FINITE RESOURCE
Counter-questions for the asking
India's growing population, coupled with higher disposable incomes and consumption, has already begun to devastate our carefully constructed cocoons without our realising it. Competitive manufacturing (leveraging economies of scale, procurement, branding and digitalisation) may be enticing more people to consume more (double effect), accelerating planet-stripping.
Trai won’t charge users for multiple SIMs
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has denied reports of planning to charge consumers for multiple SIMs. Trai clarified that there are no proposals for fees on numbering resources, emphasising efficient allocation. Trai's discussion paper aims to enhance telecom services through effective use of telecommunications identifiers.
Paying for numbers is a crank call, TRAI
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has suggested charging for telephone numbers due to their finite nature. Despite the potential to increase capacity by adding digits, the growing use of numbers for machine communication poses a challenge. Transitioning to a new numbering system incurs costs, making numbers a limited resource over time. While depopulation and efficient recycling could suffice for humans, the machine-driven demand complicates differential pricing. An alternative approach could involve randomization, similar to the internet, to manage the finite availability of telephone numbers.
Trai mulls charges for existing, newly allocated numbering resources to ensure efficient use
Telecom regulator Trai is seeking stakeholders' views on the introduction of charges for existing and newly allocated numbering resources to ensure their judicious and efficient use. Trai's recent consultation paper, 'Revision of National Numbering Plan,' emphasizes the value of numbering resources and the need for their efficient utilization by telecom service providers.
Want a new phone number? It might come at a cost as Trai mulls fee
TRAI is considering implementing charges on smartphone and landline numbers, following a proposal to regulate numbering resources. TRAI views phone numbers as valuable public resources and suggests charging mobile operators, who may then pass on these costs to users. Potential charging methods include one-time or recurring fees per number or conducting auctions for vanity numbers. TRAI also contemplates penalties for operators holding unused numbers.
AI 'Gold Rush' for chatbot training data could run out of human-written text
AI systems such as ChatGPT may soon face a scarcity of online data that fuels their intelligence growth. A study by Epoch AI predicted a depletion in the publicly available training data within the next decade, likening it to a "literal gold rush" and raising concerns about the sustainability of AI advancement. Tech giants are racing to secure quality data sources, with future options potentially involving sensitive private data or synthetic data generated by AI.
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Olympics isn’t just a sports event, it’s a movement
Last month, World Athletics (WA) made an announcement to reward every Paris Olympics Gold medallist with a cash award of $50,000. While many athletes, including Neeraj Chopra, welcomed the move, it has now sparked a global debate, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach expressing his concerns during an online media briefing recently.
"The world gained from a peace dividend after USSR’s decline— that calm is shrinking now...": Kenneth Rogoff
Kenneth Rogoff, former chief economist of the IMF and Maurits C. Boas Chair of International Economics at Harvard University, discusses the record rise in military expenditure worldwide. He argues that military spending is not good for growth or consumption because it is destructive. The US and Europe are facing pressures today due to Ukraine, the Middle East, and potentially Taiwan, but the defense budgets of the West are tuned to a different era. The US has not prepared its people for greater military expenditure, and voters are talking about universal income, increased transfers, more social spending, etc., but realistically, defense spending will need to increase.
Loan recovery agents calling you for no reason? Blame it on the mobile SIM you just bought
The rise of recycled mobile numbers poses challenges for new users, leading to unwanted calls and difficulties in linking numbers to bank accounts. Telecom firms release over 10 million recycled numbers monthly due to limited resources. Lack of coordination between departments results in new users facing inconvenience in updating KYC details with various authorities.
Sustainable Development: Where is sustainable finance?
The conflicts raging in Europe and the Middle East have further lowered the appetite in the West for low carbon production and consumption. Slower economic growth is also a factor. The European Union’s imposition of protective levies in form of border adjustment of carbon taxes from 2026 reflects this compulsion. All this is happening in the backdrop of ambitious declarations of commitment to net zero by the mid-century. It makes obvious that in a globalised world, no corporate entity or country wishes to surrender its access to low-cost energy and competitive advantage.
View: Usher in a new space race
Satellite spectrum, too, should be treated as a public utility, that too international by its very nature, connecting the unconnected to the world, fostering innovation and ushering in a new space race. GoI’s decision to recommend administrative spectrum for satellite communication in the Telecom Bill of 2023, passed in Lok Sabha last week, thus settles this long debate in this fractious sector and dials in a new era.
Bitcoin vs gold: Which one is a better investment option?
One of the key reasons investors are drawn to both gold and Bitcoin is their finite supply. Gold's scarcity has been the primary driving factor behind its historical value, but Bitcoin takes this concept to the next level.
Airtel calls for spectrum swapping policy
Bharti Airtel, India's second largest telecom company, has requested a more flexible spectrum allocation policy from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The company suggests allowing mobile operators to swap airwaves in different bands with those available from the government, based on business requirements. Currently, telcos can only sell airwaves within the same band to peers through trading.
World Food Day: Date, history and significance
Numerous people globally still grapple with food insecurity, emphasizing the urgent nature of the problem. The occasion also aims to promote awareness regarding the importance of adopting healthy diets.
Allow flexible spectrum use between Satcom & Telecom: Jio
Jio Satellite Communications has requested India's telecom regulator, Trai, to allow flexible use of spectrum for both satellite and mobile phone services networks. The company cited the decision of the New Zealand government to allow flexible use of high frequencies in the 24-30 Ghz band as an example. Jio Satellite argued that technology advancements have enabled the convergence of satellite and terrestrial networks, making flexible use of radio frequency necessary.
Jio writes to Trai, seeks flexible use of satellite spectrum
Reliance Jio has urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to allow flexible use of spectrum between satellite and terrestrial networks. The company cited the recent decision by the New Zealand government to allocate spectrum in the 24-30 GHz range for both satellite and mobile services as an example. Jio emphasized that this suggestion is based on the latest technological changes and the need for integrated and converged networks.
Building a sustainable future: Key focus of upcoming built environment professionals
The upcoming built environment professionals are recognising the urgency of building a sustainable future.
Water technology firm Gradiant hits $1 billion valuation after fundraising
Boston-based Gradiant's technology is used across a range of sectors including pharmaceuticals and semiconductors to help companies reduce water usage and clean up wastewater for reuse.
Budget manthan
The divine enterprise produced many valuables, herbs, trees, ratnas - gems, and supernatural animals. Goddess Lakshmi too emerged from this churning.
Is 'carrying capacity' a relevant tool to ensure sustainable growth in cities?
While frameworks for carrying capacity are not the touchstone for determining efficient resource allocation, they can be useful in rationalising and improving decision-making for sustainable growth of cities; only if they are adaptable to account for variabilities over time, sectors, scale and contexts and tested for applicability through an iterative feedback loop.
TCS reworks its HR strategy to deliver right here, right now
TCS is adopting enterprise-wide Agile, a new delivery model that is focussed on delivering outsourcing projects in increments within short durations.
'Resource constraints' continue to ground ISRO's human space flight
Kumar, who retired as ISRO Chairman earlier this month, agrees with the kind of huge impact that space programmes would make, but made no secret that resources are a key constraint.
How India is trying to conserve precious natural resources
The focus on climate change and sustainable development led to a re-engagement on the question of ensuring economic growth with the least impact on the environment.
Indian economy is like a super highway, says economist Thomas Friedman
Comparing the Indian economy to a super highway, noted economist Thomas Friedman has said he is optimistic about the growth potential of the country.
Debt, underpricing of finite assets are shaky foundations of cracking growth
If deficit spending, low interest rates and unlimited cash were economic cures, then Japan’s economic problems would have been solved many years ago.
Poorest in societies will suffer the most if we use our resources unsustainably
In just over a week, world leaders will gather in Brazil for the Rio +20 Summit to decide what kind of future we want.
Rio+20: UN environment summit opens, but prospects grim
Rousseff, president of host nation Brazil, called on "all countries of the world to commit" to reaching an accord that addresses the most pressing environmental and social woes.
Naveen Patnaik seeks 50% mineral resource rent tax on iron ore
Mr Patnaik claimed that the huge profit was evident from the audited operational profits of 80% of sales revenue from iron ore mining.
R-Power may now seek gas allotment from KG-D6 fields
After merging RNRL with itself, Anil Ambani Group firm Reliance Power is likely to apply to the government for allocation of natural gas, reasoning that it being an end-user meets the eligibility criteria for allotment.
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