Monetization

Indian Telecom Operators Raise Tariffs After Three Years

India Telecom Tariffs & 5G: Data Still Cost-Effective

India has ceded the lowest-tariff crown to Bangladesh and Egypt, yet it still leads on value through generous allowances and low data unit costs. Indian base plans commonly include unlimited voice, whereas Bangladesh and Egypt restrict voice to roughly 100 and 70 minutes respectively at entry level. On data, incremental purchase economics are unusually attractive: an extra Rs 100 typically buys around 26 GB, or about Rs 4 per GB, keeping India among the most affordable data markets globally. Even after adjusting for purchasing power parity, India remains at the affordable end of global tariff rankings.

Snapchat Imagine AI Lens Goes Free in the US

Snapchat Imagine AI Lens Goes Free in the US
Snap has opened its first open-prompt AI image Lens, Imagine, to all U.S. users, signaling a new phase in mainstream generative experiences inside the camera. Imagine Lens lets users write a short prompt and instantly transform a selfie or create an image from scratch, then share it in chats, Stories, or off-platform. The capability was previously limited to Lens+ and Snapchat Platinum subscribers. Camera-native generative features at social scale change traffic patterns, compute placement, and safety obligations for platforms and networks. Provenance standards such as C2PA content credentials are becoming table stakes for enterprise integrations and advertiser trust.

2024 U.S. Broadband Capex: $89.6B Investment

2024 U.S. Broadband Capex: $89.6B Investment
Industry capex remained exceptionally strong in 2024, underscoring broadband’s status as critical infrastructure for the digital and AI economy. Broadband providers invested an estimated $89.6 billion in U.S. communications infrastructure last year, pushing cumulative investment since 1996 to more than $2.2 trillion and keeping the 2020–2024 average above $90 billion annually. Spend concentrated on fiber deepening, rural reach, wireless capacity, and overall network scale for AI, cloud, and streaming workloads. While 2024 trailed 2023’s higher tally, it still signals a sustained, competitive race to modernize fixed and mobile networks.

ChatGPT Atlas: OpenAI’s AI Browser vs Google Chrome

ChatGPT Atlas: OpenAI’s AI Browser vs Google Chrome
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, a MacOS AI browser built around its chatbot, positioning agentic browsing and LLM-native search as the next front in the browser wars. Atlas reframes the browser as a conversational interface. It removes the traditional address bar and orients the experience around ChatGPT, with natural language as the primary way to navigate, retrieve, and summarize information. The initial release targets Apple’s MacOS, with OpenAI emphasizing a paid “agent mode” that can autonomously search, read, and act on the user’s behalf using the live browsing context. Agent mode will be available to paying ChatGPT subscribers, extending OpenAI’s monetization beyond API usage and premium chatbot tiers.

Jio 5G Nears 50% of Mobile Base

Jio 5G Nears 50% of Mobile Base
Jio closed the quarter ended 30 September with 234 million 5G users, up 86 million year-on-year and now approaching half of its 506.4 million total mobile base. Financial momentum tracked the subscriber and traffic surge. Jio Platforms posted quarterly revenue of INR 426.5 billion, up 14.9% year-on-year, and net profit of INR 73.8 billion, up 12.8%. Jio’s fixed wireless access service, Jio AirFiber, more than tripled year-on-year to 9.5 million subscribers. Bottom line: Jio’s 5G is now at meaningful scale with rising ARPU, heavier usage, and fast-growing FWA—setting up a monetization phase led by targeted pricing actions, application partnerships, and enterprise services as 5G-Advanced capabilities arrive.

COAI defends India mobile tariff hike amid OTT traffic

COAI defends India mobile tariff hike amid OTT traffic
India’s mobile industry lobby is pushing for tariff corrections as network spending rises faster than service revenues. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) says operators face a growing mismatch between capital outlays and tariff-led returns. By its estimate, the cumulative gap up to 2024 was already around Rs 10,000 crore and is widening in 2025 as data consumption accelerates. COAI argues that a handful of large traffic generators (LTGs) are responsible for most network load without directly contributing to network build costs. Expect a mix of tariff rationalization, plan redesign, and targeted capex as operators chase sustainable returns.

Verizon and AST SpaceMobile Direct-to-Cell Deal for 2026

Verizon and AST SpaceMobile Direct-to-Cell Deal for 2026
Verizon and AST SpaceMobile have advanced their partnership into a definitive commercial agreement to deliver space-based cellular coverage in the United States starting in 2026. The agreement enables Verizon subscribers to connect “when needed” to AST SpaceMobile’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites using standard, unmodified phones. AST says service will focus on coverage gaps across the continental U.S., and will extend Verizon’s premium 850 MHz low-band spectrum into remote areas. AST highlights successful space tests as proof points and positions the network for both commercial and government use.

Telecom Equipment Market Rebounds +4% Global

Telecom Equipment Market Rebounds +4% Global
After two years of decline, telecom equipment spending is edging back into positive territory with early signs of a broad-based rebound. Dell’Oro Group’s preliminary data indicates worldwide telecom equipment revenues across six tracked sectors rose 4% year over year in the first half of 2025, with markets outside China up a stronger 8%. The rebound was not limited to a single pocket of spend, but three areas led the gains: mobile core networks, optical transport, and service provider routers and switches. By contrast, RAN remains comparatively muted in many markets as 5G macro buildouts mature.

Jio at IMC 2025: AI, Safety and 6G Roadmap

Jio at IMC 2025: AI, Safety and 6G Roadmap
At India Mobile Congress 2025, Jio framed a broad agenda that ties devices, networks, AI skills, and safety into a national-scale digital strategy. The message from Jio’s chairman was clear: India’s telecom flywheel now spans the full value chain, from semiconductors and device platforms to fraud management and the next wave of 6G research. Telcos are shifting from pure connectivity to platform businesses that bundle devices, cloud access, security, and AI services. JioPC is positioned as an “AI-ready” computer that turns any screen into a managed endpoint, delivered through a subscription model.

OpenAI Sora 2 AI Video Feed App

OpenAI Sora 2 AI Video Feed App
OpenAI is reportedly preparing a standalone app for its next-gen video model, positioning AI-only short video as a consumer format in its own right. The app reportedly delivers a vertical feed with swipe navigation, reactions, and remixing familiar mechanics that lower friction for discovery and creation. Every clip is generated by Sora 2 rather than uploaded, with current limits around 10 seconds per video. A recommendation engine powers a personalized “For You” experience, aligning with how short-form attention is won and retained today. A notable feature is identity verification tied to likeness usage. Expect provenance signals and watermarking frameworks (for example, C2PA-style manifests) to become table stakes for platforms that remix human likeness at scale.

OpenAI agentic AI shopping challenges Google and Amazon

OpenAI agentic AI shopping challenges Google and Amazon
ChatGPT users in the U.S. can now buy from Etsy sellers without leaving the conversation, with more than a million Shopify merchants “coming soon.” The feature, called Instant Checkout, is available to logged-in Free, Plus, and Pro users. It supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, Stripe, and credit cards. The flow is simple: ask for ideas, get curated products with images, prices, and reviews, tap Buy, confirm shipping and payment, and the merchant fulfills the order using its existing systems. Brands like Glossier, Skims, Spanx, and Vuori are expected to be part of the broader Shopify rollout.

South Korea Sovereign AI Strategy

South Korea Sovereign AI Strategy
South Korea is funding a national AI stack to reduce dependence on foreign models, protect data, and tune AI to its language and industries. The government has committed ₩530 billion (about $390 million) to five companies building large-scale foundation models: LG AI Research, SK Telecom, Naver Cloud, NC AI, and Upstage. Progress will be reviewed every six months, with underperformers cut and resources concentrated on the strongest until two leaders remain. The policy goal is clear: build world-class, Korean-first AI capability that supports national security, economic competitiveness, and data sovereignty. For telecoms and enterprise IT, this is a shift from “consume global models” to “operate domestic AI platforms” integrated with local data, compliance, and services.

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