Tuesday’s business headlines

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Here’s a look at Tuesday’s business headlines.

Hardest working states

Personal finance website WalletHub ranks Indiana as the 19th hardest-working state in teh country.

They looked at youth idle time, hours worked each week and leisure time.

North Dakota was tops.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy is providing $300,000 in assistance funds to help qualified Indiana customers who may be struggling to pay their energy bills during the pandemic.

The company is also emphasizing that eligible residential customers can avoid disconnections for nonpayment if they establish a payment plan, which can now extend up to 12 months.

Duke is working with the Indiana Community Association and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s energy assistance program, which determines eligibility and distributes the company’s assistance funds.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile said it would give free internet to millions of students as part of its $10 billion Project10 Commitment, aimed at helping underserved children and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement will see the company, which recently merged with Spring, provide free wireless hotspots, up to 100GB per year of free high-speed data.

Samsung/Verizon

Samsung Electronics has signed a $6.6 billion contract with Verizon Communications for network equipment and services.

This is a major boost to the south Korean firm’s quest to become a key 5G supplier.

Samsung’s agreement with Verizon runs through the end of 2025 and primarily covers 5G infrastructure.

5G is super fast mobile connections for phones and other devices.