Surajeet Das Gupta And Saubhadro Chatterji

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta And Saubhadro Chatterji

Delink spectrum from licence, service: Trai

Delink spectrum from licence, service: Trai

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2008

The regulator has suggested that all spectrum will be auctioned as opposed to the current policy of bundling it with a 2G licence. A beginning has been made with the auctioning of spectrum for 3G services, which is due later this year. Trai has also suggested that licences for any telecom service should be auctioned as opposed to the current policy, where it is given on a first-come-first-served basis. The new policy is expected to be ready by the end of December this year.

3 broadcasters plan combine to improve rates

3 broadcasters plan combine to improve rates

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2008

At least three major broadcasting companies have held discussions on forming a combine, the first of its kind, to counter the might of media buying houses in dictating commercial air-time rates.

India to be key R&D centre for Airbus A350 XWB

India to be key R&D centre for Airbus A350 XWB

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2008

India will be one of the key centres for design and development of the A350 aircraft, European aircraft manufacturer Airbus' answer to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Zain, Telenor eye stake in BPL Mobile subsidiary

Zain, Telenor eye stake in BPL Mobile subsidiary

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2008

It is not clear, however, whether the two players are considering a majority stake or would be content as investors with 26 per cent.

Bharti eyes digital cinema business

Bharti eyes digital cinema business

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2008

To add to company's 'three-screen' strategy of mobile phones, IPTV and broadband.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.