iWorld
Telecommunications Bill introduced in Lok Sabha today
Mumbai: The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, that allows the government to take over, manage or suspend any or all telecommunication services or networks in the interest of national security, was introduced in Parliament on 18 December.
The bill stated, “The Central Government may, if satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do so, in the interest of national security … taking over the control and management of, or suspending the operation of, or entrusting any authority of the Central Government to manage any or all of any telecommunication services, or any telecommunication network or part, thereof, connected with such telecommunication services.”
It also said the Centre may by rules, provide for measures to protect and ensure the cyber security of telecommunication networks and telecommunication services, and the measures may include collection, analysis and dissemination of traffic data that is generated, transmitted, received or stored in telecommunication networks.
The bill empowers the government to notify standards and conformity assessment measures related to encryption and data processing, including identification, analysis, and prevention of intrusion in telecommunication services and telecommunication networks. This means the government can then formulate encryption standards for services such as WhatsApp, potentially dealing a fatal blow to end-to-end encryption and private interpersonal communication.
The draft bill, which was first released for public consultation in September 2022, now proposes designating telecommunication networks as “critical telecommunication networks”. The 2023 version also seeks to rename the Universal Service Obligation Fund as Digital Bharat Nidhi.
According to Vodafone Idea Ltd CEO Akshaya Moondra said, “The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, tabled in the parliament, represents a watershed moment in the telecom reform process and reaffirms the commitment of the Government to provide Indian telecom with a future-fit framework that helps achieve the growth aspirations of new India.
The Bill carries several forward-looking provisions that will help deliver the benefits of digital connectivity to all our citizens. We warmly welcome the rationalization of penalties and the legal enforceability of right of way provisions, a long-standing request of the industry.
Security of telecom networks is paramount, and the Bill recognizes telecom as critical infrastructure and prescribes punitive consequences for those who damage it.
By highlighting the duties of users, the Bill puts equal responsibility on consumers to meet the requirements of national security.”
iWorld
Tips Music CEO Hari Nair to step down
Girish Taurani and Sushant Dalmia to jointly steer the company as the hunt for a new chief begins
MUMBAI: A leadership shuffle is under way at Tips Music. Hari Nair, the company’s chief executive, will step down on April 30 as the music label begins the search for a successor.
The company said Girish Taurani, executive director, and Sushant Dalmia, chief financial officer, will jointly oversee operations during the transition while the board identifies a permanent replacement.
Nair joined Tips Music in 2023 and set about reshaping the veteran music label into a more digital, data-led enterprise. During his tenure, the company secured licensing and partnership deals with global platforms including Sony Music Publishing and TikTok, while renewing agreements with Warner Music Group.
Drawing on earlier experience in technology and entertainment, including a stint at ByteDance, Nair pushed the organisation towards a performance-driven culture. He built a brand partnerships division and introduced proprietary software systems aimed at strengthening digital distribution and data capabilities.
Kumar Taurani, chairman and managing director, credited Nair with embedding a data-led culture within the company and driving revenue growth in line with shareholder commitments.
In his resignation note, Nair said that after helping transition the label into a modern, digitally focused and process-driven organisation, the time had come to pursue his next leadership challenge.
The leadership change comes as the broader Tips Films group shows signs of financial stabilisation. In the third quarter of FY26 the company reported a net loss of Rs 2.86 crore, narrowing sharply from Rs 14.2 crore in the previous quarter. For the nine months ended December, losses stood at Rs 12.37 crore.
Yet revenue told a more volatile story. Income from operations slid to Rs 4 crore in Q3 FY26 from Rs 56 crore in the preceding quarter, taking total operating income to Rs 4.56 crore.
For a company built on a catalogue of more than 34,000 tracks and decades of Bollywood hits, the next chief will inherit both a digital engine and a volatile music market. The playlist may be familiar, but the next act at Tips Music is only just beginning.
