Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Aminah Sheikh

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Aminah Sheikh

Chennai airport upgrade may lag passenger traffic

Chennai airport upgrade may lag passenger traffic

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2008

The Rs 1,808-crore modernisation and expansion plan for Chennai airport, which was recently cleared by the Public Investment Board and expected to begin this September, may not be sufficient to cope with projected growth in passenger traffic.

Shopping channels: The next big thing!

Shopping channels: The next big thing!

Rediff.com   12 Aug 2008

You can soon buy your car or house sitting in front a television set. With Network 18 launching India's first home shopping channel Home Shop 18 in April, and Star TV group soon to join the fray, the home shopping channels are expected to be the next big thing for television broadcasters.

Nahata-Dhoot talks fail over Datacom buyout

Nahata-Dhoot talks fail over Datacom buyout

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2008

Talks have failed between the Dhoots of the Videocon group and Mahendra Nahata of Himachal Futuristic Communications Ltd to buy out the latter's 36 per cent stake in all-India mobile licence-holder Datacom Solutions.

Go for MID: It's cheaper and faster than 3G

Go for MID: It's cheaper and faster than 3G

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2008

3G mobile services, to be launched in India on August 22, is set to have serious competition. The reason is simple: if you are looking for high quality video streaming of movies and want to play multiplayer on-line games, it's not 3G services alone you need to look at.

We can't sell Maruti 800 at a loss: Nakanishi

We can't sell Maruti 800 at a loss: Nakanishi

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2008

We will not be in the ultra-low-cost car segment. Our focus will be on the A1 and A2 segments, which are growth areas in which many of the new players like Nissan, Volkswagen or Toyota are planning to enter. Our entry-level car will remain the Maruti 800.

3G handset makers to ring in Rs 3,500-4,000 offer

3G handset makers to ring in Rs 3,500-4,000 offer

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2008

With 3G mobile services, which provide high-speed downloads of data, movies and videos, around six month away, mobile phone makers are getting ready to offer handsets for as little as Rs 3,500, against the currently available minimum price of over Rs 8,000.

Advertisers shy away from Beijing Olympics

Advertisers shy away from Beijing Olympics

Rediff.com   2 Aug 2008

Official telecaster Prasar Bharati has got Life Insurance Corporation, Maruti, Suzuki, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), Indian Oil Corporation, BSNL and Samsung on board as sponsors for telecast of the forthcoming Beijing Olympics. But with the tournament starting on August 8, Prasar Bharati is yet to have a presenting sponsor.

Soon, retain old number on new operator

Soon, retain old number on new operator

Rediff.com   1 Aug 2008

However, portability services, which were earlier expected to be launched by the end of the year in the four metros -- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai -- as well as Tamil Nadu, have now been delayed till February or March 2009 (the DoT has said that it will start operations six months after the licence is granted).

BK Modi in talks to acquire Hollywood studio

BK Modi in talks to acquire Hollywood studio

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2008

The deal is expected to be struck at $150 million (about Rs 600 crore). If the deal goes through, it will mark the entry of Indian companies in Hollywood studios.

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.

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.

Modi in talks for Sony BMG stake

Modi in talks for Sony BMG stake

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2008

In yet another move to strengthen his association with the Sony Group, Spice Chairman B K Modi is in talks to buy stake in Sony BMG, the group's music subsidiary.

Nariman Point to Borivali in 45 mins

Nariman Point to Borivali in 45 mins

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2008

In two years, Mumbaikars will be able to take the waterway, forking out Rs 70 for a 45-minute journey between the city's commercial centre Nariman Point and its suburbs in Borivali, while enjoying the Arabian sea breeze. The high power committee chaired by Maharashtra chief secretary Johnny Joseph, in a meeting on Thursday, has finalised the bidding criteria for the ambitious passenger water transport project along the western coast of Mumbai.

Paid mobile entertainment losing steam

Paid mobile entertainment losing steam

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2008

Consider this. Leading broadcaster Star India's mobile interactive division, Star Mobile Entertainment -- which made some serious headway in the space by launching a service whereby mobile users could opt to view soaps from across Star India's network -- recently reviewed its operational strategy.

BCCI opens 2nd innings with Champions T20

BCCI opens 2nd innings with Champions T20

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2008

Twenty20 cricket is back again, but this time in an international avatar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is expected to offer telecast rights for the Champions Twenty20 tournament in which domestic clubs from various countries will battle it out for top honours this September.

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.