the necessity of augmenting telecom and digital infrastructure to meet the growing demand of a truly digital India.

    On connectivity, he said drive tests are done regularly by TRAI. “Telecom companies have started raising objections pertaining to consulting on the methods TRAI is using. We have started that process also. So this time when we did the test, we have also taken their suggestions into account,” he said.

    “Whatever drive tests we have done, have been very objective. This was done in a transparent manner and if there are any more suggestions for transparency, we are certainly ready to look at it. But by simply saying that what you have done is not really correct is not the right approach,” Sharma voiced.

    Adding that the next test drive is likely to be in April, Sharma said that connectivity was bound to improve with release of more spectrum.

    “Seamless connectivity is the essence of true digitisation. With Digital Locker; e-Sign and Aadhar, India is the only country in the world to have such advanced technology. India is also the only country to have the technicality of checking identity of a person digitally through Aadhar,” he said.

    Earlier, IAMAI chairman Kunal Shah, who is the founder & CEO of FreeCharge, said in his inaugural address that continuous innovation is the key for staying relevant and that the young start-ups should focus on reinventing rather than focusing on raising funds.

  • TRAI chief R S Sharma defends differential pricing regulation

    TRAI chief R S Sharma defends differential pricing regulation

    NEW DELHI: While defending the decision on differential pricing for data services from telecom companies, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman R S Sharma categorically stated that with the digital landscape changing constantly, the policy would be reviewed every two years.

    Speaking at the 10th India Digital Summit on the theme ‘Stand Up Start Up’ organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), Sharma stressed the necessity of augmenting telecom and digital infrastructure to meet the growing demand of a truly digital India.

    On connectivity, he said drive tests are done regularly by TRAI. “Telecom companies have started raising objections pertaining to consulting on the methods TRAI is using. We have started that process also. So this time when we did the test, we have also taken their suggestions into account,” he said.

    “Whatever drive tests we have done, have been very objective. This was done in a transparent manner and if there are any more suggestions for transparency, we are certainly ready to look at it. But by simply saying that what you have done is not really correct is not the right approach,” Sharma voiced.

    Adding that the next test drive is likely to be in April, Sharma said that connectivity was bound to improve with release of more spectrum.

    “Seamless connectivity is the essence of true digitisation. With Digital Locker; e-Sign and Aadhar, India is the only country in the world to have such advanced technology. India is also the only country to have the technicality of checking identity of a person digitally through Aadhar,” he said.

    Earlier, IAMAI chairman Kunal Shah, who is the founder & CEO of FreeCharge, said in his inaugural address that continuous innovation is the key for staying relevant and that the young start-ups should focus on reinventing rather than focusing on raising funds.