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India Plans to Limit Satellite Permits to Five Years, Challenging Musk’s Starlink

India’s telecom regulator, TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), is preparing to recommend limiting satellite broadband spectrum allocations to five years, despite Elon Musk’s Starlink pushing for a 20-year permit. This proposed policy aims to evaluate initial market adoption and adjust accordingly, a senior government source revealed.

Currently, TRAI is working on key recommendations regarding satellite spectrum, including time frames and pricing, to be presented to the Indian government. The government’s stance goes against Musk’s request for longer-term spectrum allocations to secure affordable pricing and longer-term business plans.

This decision comes on the heels of a partnership between Musk’s Starlink and Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, which will allow Starlink devices to be sold in Reliance stores, significantly increasing distribution access. Reliance and Musk’s Starlink had been rivals, with Ambani’s telco subsidiary previously lobbying for an auctioned spectrum rather than the administrative allotment Musk seeks.

While Starlink advocates for a 20-year license to focus on affordability and long-term growth, Ambani’s Reliance proposed a 3-year license followed by a reassessment of the market. Similarly, Airtel, another Indian telecom company, has called for a 3-5 year license period.

TRAI is inclined to adopt the 5-year licensing period, giving the industry time to evaluate market stability and allowing for future revisions of spectrum prices. A government official explained that this approach would help assess the sector’s growth while enabling pricing adjustments after the initial period.

The final recommendations, including the license duration and spectrum pricing, are expected within a month. The proposals will be submitted to India’s telecoms ministry for further review and action. However, Starlink’s distribution agreements with Reliance and Airtel depend on the company’s ability to secure regulatory approvals in India.

Industry forecasts show that India’s satellite communications sector could see substantial growth, with KPMG predicting a more than 10-fold increase, potentially reaching $25 billion by 2028.

Palantir Shares Surge on Strong AI-Driven Revenue Outlook

Palantir’s shares soared more than 18% in premarket trading, following a forecast of upbeat annual revenue driven by the growing demand for its data analytics services, particularly from businesses eager to adopt generative AI technologies. The company’s market capitalization is set to increase by about $35 billion, based on current share prices of $99.31.

The firm’s platform, AIP, has seen strong growth as businesses accelerate investments in AI, utilizing the platform to test, debug, and evaluate AI scenarios. Russ Mould, an Investment Director at AJ Bell, remarked that Palantir is capitalizing on the AI wave, with industries making substantial technological investments.

Palantir’s co-founder Peter Thiel’s company is now viewed as a major player in the AI sector. Matt Britzman, Senior Equity Analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, compared Palantir’s AI success to Michael Jordan’s dominance in basketball, describing the company as a leader delivering game-winning results.

Palantir’s Chief Revenue Officer, Ryan Taylor, reiterated that the company would discourage commercial clients from using DeepSeek’s AI models but would continue to work with those who opt for them. U.S. officials are currently reviewing the national security implications of DeepSeek, with concerns raised by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Additionally, Taylor noted that new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump could further boost demand for Palantir’s analytics services, especially in supply chain and logistics management.

Following the announcement, at least nine analysts raised their price targets for Palantir, with Morgan Stanley upgrading its rating from ‘underweight’ to ‘equalweight,’ recognizing Palantir as a significant player in the AI space.

 

ASML Reports Strong Q4 Orders, Calming Investor Fears After DeepSeek’s Release

Key Highlights:

  • ASML, a leading chip equipment maker, exceeded expectations in its fourth-quarter bookings, reaching 7.09 billion euros ($7.39 billion), compared to the forecasted 3.99 billion euros, driven by booming demand in the AI sector.
  • The surge in orders reassures investors about the future prospects of AI chips, despite a recent sell-off triggered by DeepSeek’s AI model, which requires less computing power than competing models.
  • ASML shares rose 7.5% to 695 euros, peaking at 722 euros during the trading day.

AI Boom and Impact on ASML’s Outlook:

  • CEO Christophe Fouquet expressed optimism, stating that AI has strengthened demand for ASML’s most advanced equipment.
  • DeepSeek’s AI model raised concerns over whether companies like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon would continue their heavy investments in AI chips. Despite this, Fouquet remains confident that as AI model costs decrease, demand for chips and advanced manufacturing tools will increase.
  • ASML reported a net income of 2.7 billion euros for the fourth quarter, surpassing analyst expectations. The company’s 2025 sales forecast remains between 30-35 billion euros, reflecting expected growth driven by the AI chip boom.

Market Position and Forecasts:

  • ASML’s largest customer, TSMC, remains a key player in the chip industry, manufacturing chips for firms like Nvidia and the aforementioned tech giants. Despite DeepSeek’s impact, the growth in AI-related demand for chips continues to drive TSMC’s capital expenditure.
  • ASML’s US market accounted for 28% of sales in Q4, with China following closely. The shift is due to TSMC’s Arizona expansion and Intel’s investments in ASML’s high-tech EUV tools.
  • However, ASML expects its China sales to decline to 20% of total sales in 2025 due to ongoing export restrictions imposed by the US and Dutch governments on national security grounds.