Broadband
DoT may approach Cabinet for 4G spectrum to BSNL, MTNL in November
MUMBAI: While all major telecom operators have already gained highly from 4G roll-out, state-owned operators BSNL and MTNL have been left behind in the race due to impending 4G spectrum. Survival of both the companies highly depends on 4G services roll-out. However, according to a PTI report, department of telecom (DoT) is planning to seek the Cabinet's approval in the next two months for the allocation of 4G spectrum to these two firms.
As per a source quoted by news agency, draft Cabinet note is expected to be ready in mid-October after which it will be floated for inter-ministerial consultation. Following the move, DoT(http://www.indiantelevision.com/iworld/telecom/cabinet-approves-new-telecom-policy-180926) will approach the Cabinet with a revised draft note in November.
MTNL provides service in two metros Delhi and Mumbai as BSNL operates all over India except in these two cities.
A detailed project report has already been submitted by BSNL to the government seeking spectrum for 4G services in lieu of equity. Earlier communication minister Manoj Sinha informed Parliament BSNL sought Rs 6,652 crore as equity infusion from the government to fund its spectrum purchase worth about Rs 13,885 crore.
The corporation is seeking spectrum in the 2100 MHz band for all circles, except Rajasthan. For that particular state, BSNL(http://www.indiantelevision.com/iworld/telecom/bsnl-ties-up-with-softbank-ntt-for-5g-iot-deal-180924) is looking for spectrum in the 800 MHz band.
MTNL chairman and managing director P K Purwar requested the government to grant it 4G spectrum in lieu of equity worth around Rs 6,500-7,000 crore and extend its mobile license which is expiring till 2021.
"I fully agree that survival of BSNL and MTNL without 4G spectrum is tough. There are some decisions of the apex court. We have made a strategy to settle them. I will try by end of this year, it should not be in 2019 but in 2018, the government should decide on the allocation of 4G spectrum," Sinha said earlier.
Broadband
Zoff Foods extends Shilpa Shetty partnership into ninth year
Spice brand reinforces trust-led positioning amid growth and funding push.
MUMBAI: Nine years, one flavour and the recipe clearly still works. Zoff Foods has extended its long-running association with Shilpa Shetty, marking nine consecutive years of her as brand ambassador as the company scales its presence across Indian households. What began as a digital-first collaboration has gradually evolved into a defining element of the brand’s identity. Over nearly a decade, the partnership has mirrored Zoff’s own journey from an emerging challenger to a fast-growing FMCG player with a widening footprint across e-commerce, quick commerce and offline retail channels.
The logic behind the continuity is straightforward. In a category where trust and familiarity drive purchase decisions, particularly in spices and ready-to-cook segments, long-term associations tend to carry more weight than short bursts of visibility. Shetty’s positioning as a fitness-conscious, health-aware public figure aligns with the brand’s emphasis on purity and quality factors that are increasingly shaping consumer choices in modern Indian kitchens.
The extension also comes at a time when Zoff Foods is entering a more aggressive growth phase. The company recently raised $2 million in a Pre-Series B funding round led by JM Financial Private Equity, with participation from Aman Gupta, signalling a push towards expanding distribution, product innovation and market reach.
Company executives have positioned the continued partnership as a strategic anchor amid this expansion, reinforcing brand recall while entering new markets. For Shetty, the association remains rooted in shared values around authenticity and ingredient integrity attributes that resonate strongly with increasingly mindful consumers.
In a market crowded with new-age brands and shifting loyalties, Zoff’s approach suggests a different playbook: build slowly, stay consistent, and let familiarity do the heavy lifting. Because sometimes, in both branding and cooking, it’s not about reinventing the dish, it’s about perfecting it over time.
