Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Rajesh S Kurup In New Delhi

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Rajesh S Kurup In New Delhi

BIG TV walks out of IPL deal after spat with Sony

BIG TV walks out of IPL deal after spat with Sony

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2009

Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group-controlled BIG TV has withdrawn from partnering the Indian Premier League, alleging discrimination by the league's broadcast rights-holder Sony Entertainment Television.BIG TV has communicated its decision to IPL CEO Sundar Raman, alleging that SET has decided to offer the contract to competitor Airtel DTH, though it quoted a lower price for on-air partnership, sources said. When contacted, a BIG TV spokesperson declined to comment.

GSM foray to have limited impact on competitors

GSM foray to have limited impact on competitors

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2009

With the existing operators garnering the high-average revenue per user subscriber, new service providers like RCom has to look at new customers," Gartner principal research analyst Naresh Singh said.

Govt to check RCom's revenue reports

Govt to check RCom's revenue reports

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2009

The government has asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to speed up its responses on the allegations that Reliance Communications (RCom) has violated revenue reporting norms. The government will also appoint a special auditor to scrutinise RCom's books.

Airlines fail to benefit from fare fair

Airlines fail to benefit from fare fair

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2009

The gap between the average fares of a full-service airline and a low-cost carrier for metro routes narrowed by a third in January, thanks to leading players cutting their fares quite dramatically to grab the market share.

Automatic FDI approval may be selectively scrapped

Automatic FDI approval may be selectively scrapped

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2009

Broad consensus is emerging within a Group of Ministers chaired by finance and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee on a proposal seeking comprehensive changes in the foreign direct investment policy. This includes scrapping automatic approval in sectors that have FDI limits and in which ownership or control is shifting to a foreign company, and a new definition for calculating indirect foreign equity.

Second IPL innings puts reverse swing on slowdown

Second IPL innings puts reverse swing on slowdown

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2009

And despite a slowdown, media planners say advertisers are pouring in over Rs 600 crore (nearly half the ad budget for cricket in 2009). This represents a more than 10 per cent increase over last year's spends on television, co-branding of teams and marketing, among others.

Ex-CEOs join hands to set up novel firm

Ex-CEOs join hands to set up novel firm

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2009

Four former Indian CEOs - three of them with telecom companies and one from soft drinks major Coca-Cola - have come together to start an angel partner firm, the Phi Group. Interestingly, the group has roped in two former bosses of global telecom companies for its international foray.

Spice firms up plan for Satyam buy

Spice firms up plan for Satyam buy

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2009

Sends team to discuss share auction with Sebi today Satyam board to sell stake via auction.

L&T seeks management control of Satyam

L&T seeks management control of Satyam

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2009

It's official now. Engineering giant Larsen & Toubro has sought management control of Satyam.

CEOs made to sweat more for money: Spencer Stuart

CEOs made to sweat more for money: Spencer Stuart

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2009

As companies find themselves in the midst of an unprecedented meltdown, the role and expectations from CEOs are changing, according to Spencer Stuart, one of the largest global recruitment agencies for senior directors and CEOs. It has made these findings from recruitments undertaken in India across sectors like financial services, telecommunications and FMCG, amongst others.

Now, make free international calls

Now, make free international calls

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2009

You can make free phone calls to anywhere in the world now. An Italian software company - Seven Rings International - is launching its Voice over Internet Protocol service in the country that provides free international phone calls, instant messages (chat) and text messages.

Chandra-promoted firm's fund-raising plan rejected

Chandra-promoted firm's fund-raising plan rejected

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2009

It has rejected a proposal by Subash Chandra-promoted Wire and Wireless India, which has sought permission to issue partly paid-up equity shares, pursuant to its rights issue. WWIL is in the cable network business. The shares were to be issued to non-residents, which also included FIIs, venture capital funds, multilateral and bilateral development financial institutions, and eligible NRIs for cash aggregating up to Rs 450 crore (Rs 4.5 billion).

IFC shareholder rebels against Raghav Bahl

IFC shareholder rebels against Raghav Bahl

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2009

The dispute involves a UK-based hedge fund, Altima Partners, and the company's principal promoter Raghav Bahl, founder and largest shareholder of Network18, the broadcasting group which runs TV channels such as CNBC-TV18, Colors and Awaaz.

3G spectrum auctions may be delayed again

3G spectrum auctions may be delayed again

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2009

Auctions for spectrum for 3G or third-generation telecom services could be delayed from an already rescheduled date of January 30 after the Department of Telecommunications sought legal opinion on whether it should send the finance ministry's suggestion on doubling the reserve price back to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India for its endorsement.

Upaid case hearing not scheduled this week

Upaid case hearing not scheduled this week

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2009

The hearing of the forgery case filed by British mobile solution firm Upaid against Satyam Computer Services is not scheduled for hearing during this week.

Satyam fiasco: Raju is in Hyderabad

Satyam fiasco: Raju is in Hyderabad

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2009

The hearing of the forgery case filed by British mobile solution firm Upaid against Satyam Computer Services is not scheduled for hearing during this week. This means no Satyam official -- neither B Ramalinga Raju who stepped down as its chairman after admitting to a financial fraud nor any other top executive -- is in the US for the case. When contacted, a Satyam spokesperson confirmed the development and added that Raju was 'very much' in Hyderabad.

3G spectrum row: DoT offers a compromise

3G spectrum row: DoT offers a compromise

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2009

Will scrap bid if it falls below government's revenue expectations.

Trai seeks RCom plan to handle cable cuts

Trai seeks RCom plan to handle cable cuts

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2008

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has sought details of the arrangements made by Reliance Communications to restore bandwidth in case of submarine cable failure.

Some telcos want delay in 3G auction

Some telcos want delay in 3G auction

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2008

The 3G and broadband wireless access spectrum auction is running into further controversies with a section of telecom firms opposing the timing of the auction and internet companies planning to move the Prime Minister's Office.Even though Reliance Communications is ready with $1-billion investment for 3G rollout, it intends to focus on GSM rollout at the moment. The company is "receptive to the opinion that the 3G auctions should be held at a later date," a source said.

Internet connections will be slow till December 26

Internet connections will be slow till December 26

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2008

Slow internet connections will continue till Friday, even as restoration work on two cables out of the three that had severed a few days ago is under way. In India, the latency will continue till the end of the week, even for customers who have opted for redundancy bandwidth. For those who did not opt for redundancy bandwidth, the latency would be higher till the restoration.