What Telecom Operators Can Learn from the Growth of Cross-Border Communication Apps

Posted by Rosie Foster : Hundreds of millions of people around the world maintain family, work, and community ties across borders. The United Nations estimated the number of international migrants at 304 million in 2024. This large, dynamic population relies heavily on cross-border communications. Consequently, international calling serves as an essential infrastructure for staying connected with families and households split across borders.

Yet for decades, the pricing, reliability, and user experience of international calls from traditional operators lagged behind domestic mobile services.

Pricing was often difficult to interpret, rates varied widely by destination and plan, and call quality was inconsistent on certain routes. This gap created the conditions for a new category of providers to emerge — cross-border communication apps, including international calling apps for expats and diaspora communities.

The telecom operators’ diaspora market gap

In 2024, the World Bank estimated record remittances to low- and middle-income countries at $685 billion, larger than foreign direct investment and official development assistance combined. World Bank projections also put remittances to low- and middle-income countries at $690 billion in 2025, reinforcing the scale and persistence of the cross-border relationships behind the market.

Many traditional operators prioritized ARPU from domestic subscribers, while international calling was handled mainly as a source of margin. In practice, it was rarely developed as a service built around the needs of expat communities.

Apps built specifically for diaspora communities underserved by traditional communities took a different view. They competed on price transparency, destination breadth, and reliability to reach mobile numbers in countries where generic VoIP termination alone was not enough. The result was a better kind of international calling service, and it helped define the international calling app market around repeat cross-border communication needs.

What cross-border communication apps got right — three structural lessons

The rise of cross-border communication apps offers more than a competitive warning. It shows how specialist providers earned repeat usage by addressing practical problems that legacy international voice services had not fully resolved. Three decisions stand out.

1. Pricing transparency as a trust mechanism

Cross-border calling apps displayed per-minute rates, making the cost clear before a call was placed. That reduced friction in a category where users had often been exposed to unclear usage charges and bill shock. International calling rates transparency became a trust mechanism for diaspora users making repeat calls to the same destinations.

2. Ecosystem thinking beyond the call

The most durable platforms in this space combined international calling with complementary services, knowing that diaspora communities had multiple needs.

That same understanding helps explain why diaspora mobile top-up services and mobile recharge abroad became natural extensions of the calling relationship. One study published in the International Journal of Data Science and Analytics found that international airtime top-up transfers are heavily used by expats to support families in their home countries.

The call was only one part of the service. The stronger platforms added messaging, domestic calling plans, and mobile top-up around international calling. Mobile top-up lets users send credit or data to a family member’s prepaid SIM abroad.

3. Routing quality for emerging-market destinations

Dependably reaching a mobile subscriber in Guatemala, Nigeria, or the Philippines requires a different termination strategy than calling a landline in Western Europe.

This is because real-time voice is sensitive to delay, congestion, and the quality of the interconnection path. A 2025 IETF RFC document on congestion control notes that workloads such as Voice over IP can face performance issues from congestion, and that network evaluation should account for added latency or increased packet loss.

For cross-border communication apps, routing quality was not a back-end detail. It was part of the user experience. Platforms that invested in direct carrier relationships and redundant routing paths for high-demand corridors were better positioned to deliver reliable call quality than generic VoIP alone.

They treated termination as a corridor-specific problem rather than defaulting to the cheapest or most convenient available route.

With diaspora communication, quality is measured less by technical architecture than by whether a call connects, stays connected, and is clear enough for a conversation.

BOSS Revolution international calling as a case study

The BOSS Revolution international calling model is a useful case study in the cross-border communication app category. IDT launched the brand in 2008 as a low-cost, PIN-less international long-distance calling service. Since then, it has grown to 6M+ active subscribers and processes 36M+ mobile top-up transactions annually (across more than 280 carriers in 95 countries). It also has a 25K+ retail distribution network.

What largely fueled the BOSS Revolution calling app growth was a combination of app-based international calling access, strong features, and complementary services. It offers international diaspora communities services that support their wider needs. Users can make international calls, send mobile airtime to relatives abroad, and use related services such as money transfer from the same ecosystem.

BOSS Revolution illustrates the bundle logic and user-experience-first approach that made a defined product category rather than a legacy add-on.

The operator opportunity in migrant communication services

Traditional operators are not structurally excluded from the cross-border communication market. In many cases, they already have the assets that specialist apps had to build around. They have network relationships, billing infrastructure, distribution, customer trust, and experience operating regulated communications services.

The issue is not access to the market. It is whether operators treat migrant and diaspora communication as a product design challenge, not a pricing exercise. The tools to do that already exist, which makes this a practical telecom operators diaspora market opportunity rather than only a defensive response to specialist apps.

eSIM technology is lowering entry barriers for MVNOs by eliminating physical SIM distribution and enabling digital-first launches. This allows MVNOs to partner with major carriers to target specific diaspora communities without building a massive retail footprint from scratch. Consequently, an MVNO diaspora strategy provides carriers with a practical, precise route to serve niche markets. Finally, API-driven platforms seamlessly connect airtime, data, and payment flows across these international borders.

The strategic question is whether operators will use those tools to compete, partner, or continue leaving the segment to specialists. Cross-border communication apps have already shown that the demand exists. The operator opportunity is to treat migrant and diaspora communication as a designed proposition for a defined audience, not as prepaid international calling plans or a legacy international calling line managed at the edge of the core business.The communities that international calling apps were built for were never hard to find. They were simply not treated as a priority. What Telecom Operators Can Learn from the Growth of Cross-Border Communication Apps - Total Telecom

Read More........ → September 23, 2026

Chinese Scientists Develop New Oil Refining Method That Cuts Energy Use by 90%

– credit – Getty Images for Unsplash +

Rather than bringing crude oil to boiling point over and over again as is done in traditional distillation refining, Chinese scientists have found a way to separate the mixture molecule by molecule at room temperature, cutting energy use by 90%.

The groundbreaking discovery was done in the lab, and so it can’t be said for certain to be scalable to the global petroleum products industry. If it could, though, it would dramatically reduce the cost and emissions from producing gasoline, diesel, or plastics.

Crude oil and its refined derivates are direct manufacturing inputs for thousands of common, high and low order goods—a fact widely circulated in the aftermath of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz through which one-fifth of the world’s crude is moved.

Researchers in northern China’s Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have pioneered a method for turning crude oil into refined petroleum called “molecular refining,” which uses a chemical membrane to separate the different molecules found in crude oil and shunts them into different containers.

This is a critical change from the standard distillation method which leverages the slight variations in boiling points between the various chemicals in crude oil to separate them. It requires that crude oil be boiled many times over, requiring huge amounts of heat, and therefore huge amounts of energy.

Each of the scientists’ chemical membranes are specially designed like sieves to allow certain crude oil ingredients to pass through while the rest are filtered out. For example, straight-chain and single-branched alkanes that are used to produce the product ethylene can fit through one sieve because these have a different size from the multi-branched alkanes and cycloalkanes used to make gasoline.

These two separate membranes needed a fair amount of continual tweaking to get right, as the difference in size between these two groups of molecules is only about one-one hundredth of a nanometer. The researchers managed it, however, and then tested the two members with a light sweet crude mixture containing 15 different chemicals.

In the lab, it was separated into 3 groups of high-value products with a recovery rate of between 85 and 90%, the authors reported in a study, published in National Science Review.

And because nothing needed to be boiled, vaporized, or condensed, the process used 91% less energy.A 2021 estimate placed oil refining as the 3rd largest stationary contributor to global CO2 emissions, amounting to around 1.3 gigatons of CO2 per year, reaching at its highest level about 4% of global human-related CO2 emissions. That trumps contributions from large transportation like maritime shipping or aviation, and brings into context how valuable molecular refining could be if established at scale. Chinese Scientists Develop New Oil Refining Method That Cuts Energy Use by 90%

Read More........ → September 22, 2026

New York City is Putting ‘The Park’ Back in Park Avenue – And Adding a Protected Bike Lane

Credit: Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

Until the 1920s Park Avenue in Manhattan actually park running through it.

Now, New York City has unveiled a new plan for transforming Park Avenue back into its original natural character, adding trees, benches, and a protected bike lane.

Mayor Mamdani and the NYC Department of Transportation are updating 11 blocks of the wide street, based on feedback from New Yorkers who want more green spaces and safety for cyclists.

The updated boulevard design makes it a “more people-centered corridor” by expanding the avenue’s median, add pedestrian space, seating, and landscaping. Two car lanes are being converted, with one existing southbound vehicle lane being converted into a two-way protected bike lane.

“New Yorkers asked us to make more room for people to walk, bike and enjoy their city, and we listened,” said Mayor Mamdani.

“This final design converts underused median space into vibrant public space while incorporating a dedicated, world-class bike connection that lays the foundation for future bike network upgrades in East Midtown,” explained NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn.

The updated design covers 11 blocks from 46th Street to 57th Street. It would remove one travel lane in each direction and convert a southbound travel lane into a two-way protected bike lane. The expanded medians will accommodate seating, plantings, and public art, with crosswalks connecting along the corridor.

Illustration By: Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners -released

The project area sits directly above the Grand Central Terminal train shed, which is undergoing a major capital rehabilitation by Metro-North Railroad. As the MTA replaces and waterproofs the structure below, the City is using the opportunity to transform the avenue above, aligning major infrastructure investment with a broader vision for public space shaped by community input.

“As more people turn to biking and walking as cleaner, more effective modes of transportation, we must continue updating our infrastructure to keep our riders and pedestrians safe,” said NY Congressman Jerrold Nadler.

“I’m grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for advancing this ambitious reimagining of one of Manhattan’s most iconic thoroughfares, and I look forward to seeing work get underway.”

“The reconstruction of the Grand Central Train Shed is part of the MTA’s commitment to modernize the infrastructure that keeps New Yorkers moving,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer.“This century-old structure made it possible for Midtown to grow into one of the world’s most important business districts—and now, as we rebuild it, we’re thrilled to partner with the city to deliver a greener, more vibrant public space.” New York City is Putting ‘The Park’ Back in Park Avenue – And Adding a Protected Bike Lane (LOOK)

Read More........ → September 22, 2026

AI is helping businesses learn what customers will pay – and workers will accept

Patrick Dodd, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau and Hanoku Bathula, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

US regulators are grappling with a controversial new frontier in online shopping: companies using our personal data to work out how much each of us is willing to pay.

The Federal Trade Commission is currently consulting on an enforcement policy for “personalised pricing”, amid concern increasingly sophisticated algorithms could allow businesses to tailor prices and discounts to individual customers.

Closer to home, Consumer NZ recently warned about the vast amounts of data collected through supermarket loyalty programmes.

There is no evidence New Zealand supermarkets are individually pricing products this way. But Consumer NZ argues loyalty data could give retailers an increasingly detailed picture of shopping habits – including clues about how much individual customers are prepared to pay.

The concern underscores a growing tension in the AI-driven economy: what happens when businesses become much better at learning the financial limits of the people they deal with?

The same question applies to workers: could algorithms also help businesses learn the lowest amount someone is willing to accept for their labour?

AI is changing who knows what

At the University of Auckland Business School, we spend a lot of time teaching students how businesses create value, compete and become more efficient.

But consider the same person in two markets. As a worker, their employer benefits from knowing the lowest amount they will accept; as a customer, a seller benefits from knowing the highest amount they will pay.

Traditionally, neither side knows those numbers precisely. A worker might accept $24 but receive $30 because that is the going rate; a customer might pay $20 but buy for $14 because that is the advertised price.

Algorithms are increasingly reducing that uncertainty – much faster for firms than for the workers and consumers they deal with.

Digital platforms can observe thousands of individual decisions. A ride-hailing platform can see which jobs a driver accepts, when they work and which incentives bring them online. A retailer can see purchases, abandoned carts and responses to discounts.

There is no strong evidence major companies already know everyone’s precise financial breaking point. But algorithmically mediated pay, personalised worker incentives, discounts and consumer offers are already real.

Lyft has already documented systems that determine which drivers receive incentives, with some earnings challenges explicitly personalised.

Recent research on 1.5 million Uber trips in the UK meanwhile found dynamic pricing was associated with lower real hourly earnings and greater inequality, although that does not prove Uber calculates the minimum each driver will accept.

A recent US Federal Trade Commission investigation also found pricing intermediaries had access to information including location, demographics, browsing histories, shopping-cart activity and even mouse movements in systems capable of influencing prices, discounts and promotions.

A retailer need not charge one customer $100 and another $120. It can simply offer a discount to someone predicted to walk away and withhold it from someone predicted to buy anyway.

It should be noted that markets have never been perfectly transparent. Employers know more about wage structures than workers and sellers more about margins than buyers. Yet there has traditionally been uncertainty on both sides.

Algorithmic systems now risk reducing that uncertainty in only one direction: firms can increasingly learn an individual’s limits, while their own remain hidden.

A worker cannot easily know whether rejecting $24 would have produced $28. Nor can a customer know whether walking away from a purchase today would have triggered a discount tomorrow.

Meanwhile, firms can observe, test and learn from repeated behaviour.

At its extreme, this risks becoming a kind of digital feudalism: platforms can increasingly see the people they deal with, while those people can barely see the systems governing the exchange.

Where do the gains go?

There can, of course, also be genuine benefits to AI-driven personalisation.

Targeted incentives can improve matching, personalised discounts can help price-sensitive customers and better forecasting can reduce waste.

The issue, however, isn’t whether these systems can create efficiencies, but how the gains are distributed. They could translate into higher wages, lower prices, better products, greater investment or higher profits.

That depends partly on information. Personal data has economic value because it can help predict the terms people are willing to accept, making privacy a question of bargaining power too.

Transparency is equally important. Workers and consumers are increasingly visible to businesses, while the systems making decisions about them remain largely opaque.

They might reasonably expect to know when an offer has been personalised, what information influenced it and whether others are receiving materially different treatment. That does not require companies to publish their algorithms, but visibility should not flow only one way.

Business schools also have a responsibility. Alongside teaching pricing strategy, segmentation, cost reduction and AI-driven decision-making, students should be encouraged to ask: effective for whom?

There is a difference between using technology to create new value and becoming better at capturing value from the other side of a transaction.

The most troubling outcome does not require malicious AI. Companies can rationally reduce costs and improve margins while becoming better at predicting what workers will accept and customers will pay.

The question cannot simply be whether something can be optimised. We should also ask who benefits, whether it is fair – and what happens if every business does the same thing.

Patrick Dodd, Professional Teaching Fellow, Business School, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau and Hanoku Bathula, Professional Teaching Fellow in Management and International Business, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........ → September 21, 2026

US-based Lam Research to invest Rs 10,000 crore for silicon component manufacturing facility in India

US-based Lam Research to invest Rs 10,000 crore for silicon component manufacturing facility in India (File Photo/IANS)

Bengaluru, September 16 (IANS): US-based semiconductor manufacturing equipment major Lam Research Corporation on Wednesday announced that it plans to invest approximately Rs 10,000 crore in India over the next several years to establish its first silicon component manufacturing facility in the country and expand its advanced research and development operations.

The announcement comes ahead of SEMICON India 2026 and marks the next phase of Lam Research’s long-term expansion in India, where the company has had a presence for more than 25 years. The planned investment is aimed at strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem while supporting Lam Research’s global customers as demand for increasingly complex semiconductor technologies accelerates in the artificial intelligence era.

The proposed manufacturing facility will support a vertically integrated process covering silicon ingot production and processing for advanced semiconductor technologies and leading-edge nodes. Alongside manufacturing, Lam Research also plans to augment its research and development capabilities through its India Center for Engineering, which currently supports global customer programmes in areas including design, testing, validation and next-generation technology development.

“India represents an important part of Lam's global innovation and growth strategy,” said Rangesh Raghavan, corporate vice president and managing director, Lam Research India. He said the company’s continued expansion reflects its confidence in India’s talent pool, growing semiconductor ecosystem and supportive policy environment.

Raghavan added that Lam Research remains committed to working with the government, academia, suppliers, startups and other stakeholders to accelerate semiconductor innovation that can benefit the global industry.

The investment is also expected to create new opportunities for partnerships with Indian suppliers. Lam Research currently works with local companies supplying specialised materials, precision components, gases, chemicals, metrology solutions and manufacturing services that are critical to semiconductor production.

The company said its expansion will bring specialised manufacturing expertise and capabilities to India and help develop skills needed for the future of the semiconductor industry. The investment is expected to create opportunities in advanced engineering and high-technology manufacturing while contributing to the development of a globally competitive semiconductor workforce.Lam Research’s plans build on its existing workforce development initiatives in India. The company has partnered with the Indian Institute of Science and the India Semiconductor Mission to expand access to semiconductor manufacturing education, with an objective of training up to 60,000 students over the next several years through its Semiverse Solutions virtual platform. US-based Lam Research to invest Rs 10,000 crore for silicon component manufacturing facility in India | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → September 21, 2026

Ronaldo ends retirement speculation as Portugal name Nations League squad

Dallas: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts during the round of 16 match between Spain and Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium in Dallas, the United States, July 6, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua via IANS)

Lisbon, (IANS) Cristiano Ronaldo has ended speculation over his international future after being named in Portugal’s squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, with new head coach Jorge Jesus including the veteran forward in his first selection.

Ronaldo had refused to confirm whether he would continue playing for Portugal after their FIFA World Cup 2026 round-of-16 defeat to eventual champions Spain in July. The 41-year-old had also indicated that the tournament would be his final World Cup but had not announced his retirement from international football.

His inclusion in Jesus’ first Portugal squad now confirms that Ronaldo remains available for national team duty as the European side begin a new chapter under their new head coach.

Jesus was appointed to replace Roberto Martinez following Portugal’s World Cup exit. The former Al-Nassr coach is also familiar with Ronaldo, having worked with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner at club level in Saudi Arabia, where the duo won the league title last season.

Jesus, however, stressed that Ronaldo would not receive preferential treatment under his management.

“All the called-up players are at my disposal; if he performs well, he plays. If he doesn’t perform well, he doesn’t play. That’s how I treat everyone," Jesus told reporters.

Ronaldo remains the leading scorer in men’s international football with 146 goals and is also chasing the landmark of 1,000 career goals. He currently has 979 goals across club and international football.

Jesus believes Ronaldo is likely to reach the milestone with Al-Nassr rather than Portugal.

“I think he’s more likely to score his thousandth goal for Al-Nassr than for the Portuguese national team,” Jesus said.

Portugal will begin their Nations League campaign at home against Wales on September 24 before travelling to face Norway three days later. They will then take Denmark away on October 1 before hosting Norway on October 4.

Portugal Squad:

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Rui Silva, and Samuel Soares.

Defenders: Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias, Tomas Araujo, Joao Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, Nuno Tavares, and Nuno Mendes.

Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Joao Palhinha, Ruben Neves, Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Bernardo Silva.Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabio Silva, Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao. Ronaldo ends retirement speculation as Portugal name Nations League squad | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → September 19, 2026

Dia Mirza advocates for clean air: It is not a privilege but a human right

Mumbai: Actor Dia Mirza graces the launch of AZA’s newest store in Mumbai on Thursday, August 13, 2026. (Photo: IANS)

Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Dia Mirza is also an environmentalist and often uses social media to share her views on the various issues pertaining to the massive climate change. On Monday, Dia used Clean Air Day to remind all that air pollution is not only an environmental problem, but also a public health crisis.

Dia uploaded a video on her IG saying, "Think of a child running onto a football field, a teenager training for a race, children cycling, playing cricket, and simply being outdoors. Every time they run harder, they breathe deeper. In too many parts of our country, that means breathing polluted air into developing lungs and bodies."

Dia revealed that back in 2021, air pollution resulted in around 2.1 million deaths in India. Not just that, more than 700,000 children under the age of five died due to polluted air across the globe.

She further went on to list the people who are worst affected by this declining air quality.

"But this burden is not shared equally. Communities living beside highways, landfills, construction sites, factories, and power plants face greater exposure. So do street vendors, traffic police, sanitation workers, and construction workers, people who work outdoors and cannot retreat indoors when the air becomes dangerous. They are on the front lines of polluted earth."

Dia said that in working towards cleaner air, we also work towards a better environment.

"Cleaner energy, reliable, affordable public transport, cleaner industries, no open waste burning, better construction practices, more walking, cycling, and green open spaces. Strong air quality monitoring and accountability when standards are violated," she continued.

Dia reiterated that clear air should not be seen as a privilege but as a human right."This International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, let us remember every child deserves to run, play, learn, and grow without their next breath causing harm. Clean air is a high return investment. Clean air is climate action. Clean air is public health. Clean air is a human right", the actress concluded. Dia Mirza advocates for clean air: It is not a privilege but a human right | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → September 16, 2026

Fresh record set for nuclear generation in 2025

Nuclear reactors worldwide generated 2,702 TWh of electricity in 2025, beating the previous year's record of 2,667 TWh, according to the World Nuclear Outlook Report, which also calculates that if all national nuclear targets were achieved, total capacity would more than triple by 2050.

(Image: WNA)

The World Nuclear Association report includes an assessment of progress towards the widely-shared ambition - which 38 countries have signed up to - for a tripling of global nuclear energy capacity by 2050. It also sets out a series of policy recommendations.

Listen to report author Jonathan Cobb discuss the findings on the WNN podcast

Focusing on the existing fleet, the report notes that there has been a recent increase in construction starts, as shown by the chart below, which shows how it has fluctuated over the past 75 years.

(Image: WNA)

It also finds that the reliability of nuclear energy plants remains high across the global fleet and across the life of reactors, even as individual units age. The average capacity factor was 83.7% in 2025 (a capacity factor of 100% would be if a unit generated electricity 24 hours a day 365 days a year).

The capacity factor rises as the age of reactors passes 50 years (Image: WNA)

Looking ahead at the prospects for new nuclear capacity, the report projects that it could reach 1,457 GWe by 2050 if all national targets and goals are achieved and the existing fleet continues to operate. With current operating capacity being 423 GWe, that projected figure would be 200 GWe more than a tripling of the current levels.

New capacity under construction increased to 82 GWe, with eleven reactors starting construction in 2025. The combined total of planned, proposed and potential capacity increased to 416 GWe, reducing the gap between actual projects and government targets, although around 550 GW of proposed capacity by 2050 has yet to be translated into specific projects.

(Image: WNA)

As to where the new capacity would be located, the report found that the largest share of the new capacity would come from the established users of nuclear energy - the USA, China, France, Russia and India.

(Image: WNA)

World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León, said: "This is an extraordinary moment for nuclear energy. Reflecting on another year of record performance, and looking ahead to a future of record ambition, governments are clear: they need much more nuclear energy to address the interconnected challenges of energy security, affordability, competitiveness and climate goals.

"But ambition alone will not deliver 24/7 clean energy. That's why the Association has published recommendations that set the path towards tripling global nuclear energy capacity by 2050. We need to make full use of the existing fleet, complete reactors already under construction, capitalising on the acquired capabilities, commit to the next projects and move from individual projects to sustained programmes of deployment."

As well as reviewing the progress towards individual countries' targets, the report includes a series of policy recommendations for governments, industry, financiers and regulators.

These range from "establishing durable policy and investment frameworks, streamlining regulation and strengthening supply chains, to building the workforce, supporting proven reactor deployment and creating the programme-based delivery models needed". It also highlights that maintaining and extending the existing fleet is the fastest and most cost-effective ways to secure low-carbon electricity.According to World Nuclear Association, "For the rest of this decade, the focus must be on turning national ambitions into credible project pipelines, supported by the institutions, investment, people and industrial capacity needed to deliver them." Fresh record set for nuclear generation in 2025

Read More........ → September 15, 2026

EE introduces premium ‘Fast Lane’ 5G network slicing service

Posted by Harry Baldock, The service will ensure that Fast Lane users continue to receive high-quality mobile service even in busy areas like concerts and sporting events

This week, EE has announced the launch of the UK’s first commercial network slicing service for consumers and businesses.

The new service, dubbed Fast Lane, shifts customers to a dedicated virtual slice of EE’s physical 5G+ network. This slice is isolated from other traffic on the network, guaranteeing users a high level of performance even when the wider network is heavily congested.

The feature is ‘designed for use in high-footfall moments of the day like rush hour and major events’, according to the company press release, will be useful for both consumers and enterprise customers operating in busy environments.

The launch follows multiple real-world trials of 5G+ network slicing in the last two years, which has included major public events like , Belfast Christmas Market, Sail GP in Portsmouth, ad this year’s BAFTAs.

“Powered by our advanced 5G+ network, Fast Lane gives our customers access to a dedicated 5G+ lane at the busiest times. Whether they’re live streaming a special moment from a sell-out gig or processing mobile payments and ticketing at a festival, Fast Lane helps keep customers connected even when thousands of people around them are trying to connect at the same time,” said Claire Gillies, CEO of BT’s Consumer Division. “This innovation builds on years of investment in EE’s 5G+ network and real-world network slicing trials, marking another milestone for the UK’s best network.”

EE is offering the Fast Lane feature as a part of its new ‘Full Works Plus’ package, costing £5 more per month than its existing ‘Full Works’ plan (£48 and £43, respectively).

Users will require a 5G+ compatible handset and access to EE’s 5G+ network to make use of the service.EE’s 5G+ network currently covers around 78% of the UK population, with the operator targeting 99% population coverage by March 2030. EE introduces premium ‘Fast Lane’ 5G network slicing service - Total Telecom

Read More........ → September 15, 2026

For Sunidhi Chauhan, gracing the hot seat on ‘KBC’ marks a full-circle moment

(Photo : IANS/sunidhichauchan/insta)

Mumbai, (IANS) Playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan, who recently appeared on ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, called it a full-circle moment. The singer took to the hot seat along with CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi, and shared her experience of sharing the platform with the Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan.

For Sunidhi Chauhan, stepping onto the Kaun Banega Crorepati set was a special experience that brought together her musical journey, her association with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and the nostalgia of a show that has been part of television memories across generations.

Reflecting on the experience of sitting on the iconic hot seat and facing Amitabh Bachchan, Sunidhi Chauhan said, “Every Indian grows up with a quiet dream of one day being on the Kaun Banega Crorepati stage, but actually sitting on that hot seat and looking across at Amitabh Bachchan sir is a surreal experience”.

She also spoke about her musical association with Big B, and the significance of being part of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’.

She went on, “Over the years, I’ve had the deep privilege of sharing musical associations with him, but nothing quite prepares you for the magic of the ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ set. To step out of the recording booth and onto a platform that has shaped the television memories of an entire nation feels like coming full circle in the most breathtaking way”.

Sharing what made the moment especially memorable, she said, “Between the nostalgia, the adrenaline, and the warmth with which Amitabh Bachchan sir welcomes you, it’s a moment that stays etched in your heart forever. Being a part of this legendary stage isn't just an appearance, it’s a memory I will cherish for a lifetime”.‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 18 is available on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV. For Sunidhi Chauhan, gracing the hot seat on ‘KBC’ marks a full-circle moment | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → September 15, 2026

Samsung India cuts jobs in consumer electronics business

Samsung India trims workforce in consumer electronics business (Photo: Samsung)

New Delhi, IANS): Samsung India has reportedly laid off their executives across its television and home appliance businesses as part of a cost-rationalisation exercise amid rising operating costs, muted consumer demand and organisational restructuring, as per multiple reports.

Reports suggest that the workforce reduction affects employees across various levels, including directors, team leaders, branch managers and area managers.

The layoffs are being carried out in phases with termination letters issued over the past few days, according to them.

Some employees have reportedly been asked to leave immediately without serving their notice period.

When contacted, Samsung declined to comment regarding such reports.

In addition, Samsung is offering affected employees a severance package comprising three months' salary along with an additional month's salary for every completed year of service.

The move comes as consumer electronics companies grapple with softer demand and rising costs.

Moreover, factors such as higher memory chip prices, elevated raw material costs and depreciation of the Indian rupee have added to operating expenses, as per reports.

Additionally, smartphone shipments in India have declined by about 12 per cent year-on-year.

Similarly, some industry experts expect that the Indian smartphone market to decline by around 13 per cent year-on-year in 2026 with the second half likely to perform better than the first half as festive demand provides some support.

Samsung had also planned to integrate its television and home appliance sales teams, although the move has reportedly been deferred until the December quarter, say reports.

Despite the restructuring, Samsung India reported revenue of over Rs 1.1 lakh crore and net profit of Rs 11,287 crore in FY25.Separately, a report noted that global foldable smartphone shipments are expected to cross 100 million cumulative units by the end of 2026 which is a major milestone for the category in its eighth year since the first commercially available foldable was launched. Samsung India cuts jobs in consumer electronics business | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → September 14, 2026

India to debut in 11 new skill categories at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

India to debut in 11 new skill categories at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. (IANS Photo)

New Delhi, (IANS): India will expand its global skills footprint with first‑time participation in 11 new skill categories at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai from September 22 to September 27, 2026, an official statement said on Wednesday.

Team Skill India will participate in 63 of 64 skills with a contingent of nearly 70 competitors, making it one of India’s largest and most diverse representations at WorldSkills to date, the statement from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said.

The new categories in which India competes include dental prosthetics, digital interactive media design, intelligent security technology, landscape gardening, optoelectronic technology, retail sales, unmanned aerial systems, industrial mechanics, software testing and heavy vehicle technology, aircraft maintenance.

These categories represent emerging areas that are shaping the future of work, including healthcare technologies, digital design, intelligent systems, drone technologies, advanced manufacturing, mobility solutions and customer-centric services.

Their inclusion underlines India’s focus on aligning skill development with global industry requirements and creating pathways for youth in internationally benchmarked skill domains.

The participation in the event is being led under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) driving India’s WorldSkills preparation.

Preparation for these first-time categories is being supported by a collaborative ecosystem of specialised training institutions and industry partners, including Government Tool Room and Training Centre (GTTC), Karnataka, among many others including domain experts.

"India’s participation in these new categories reflects the growing depth and maturity of the country’s skilling ecosystem, which is expanding from strong foundations in traditional trades to advanced technologies, specialised services, creative industries and next-generation industrial capabilities," the statement said.

“India’s participation in these new skills reflects the evolution of our skilling ecosystem towards future-facing and globally relevant capabilities. Through strong partnerships and rigorous preparation, we are enabling our youth to compete with confidence and benchmark themselves against global standards,” said Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE.India’s performance in global skill competitions has shown steady progress over the years, rising from 29th rank at WorldSkills in 2015 to 13th position in 2024. The country further strengthened its international performance by securing 8th rank in Asia at WorldSkills Asia 2025 and winning five medals at the Taipei Capital Cup 2026. India to debut in 11 new skill categories at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → September 11, 2026

Huawei and HP Inc. sign landmark patent cross-licensing agreement

Press Release

Posted by Harry Baldock: Today, Huawei and HP Inc. announced the signing of a multiyear global patent cross-licensing agreement, including license to HP Inc. for certain Huawei WiFi patents. This milestone agreement not only reflects the companies’ cooperation in the field of intellectual property licensing but also recognizes Huawei’s innovation capabilities and core technological strength as well as HP’s position as a global leader in computers and peripheral equipment.

Alan Fan, Huawei’s Chief Intellectual Property Officer, stated, “Huawei is pleased to reach this patent cross-licensing agreement with HP Inc. This agreement is a strong testament to Huawei’s persistent independent innovation in cutting-edge fields in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Through patent licensing, Huawei shares its innovation with the industry, particularly in the area of standardized technologies, which brings leading technological experiences to consumers worldwide.”

Steven Geiszler, who represented Huawei in the negotiations, stated: “This is another successful licensing of Huawei patents, particularly in the area of standardized Wi-Fi technologies—while obtaining valuable reciprocal patent rights from HP Inc. I appreciate the professionalism and courteousness shown by HP’s negotiation team during this project.”

“This is a standard-essential patent license covering Wi‑Fi technology – something used broadly across the industry and routine for companies whose products connect to Wi‑Fi. It is not new, does not represent a broader strategic or commercial relationship, partnership, or collaboration with Huawei,” said HP in an emailed statement.

Wi-Fi has become one of the most widely used wireless technologies in the world, connecting homes, schools, hospitals, offices and public spaces. Each generation of the standard is developed openly, drawing on technical contributions from companies across the industry, and is then made broadly available to implementers.

Although lacking the speed and throughput of newer generations, Wi-Fi 4 and 5 are still widely used, providing reliable networking for less demanding applications.

High speed, large capacity and lower energy consumption enable Wi-Fi 6 to deliver multiple high-definition video streaming, gaming and AR/VR services alongside legacy broadband and IoT devices such as laptops, refrigerators, cameras, doorbells, thermostats, and lightbulbs—all with a single wireless router.

Wi-Fi 7, building on Wi-Fi 6, delivers higher throughput, lower latency, and more reliable Wi-Fi connectivity. These enhancements enable an exceptionally smooth experience for 8K video, gaming, AR/VR, remote work, online video conferencing, and cloud computing.Together, these advances and applications have made reliable wireless connectivity part of the basic infrastructure of everyday life — supporting remote healthcare, digital education, and more energy-efficient homes and workplaces. Huawei has played a significant role in contributing to the development of Wi-Fi technologies over successive generations and makes the resulting technologies available publicly, so that innovation created in one place can benefit users everywhere. Huawei and HP Inc. sign landmark patent cross-licensing agreement - Total Telecom

Read More........ → September 10, 2026

In London, Children’s Lungs Grow Faster as Traffic Pollution Falls

– credit, Fas Khan via Unsplash

A visceral reminder of the dangers of air pollution comes now via an uplifting study which found lung development in children was faster in London’s ultra low-emissions zone (ULEZ).

It compared children between the ages of 6 and 9 living in Central London’s ULEZ with those living in the nearby suburb of Luton. Just over 3,400 agreed to participate.

The study period extended to before the implementation of the ULEZ in 2019, and found that as exhaust emissions like nitrogen dioxide diminished, the advance in children’s lung capacity quickened.

Children were tested for lung function on a device that measures how much air an individual can forcefully breathe out in one second, a measure for lung power, development, and recovery in the case of lung cancer patients.

PPM measurements of exhaust particles fell faster in London than in Luton over the study period, and the scientists at Queen Mary University observed a concurrent acceleration in the development of London children’s lung power, which was recorded as an additional 233 milliliters of air breathed into the device per year, compared with 223 milliliters observed in children from Luton.

At the outset of the study, Luton had less air pollution in the city, and it was the Luton children whose lungs were developing faster. 4 years after the implementation of the ULEZ, the Londoners had bridged the gap with their suburban peers.

Lung development is a key predictor of aspiratory problems in life. The study also found that in Central London, the proportion of children with impaired lung function fell from 14% to 9% as pollution levels dropped. Such impairments may include asthma, and bear consequences for health later in life.

In general, even though many cities regularly sit far above the World Health Organization’s recommendations for limits on fine particulate matter, cities around the world are reducing air pollution and London stands among them.

In March, GNN reported that 19 out of 100 cities worldwide surveyed for air quality were found to have substantially improved since 2010. The 19 included several of what could be called megalopolis-type cities like Hong Kong and Beijing. Another 7 on Mainland China achieved large pollution reductions.San Francisco, Warsaw, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Rome, Heidelberg, Berlin, and Paris round out the list. In London, Children’s Lungs Grow Faster as Traffic Pollution Falls

Read More........ → September 07, 2026

India’s e-commerce market likely to nearly triple to $345 billion by 2030

India’s e-commerce market set to nearly triple to $345 billion by 2030: Report (AI image/IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS): India’s e-commerce sector is poised for a major expansion over the next four years, with the market projected to nearly triple from $125 billion in 2024 to $345 billion by 2030, a new report said on Wednesday.

According to a new report by research consultancy Infisum, titled Smart Growth in a Fast Market, has been prepared with support from public policy think-tank Empower India.

According to the report, India’s e-commerce market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18.4 per cent through 2030. Rising disposable incomes, increasing internet penetration and rapid digital adoption are expected to remain the key drivers of this growth.

By 2030, online commerce could account for 10-12 per cent of India’s total retail spending and contribute around 2.5 per cent to the country’s GDP. The number of online shoppers is projected to reach 420-440 million, further strengthening India’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing digital retail markets.

The report estimates that India’s quick-commerce market could reach $65-70 billion by 2030 and account for 45-50 per cent of incremental e-retail growth over the next five years. The expansion is also expected to trigger a significant increase in the number of dark stores, with the network projected to almost triple from 2,525 facilities in 2025 to around 7,500 by 2030.

The report also points to a shift in the priorities of quick-commerce companies. After a period dominated by aggressive customer acquisition and expansion, players are increasingly focusing on sustainable unit economics, operational efficiency and long-term investments in logistics and delivery infrastructure.

Artificial intelligence is expected to be another major force reshaping the sector. The report projects that AI and machine learning could improve retail productivity by 35-37 per cent by 2030.

Dr Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan, Fellow at NITI Aayog, said quick commerce should now be viewed as permanent infrastructure rather than a temporary trend.

“Quick commerce is permanent infrastructure, not a trend. Valued at USD 65–70 billion by 2030, it will drive 45–50 per cent of incremental e-retail growth,” he said. India’s e-commerce market likely to nearly triple to $345 billion by 2030 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → September 04, 2026

Volkswagen to cut at least 1 lakh jobs by 2030 in cost cutting measures

Volkswagen to cut at least 1 lakh jobs by 2030 in cost cutting measures

Mumbai, (IANS): German car manufacturer Volkswagen has announced to cut 1 lakh jobs by the end of the decade in a sweeping cost‑cutting plan, marking the largest restructuring in the global auto industry.

The German carmaker announced a further reduction of about 50,000 positions on top of nearly 50,000 job cuts already agreed, amounting to about 15 per cent of the group’s workforce.

The company decided to halve the number of car models the Volkswagen group produces, which includes the Bentley and Audi brands, and considers to shut down four production plants in Germany within the next eight years.

“Given intensifying global competition, shifting demand and technological change in the automotive industry, a consistent alignment of workforce capacity with economic reality is essential,” the Volkswagen Group said in a statement.

Volkswagen employs over 6.5 lakh people across brands including Skoda, Seat, Porsche, Cupra and Lamborghini.

The group plans to streamline its model portfolio by around 50 percent and reduce its offering complexity by around 75 percent by 2035.

“The prioritised models aim to excel in design and technology – and benefit from the focus on fewer variants: Higher volumes per model, lower costs, stronger economies of scale,” the statement said.

The Volkswagen Group is systematically tailoring its platforms, electronic architectures, driver assistance systems and software to the needs of both the Western and Eastern hemisphere, it added.

In North America, the Volkswagen Group will focus on the most profitable segments. In China, the Group is adapting to revised expectations for overall growth in the Chinese automotive market and is expanding its export business toward the “Global South,” the statement added.

The company said that portfolio of shareholdings and businesses will be rigorously assessed and streamlined by around one-third to retain only those with a clear strategic and financial contribution to the core business.

“Non-strategic activities will be divested or realigned. The real estate portfolio will also be reviewed. The goal is to have a leaner structure and more effective use of capital,” the company said. Volkswagen to cut at least 1 lakh jobs by 2030 in cost cutting measures | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → September 03, 2026

Hyundai Motor to expand global production capacity, launch over 100 models by 2030

Hyundai Motor to expand global production capacity, launch over 100 models by 2030 (Photo: Yonhap)

Seoul, (IANS): Hyundai Motor said on Wednesday it plans to expand its overall production capacity by 1.27 million units by 2030 while rolling out more than 100 new and updated models to strengthen its presence in the global market.

Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz outlined the plans at its CEO Investor Day event in Seoul as it seeks to bolster its competitiveness amid intensifying competition, particularly from Chinese rivals.

The South Korean automaker said it plans to introduce scores of brand-new or updated models within the decade, including facelifts, partial redesigns and other variants, with 18 all-new models included in the lineup, reports Yonhap news agency.

The company plans to launch the Genesis GV80 hybrid in South Korea and the United States later this year, followed by an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) in the first half of 2027.

The Tucson SUV, one of Hyundai Motor's bestselling models, and its hybrid variants are also scheduled for launch in the second half of this year.

To support its expanded lineup and sales targets, Hyundai Motor plans to significantly increase its global production capacity by 2030, up from about 5 million vehicles at present.

The goal includes 500,000 units in North America, 320,000 in India, 200,000 in South Korea and 250,000 through completely knocked-down (CKD) production.

The company maintained its previously announced sales targets, including global sales of 5.55 million vehicles by 2030 and raising the share of electrified vehicles to 60 percent of total global sales by the same year.

Hyundai Motor also raised its 2030 operating margin target to above 9 percent from the previously projected range of 8-9 percent.

It maintained its 2026 margin guidance at 6.3-7.3 percent despite a challenging business environment marked by U.S. tariffs, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and intensifying competition with Chinese rivals.

Munoz identified hybrids as "the biggest opportunity" in the U.S. market, as the company aims to cut raw material costs for hybrid vehicles by 20 percent by 2030.In North America, Hyundai Motor plans to launch 10 new hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) models by 2030, led by the GV80 hybrid, and raise hybrids to 50 percent of its sales in the region. Hyundai Motor to expand global production capacity, launch over 100 models by 2030 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → August 28, 2026

Chinese Man Takes Paralyzed Wife on Epic Road Trip: ‘Die On the Road, Not in Hospital’

– credit, retrieved from social media

Like any pair of baby boomers in America, Liu Peijin and his wife dreamed as newly-weds of a grand tour around their native China.

Marrying out of high school, they had a normal enough life—with Mr. Liu embarking on a long career in the military, and his wife raising children at home.

But as retirement age beckoned and the chance for their dream road trip seemed to materialize, complications with diabetes left Liu’s wife partially paralyzed, and the prospects of a road trip around one of the world’s largest countries in tatters.

Or so it seemed. After agreeing they “would rather die on the road than in a hospital bed,” the couple set out in their car across coastal Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in 2014.

Their daughter initially objected due to the medical needs of her mother, but the time away from hospital gradually rejuvenated the woman. Now years later, Mr. Liu has said their time continuously exploring the Middle Kingdom has made his wife “100 times” more spirited.

Over a decade later and she has avoided muscle and joint atrophy despite being wheelchair bound from paralysis on her left side. She’s maintained good coordination, and can communicate largely as before, though solid food is becoming a slightly greater challenge.

It wasn’t long after they first set out that Liu managed to replace the car with a camper van, which he equipped with a kitchen, two beds, and a dining table. He keeps it stocked with medical supplies as he essentially has become the woman’s full-time nurse and caregiver, ensuring she does rehabilitation exercises, takes her medicine, and enjoys regular foot soaks for diabetes.

At publishing time according to an article on their travels in South China Morning Post, the couple have, like the metaphorical boomers in their Winnebago visiting almost all 50 states, made it to 31 out of 33 Chinese provinces.

Throughout all of them, people have been inspired by Liu’s dedication, and the couple’s bravery to shirk elderly convention. In 2017, in Hubei Province, local staff volunteered to hoist the woman up—wheelchair and all—and carry her across a scenic area to the only sightseeing vehicle.

Liu told local news outlets that he cherishes this kind of help, and tries to maintain contact with people when he’s able.The couple are currently planning a visit to some lesser-known locations across the country for their next adventure. Chinese Man Takes Paralyzed Wife on Epic Road Trip: ‘Die On the Road, Not in Hospital’

Read More........ → August 27, 2026

UKAEA, Eni create joint venture for fusion fuel cycle

RH3OVA team, from left to right: Giorgio Ricci Maccarini (CEO), Sophie Davies (CCO), Donald Cockburn (CFO), Iryna Bennett (CTO) (Image: UKAEA)

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and Italian multinational energy company Eni SpA have formed a joint venture to deliver specialist consultancy and operational services to the growing global fusion industry.

The joint venture - named RH3OVA and incorporated in the UK - offers end-to-end services across the fuel lifecycle, from early-stage feasibility studies to deployment and operational support.

Deuterium and tritium are fuels commonly used in fusion energy. Deuterium is abundant in nature and extractable from seawater. In contrast, tritium is extremely rare. It is therefore essential to ensure careful and efficient management throughout the entire fuel cycle, from tritium's production and use in energy generation to its recovery from exhaust gases and refinement for re-use.

"Having operated the Joint European Torus, which was the world's most powerful deuterium-tritium fusion machine for more than 40 years, and with 30 years' experience of tritium operations, the UK is a leader in tritium fuel cycle technology," said Stephen Wheeler, Executive Director of Tritium Fuel Cycle at UKAEA. "For fusion to be realised as a commercially viable source of energy, however, this expertise must be scaled beyond the lab.

"RH3OVA offers best in class digital process models validated with real-world, fusion relevant data sets. RH3OVA will combine UKAEA's scientific and operational know-how, with Eni's large-scale industrial capability, and leverage this joint expertise to increase knowledge and understanding across the fusion sector."

Lorenzo Fiorillo, Director Technology, R&D & Digital of Eni, added: "Fusion energy has the potential to redefine the global energy landscape, and at Eni we are committed on multiple fronts to turning this potential into tangible industrial progress. Our partnership with UKAEA is of great strategic value to us and represents a further step in scaling up innovation and translating scientific excellence into real-world solutions.

"Today, with UKAEA, we are continuing our joint commitment for further progress in the fusion energy field, with a particular focus on the fuel cycle for fusion. This builds on our collaboration developing the UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility started last year which will be a world-class facility of its kind. At the same time, RH3OVA will respond to the growing demand for specialised technical expertise and integrated engineering services dedicated to the fuel cycle, which will be essential enabling factors for the operation of fusion power plants using deuterium and tritium as fuels."

UKAEA said RH3OVA "strengthens the strategic collaboration between Eni and UKAEA and their joint effort to commercialise fusion energy".In March 2025, UKAEA and Eni entered into a collaboration agreement to jointly conduct research and development activities in the field of fusion energy. The collaboration primarily starts with the construction of the world's largest and most advanced tritium fuel cycle facility. The UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility, located at Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, England, will be complete in 2028. It is designed to serve as a world-class facility providing industry and academia with the opportunity to study how to process, store and recycle tritium. UKAEA, Eni create joint venture for fusion fuel cycle

Read More........ → August 17, 2026

Indian car industry likely to reach 6.1-6.3 million units by FY31: Maruti Suzuki India Chairman

Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava addresses a press conference in New Delhi, on Dec 17, 2015. (IANS File Photo)

New Delhi, August 9 (IANS): The Indian car industry is projected to grow to 6.1 to 6.3 million units by FY2030-31 and the share of the small car market would grow significantly faster than its pace of growth in the last five years, RC Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said on Sunday.

Bhargava said that GST reforms have given a new impetus not only to the automobile industry but to several sectors of the economy and “We are in the process of making as accurate an estimate as possible of the likely growth of the car market in the next five years”.

Maruti Suzuki India has released its ‘Annual Integrated Report 2025-26’, which highlights how the revival of the small car segment, the strengthening of the company’s SUV portfolio, its multi-powertrain strategy, focus on capacity expansion and robust export performance have created fresh momentum for growth.

The automaker registered its highest-ever annual sales of 24.22 lakh vehicles and record exports of 4.47 lakh vehicles in FY 2025-26.

Having achieved the 2 million sales mark for the third consecutive year, the company, supported by all the key growth drivers in place, is optimistic about reaching its next million-vehicle milestone earlier than anticipated, according to a statement.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, said that “we accelerated our capacity expansion plans. During FY2026-27, we added 500,000 units of manufacturing capacity”.

“Customer expectations continue to evolve rapidly. The company has plans to introduce 7 SUVs in the next 5 to 6 years to further strengthen SUV portfolio,” Takeuchi informed.

As India progresses towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, the automobile industry has both a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to this journey.“Through manufacturing, exports, technology development, employment generation, skill creation and sustainable mobility, Maruti Suzuki remains committed to supporting India's aspirations. The next million sales of vehicles represent far more than a volume milestone,” he mentioned. Indian car industry likely to reach 6.1-6.3 million units by FY31: Maruti Suzuki India Chairman | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → August 15, 2026