8, Dec 2025
HFCL Honoured with Glotel Award 2025 for MahaKumbh Connectivity Project, Setting New Industry Benchmark
HFCL, a leading Indian telecom company specializing in next-generation technologies such as Wi-Fi, optical fiber and 5G has been honored with Global Telecoms (Glotel) Award in the ‘Project Delivery Perfection category for its large-scale, mission-critical connectivity and backhaul deployment at the MahaKumbh 2025. This accolade recognizes excellence in telecom project execution worldwide, celebrating completed projects that demonstrate outstanding business outcomes through innovation, scale, and flawless delivery.
The MahaKumbh 2025 project was a formidable engineering and operational challenge, executed in partnership with India’s largest mobile operator during the world’s largest religious gathering, a 45-day event in Prayagraj that drew over 660 million pilgrims. To support the unprecedented surge in connectivity demand, HFCL deployed carrier-grade Wi-Fi access points, implemented high-capacity wireless backhaul using Unlicensed Band Radios, and integrated an intelligent surveillance backbone. The successful delivery demonstrated HFCL’s ability to engineer mission-critical solutions at national and global scale, underpinned by “Make-in-India” innovation.
The Glotel Awards, renowned as a global benchmark for telecom excellence, celebrate transformative projects that push boundaries in digital infrastructure, connectivity, and network security. This year Glotel Awards brought together leading telecom players from around the globe at London’s historic Plaisterers’ Hall, celebrating innovation and excellence across 24 competitive categories. Indonesian operator Telkomsel emerged as a major winner with three awards, while Huawei and Netcracker each secured multiple recognitions, reflecting the vibrant global energy and diversity of the telecom industry. Other standout winners included Jio Platforms and Samsung Networks. HFCL’s selection among these top international players underscores the global relevance and competitiveness of India’s telecom capabilities and Make-in-India engineering leadership.
Receiving the Award marks a proud milestone for HFCL, amplifying the company’s values of innovation, reliability, and inclusivity. The project not only strengthened India’s digital ecosystem during a critical cultural event but also established a replicable blueprint for future smart cities and large-scale public infrastructure, demonstrating HFCL’s role as a trusted partner to Tier-1 operators and governments.
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- By Neel Achary
8, Dec 2025
AEIM Breakthrough: In-House Production of Metrology-Grade Sapphire Probes
AEIM Achieves Breakthrough in In-House Production of Metrology-Grade Sapphire Cubes and Spheres for CMM Probes
Artificial Electronics Intelligent Materials Limited (AEIM), a fast-emerging leader in advanced semiconductor materials, precision components, metrology solutions, and next-generation manufacturing technologies, today announced a major technological breakthrough: the successful in-house production of metrology-grade sapphire cubes and spheres for Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) probe sensors.
This milestone places AEIM among an elite group of companies worldwide capable of manufacturing these ultra-high-precision sapphire components, which have historically presented significant materials-engineering and machining challenges due to sapphire’s extreme hardness and the sub-micron tolerances required.
Sapphire cubes and spheres are mission-critical elements in touch-trigger probes, scanning probes, styli, and precision sensor assemblies. Their unparalleled hardness (9 on the Mohs scale), exceptional wear resistance, thermal stability, and optical uniformity make them the material of choice for applications demanding repeatable, long-term accuracy.
The ability to produce these components internally unlocks substantial new revenue streams for AEIM in the fast-growing global CMM consumables market and creates a strategic springboard into the machine tools and full CMM systems segment.
Key Achievements
- First successful in-house production of metrology-grade sapphire cubes and spheres meeting OEM specifications
- Demonstrated mastery of advanced single-crystal sapphire machining and sub-micron finishing techniques
- Immediate access to the multi-million-dollar global market for CMM probe balls, stylus tips, and sensor components
- Significant strengthening of vertical integration and elimination of dependency on foreign suppliers
- Clear technology foundation for future expansion into complete CMM probe systems and machine manufacturing
- All components produced in AEIM’s ISO-class cleanroom facilities, ensuring world-class consistency and traceability
Mr. Vishaal Nandam, Executive Director of AEIM, commented:
“The in-house production of sapphire cubes and precision spheres represents a transformative leap in our metrology and advanced materials capabilities. This breakthrough gives AEIM the technological and cost advantages needed to compete at the highest levels of the global precision-measurement consumables market and accelerates our strategic roadmap into CMM systems and machine tools.”
With this capability now secured, AEIM is uniquely positioned to serve industries that demand the ultimate in measurement accuracy, including aerospace, automotive, semiconductor fabrication, precision tooling, and advanced manufacturing.
About AEIM Artificial Electronics Intelligent Materials Limited (AEIM) is an innovative Indian technology company specializing in advanced semiconductor materials, ultra-precision components, metrology solutions, and next-generation manufacturing technologies. Driven by a commitment to innovation, quality, and self-reliance, AEIM delivers globally competitive products that redefine the boundaries of precision engineering.
6, Dec 2025
NMDC Signs MoU with IIT Kanpur to Strengthen Cybersecurity and Advance Digital Technologies
Hyderabad, Dec 06: In a landmark step towards strengthening industry-academia collaboration, NMDC, India’s largest iron ore producer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, to facilitate new initiatives in the areas of cybersecurity and promote the adoption of modern digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), across NMDC’s operations.
This MoU was signed by Mr. Satyendra Rai, Executive Director (Digital Transformation), on behalf of NMDC, and Prof. Ashoke De, Dean, R&D, IIT Kanpur in the presence of Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, senior officials from NMDC and representatives from IIT Kanpur.
Through this partnership, NMDC will work with IIT Kanpur across key areas such as cybersecurity risk assessments; policy, governance and compliance support; Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) integration and advancement; security operations and incident response; capacity building and knowledge sharing; and joint research and innovation.
Additionally, NMDC and IIT Kanpur will jointly conduct training programmes, undertake research activities, run pilot projects, and co-develop proof-of-concept solutions.
Speaking on this collaboration, Shri Amitava Mukherjee, CMD, NMDC, said,
“This MoU brings IIT Kanpur’s advanced research capabilities in NMDC’s extensive operational ecosystem. This collaboration will help us strengthen our digital defences, improve operational intelligence, and build a secure and future-ready technological foundation for NMDC.”
The MoU reflects NMDC’s commitment to becoming a digitally strong and future-ready mining organisation.
6, Dec 2025
India’s Digital Rights at Risk: Experts Warn X v. Union of India Could Redefine Free Speech Online
New Delhi, Dec 06: The Dialogue, a Delhi-based public policy think tank, convened a high-level discussion analysing the implications of the Karnataka High Court’s recent judgment in X v. Union of India, with a focus on its impact on free speech, due process, and platform governance in India. The panel featured prominent legal and technology experts Vrinda Bhandari (Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India), Sneha Jain (Partner, Saikrishna & Associates) and Aditi Agrawal (technology journalist). The session was moderated by Sachin Dhawan, Deputy Director at The Dialogue.
Opening the discussion, Mr. Dhawan contextualised the judgment within the government’s evolving digital regulatory framework. He noted that although the case pertains specifically to platform X, its implications extend far beyond affecting all intermediaries operating in India and millions of users who rely on these platforms to exercise and experience free speech online.
Intermediary Liability, Safe Harbour & Expanding Takedown Powers
Providing regulatory background, Ms. Agrawal traced the evolution of Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, and Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act. She highlighted how the addition of the phrase “prohibited under any law for the time being in force” has significantly broadened the scope of takedown demands, often compelling platforms to evaluate lawful expression under compressed timelines. Citing her reporting, she outlined a growing trend where content deemed politically sensitive or reputationally damaging is increasingly categorised under “public order”, resulting in heightened pressure on intermediaries to comply.
Expanding on safe harbour protections, Ms. Jain stressed that Section 79 is designed to serve as a shield, not as a tool of executive enforcement. She warned that excessive reliance on Section 79(3)(b) as an informal blocking mechanism risks creating a parallel layer of content restriction outside the constitutionally validated framework of Section 69A. She also raised concerns over the High Court’s stance on locus standi, which prevents platforms from challenging potentially unlawful orders thereby weakening the rights of users who depend on intermediaries to safeguard digital expression.
Constitutional Tensions and The Shreya Singhal Precedent
Offering a constitutional critique, Ms. Bhandari expressed concern at the judgment’s interpretation of the Supreme Court’s decision in Shreya Singhal, noting that the High Court appeared to diminish its relevance due to technological advancements and rule changes despite it remaining binding precedent. Drawing on comparative global jurisprudence, she cautioned against transplanting foreign liability models without aligning them with India’s constitutional protections.
She further emphasised that undermining a platform’s ability to contest takedown orders ultimately erodes Article 19(1)(a) rights for users. The emergence of executive-led, portal-operated mechanisms like the Sahyog portal, she warned, may centralise and obscure censorship pathways, with limited transparency and inadequate procedural safeguards.
The Future of Safe Harbour at a Crossroads
In closing, the panel collectively observed that safe harbour protections in India are at a critical turning point. The rise of opaque, parallel takedown processes coupled with slow judicial recourse risks deepening uncertainty for both platforms and users. The speakers underscored the need for transparent statutory safeguards, proportional enforcement mechanisms, and stronger procedural accountability to protect free expression and ensure a predictable regulatory environment for intermediaries.
5, Dec 2025
LG to Showcase “Innovation in Tune With You” at CES 2026
SEOUL, Dec 5: LG Electronics (LG) invites global audiences to join the LG World Premiere press conference on January 5 at 08:00 (PST) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Under the banner of its CES 2026 theme, “Innovation in Tune With You,” LG will share its vision for elevating daily life through Affectionate Intelligence – delivering harmonized and seamlessly connected customer experiences.
With global media in attendance, LG will unveil a portfolio of AI-powered solutions that combine world-class devices and solutions with advanced AI core technologies. LG is evolving its products into intelligent solutions designed to expand meaningful connectivity between devices, people and spaces. This evolution extends from the home to mobility and urban environments, enabling a more seamless and elevated life journey.
The groundbreaking products revealed and demonstrated during LG World Premiere will be on show throughout CES 2026 at LG’s booth. Along with the latest products and solutions from LG, visitors will be able to explore and enjoy a variety of unique, AI-fueled innovation experiences and immersive, interactive installations aligned with the company’s customer-centered vision and exhibition theme.
5, Dec 2025
TEXMiN & Geotek Launch Drill Core Digitisation Lab at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad
TEXMiN and Geotek (UK) Launch State-of-Art: Drill Core Digitisation Laboratory at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad
New Delhi, Dec 05: In a significant advancement for India’s mineral exploration landscape, the Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN), IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, in collaboration with Geotek Ltd. (UK), inaugurated the TEXMiN–Geotek Drill Core Digitisation Laboratory today at the Institute Innovation Hub (i2h). The facility was formally inaugurated by Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Government of India, in the august presence of Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad & Chairman, Hub Governing Board, TEXMiN Foundation. This pioneering laboratory represents an important milestone in India’s journey towards technologically enabled, data-driven, and transparent mineral exploration, aligning directly with the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and the expanding India–UK innovation partnership.
The establishment of this state-of-the-art laboratory follows a strategic Memorandum of Understanding between TEXMiN and Geotek. Through this collaboration, both organisations aim to introduce globally accredited, non-destructive, multi-sensor geological core analysis technologies in India. The laboratory will support exploration agencies, PSUs, private mining operators, academic researchers, and startups by providing access to advanced, digitised core logging and analysis infrastructure. By harnessing automated workflows, integrated sensor technologies, and digital datasets, the laboratory will enhance precision, reduce dependency on manual interpretation, and accelerate decision-making in areas essential for India’s future, particularly in critical minerals that power green energy, electric vehicles, defence systems, and advanced manufacturing.
A major technological highlight of the laboratory is Geotek’s BoxScan platform, which has been deployed at TEXMiN to enable comprehensive digital scanning of drill cores and chip boxes. BoxScan combines high-resolution photography, hyperspectral mineral identification, geochemical characterisation using pXRF, magnetic and structural analysis, and depth-linked digital output generation. Its field-deployable design, automated calibration systems, and modular architecture allow a single operator to generate multiple geological datasets simultaneously with exceptional accuracy and repeatability. This capability marks a paradigm shift from traditional exploration practices to real-time, high-fidelity subsurface intelligence that can be used for predictive modelling, resource classification, and exploration automation.
Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad & Project Director, TEXMiN Foundation, stated:
“India is entering a defining phase in the critical minerals landscape, and strengthening our exploration capability is central to this shift. Through this laboratory, we are not just enabling access to high-quality geological intelligence—we are advancing towards data-backed certainty, faster discovery cycles, and globally competitive innovation born in India. This initiative will support our energy ambitions, strategic industries and the future of mineral research in the country.”
Mr. Tom White, Managing Director, Geotek Ltd. (UK), emphasised the global significance of the partnership. He observed,
“For over two decades, Geotek has helped explorers across the world unlock geological value. Our partnership with TEXMiN brings world-class core digitisation to India, enabling faster decisions, reduced risks, and a new standard of exploration excellence. BoxScan at IIT(ISM) is not just equipment; it represents a transformation in how India understands and utilises its mineral wealth.”
Dr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India, highlighted the broader diplomatic and technological implications. He remarked,
“This collaboration embodies the spirit of the India–UK science and technology partnership. Critical minerals are foundational to future economies, and this initiative reinforces our shared commitment to innovation-led, secure, and sustainable mineral supply chains.”
The inauguration of the TEXMiN–Geotek Drill Core Digitisation Laboratory positions India among the leading nations leveraging digital geology for strategic minerals. It reinforces TEXMiN’s role as a national hub for Mining 4.0 transformation and strengthens India’s preparedness for the material demands of the global clean energy transition. As critical minerals increasingly define geopolitical and industrial futures, this initiative provides India with the scientific infrastructure and technological foresight required to secure its strategic autonomy.
4, Dec 2025
SUNROOOF Launches India’s First Wellness Lighting E-Commerce Platform
Mumbai, Dec 04: India’s wellness technology landscape is rapidly advancing, with lighting now recognized as a crucial contributor to health-focused spaces. SUNROOOF, India’s pioneering wellness lighting brand specializing in scientifically developed daylight solutions, has launched its e-commerce platform to enable access to premium human-centric lighting for residential, commercial, and institutional environments in India & UAE.
The platform enables customers to explore a thoughtfully curated portfolio of daylighting solutions designed to elevate mood, enhance productivity, regulate day-to-day rhythms, and improve overall well-being. With intelligent product recommendations and personalized expert guidance, SUNROOOF ensures that every space, regardless of layout or location, can experience the science-backed benefits of sunlight.
In a remarkable trajectory, SUNROOOF has achieved INR 15 crore revenue within just 12 months and is targeting to achieve INR 50 crore this year, driven by its expansion into larger markets and high-value projects.
“Today, we’re fundamentally changing how customers experience SUNROOOF. Our e-commerce platform eliminates the friction from discovery to purchase you can now explore designs, check if they fit your space with exact measurements, and make an informed decision, all in minutes. Whether you’re a homeowner or architect, every piece of information you need is at your fingertips. We’ve made it incredibly simple: browse designs, pick your size, select your colour, and start your wellness lighting journey with just a ₹5,000 booking. This is about removing barriers and making transformative lighting accessible to everyone,” said Mr. Ishat Jain, Co-Founder, SUNROOOF.
To deliver a seamless digital-to-physical experience, SUNROOOF offers:
- End-to-end consultations with certified wellness lighting specialists
- Multiple design and customization options to suit diverse spaces
- A dedicated point of contact for smooth execution and installation
- Convenient EMI and secure payment options, including the ability to book with INR 5,000 under the SUNROOOF Easy Payments Plan.
With this launch, SUNROOOF is setting a new benchmark in the wellness technology category turning natural light into a lifestyle essential rather than a luxury.
3, Dec 2025
PhonePe’s Indus Appstore and Motorola India announce Partnership
Dec, 3: Indus Appstore, India’s homegrown Android app marketplace, announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Motorola. This partnership enables Indus Appstore to be available on Motorola devices in India. It enables wider distribution for Indus Appstore and delivers a personalised app discovery experience to Motorola users in India.
Indus Appstore offers Indian consumers a meaningful alternative in the app ecosystem, designed specifically around user preference and the country’s diverse cultural context. The platform is committed to reaching every Indian smartphone user by offering the experience in 12 Indian languages and English, complete with an AI-powered voice search feature that bypasses the need for typing complex vernacular compositions. Additionally, the video previews feature allows users to visually experience an app’s functionality before downloading.
Indus Appstore creates a favourable environment for developers and apps in India with its fair app store policies. It reduces dependency on a single source of distribution and has paved the way for a viable, competitive alternative. This will only empower and enable an increasing number of local developers and catalyze the Indian developer ecosystem to succeed on the global stage.
Priya M Narasimhan, Chief Business Officer, Indus Appstore expressed her excitement on this landmark development saying;
“We are delighted to partner with Motorola to offer an extended set of Indians seamless access to the Indus Appstore experience, reinforcing our commitment to serving the entire breadth of the Indian market. The app store, that truly embodies the Made-for-India spirit, is looking at an inflection point to revolutionise the Indian app economy. The partnership solidifies our effort to offer Indians a meaningful, viable alternative to not just download but discover regionally relevant apps.”
Sharing the excitement T M Narasimhan, Managing Director, Motorola Mobility India said;
“At Motorola, we have always prioritized delivering a premium and locally relevant experience to our users in India, and Indus Appstore perfectly fits this vision. By integrating this homegrown platform, we are offering an innovative app discovery medium that enriches our users’ experience that is culturally relevant. This partnership holds the added advantage of supporting Indian developers by connecting them with the right users through Indus Appstore’s unique distribution model.”
29, Nov 2025
Theia Ventures Leads Pre-Seed Round in Lemnisca to Accelerate AI-Driven Biomanufacturing
Bengaluru, Nov 29:- Theia Ventures, India’s specialist early-stage fund focused on AI, deeptech, energy transition, and decarbonization, today announced that it has led a pre-seed investment in Lemnisca, an emerging Bio-AI company developing intelligent systems to scale biomanufacturing. The round also saw participation from PointOne Capital and Dr. Satakarni Makkapati, supporting Lemnisca’s Bengaluru lab, AI platform development, and early pilot projects to scale sustainable bioproduction. The investment reinforces Theia’s commitment to backing transformative technologies that enable sustainable industrial production.
Lemnisca is building an AI companion for fermentation, enabling manufacturers to scale bioprocesses faster, more predictably, and efficiently. As industries transition to renewable feedstocks and biological alternatives to petrochemicals, scalable biomanufacturing has become critical. While AI has accelerated molecule discovery, the challenge lies in taking innovations from lab to industrial scale reliably and quickly. Lemnisca’s science-aware AI couples wet-lab experimentation with dry-lab modeling, creating a continuously learning system that enhances efficiency, predictability, and reliability in biomanufacturing.
The company will initially partner with fermentation-led manufacturers and simultaneously build its own internal product pipeline. Lemnisca aims to reduce development timelines by up to 50%, improve operating efficiency by 25%, and accelerate adoption of renewable and waste-carbon feedstocks. The company is inviting pilot collaborations and strategic partnerships with CDMOs, OEMs/SIs, and global ingredient brands.
Priya Shah, Partner, Theia Ventures, said;
“We are delighted to be early partners in Lemnisca’s journey. Biomanufacturing today needs advanced digital simulators to predict microbial processes before reaching industrial scale. The team brings rich practical experience to develop a product with significant impact, particularly in nutraceutical markets.”
Pushkar Pendse, Co-founder & CEO, Lemnisca, added;
“Our goal is simple: make biomanufacturing the default global manufacturing mode. We are building a digital operating system that takes biology from lab to factory, making scale-up faster, smarter, and globally accessible.”
Shilpa Nargund, Co-founder & CTO, Lemnisca, said;
“We are rethinking everything, from lab workflows to model architectures, to ensure fewer surprises at scale and faster, repeatable success.”
This is Theia Ventures’ third investment from its new fund, anchored by British International Investment, following investments in Sarla Aviation (electric aircraft) and Climitra Carbon (biochar for the steel industry). The fund has committed to three additional investments within this financial year.
28, Nov 2025
Lexar Strengthens India’s AI Ecosystem with Next-Gen High-Performance Memory
Lexar Empowers India’s Evolving AI Ecosystem With Its Next-Generation High-Performance Memory Portfolio
Lexar, a globally recognized top third brand in flash memory solutions, is empowering the future of storage innovation in India as the country witnesses a steep rise in the adoption of AI-embedded devices across consumer, industrial, and professional segments. With AI rapidly reshaping the way India creates, works, and consumes content, the demand for high-speed, reliable, and large-capacity storage solutions has reached an all-time high.
Multiple factors are accelerating this shift in India, including the increasing integration of AI into smartphones, consumer electronics, automobiles, and industrial automation. Government-led programmes such as Make in India and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme are further strengthening domestic semiconductor manufacturing and R&D. Additionally, contributing to this demand are rapidly advancing AI-optimized chips and SoC designs, edge computing devices. There is equally a rapid demand for embedded AI into IoT devices used to power edge computing for real-time processing, driving the need for efficient and powerful memory solutions.
Recognising these industry-wide transitions, Lexar is advancing its presence in India with a comprehensive portfolio engineered for creators, gamers, imaging professionals, and AI-driven workflows. From memory cards and portable SSDs to high-speed NVMe internal SSDs, Lexar’s 2025 lineup is built to support the country’s increasingly data-intensive environment.
Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Fissal Oubida, General Manager, India, Middle East, Africa & CIS, Lexar Co., said,
“India is entering a new phase of digital transformation where AI-enabled devices are becoming mainstream across consumer and industrial applications. This rapid shift demands storage solutions that offer speed, capacity, and reliability at scale. Lexar’s high-performance portfolio is engineered to address these evolving needs, whether it is advanced imaging, 8K video workflows, mobile content creation, AI development, or next-gen gaming. We remain committed to empowering India’s growing digital ecosystem with products that deliver exceptional performance and long-term dependability.”
To address these evolving requirements, Lexar has introduced its latest 2025 product range in India, which includes details of the brand’s high-performance memory cards, internal SSDs, and portable SSDs:
Next-Gen Memory Cards for Intelligent Imaging
Lexar’s new range of SD, microSD, and CFexpress cards is designed for AI-assisted imaging, drones, high-resolution photography, and 4K/8K content workflows. With high read/write speeds, rugged construction, and large capacities, these cards enable smooth processing, faster file transfers, and stable performance for creators and professionals.
Internal SSDs Optimized for AI and Heavy Workloads
The 2025 SSD line-up delivers top-tier speed and system responsiveness essential for AI applications, ML workloads, gaming, real-time rendering, and high-resolution editing. Faster boot times, reduced latency, and improved stability ensure seamless performance across modern computing setups.
Portable SSDs (PSSD) for Mobile Professional Use
With creators increasingly working in hybrid and mobile environments, Lexar’s Portable SSDs offer high-speed transfers, robust security features, and compact designs suitable for field use. These PSSDs support large data movement, high-resolution content handling, and mobile AI workflows with ease.
As India continues to expand in sectors such as content creation, gaming, manufacturing, e-commerce, mobility, and enterprise digitization, the need for reliable high-performance storage solutions has increased sharply. Lexar’s technologies are designed to meet these changing demands while maintaining consistent performance under heavy workloads. With a strong channel ecosystem, industry partnerships, and ongoing product innovation, Lexar is focused on expanding its presence in India and providing advanced memory and storage solutions to both consumers and professionals.
