DoT drops 5-year lock-in period proposal
New Delhi: The department of telecommunications has dropped the proposal for a five-year lock-in period on the present shareholding of telecom companies as a pre-condition for changing over to the revenue-sharing system from the present licence fee system.

This is incorporated in the final draft of the ministry's note to the Union cabinet.

The payment of licence fee dues till the cut-off date of 1 August will be treated as the one-time entry fee that the operators will be required to pay under the new system.

The note also wants both operators in each cellular circle to agree to come under the provisions of the new policy. If one operator decides not to migrate, both will have to continue under the licence system.
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Sops for paging, V-SAT operators
New Delhi: The department of telecommunications has proposed that the paging and V-SAT service operators should be shifted to the revenue-sharing system from the fixed licence fee paying system and a licence fee waiver of six months should be given to them.

The department's note to the Union cabinet proposes that the Rs 2,500-crore paging and V-SAT industry should be given concessions in line with those given to the cellular and basic service operators, when they are shifted to the revenue-sharing system.
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Intelligent networks from DoT
Calcutta: The department of telecommunications will offer intelligent network , or IN, services throughout the country by 1999-end.

The department will use the 27,000 C-DOT exchanges in the country for the purpose.

Currently there are six services under the IN -- virtual card calling, free phone, virtual private network, universal access number, televoting and premium rate services.
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Dena Bank readies for gold trading
Mumbai: Dena Bank will enter the gold trading field. It has signed agreements with the Union Bank of Switzerland, Zurich, and Commerzbank International, Luxembourg.

This is part of the bank's plans to refocus its portfolios. The bank has created two posts of general managers and designated one general manager to look after the corporate business.

The bank has also embarked on an ambitious plan for technological upgradation and installed 20 VSATs in the Reserve Bank of India network project.
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