Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Makarand Gadgil

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Makarand Gadgil

Delay in launch of 3G to help BSNL, MTNL

Delay in launch of 3G to help BSNL, MTNL

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2008

However, operators said the chief beneficiary would be the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd, which have already been given the spectrum for 3G services, as well as Reliance Communications, which is still to roll out its 2G GSM network.

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.

Mumbai Metro to offer higher FSI

Mumbai Metro to offer higher FSI

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2008

A senior official from the urban development ministry said that allowing four floor space index within a 500 metre from the station will help the developer to bring down the viability gap funding because he will be able to make profits from the excess FSI. This will also allow the state government and the BMC to generate funds for infrastructure projects.

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.

Dhoot to pay Rs 950 cr for Cidco plot

Dhoot to pay Rs 950 cr for Cidco plot

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2008

Videocon Group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot on Thursday clarified that the group would be paying Rs 950 crore (Rs 9.5 billion) to the Maharashtra government's town and industrial infrastructure subsidiary CIDCO for a 100-hectare plot in Navi Mumbai and not Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) as claimed by some people.

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.

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).

Dow's tryst with a sacred river

Dow's tryst with a sacred river

Rediff.com   30 Jul 2008

Villagers and the people of the Varkari sect are on one side and state government and Dow Chemicals on the other. The bone of contention is the future of Dow Chemicals' $100-million R&D project, for which 100 acres of land was allotted in the village near the Sudha -- held sacred by the followers of a Bhakti cult called Varkaris.

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.

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.

General Motors to invest Rs 1,200 cr in Pune unit

General Motors to invest Rs 1,200 cr in Pune unit

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2008

Automobile giant General Motors will invest Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 crore (Rs 10-12 billion) to set up a power train (engine and gear box) manufacturing facility at its Talegaon Plant near Pune.

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.

Farmers start stir against RIL SEZ in Raigad

Farmers start stir against RIL SEZ in Raigad

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2008

Vehicles going from Mumbai towards Goa and Konkan were diverted from Panvel via Khopoli and Pali as the stretch near Pen at Vashi naka was blocked by farmers protesting against the Maharashtra government's decision to approve the rehabilitation and resettlement package announced by Mumbai SEZ Pvt Ltd, a Reliance Industries company.