BSNL 5G: Soft Launch Targeted for 2026
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- February 20, 2026
- Artifical Intelligance, Business Trends, Companies & Industry, Development, Flight Tickets & Hotel, Technology
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BSNL’s 5G Soft Launch: The “Swadeshi” Network Pivot
State-owned BSNL is moving from trial to reality, targeting a “soft launch” of its 5G services in Delhi and Mumbai by August 2026. This isn’t just another network rollout; it is a flagship moment for India’s technological sovereignty.
- The TCS-Led “Swadeshi” Stack: BSNL is deploying a 100% homegrown telecom stack developed by a consortium led by TCS, along with Tejas Networks and C-DOT. This makes India the fifth country in the world to own its core telecom technology.
- Infrastructure Ready: Over 98,000 sites have already been commissioned. These towers are “5G-ready,” requiring primarily software updates rather than massive hardware overhauls.
- The Urban Strategy: While private giants like Jio and Airtel have already blanketed cities, BSNL’s soft launch focuses on high-density urban zones (Delhi/Mumbai) to test stability before a nationwide commercial rollout.
SpiceJet’s Crisis: A Double-Bind of Debt and Airspace
The turbulence at SpiceJet has escalated from financial stress to a geopolitical hurdle. The airline’s Q3 FY26 earnings revealed a staggering ₹261.38 crore loss, a sharp contrast to its marginal profit a year ago.
- The Bangladesh Blockade: As of February 19, 2026, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has barred SpiceJet from its airspace over unpaid navigation and landing fees totaling ₹42 crore ($5 million).
- Operational Rerouting: Flights from Kolkata to Northeast destinations like Guwahati and Imphal must now take longer, fuel-heavy routes, further bleeding the company’s cash reserves.
- Contradictory Growth: In a puzzling move, despite these defaults, SpiceJet recently signed an MoU for 10 new aircraft, signaling a high-risk “expansion or bust” strategy to double its capacity by the end of the year.
While traditional SaaS struggles with “AI fatigue,” Canva is thriving. The design platform reported a massive revenue jump to $4 billion ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) at the close of 2025.
- From Design Tool to AI Ecosystem: Canva’s user base surged to 265 million monthly actives, fueled by its “Magic Studio.” The platform is now positioning itself as an “AI-first” design agency in your pocket.
- The B2B Boom: Its enterprise segment (teams of 25+) doubled year-over-year, now contributing $500 million to the top line as corporations ditch complex professional suites for Canva’s streamlined AI workflows.
- Strategic Acquisition: High-margin growth is also coming from the “answer engine optimization” (AEO) space, where Canva is leveraging ChatGPT and Claude as top-of-funnel acquisition channels.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has tightened its grip on the Indian gaming sector, specifically targeting Winzo (ZO Games Pvt. Ltd.) in a massive money-laundering investigation.
- The “Bot” Allegation: The ED alleges that Winzo misled users by pitting them against AI-powered “bots” (internally labeled “PPP/Persona”) in real-money games, generating “rake commissions” under false pretenses.
- The Asset Freeze: Authorities have frozen ₹505 crore (approx. $55 million) across international accounts in the US and Singapore. These funds were allegedly siphoned off as “overseas investments” into shell companies.
- Total Scope: The agency estimates the total “Proceeds of Crime” in this case at ₹802 crore, marking one of the largest regulatory crackdowns on the Indian RMG (Real Money Gaming) industry to date.
