Shuchi Bansal &Amp; Surajeet Das Gupta

Stories by Shuchi Bansal &Amp; Surajeet Das Gupta

Consumers to get 10-12 3G players per circle

Consumers to get 10-12 3G players per circle

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2008

DoT identifies more spectrum, to expand auctions from earlier estimate of five in each service area.

Let's get digital

Let's get digital

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2008

The proposals to get cable operators to offer digital signals aren't going to work unless the government mandates CAS-systems across the country.

Govt may suspend Bharti's DTH licence

Govt may suspend Bharti's DTH licence

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2008

This follows the show-cause notice that was issued to the company last month by the ministry of informaton and broadcasting and the response given by the company. According to highly placed sources, the letter of suspension of Bharti's DTH licence has been moved within the I&B ministry because it is not satisfied with the response sent by Bharti Telemedia.

Idea-Spice deal comes under DoT scanner

Idea-Spice deal comes under DoT scanner

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2008

The department of telecommunications has raised questions about the merger between Idea Cellular and Spice Telecom violating key clauses on intra-circle merger and mobile licence conditions.

Dot plans fee for extra spectrum

Dot plans fee for extra spectrum

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2008

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has mooted a proposal under which operators will pay a one-time fee for all spectrum allotments beyond 6.2 MHz.

DoT may nearly double number of 3G licences

DoT may nearly double number of 3G licences

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2008

The Department of Telecommunications is examining a proposal to auction around nine licences for 3G -- or third generation -- services among incumbents and new players in place of an earlier proposal to allow five players in this space.

ADAG eyes 51% in MTN via share swap

ADAG eyes 51% in MTN via share swap

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2008

The MTN-Reliance Communications merger, if it gets through, will create a telecom behemoth of 115 million subscribers in 25 countries.

How domestic airlines can save Rs 2,500 cr a year

How domestic airlines can save Rs 2,500 cr a year

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2008

Domestic airlines will save around Rs 2,500 crore annually if they import aviation turbine fuel directly rather than buy it from state-owned oil marketing companies. This would help them shave off around 14 per cent of their burgeoning fuel bill and cut the industry's projected loss of Rs 8,000 crore for the current financial year by a little less than a third.

Nahata, Dhoots in telecom feud

Nahata, Dhoots in telecom feud

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2008

A no-holds-barred boardroom battle has broken out between Mahendra Nahata and the Dhoots of Videocon, 36:64 partners in Datacom Solutions, a company which wants to launch mobile telephone services all over the country in a month-and-a-half.

MTN may extend deadline for talks with RCom

MTN may extend deadline for talks with RCom

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2008

A high-profile team from MTN is also expected to meet Reliance Industries Ltd next week to take stock of the situation. RCom had informed the bourses on May 26 that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with MTN for 45 days soon after the South African giant aborted its talks with the Sunil Mittal-controlled Bharti group. The deadline will end on July 8.

What's in a name in radio biz? Plenty

What's in a name in radio biz? Plenty

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2008

The one with the curious name is the runaway leader, setting benchmarks in programming, standardisation and localisation. It doesn't hurt to be part of a formidable family.

Branded chains swamp mobile retail market

Branded chains swamp mobile retail market

Rediff.com   26 May 2008

Clearly, the mobile handset market is buzzing with new branded retail chains such as Reliance and Aditya Birla Group entering the fray and the existing chains expanding their foorprint. Take Pantaloon Retail's JV with Axiom of Dubai, for instance. The company is re-branding its standalone retail chain Mport to Axiom stores, which is among the largest telecom products chain in West Asia.

Hollywood, here I come, says Anil Ambani

Hollywood, here I come, says Anil Ambani

Rediff.com   26 May 2008

Sure, while Mumbai's tinsel town has made some attempts to break in (Aamir Khan's Lagaan made it to the 2002 Oscar nomination for foreign films), few Indians have managed to enter this exclusive club. Not anymore. The efforts of the threesome have finally paid off and the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) is set to put its imprint on Hollywood.

Telecom outsourcing deals under Trai lens

Telecom outsourcing deals under Trai lens

Rediff.com   20 May 2008

Move to ensure deals do not hit govt licence fees, revenue share.

3 PSBs to part-fund Tata Motors' JLR buy

3 PSBs to part-fund Tata Motors' JLR buy

Rediff.com   12 May 2008

Leading Indian public sector banks State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Syndicate Bank are close to committing a part of the $3 billion bridge loan that Tata Motors has to raise to finance the acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford.

For Bharti, negotiations with ex-PM hold key

For Bharti, negotiations with ex-PM hold key

Rediff.com   9 May 2008

Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal's bid for telecom major MTN Group has to contend with some tough negotiations with Lebanon's former prime minister Najib Mikati, one of the wealthiest men in his country, as well as stiff black economic empowerment policies in South Africa that provide for a major share in the management of companies located in the country to blacks.

Star India mulls print media foray

Star India mulls print media foray

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2008

STAR India, a wholly owned subsidiary of STAR Hong Kong, is exploring the possibilities of getting into the print media business in India. Last week, top STAR executives including STAR Hong Kong CEO Paul Aiello, STAR India CEO Uday Shankar and COO Jagdish Kumar were in Bangalore for meetings with possible joint venture partners for the print foray. The company is said to be in talks with Vijay Mallya's UB Group.

Videocon rings MTN for GSM foray

Videocon rings MTN for GSM foray

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2008

Datacom Solutions, promoted by consumer electronic goods maker Videocon Industries, is close to roping in South African telecom major MTN group as a partner for its GSM foray in the country. According to sources, Datacom, which was scouting for a partner to bring in investments and technology, has short-listed MTN. Discussions with the South African company are in the final stage and a deal is expected to be signed soon.

HD TV ready for grand India entry

HD TV ready for grand India entry

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2008

HD TV is all set to make a grand entry in India by the year-end. Direct-To-Home operators -- Dish TV and Reliance Communications -- are planning to offer HD TV set top boxes, though at a premium.

India a hot destination for CEOs

India a hot destination for CEOs

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2008

The brain drain, it seems, is passe. India is becoming one of the hottest destinations for expatriates (both those of Indian origin and foreigners) for top jobs. That is because big business houses in India are ready to offer pay packets that are equivalent to and sometimes more than global benchmarks. This is a key finding of a study of senior recruitment trends by US-based SpencerStuart, a leading executive search firm that specialises in recruiting CEOs, presidents and COO