Ishita Russell, New Delhi

Stories by Ishita Russell, New Delhi

Realtors cash in on the affordable home rush

Realtors cash in on the affordable home rush

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2009

Real estate companies are now going to the other extreme and falling over each other to offer affordable housing at a price range of Rs 500,000 to Rs 50 lakhs (Rs 5 million). The varied pricing is a function of affordability being a relative term, depending on the location. For instance, a Rs 50- lakh (Rs 5-million) apartment in Mumbai is considered affordable housing. In a city like Nagpur, the same price will qualify for premium housing.

Tariff: Telecom minister strikes a discordant note

Tariff: Telecom minister strikes a discordant note

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2009

Operators say 10-paisa, 25-paisa calls not possible.

MTN deal: Bharti may rope in holding co

MTN deal: Bharti may rope in holding co

Rediff.com   27 May 2009

Bharti Telecom, the unlisted holding company of Bharti Airtel, may issue fresh equity to the MTN group to give it the 25 per cent economic interest in India's largest mobile service provider.

DoT may give 80% of spectrum on borders to defence

DoT may give 80% of spectrum on borders to defence

Rediff.com   27 May 2009

The defence ministry had demanded the entire spectrum in the area up to 100 km from the international border. The DoT has rejected this, as also a proposal by the ministry asking for prime towns, including state capitals, to be put under the 'defence interest zone'.

11-digit number:Mobile operators cross connections

11-digit number:Mobile operators cross connections

Rediff.com   25 May 2009

Differences are growing among mobile operator lobbies over a government proposal to introduce an 11-digit access code in place of the existing 10-digit code from January 2010 for mobile services to accommodate a rapidly growing subscriber base.

Liquidity starts seeping back into India Inc

Liquidity starts seeping back into India Inc

Rediff.com   21 May 2009

After a near six-month drought, India Inc is finding some takers for debt and equity issues. Though private and the foreign banks are yet to step up lending in a big way, public sector banks have started financing projects.

Realty market fall: Developers find JVs attractive

Realty market fall: Developers find JVs attractive

Rediff.com   19 May 2009

Developers who are launching new projects are opting for this route, as they need not pay the entire amount in one lot and owners need not forego the potential rise in value. As much as 70 per cent of land deals in the country take place through this model now, against 40-45 per cent a couple of years earlier, say property consultants.

Bharti Airtel's big dream

Bharti Airtel's big dream

Rediff.com   18 May 2009

It's celebration time for Bharti Airtel, which last week became the third telecom brand in the world to cross the magic 100 million-subscriber mark in a single country. The gap between Airtel and its nearest competitor, Vodafone, is now about 26 million subscribers.

Hotels go hi-tech to woo travellers

Hotels go hi-tech to woo travellers

Rediff.com   18 May 2009

Today, when you check into a hotel, be sure to expect more than just a helpful bell-boy and a smiling concierge. As it is, the category of business travellers has been growing at a healthy clip. However, the rise of low-cost airlines and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi has now given the entire travelling space a shot in the arm.

Freeze spectrum, DoT advised

Freeze spectrum, DoT advised

Rediff.com   15 May 2009

Solicitor General of India Goolam Vahanvati has said no further allotment of spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz should be made to telecom operators till the report of the committee on its pricing and allocation is received.If the opinion is acted upon, it would affect companies like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance Communications, Idea Cellular and Aircel, which have applied for extra spectrum in other circles.

3 firms shortlisted for BSNL's Rs 30,000-cr deal

3 firms shortlisted for BSNL's Rs 30,000-cr deal

Rediff.com   14 May 2009

Three telecom companies - Spanco Telesystems and Solutions, TVS Interconnect Systems (a TVS group firm) and Acme Tele Power - have emerged as the front-runners for state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd's (BSNL) Rs 30,000-crore infrastructure contract.

Soma Networks to launch WiMax-enabled devices in I

Soma Networks to launch WiMax-enabled devices in I

Rediff.com   11 May 2009

Soma Networks, a US-based provider of mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) products and services, plans to launch compact WiMAX-enabled devices in India within six months.

JS Sarma to be new Trai chairman

JS Sarma to be new Trai chairman

Rediff.com   7 May 2009

The decks have been cleared for the appointment of TDSAT member JS Sarma as the new chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). Sarma will succeed former Trai chairman Nripendra Mishra who retired on March 22, 2009.

Failed messages ring the alarm bell at MRTPC

Failed messages ring the alarm bell at MRTPC

Rediff.com   7 May 2009

The investigation arm of the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, the country's anti-trust body, has launched a probe against 10 cellular service providers, including state-owned ones, for allegedly charging customers for Short Message Services that are not delivered.

Will Obama's new tax proposal affect India?

Will Obama's new tax proposal affect India?

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

Most large American companies earn more than 50 per cent of their revenue from markets outside the US and will be affected by the proposed tax reforms. Business groups in the US had assailed the proposal, arguing it would subject them to far higher taxes than their foreign competitors must pay and ultimately endanger US jobs. Global companies that earn profits in India are subject to a tax rate of 33.9 per cent and the impact of the proposed reforms on them would be marginal.

Tata Tele to focus on high end of GSM space

Tata Tele to focus on high end of GSM space

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2009

The company plans to leverage its tie-up with NTT DoComo to offer many value-added services.

April heat is godsend for AC manufacturers

April heat is godsend for AC manufacturers

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2009

Among the minority who are relieved at the rising heat are consumer durables' companies and retailers. Air conditioner (AC) sales are picking up in anticipation of a hot summer.

Satyam transition may be discussed today

Satyam transition may be discussed today

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2009

"Other than the induction of the new board members, Tech Mahindra will have discussions with the management to articulate the growth of the company, strengthen the governance part and also focus on cash-flow issues. The current management members, including CEO A S Murty, will continue for some time," said a source close to the development. Tech Mahindra members are also expected to take stock of operations at Satyam.

Airtel to launch DTH for cars

Airtel to launch DTH for cars

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2009

With the start of general elections as a source of revenue Bharti Airtel's direct-to-home arm is ready to launch its mobile DTH units for cars.

High-end Nano more popular

High-end Nano more popular

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2009

Nearly 80 per cent of the buyers opting for the more expensive variants instead of the base-level car which is priced at Rs 1.23 lakh (ex showroom, Delhi). The trend is based on responses from dealers and banks that took bookings in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chandigarh and Kolkata on Thursday. The Nano CX costs Rs 1.48 lakh and the top-end LX Rs 1.72 lakh.