Auguring well for the Government’s digital mission, India’s total number of Internet subscribers increased from 918.19 million at the end of September 2023 to 936.16 million at the end of December 23, registering a quarterly rate of growth 1.96 per cent. Out of the 936.16 million Internet subscribers, the number of wired Internet subscribers are 38.57 million and number of wireless Internet subscribers are 897.59 million, as per the Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators for the October–December 2023 period released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Tuesday. The Internet subscriber base is comprised of broadband subscriber base of 904.54 million and narrowband Internet subscriber base of 31.62 million.

The broadband Internet subscriber base increased by 2.21 per cent from 885 million at the end of September 2023 to 904.54 million at the end of December 2023. The narrowband Internet subscriber base decreased from 33.19 million at the end of September 23 to 31.62 million at the end of December 23, as per TRAI. The report also shows wireline subscribers increased from 30.98 million at the end of September 2023 to 31.84 million at the end of December 23 with a quarterly rate of growth 2.79 per cent and on yoy basis, wireline subscriptions also increased by 15.98 per cent at the end of the quarter ended December 2023.

Wireline tele-density increased from 2.22 per cent at the end of September 2023 to 2.28 per cent at the end of December 23 with quarterly rate of growth 2.56 per cent. The monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for wireless service increased by 1.93 per cent from Rs149.66 in the quarter ended September 2023 to Rs152.55 in the quarter ended December 2023. On yoy basis, monthly ARPU for wireless service increased by 8.09 per cent in this quarter. Prepaid ARPU per month increased from Rs148 in the September (Q3) 2023 to Rs149.56 in the December (Q4) 2023 and postpaid ARPU per month also increased from Rs167.93 in QE Sep-23 to Rs189.08 in Q4 2023.

On an all-India average, the overall MOU per subscriber per month increased by 0.71 per cent from 948 in Q3 2023 to 955 in Q4 of 2023. Prepaid MOU per subscriber is 989 and postpaid MOU per subscriber per month is 536 in Q4 2023. The revenue (AGR) of telecom service sector for the fourth quarter 2023 has been Rs 84,500 crore, Rs 81,101 crore and Rs 67,835 crore respectively. The GR increased by 2.13 per cent, ApGR increased by 1.70 per cent and AGR increased by 1.88 per cent in Q4, as compared to previous quarter. The yoy rate of growth in GR, ApGR and AGR in Q4 2023 over the same quarter in last year has been -4.16 per cent, 5.84 per cent and 7.84 per cent respectively.

Pass through charges increased from Rs13,425 crore in Q3 2023 to Rs13,452 crore in Q4 2023 with quarterly rate of growth by 0.21 per cent. The yoy rate of decline of 6.46 per cent has been recorded in pass-through charges for Q4 2023. The license fee increased from Rs 5,326 crore for the Q3 2023 to Rs 5,433 crore for the Q4 2023. The quarterly and the yoy rates of growth in license fees are 2.01 per cent and 7.98 per cent respectively in this quarter. Access services contributed 82.07 per cent of the total adjusted gross revenue of telecom services.

The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,181.13 million at the end of September 2023 to 1,190.33 million at the end of December 2023, registering a rate of growth 0.78 per cent over the previous quarter. This reflects yoy rate of growth 1.70 per cent over the same quarter of the last year. The overall tele-density in India increased from 84.76 per cent as in Q3 2023 to 85.23 per cent as in Q4 December 2023. Telephone subscribers in urban areas increased from 658.46 million at the end of September 2023 to 662.56 million at the end of December 2023 and urban tele-density also increased from 133.54 pr cent to 133.76 per cent during the same period.

Rural telephone subscribers increased from 522.66 million at the end of September 2023 to 527.77 million at the end of December 2023 and rural teledensity also increased from 58.05 per cent to 58.56 per cent during the same period. Out of the total subscription, the share of rural subscription increased from 44.25 per cent at the end of September 2023 to 44.34 per cent at the end of December 2023.

With a net increase of 8.34 million subscribers during the quarter, the total wireless subscriber base increased from 1,150.15 million at the end of September 23 to 1,158.49 million at the end of December 2023, registering a rate of growth of 0.72 per cent over the previous quarter. On yoy basis, wireless subscriptions also increased at the rate of 1.36 per cent during the year.

Wireless tele-density increased from 82.54 per cent at the end of September 2023 to 82.95 per cent at the end of December 2023 with quarterly rate of growth 0.50 per cent.

According to government sources, Apple, the manufacturer of iPhones, is anticipated to create employment opportunities for over 500,000 individuals in India through its vendors within the next three years. Presently, Apple’s vendors and suppliers provide jobs for 150,000 people in India. Tata Electronics, operating two plants for Apple, stands out as the largest contributor to job creation. “Apple’s recruitment efforts in India are gaining momentum. By conservative estimates, it is projected to hire half a million individuals in the next three years through its vendors and component suppliers,” stated a senior government official. When contacted, Apple declined to comment on the projection.

Apple has plans to scale up production in India by over five-fold to around $40 billion (about 3.32 lakh crore) in the next 4-5 years. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Apple led the India market with the highest revenue in 2023 for the first time, while Samsung topped the chart in terms of volume sales. The firm in its recent report said Apple surpassed the 10-million-unit mark in shipments and captured the top position in revenue in a calendar year for the first time.

Apple’s iPhone exports from India rose sharply to $12.1 billion in 2023-24 from $6.27 billion in 2022-23, representing a massive surge of nearly 100 per cent, according to trade intelligence platform The Trade Vision.

In a pioneering move towards integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the education sector, the Kerala government has announced a comprehensive three-day training program for over 80,000 state secondary school teachers. Scheduled to commence from May 2, the initiative is spearheaded by the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) with a vision to equip teachers with essential AI expertise by August 2024.

The program aims to empower teachers of classes 8 to 12 with hands-on training in AI techniques tailored to enhance teaching and learning experiences. According to a press release, the training will cover a wide array of AI applications, including summarization techniques for simplifying complex documents in various formats such as PDFs, images, and videos. Teachers will be trained to generate concise summaries while retaining crucial information and even creating new content using AI tools.

Additionally, the training curriculum includes sessions on image generation techniques, enabling teachers to create and edit subject-specific visuals, transform them into cartoons or paintings, and integrate text seamlessly. Prompt Engineering and Machine Learning segments will offer insights into formulating precise prompts essential for effective AI tool utilization and understanding programming mechanisms.

Through data visualization exercises, teachers will explore the potential of AI in creating presentations and animations, along with customizing tables, graphs, and charts to cater to specific educational requirements. The training will also focus on AI techniques for assessment purposes, empowering teachers to design various question formats, including unit tests, thereby enhancing the evaluation process.

K Anvar Sadath, Chief Executive Officer of KITE, highlighted the program’s objective to foster a culture of responsible AI usage and mitigate potential risks associated with AI. Teachers will engage in activities aimed at creating their avatars to gain insights into concepts like deepfakes, privacy concerns, and algorithm bias.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has initiated a comprehensive study to analyze the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on competition, efficiency, and innovation in key user industries, according to a press statement. The study aims to explore the transformative capabilities of AI while addressing potential competition concerns arising from its use.

The CCI emphasized that while AI holds significant procompetitive potential, there may also be competition concerns associated with its adoption. The study is designed as a knowledge-building exercise to develop an in-depth understanding of the emerging competition dynamics in the development of AI systems.

Key objectives of the study include understanding the landscape and application of AI in Indian markets, examining existing legislations worldwide and in India, and determining enforcement and advocacy priorities concerning AI and its application. To facilitate the study, the antitrust watchdog plans to engage with stakeholders across various sectors to explore the scope and nature of AI use cases and their effects on competition. Data will be collected from technology firms, investors, startups, industry associations, independent developers, and customer firms.

The CCI has issued a request for proposals from agencies to conduct the market study, with a deadline for submission set for June 3. The study seeks to understand key AI systems and markets, ecosystems, AI actors, stakeholders, value chains, market structures, and parameters of competition.

Meanwhile, a high-powered committee, led by the principal scientific advisor to the Government of India, is developing a framework for AI. The committee comprises representatives from various ministries, academia, industry associations, and think tanks, aiming to establish a comprehensive framework for AI governance.

Sources suggest that a dedicated regulation or comprehensive framework for AI may be introduced post the Lok Sabha elections, as India currently lacks a policy framework to govern AI. The absence of such regulation raises concerns about potential harms and risks associated with AI, prompting initiatives to manage risks and ensure user safety. Previously, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued advisories to intermediaries and AI platforms to manage risks associated with AI use, emphasizing the importance of addressing biases in AI models to safeguard Indian users.

Discussions around AI governance began in the government in 2018, with the release of a paper titled “National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence” by NITI Aayog. The paper highlighted the need for appropriate data handling, privacy protection, and the establishment of regulatory frameworks to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI.

The CCI’s initiative reflects a proactive approach towards understanding and regulating AI’s impact on competition and innovation, signaling India’s commitment to harnessing AI’s potential while mitigating associated risks. As AI continues to transform industries, robust governance frameworks become essential to foster innovation and safeguard consumer interests in the digital age.

IT major Infosys announced its acquisition of in-tech, a prominent engineering R&D services provider specializing in the German automotive industry, on Thursday in an exchange filing. This 450 million euro acquisition will help the IT company expand its footprint in Europe. The acquisition is expected to be wrapped up in the first half of the financial year 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, the company said. Infosys has already received approvals from regulatory authorities in Germany, Romania, Austria, India, and “such other regulatory approvals as may be required”.

Headquartered in Germany, in-tech is one of the fastest-growing engineering R&D services providers, playing a pivotal role in driving digitization across the automotive, rail transport, and smart industry sectors. The company focuses on areas such as e-mobility, connected and autonomous driving, electric vehicles (EVs), off-road vehicles, and railroad solutions. The German firm offers a comprehensive suite of services, including system design, methodical consulting, advanced electronics platform development, and validation of automotive-specific software and hardware systems.

“Together with in-tech, Infosys Topaz, an AI-first set of services, solutions, and platforms, and recently acquired InSemi’ semiconductor’s expertise, we have successfully created deeper capabilities for the next phase of automotive innovation in the arena of software-defined vehicles. We are excited to welcome in-tech and its leadership team into the Infosys family,” said Dinesh Rao, executive vice president, and co-delivery head at Infosys.

“Together we now cover the entire end-to-end process, a step that is crucial to fully meet our customers’ needs. With access to more talent and expertise, we gain incredible strength and scale in our delivery capability, enabling us to successfully implement even more ambitious projects,” added Tobias Wagner, CEO of in-tech.

Infosys also reported its results for the financial year 2023-24 (FY24) on Thursday. Infosys reported a net profit increase of 8.9 percent to Rs 26,233 crore from Rs 24,095 crore recorded at the end of FY23 and its annual income from operations went up by 4.7 percent to Rs 1,53,670 crore in FY24 from Rs 1,46,767 crore in FY23.

OpenAI, backed by Microsoft Corp., has appointed Pragya Misra as its first employee in India, naming her as the head of government relations. The move comes as India votes in a new administration, a crucial time for shaping artificial intelligence regulations in the country. Misra, 39, previously worked at Truecaller AB and Meta Platforms Inc. She is set to start at OpenAI toward the end of the month. Her appointment signals OpenAI’s efforts to advocate for favorable regulations as governments worldwide grapple with how to regulate AI technology.

India, with its vast population and rapidly growing economy, presents significant growth opportunities for global tech companies like OpenAI. However, navigating India’s regulatory landscape can be challenging due to local lawmakers and regulators prioritizing the protection of domestic firms. OpenAI representatives and Misra did not respond to requests for comment outside regular US office hours. Misra’s experience in leading public affairs at Truecaller and Meta Platforms Inc., where she spearheaded WhatsApp’s campaign against misinformation in 2018, positions her well for her new role at OpenAI.

In India, OpenAI faces competition from tech giants like Alphabet Inc.’s Google, which is developing AI models tailored for the country, aiming to cater to diverse linguistic needs and widen internet access. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the importance of integrating AI technologies into government services, particularly in sectors like healthcare. Altman, who has previously met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscored India’s role as an early adopter of OpenAI’s generative-AI service, ChatGPT.

While Altman has advocated for more regulations in the AI space, he has also expressed concerns about the potential harm caused by the technology. He believes that while significant regulatory changes may not be necessary for current AI versions, they may become essential in the near future. OpenAI’s decision to appoint its first employee in India reflects the company’s recognition of the country’s importance in the global AI landscape.

With a population of 1.4 billion and a rapidly growing economy, India presents a vast market and innovation hub for AI technologies. By establishing a presence in India, OpenAI aims to leverage local talent and resources to drive its growth and influence in the region. Pragya Misra’s appointment as head of government relations underscores OpenAI’s commitment to engaging with policymakers and stakeholders in India.

Her experience in navigating regulatory environments and building partnerships will be instrumental in advancing OpenAI’s interests and objectives in the country. India’s government has shown increasing interest in AI regulation and adoption, recognizing its potential to transform various sectors, including healthcare, education, and governance.

As AI technologies continue to evolve, policymakers are grappling with issues related to privacy, security, and ethical use, making effective government relations crucial for companies like OpenAI. Moreover, OpenAI’s competition with tech giants like Google highlights the importance of strategic positioning and advocacy efforts in India’s competitive market.

By proactively engaging with regulators and policymakers, OpenAI seeks to shape the regulatory landscape in its favor while also fostering collaboration and innovation within the AI ecosystem. Overall, OpenAI’s decision to establish a presence in India and appoint a government relations head underscores its commitment to driving responsible AI development and adoption globally.

As the company expands its footprint in India, it is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of AI in the region and beyond.