iWorld
BSNL plans increased connectivity in Karnataka
BANGALORE: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) plans to take more fixed line and mobile connections to villages in Karnataka, by providing one connection each to around 1500 villages that have a population of 2000 or more.
Whilst approximately 600 villages have already been provided with connections, the rest would be connected by March 2006. CDMA mobile connections would also be taken to more towns, villages and rural areas in the state.
According to BSNL Karnataka circle chief general manager Rama Ganapathi, plans are afoot to increase the CellOne connections to 1.6 million from the present 740,000 approximate connections in the circle. Ganapathi also revealed that tele-density had increased from 4 percent in 1996 to 26.2 percent presently in the urban areas, and from 0.3 percent to 1.74 percent in the rural areas. BSNL is making efforts for phone on demand, though presently there was a wait list of 92,000.
A proposal has been put forth before the state government to develop a wide area network (WAN) for all their e-governance projects up to the taluk level.
As per media reports, landline, WLL and cellular ISD call rates to SAARC countries, Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia are set to fall by 33 percent starting Saturday. A 25 per cent cut on leased lines for 2 MB and higher bandwidth connections has also been announced.
eNews
Aaj Tak launches video-integrated VPaper with Dailyhunt
Free, early-morning ePaper combines print layout with click-to-watch video
NEW DELHI: Aaj Tak has launched vPaper, a video-integrated ePaper developed in collaboration with Dailyhunt, as it seeks to rework the morning news habit for digital-first audiences.
The product, unveiled on 19 February, 2026, is a 12-page ePaper available free of charge and delivered to readers ahead of traditional newspapers. It combines the structure and editorial depth of print with the immediacy of digital delivery.
What sets vPaper apart is its built-in video functionality. Readers can tap on stories within the ePaper to watch related video reports, integrating Aaj Tak’s television journalism into a newspaper-style format. The “click-to-watch” feature aims to turn passive reading into an interactive experience.
The ePaper spans news, business, sports, education, travel and national affairs, positioning itself as a comprehensive morning briefing for mobile users. Aaj Tak brings editorial credibility and broadcast-scale reporting to the venture, while Dailyhunt provides reach across tier 2, tier 3 and Bharat markets through its distribution network and personalisation technology.
“With vPaper, we are reimagining the morning news experience,” said India Today Group CEO, digital business Salil Kumar. He said the format blends authority, speed and video storytelling while remaining accessible by being free and available before print.
Verse Innovation senior vice-president Sunil Mohapatra, said the partnership strengthens Dailyhunt’s premium news offering and bridges print habits with interactive digital consumption.
The launch reflects a broader push by Indian news publishers to experiment with formats that combine credibility, scale and engagement as audiences increasingly shift to mobile-led news consumption.
(Note: The cover image is AI-generated and meant for representational purposes only)
