India: Telecom expansion and Kerala power crisis

India is undergoing significant shifts in its telecommunications and energy sectors. In telecom, the government has reaffirmed that satellite spectrum will be assigned through administrative processes rather than auctions. The sector is also preparing for 5G-Advanced and 6G, with officials aiming to connect 1 billion people on 5G by 2030. Analysts forecast telecom revenue growth of 12-14% by FY27, driven by rising average revenue per user (ARPU) and premiumization.

In Kerala, a severe power crisis has led to widespread outages, causing political tension and public frustration. Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan and Power Minister Sunny Joseph are facing scrutiny as the administration works to address the shortage. Former KSEB chairman Biju Prabhakar attributed the crisis to insufficient investment in generation and storage capacity.

Additionally, Kerala's Chief Minister has called for legislative updates to combat digital piracy and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, such as deepfakes. Meanwhile, Cochin International Airport has introduced a passenger assistance robot to enhance services and promote local culture.