Samreen Ahmad &Amp; Surajeet Das Gupta

Stories by Samreen Ahmad &Amp; Surajeet Das Gupta

Air India seeks $2.3-billion ECBs to pare debt

Air India seeks $2.3-billion ECBs to pare debt

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2010

State-owned National Aviation Company of India Ltd (Nacil), which runs Air India, has approached the government to raise $2.3 billion through external commercial borrowings (ECBs) as part of a plan to restructure its high-cost working capital debt.

DoT says no to granting watchdog sharper teeth

DoT says no to granting watchdog sharper teeth

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2010

Regulator wants the power to fine errant telecom companies.

Home ministry targets VPNs

Home ministry targets VPNs

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2010

After Research In Motion (owners of BlackBerry), the home ministry will now turn the screws on Microsoft, Google, IBM and Oracle. These companies provide technology and services for the virtual private networks (VPNs) run by various operators in India. The government will ask them to conform to regulation that allows intelligence agencies to lawfully intercept data. Failure to do so could result in the termination of VPN services by operators using their technology.

Eased hybrid securities' pricing hits RBI barrier

Eased hybrid securities' pricing hits RBI barrier

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2010

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has thrown a spanner in the works of a government proposal to liberalise the pricing guidelines of hybrid securities such as foreign direct investment (FDI)-compliant instruments.

FDI in multi-brand retail won't get nod from FinMi

FDI in multi-brand retail won't get nod from FinMi

Rediff.com   30 Sep 2010

The finance ministry is arriving at a consensus to reject a proposal mooted in government to permit foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retailing.

ITC digs in its heels, will subscribe to EIH issue

ITC digs in its heels, will subscribe to EIH issue

Rediff.com   30 Sep 2010

ITC, which has a 14.98 per cent stake in EIH Ltd -- the company that runs the Oberoi chain of hotels -- is planning to subscribe to the upcoming EIH rights issue. This ends speculation that it might pull out after Reliance Industries Ltd picked up a stake in EIH.

Loans raised by Nacil will get government backing

Loans raised by Nacil will get government backing

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2010

The finance ministry has agreed to furnish sovereign guarantees on loans raised by National Aviation Company India Ltd, which flies under the Air India brand name. A top source in the ministry confirmed: "Yes, we will provide sovereign guarantee to Air India on its loans. After all, it is a company owned by the government."

Pepsi plans to add fizz to sales

Pepsi plans to add fizz to sales

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2010

PepsiCo India is planning to launch beverages and snacks priced below Rs 5. This is part of a drive to address the mass market looking for nutritional products. The new range, being developed in India, is expected to be launched on a pilot basis in select markets by next year.

Audit DG raps DoT on plan to bail out new telcos

Audit DG raps DoT on plan to bail out new telcos

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2010

In its communication to DoT, the DGA said the department had granted new unified access service licences to certain companies without proper verification of their eligibility and other credentials.

3G operators may come under CAG scrutiny

3G operators may come under CAG scrutiny

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2010

The move is significant as it would extend the power of CAG -- set up to audit central and state government departments as well as PSUs -- to private sector companies.

Samsung, LG eye bigger pie in India

Samsung, LG eye bigger pie in India

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2010

Despite their slugfest on the high street, Korean chaebols Samsung and LG have independently charted a similar strategy that will see India operations carve out a larger slice of their global turnover

Coke, Pepsi effect big cuts in water use

Coke, Pepsi effect big cuts in water use

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2010

Just four years before, Coke factories consumed over four litres of water for every litre of beverage sold. Now, it is 2.5 litres, a reduction of 34 per cent.

DoT finds solution for BlackBerry service

DoT finds solution for BlackBerry service

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2010

Telecom operators who offer BlackBerry services are also ISPs. The feasibility of this solution, says DoT, will be explored after discussions with the Intelligence Bureau as well as the ISPs.

ZTE agrees to abide by new telecom security rules

ZTE agrees to abide by new telecom security rules

Rediff.com   9 Aug 2010

Huawei, the other big Chinese vendor, is yet to decide on the issue.

Delhi airport, Air India close to mega deal

Delhi airport, Air India close to mega deal

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2010

Delhi International Airport Ltd, the consortium operating Delhi airport, is close to signing a mega deal with Air India, which is making the new terminal its operational hub.

LG plans green makeover in Indian facility

LG plans green makeover in Indian facility

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2010

South Korean giant LG Electronics is working on using technology to revamp its product line by next year, based on three key parameters.

Govt mulls import curbs on spyware

Govt mulls import curbs on spyware

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2010

Surveillance equipment to be moved from 'open' to restricted list.

Tata Teleservices takes on incumbent GSM operators

Tata Teleservices takes on incumbent GSM operators

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2010

The attack reflects the open schism in the association, in which TTSL is a new member with other Unified Access Service Licence holders such as Loop Telecom , Etilasat DB, Uninor and STel. The older, established, operators are represented by Bharti, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular.

R-Power plans 8,000-Mw plant in Gujarat

R-Power plans 8,000-Mw plant in Gujarat

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2010

Reliance Power (R-Power), a Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) company, is close to finalising a gas-based power plant in Gujarat with a capacity of 7,000 Mw to 8,000 Mw. This would entail an investment of around Rs 30,000 crore, based on investment levels that are normally required for power projects at present.

Govt moots retail sector watchdog

Govt moots retail sector watchdog

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2010

The Centre is mulling over creation of an independent body to regulate the country's vast retail sector. The retail regulatory authority would ensure a level playing field for indigenous retail traders if the government opens the sector to more foreign participation. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Food has convened a meeting on July 8 in Delhi to discuss this and other proposals and chart a comprehensive plan for the sector, according to the agenda paper of the meeting.