Category Archives: News

When AI Empowers Both Networks and Hackers: The New Battlefield for India’s Telecoms

Attributed to Sundar Balasubramanian, Managing Director, Check Point Software Technologies, India & South Asia

Telecommunications—always an important utility—has become the critical backbone of our digital economy. It supports everything from emergency response systems and banking to generative AI and smart cities. However, the world is navigating a powerful intersection of opportunity and risk and with this transformation comes heightened vulnerability.

Cyber attackers are no longer targeting only data—they’re aiming for the very infrastructure that keeps societies connected. The Global Telecom Outlook 2024–2028 by PwC reports that telecom revenues rose 4.3% in 2023 to US$1.14 trillion but are expected to grow slower at a 2.9% CAGR through 2028, below inflation. Rising cyber threats and compliance costs could further challenge profitability, making strong cybersecurity essential for sustainable growth. As we celebrated World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025, we take a look at this key critical infrastructure sector and how AI can be a double-edged sword for today’s telecommunications providers.

A Strategic Cyber Target – Telecommunications Sector

In the 1Q of 2025, the telecommunications sector experienced the highest percentage increase in weekly cyber attacks, with a 94% jump, reaching 2,664 attacks per organization weekly according to Check Point Research, with the expectation for this to rise.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 report also acknowledged that from large-scale state-sponsored cyber espionage via telecommunications infrastructure to the targeting of satellites and undersea cables, geopolitical tensions continue to manifest through the increasing number of attacks on critical communications infrastructure. Undersea cables are crucial for facilitating not just the flow of global data but also the corresponding economic exchange. Their strategic role makes them vulnerable to monitoring and disruption, especially with limited defense measures and rising geopolitical tensions.

Incidents experienced since April has seen India experiencing a series of coordinated cyber activities believed to be linked to groups based in Pakistan, such as APT36 and Team Insane PK. These incidents have impacted sectors including telecommunications, involving tactics ranging from website defacements to ransomware and data breaches. Experts have also raised concerns about the importance of enhanced cyber security measures and increased public awareness.

This continued rise in cyber attacks on this critical infrastructure are driven by a few factors :

• Growing reliance on digital infrastructure such as 5G deployments have massively expanded the digital attack surface, especially through edge computing nodes.
• Telecoms are increasingly integrating AI and automation, creating new vulnerabilities in service delivery, data flow, and customer interactions.
• State-sponsored actors now view telecom infrastructure as a soft entry point to disrupt national economies, gather intelligence, or sow chaos, making this critical infrastructure a prime target for cyber criminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities.

 The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) classified telecom as a top-priority critical infrastructure sector in its Threat Landscape Report 2024, a trend now echoed in over 85 countries globally.

Without (Tele)Communications, A Quiet Place

The potential impact of a compromised telecom system extends far beyond just inconvenience. Cyber attacks on the telecommunications can paralyze national services, derail emergency responses, and cripple financial operations, besides just halting the ability for citizens to contact one another.

Societal chaos was evident a few years ago ,when in India, a BEC (business email compromise) attack on a telco vendor led to the leakage of over 12 million mobile subscriber records, including geolocation, which were later exploited in targeted phishing campaigns.

This is more than just an isolated incident, that can be seen as an early warning. As countries digitize critical infrastructure and societies become reliant on digital services, telecom outages caused by cyber attacks can lead to national economic disruption, erosion of public trust, and at worst, in extreme cases, to loss of life.

The AI Factor: Double-Edged Sword for Telcos

AI is transforming telecom operations worldwide. According to the KPMG India IMC Report 2024, 55% of Indian telecom companies have deployed AI at scale, with 37% actively expanding their use. Despite challenges like talent shortages and costs, 65% of Indian CXOs view generative AI as a critical driver of long-term growth. A 2024 study by Nvidia1 found that nearly 90% of telecom companies use AI, with 48% in the piloting phase and 41% actively deploying AI. Most telecom service providers (53%) agree or strongly agree that adopting AI would provide a competitive advantage. Additionally, satellite communications in India is poised for growth, supported by anticipated policy and regulatory updates.

However, as telcos ramp up their use of AI, so do cyber attackers, leveraging it for unprecedented scale and precision. For example, with chatbots now handling a growing amount of telco customer interactions, these bots are now being targeted for prompt injection and social engineering.

In Hong Kong in 2024, a British multinational engineering firm was reportedly scammed out of $25 million (approximately HK$200 million) through a deepfake scam involving an employee in the Hong Kong office. This employee was tricked into transferring the funds to five local bank accounts via 15 transactions after receiving video conference calls from individuals posing as senior company officers.

Building Security into Every Layer

Whilst governments around the world have noticeably started to collaborate to ensure the critical infrastructure sector of telecommunications is receiving greater attention for security, it’s clear more needs to be done.

The Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, introduced under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, mark a major step in enhancing India’s telecom security. Replacing the 2017 rules, they aim to combat rising cyber threats by mandating telecom entities to adopt robust cyber security policies, conduct regular audits, and appoint a Chief Telecommunication Security Officer (CTSO). Entities must report cyber incidents within six hours and establish Security Operations Centres (SOCs) for real-time threat management. The government is empowered to collect non-content telecom data for security purposes, with prescribed safeguards. However, concerns remain over broad definitions, potential overreach, lack of procedural clarity, high compliance costs, and unclear alignment with existing IT laws. While the rules bolster security, experts call for clearer guidelines, privacy protections, and support for smaller players to ensure balanced enforcement.

In the Asia–Pacific region, countries such as Japan and Singapore are strengthening their cyber laws, with Japan’s Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) and Singapore’s Cybersecurity Act reinforcing compliance for critical infrastructure operators..

But to combat evolving threats, telecom providers must go beyond compliance and adopt cyber security as a core strategic function. That includes:

1. AI red teaming – Simulating attacks on AI-based systems to identify weaknesses before adversaries do.
2. Voice biometrics & real-time analysis – To detect AI deepfake audio or spoofed communications.
3. Advanced threat prevention –Harnessing AI-driven solutions such as Check Point GenAI Protect, AI Cloud Protect, and ThreatCloud AI to enable real-time prevention across all environments—including on-premises, DevSecOps, cloud, applications, and workspaces. In addition, continuous threat exposure and risk assessment analysis is integral to achieving a fully automated and adaptive threat prevention strategy.

 In regions like Southeast Asia, some telcos have already partnered with Check Point to implement cloud-native threat detection and secure SD-WAN policies across their 5G rollout zones. In one case, incident response times were reduced by 30% within six months, drastically improving business continuity.

Resilience is the New Bandwidth

As the world races toward full digital transformation, telecom networks are the threads weaving everything together. But smart, connected systems can also collapse at scale if not adequately protected. In 2025 and beyond, we must treat cyber security in telecom not as an IT line item, but as a pillar of national and global security.

Telecommunication is the circulatory system of our digital world. But as AI accelerates and cyber adversaries become more sophisticated, the risk of systemic failure grows. The future of telecom resilience depends on whether we can secure what we innovate—and whether our defenses evolve faster than the threats we face.

C Com Digital and FRAT Launch Collaborative Campaign to Promote Early Autism Diagnosis

Mumbai, 20/5/25: C Com Digital a techno digital agency from India, delivered an impactful campaign for Religen Inc., a USA-based company, and its product, the Folate Receptor Antibody Test (FRAT®). This campaign combines science, strategy, and storytelling and has successfully impacted the conversation around autism in the USA and reached over a million people with the appropriate messaging.

 With more than 15,000 individuals tested and over 52% showing the presence of Folate Receptor Autoantibodies—a condition often linked to cerebral folate deficiency—FRAT® offers a new lens in the early diagnosis of autism. C Com Digital understood the client’s needs and created a campaign that could amplify the insights through viral social content, high-performing infographics, animated explainers, and physician-targeted blogs. This campaign reached over 1 million users while cutting cost-per-click by half and driving a 754% surge in new users.

 What set this effort apart was its ability to humanise complex science without compromising its credibility. A single user testimonial on TikTok, detailing a child’s transformation post-diagnosis, went viral, garnering 800 K+ views and tens of thousands of shares.

 Speaking about this, Chandan Bagwe, Founder/Director of C Com Digital, said, “This was more than just a campaign; it was a mission. While we led the digital execution, the insights and support from FRAT®, medical experts, and families made this a truly collaborative project. It demonstrated how storytelling and science can work hand-in-hand to create real awareness and action.”

 Furthermore, Bhushan Sawant, Founder of Religen Inc., said, “C Com Digital played a key role in crafting the campaign’s messaging and outreach, and the results speak for themselves. Their understanding of healthcare communication helped us engage with families and professionals meaningfully.”

 Beyond digital traction, the campaign engaged autism support groups, offline advocacy platforms like the National TACA Conference, and initiatives like the #BlueBucketPledge to build collective momentum. From community pledges to professional forums, the message was consistent: early diagnosis changes outcomes.

 With over 1 million individuals reached, the FRAT® awareness campaign has set a benchmark for how collaborative healthcare communications can promote preventive diagnostics in the public sphere.

MMCM Leads The Industry With First-of-its Kind Event: Rewards early RVSFs for ELV Credit Project| Press Release

20th May, 2025, India — In a breakthrough for India’s green economy, Meta Materials Circular Markets (MMCM), one of India’s leading envirotech enterprise pioneering circular economy solutions in the sector automotive launched the pilot phase of the ELV Credit Project in New Delhi. Showcased in pilot partnership with two leading Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) — MTC Group and Rosmerta Auto Recycling Pvt. Ltd., the recognition is pegged to the first-of-its-kind in the industry that transforms vehicle recycling into verified climate action.

The recognition was announced at “Advancing Circularity: Through Carbon Credits, EPR & Traceability,” a workshop by MMCM in association with the Material Recycling Association of India, Carbon Markets Association, and India EPR Association.

Key stakeholders including Mrs. Youthika Puri (Divisional Head – E-Waste & WM-III, Central Pollution Control Board ), Mr. V.P. Yadav (Director, Central Pollution Control Board), Mr. I.V. Rao (Distinguished Fellow – Transport & Urban Governance,TERI), Mr. Dhanish Goyal (Chairman, India EPR Association), Dr. Ashok Kumar (President, Recycling & Environment Industry Association of India; Vice Chairman, Greenscape Eco Management Pvt. Ltd) and Mr. Rohit Kumar (Secretary General, Carbon Markets Association of India), amongst others convened to promote traceable recycling, carbon credit generation, and circularity in India’s end-of-life vehicle sector.

At the heart of the event was a financial incentive distribution — a landmark moment where the two initial partner RVSFs received rewards directly derived from the monetization of verified environmental data (ELV credits) from end-of-life vehicle (ELV) dismantling and material recovery.

Speaking on the intent of the Carbon Project, Mr. Nitin Chitkara, CEO of MMCM said, “The ELV Carbon Project marks a defining moment for India’s transition to a circular and low-carbon economy. By embedding transparency, traceability, and verified climate impact into end-of-life vehicle recycling, we envision to set a new benchmark for sustainable industry practices. The goal is not just to manage waste—but to redefine it as a verified contributor to national climate commitments and global sustainability goals.”

The ELV Carbon Project aims to convert ELV data into 100% traceable, blockchain-verified carbon credits, directly addressing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions for OEMs, financiers, and recyclers. The pilot demonstrated that formal recyclers can become verified contributors to India’s voluntary carbon markets, while also ensuring eco-friendly ELV processing.

Mr. Yashodhan Ramteke, Carbon Business Unit Head at MMCM, shared key insights from the pilot, and added. “During this phase, we were honored to collaborate with IIT Bombay, whose expertise in sustainable systems brought depth and credibility to our model. Our partnership with Hedera and use of the Guardian framework enabled us to digitize a blended methodology — rooted in UN CDM standards AMS-III.AJ and AMS-III.BA — to ensure transparency and traceability through blockchain-backed dMRV.”

MMCM acknowledged the contribution of MTC Group and Rosmerta Auto Recycling Pvt. Ltd for their early leadership. With 19 more RVSFs already onboarded for the next phase, MMCM is preparing to scale the initiative with a larger recognition ceremony planned in the near future. The project underscores India’s growing leadership in automotive circularity, digital decarbonization, and climate innovation — proof that every bit of traceable action counts.

ASCI Releases Whitepaper on Opinion Trading: Calls for Regulatory Clarity Amidst Growing Concerns

Mumbai, May 20, 2025: The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has released a whitepaper titled “Examining Opinion Trading in India,” shedding light on the emerging area of opinion trading /prediction markets and the need for regulatory clarity around this rapidly growing sector. As per the National Initiative for Consumer Interest (NICI), these platforms have over 50 million users and transactions exceeding INR 50,000 crore annually. Opinion platforms engage users to make monetary bets on binary (yes/no) outcomes of real-world events ranging from sports to politics.

Globally, opinion trading is regulated either as a financial instrument, or under gambling laws. In India, SEBI has already issued an advisory dated April 29th, 2025 cautioning the public that “… opinion trading does not fall within regulatory purview of SEBI, as what is traded is not security…”. There are several public interest litigations and the courts are also evaluating its standing in the country.

ASCI has come across advertising from various players both global and local, as well as influencers on social media that promote opinion trading as knowledge and skill based games. However, analysis of such posts reveals that some of these appear to be pure speculation and can pose financial risks – especially for young and financially vulnerable groups.

ASCI has called for regulatory clarity on the status of such activities in India. If such activities and their advertising are permitted, then certain advertising guidelines need to be developed to safeguard consumers. However if such activities are not legally permissible, then all stakeholders need to establish mechanisms to monitor any violations of the law.

Besides seeking clarity on the legal status of opinion trading, the whitepaper spotlights the current advertising practices and applicability of existing laws, as well as examines regulatory approaches to similar services in other countries.

Ms. Manisha Kapoor, CEO & Secretary General of ASCI, said, “Opinion trading platforms raise serious concerns as their structure and mechanics closely resemble betting in some instances, and can expose consumers to significant financial risk. The advertising that accompanies these platforms often heightens the risk, with exaggerated claims of easy winnings and false assurances of reliability. No disclaimers cautioning consumers are provided. ASCI’s whitepaper highlights these risks and urges urgent regulatory clarity so appropriate steps can be taken to protect consumers from potential harm.”

‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ Opens to Blockbuster Weekend, Becomes Biggest Hollywood Opener of 2025: PVR INOX

By- Mr. Gautam Dutta, CEO- Revenue & Operations, PVR INOX Ltd.

“There are very few franchises that have consistently delivered edge-of-the-seat entertainment for nearly three decades, and Mission: Impossible stands tall among them. The film has opened to blockbuster numbers, recording a phenomenal 50% occupancy over the opening weekend, making it the biggest Hollywood opener of 2025. The excitement around The Final Reckoning truly reflects the enduring love for the franchise and Tom Cruise’s unparalleled commitment to delivering cinematic excellence. Given the legacy of Ethan Hunt and the iconic action sequences that define the series, this film is more than just a finale—it’s a celebration of the cinematic experience itself.

At PVR INOX, we are thrilled to be the destination where fans can immerse themselves in this high-octane farewell, experiencing the sheer scale, spectacle, and thrill that the big screen was made for. We are confident that it will continue to break records and keep audiences captivated.”

KIIT World School students excel in CBSE 10th and 12th board exams

Gurugram: Students of KIIT World School, Sohna Road, have excelled in the Class XII and Class X exams conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Yoshita Mehta from Humanities stream of Class XII emerged as the topper of the school with an impressive score of 95%. Manashi Choubey from Commerce stream secured second position with 94.2% marks and Yuvraj Gaur secured third position with 93.8% marks.

The school proudly announces a 100% pass rate in CBSE Class X exams. The overall average score is 76%, which reflects the dedication and hard work of both students and teachers. Tanishka Singh of Class X scored 91.2% with 456 marks, Abhishek Kumar Sinha scored 90.8% with 454 marks and Aarav Verma scored 90.4% with 452 marks.

Expressing pride in the exceptional achievements of the students, Neelima Kamrah, Principal, KIIT World School said, “The success of our students reflects their unwavering dedication and the constant support of our faculty. This achievement highlights the strength of our holistic educational approach. The focus of the school will always be on holistic education, enabling students to excel academically and personally.”

Finnair offers a record number of flights to Lapland next winter

New Delhi, 20 May 2025: Next winter, Finnair will offer a record amount of capacity to Finnish Lapland and will increase weekly frequencies to the popular winter destinations Rovaniemi, Ivalo and Kittilä. The additional services are concentrated on the busiest travel days around the weekend, when most of the rental cottages have their changeover day, for example.

“We are happy to be able to offer our customers even more comprehensive connections to all our Lapland destinations throughout the winter. The additional flights will be focused especially on the high season from December to February, but we have also added flights in March, thus supporting the whole winter travel season”, says Perttu Jolma, Vice President, Network, Finnair.

Finnair, also known as Santa’s official airline, will have up to 72 weekly flights to Rovaniemi next winter, 10 flights more than last winter. During the busiest season, the airline will fly to Rovaniemi up to 16 times a day on Saturdays and 14 times a day on Sundays.

Kittilä, which is popular among travellers heading to, for example, Levi and Ylläs, will have up to 41 weekly flights this winter, seven flights more than last winter. During the busiest weeks, Finnair flies to Kittilä up to eight times a day on Saturdays and Sundays. Finnair’s northernmost Finnish destination, Ivalo, will be operated up to 33 times a week, with additional flights on Saturdays and Sundays.

In addition to Lapland, Finnair will also add two additional frequencies for Saturday and one for Sunday to Kuusamo, a popular winter destination in Eastern Finland.

Request for listing Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra presents ‘Kendra Dance Festival’ reference May 25th, 27th and 29th, 2025

Sunday, May 25th, 2025 : MEERA, a journey of Liberation and Enlightenment

An embodiment of fearless devotion and unwavering inner strength, Meera brings to life the spiritual odyssey of the poet-saint who defied societal norms in pursuit of divine truth. Through evocative Rajasthani and Gujarati folk movements, this production draws from the meticulous documentation of folklorist Komal Kothari, capturing not just a woman’s voice but a nation’s inner compass—resilience rooted in faith.

Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 : PARIKRAMA, the journey of the Atman

Choreographed in the martial and expressive styles of Mayurbhanj Chhau and Kalaripayattu, Parikrama delves into the elemental cycle of existence—life, death, and rebirth—mirroring the nation’s capacity to regenerate with strength after every trial. Inspired by the Panch Tattvas and layered with insights from the Padma Purana, the production is a meditative journey that resonates deeply in times of renewal and reflection.

Thursday, May 29th, 2025 : KARNA, the Marginalised Hero of Mahabharata

A deeply layered portrayal of honour and identity, Karna revisits the life of one of Mahabharata’s most tragic heroes, who struggled between duty, loyalty, and truth. Drawing from Rashmi Rathi by National Poet Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’, and choreographed in the raw intensity of Chhau and Kalaripayattu, Karna finds new resonance today—as it embodies the virtues of courage, sacrifice, and complex morality, qualities India has demonstrated on and off the battlefield.

The above productions are Produced and Directed by Padmashri Shobha Deepak Singh (Chairperson – Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra).

HCG Hospitals Ahmedabad promotes Preventive Heart Health with a Week-Long BP & ECG Free Screening Camp

Ahmedabad, May 20, 2025: HCG Hospitals Ahmedabad, organized a week-long free BP and ECG free Check-up Drive from May 17 to May 24, 2025, along with a special awareness Health Talk Session on Blood Pressure and Its Complications to support the objectives of World Hypertension Day 2025. The drive, conducted within the hospital premises, aimed to raise awareness about the importance of regular blood pressure monitoring for everyone above the age of 20 and the imperative need to prevent cardiovascular complications—a silent and growing health concern, observed across age groups, in recent years.

 This initiative featured dedicated booths for comprehensive blood pressure and ECG screenings. The initiative aimed at raising awareness and encouraging the public—particularly those with risk factors, or a family history of heart disease—to proactively assess their cardiovascular health.

 Leading interventional cardiologists from HCG Dr. Bhupesh R. Shah and Dr. Jay Shah were the Chief Speakers at the Health Talk Session held as part of the initiative. They provided valuable insights and guidance on the theme, “Blood Pressure and Its Complications” and stressed the importance of ‘knowing your numbers’. Hypertension has emerged as a silent threat, accompanied by negligible or no noticeable symptoms, but fraught with significant risks to health and the potential to trigger serious conditions, such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure.

 Dr. Bhupesh R. Shah, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, HCG Hospitals, Ahmedabad, said: “Hypertension isn’t just a medical condition—it’s a wake-up call. In today’s fast-paced urban scenario, stress, improper diet, and inactivity have become part of lifestyle routines. Unless we make conscious health-monitoring choices and stay aware of our numbers, high blood pressure will continue to silently erode our health. Awareness is only the first step; taking charge through regular check-ups and healthier habits is what will induce a tangible difference.”

 At HCG Hospital, preventive care is the cornerstone of our commitment to community health. Recognizing that conditions, such as hypertension often go undiagnosed until they cause severe complications, the hospital believes in taking proactive steps to educate the public. By conducting informative awareness initiatives and offering accessible screening programs, HCG aims to empower individuals to take charge of their health before problems arise—especially in fast-paced urban environments, where lifestyle-related health risks are on the rise.

 Dr. Jay Shah, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, HCG Hospitals, Ahmedabad shared: “Hypertension is often called the silent killer because it shows no clear symptoms until serious damage has occurred. That’s why early detection through regular screenings is not just important, but life-saving. The large turnout for this initiative demonstrates growing awareness, and we hope it will encourage more people to proactively monitor their heart health before complications arise.”

 Participants who attended the free health screening camp and health talk are eligible for an exclusive discounted Cardiac Health Check-up package, valid for a period of one week following the event.

 HCG Hospitals Ahmedabad

HCG Hospitals Ahmedabad has dedicated itself to the goal of providing quality healthcare services to patients to restore their health, as holistically as possible. This multispecialty hospital unit was established in 2007, inspired by the principles of compassion, caring, and community partnership. HCG Hospitals strive to find innovative ways to elevate the quality of patient care by setting exceptional standards, implementing optimal and advanced treatment protocols, and ensuring both compassion and comfort, while leveraging the latest technology in executing every aspect of patient care.

 At HCG Hospitals, our six Centers of Excellence — Cardiac Sciences, Spine Surgery, Neurosciences, Bone & Joint Care, Emergency & Critical Care, and Internal Medicine — reflect our unwavering commitment to quality healthcare. Every step we take is centered around patient care and comfort, ensuring excellence in every experience.

Dulquer Salmaan’s Multilingual Line-up Promises a Stellar Year Ahead

Dulquer Salmaan is all set to light up screens across the country with a power-packed slate of films in three different languages—each offering a fresh glimpse into the ever-evolving world of one of India’s most versatile stars.

First up is Aakasam Lo Oka Tara in Telugu—a film that explores love, longing and destiny through a poetic, romantic lens. Known for his effortless charm and emotional depth, Dulquer returns to Telugu cinema in a role that promises to tug at the heartstrings.

Next, he makes a much-awaited return to Malayalam cinema with Kaantha. This marks his comeback to his home industry after a significant gap, and the anticipation is sky-high. Early buzz suggests Kaantha is shaping up to be a gripping, layered drama that may well be his next big multilingual hit in 4 different languages.

Rounding off the trio is I’m Game, a bilingual Tamil-Hindi project that dives into the world of high-stakes action and thrill. It’s a genre shift that perfectly fits Dulquer’s ability to adapt, surprise, and completely own the screen—no matter the language.

Three industries. Three unique narratives. Dulquer Salmaan is not just acting—he’s transcending borders and storytelling styles, reminding us once again why he’s one of Indian cinema’s most exciting leading men.