Surajeet Das Gupta, Gyan Verma, Viveat Susan Pinto

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta, Gyan Verma, Viveat Susan Pinto

Telcos, DoT discuss part paying AGR ahead of SC ruling

Telcos, DoT discuss part paying AGR ahead of SC ruling

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2020

The companies have offered to pay upfront the principal amount due for licence fees and spectrum usage charges (SUCs) on the basis of adjusted gross revenue (AGR). This amount will not include the interest, the penalty, and the interest on the penalty.

Why Mumbai 24x7 is not a thumbs up with mall owners

Why Mumbai 24x7 is not a thumbs up with mall owners

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2020

Experts feel that mall owners anticipate an increase in costs to the tune of 15-20 per cent annually, prompting a mixed response to the '24 hours' initiative. A mall owner said while the policy is good in spirit, implementing it would be a challenge as night shopping or eating out wasn't a habit in Mumbai yet.

The little-known company that's buying up distressed telcos

The little-known company that's buying up distressed telcos

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2020

UV Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd has made the highest bid of Rs 16,000 crore to buy Anil Ambani group's Reliance Communications and Reliance Telecom, which are in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Last year it was the highest bidder for taking over Aircel's assets for an upfront payment of Rs 150 crore. Surajeet Das Gupta and Dev Chatterjee dig deeper to find out more about this little known company.

Jaydeep Barman is changing India's restaurant business

Jaydeep Barman is changing India's restaurant business

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2020

'As long as people are eating we will be there,' Rebel Foods CEO Jaydeep Barman tells Viveat Susan Pinto and Niraj Bhatt.

Why Yes Bank audit committee chief quit

Why Yes Bank audit committee chief quit

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2020

Uttam Prakash Agarwal alleged that Citax and Braich offers were incomplete and did not include firm commitment as to the price, size, timings, confirmation from the banks about availability of the funds.

How Ashish Bharat Ram transformed SRF

How Ashish Bharat Ram transformed SRF

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2019

SRF

High-end phone smuggling is costing govt exchequer Rs 2,400 crore annually

High-end phone smuggling is costing govt exchequer Rs 2,400 crore annually

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2019

As much as Rs 8,000 crore worth of mobile phones in this segment - out of a total of Rs 15,000 crore - come into the country through the grey market. The government imposed the duty on these phones primarily to encourage domestic production but the strategy has failed as the bulk of high end mobile phones are currently imported.

How Uber plans to cover 200 cities by 2020-end

How Uber plans to cover 200 cities by 2020-end

Rediff.com   25 Dec 2019

The key driver of this expansion will be not car-hailing but bike-taxi service. The company is willing to partner local players that have a similar offer and would like to come on their platform.

How HUL and P&G are shaping their India strategy

How HUL and P&G are shaping their India strategy

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2019

While Unilever has been aggressive, both organically and inorganically in the country, P&G's approach has been about achieving 'balanced growth' in terms of top line and bottom line.

Tara Sinha, doyenne of Indian advertisement, passes away at 88

Tara Sinha, doyenne of Indian advertisement, passes away at 88

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2019

Sinha, who had both agency and client experience having worked at Coca-Cola in the 1970s and early 1980s, was the first woman to set up a national advertising agency. While Tara Sinha Associates was launched in 1985, Clarion was launched way back in 1955 at the start of her career.

If Voda Idea shuts shop, Airtel to gain the most

If Voda Idea shuts shop, Airtel to gain the most

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2019

If Vodafone Idea shuts, a bulk of the high-paying ARPU customers will move to Airtel as Reliance Jio does not have a comprehensive postpaid offering like it, and have aggressively preferred to play in the prepaid market. The bulk of Vodafone Idea customers use 2G phones and only a few of them use data. It will be easier for Airtel to woo these customers as they can shift seamlessly to its 2G network without changing handsets or even SIM cards,

Will Punit Goenka manage to 'rescue' Zee?

Will Punit Goenka manage to 'rescue' Zee?

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2019

With founder Subhash Chandra no longer in the driver's seat at Zee, the acid test for Punit Goenka would be to take the financial investors along with him even as he strives to weather the latest storm. The question, now, is how he will deal with the challenges of being a professional CEO rather than an owner-CEO in the aftermath of his family offloading most of its promoter stake to a clutch of financial investors. However, the silver lining is that Zee remains the most profitable of the top four broadcasters in India.

Shoppers Stop junks 'one-size-fits-all' strategy; readies new plan to boost growth

Shoppers Stop junks 'one-size-fits-all' strategy; readies new plan to boost growth

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2019

The store segmentation approach that Shoppers Stop is taking is intended to improve its hit rate at a time when local and international fashion retailers are crowding the market with new merchandise across price points.

Subhash Chandra quits as Zee Entertainment chairman

Subhash Chandra quits as Zee Entertainment chairman

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2019

Chandra, who will turn 69 years old on Saturday, becomes non-executive director with immediate effect.

Reliance, Airtel and 2 others bid for three Anil Ambani group companies

Reliance, Airtel and 2 others bid for three Anil Ambani group companies

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2019

The three companies for sale are Reliance Communications, Reliance Telecom and Reliance Infratel.

The story behind Vodafone's fall in India

The story behind Vodafone's fall in India

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2019

Cut-throat competition, high spectrum costs, and frequent flip-flops in government policies have made it difficult for Vodafone to make money in the country.

Sony eyes up to 30% pie in Network18 after Zee bid fails

Sony eyes up to 30% pie in Network18 after Zee bid fails

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2019

Apart from a stake buy, some other options on the table include a merger of the entertainment businesses of Sony and Network18 Media.

Why air tickets in India are going cheap

Why air tickets in India are going cheap

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2019

Airlines say that they are keeping their fingers crossed for December - another peak period - when, based on current bookings, the air fares for those who buy early are more or less in line with last year.

Telcos told to clear AGR dues in 3 months

Telcos told to clear AGR dues in 3 months

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2019

However, the government is readying a relief package and it could include a cut in the licence fee to 5 per cent, two years' moratorium on paying spectrum charges with interest, and referring the GST tax refund issue to the Council.

Airtel bids for RCom spectrum, Jio seeks deadline extension

Airtel bids for RCom spectrum, Jio seeks deadline extension

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2019

It is believed that apart from Bharti Airtel and Bharti Infratel, there are four players that have made a bid.