News Broadcasting
Internet connections to increase 3- fold: Maran
BANGALORE: Internet connections would increase from 5.45 million in December 2004 to 18 million by 2007. By this time, broadband connection is targeted to touch nine million, according to communications and IT minsiter Dayanidhi Maran.
Inaugurating a mobile manufacturing facility of Elcoteq in the city,Maran claimed that BSNL’s Data-One service had performed above expectations in the market.
“The present demand for BSNL’s broadband Data-One service is in excess of 180,000, far more than envisaged when we launched this. However I’ve been promised that by the end of this month the waiting list will be cleared,” he said.
Speaking on making BSNL cell phone connections available for Cell-One subscribers, Maran said, he had committed to complete the process within six months.
Dwelling on the progress the telecom industry is making, Maran said the target was 250 million landline connections in the next three years. “This will help achieve a tele-density of around 22 per cent. Of the projected new 150 million lines, around 75-80 million connections will be provided by BSNL,” he said.
Regarding the present spectrum policy, Maran said that it would take care of the 3G issues. “It was up to the private operators to roll out their plans relating to 3G . MTNL has already called for tenders for 3G networks. Trai would be consulted on any further issues with spectrum allocation as they would be coming out with a policy on this,” he said.
Maran also informed that Nokia would open their manufacturing facility in Chennai in nine months.
News Broadcasting
Parikshit Luthra exits CNBC-TV18 after 20-year run
Former bureau chief to take brief pause before next role
NEW DELHI: Senior journalist Parikshit Luthra has signed off from CNBC-TV18, marking 28 February 2026 as his final day and closing nearly two decades with Network18 Media & Investments Limited, including eight years at the business news channel.
During his tenure, Luthra interviewed prominent business leaders and Union ministers, reporting on economic policy, corporate strategy, the automobile sector and financial markets. His coverage spanned key inflection points in India’s economic narrative.
He also led new programming formats such as Newscentre, Global Eye and Global Lens, shows that examined politics and foreign policy through an economic prism, reflecting the channel’s push towards globally linked business reporting.
In a LinkedIn post, Luthra said his final weeks were spent covering the Union Budget, the India AI Summit, India’s trade agreements with the US and EU, and the group’s flagship Rising Bharat Summit 2026. He added that he continued anchoring until his last day and briefly met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his closing assignments.
Luthra joined CNBC-TV18 in June 2018 as assistant editor, later rising to senior editor and chief of bureau, a position he held for over two years. Before that, he worked with Republic TV and CNN-News18.
He said he plans to take a short break before embarking on his next professional chapter.
