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.
iWorld
OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk’s lawsuit ahead of trial
Company calls claims “baseless” and accuses Musk of trying to disrupt a rival.
MUMBAI: When the stakes are measured in billions and egos are involved, even Silicon Valley titans can turn a courtroom into a battlefield. OpenAI has issued a sharp public response to Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit, accusing the billionaire of filing the case to harass a competitor rather than address genuine concerns. In a strongly worded statement shared on its official X account, OpenAI described Musk’s allegations as “baseless” and suggested the lawsuit is an attempt to disrupt the company as the case heads toward trial later this month in Oakland, California.
The response comes after Musk’s legal team recently amended the complaint, proposing that any damages potentially exceeding $150 billion should go to OpenAI’s nonprofit entity rather than to Musk personally. OpenAI questioned the timing and motive behind this change, calling it a late-stage attempt to “pretend to change his tune” on the nonprofit structure.
The company further labelled the lawsuit a “harassment campaign”, arguing that Musk’s actions are driven by personal rivalry, ego, and a desire for greater control and financial upside.
At the heart of the dispute is Musk’s claim that OpenAI has abandoned its original nonprofit mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. A co-founder who left in 2018, Musk is seeking governance changes, including the removal of CEO Sam Altman from the nonprofit board, and the return of certain financial gains linked to Altman and President Greg Brockman.
OpenAI has firmly rejected these allegations, maintaining that its current hybrid structure, a public-benefit corporation overseen by a nonprofit parent remains true to its long-term goals. The company has also previously accused Musk of anti-competitive behaviour aimed at weakening its leadership.
As the case prepares for a jury trial, this public exchange highlights the deepening rift between two of the most influential figures in the AI revolution and raises broader questions about governance, mission, and power in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.
In the high-stakes game of AI, it seems the real drama isn’t just inside the models, it’s playing out in courtrooms too.
