TRAI: International bandwidth tariffs slashed by 35 per cent
New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), has cut the lower capacity international bandwidth tariff by 35 per cent, while the higher capacity international bandwidth tariff has also been slashed by 70 per cent.

TRAI has said, that the bandwidth tariff cuts will come into effect from April 1. The authority will also revise its domestic leased circuit tariffs soon, it has announced.
Back to News Review index page  

Maruti picks up lions share of JD Power Asia Pacific awards
New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki stole the limelight at JD Power Asia Pacific 2004 award function along with other Japanese car makers, while Tata Motors was left all alone, holding aloft the domestic car markers flag with its SUV Tata Safari being declared the most appealing vehicle in its category.

Maruti Udyog Ltd. picked up five awards in different categories, with its premium compact car Alto being recognised as the most appealing vehicle as per a quality study. The second compact car from the Maruti stable, Wagon R also won in JD Power's 2004 appeal study. The company was also ranked highest in both automotive sales satisfaction and customer satisfaction with its mid-sized car Esteem being awarded for being the best entry level mid-size car.

Other awardees at the function included the President and CEO of Honda Siel Cars India, H Yamada for its Honda City, Managing Director and Toyota Kirloskar Motor's, Atsushi Toyoshima, for its premium mid-size car Totoya Corolla. Toyota's recently phased out MUV Qualis was also awarded as the best vehicle in the segment.

The Vice President (Commercial), Tata Motors, Rajiv Dubey received the award on behalf of the company.
Back to News Review index page  

GAIL short listed for JV with Syrian company
New Delhi: The state-owned gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd has said that it will set up a joint venture company with a Syrian company for gas distribution projects in Syria.

''GAIL has been qualified by the Syrian company amongst the 23 companies who had participated in the bidding process. In the next round, GAIL would be submitting technical and commercial bids shortly,'' a company press release has said.

The joint venture with the Syrian company would establish CNG stations in Damascus city and its country side in the first stage, pipeline network for the supply of gas to the proposed CNG stations from the existing gas transmission system and workshops to convert vehicles to run on CNG and pipeline network for supply of gas to residential customers.

In the first stage, it is planned to set up three to five CNG stations in Damascus city and its suburbs. At a later stage, the project would be expanded to other large cities of Syria.
Back to News Review index page  

Mastek to invest Rs700-750 million towards infrastructure
Mumbai: Software developer Mastek is likely to invest Rs700-750 million to expand its facilities in Pune and Mahape in Navi Mumbai, by way of advanced preparation for eventual orders.

Company officials have indicated that the company is currently in talks with a few large and mid-sized banks in the US for offshore work.

Mastek is an Rs4.53 billion publicly held IT applications outsourcing company having global operations. The total investment will be towards infrastructure expansion and is excluding of staff costs.

Company officials have also indicated that being a global company they would also be considering an overseas listing.Mastek has a joint venture with Deloitte Consulting.
Back to News Review index page  

Calcutta HC rejects caveats of KK Birla, BK Birla, Y. Birla
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has rejected the caveats of K K Birla, B K Birla and Yasowardhan Birla, but admitted G P Birla's caveatable interest in the 1999 will of Priyamwada Birla.

Passing the order, Justice Kalyanjoyti Sengupta also admitted Rajender Lodha's caveatable interest in the 1982 mutual will of M P Birla and Priyamvada Birla. Lodha will be part of probate proceedings of 1982 will and he can challenge the 1982 will.
Back to News Review index page  

Erisson rolls out first consignment of GSM radio base stations
Jaipur: Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson has rolled out the first consignment of radio base stations made in the country and said it will invest $50 million over the next two years at its plant here for manufacturing GSM base stations, which in turn will cut operating costs of mobile operators.

With this, Ericsson has become the first multinational company to manufacture GSM radio base stations (RBS) with complete site solutions in India. The first consignment of GSM RBS from the factory will be sent to Bharti later in the day today.

The factory at Kukas is Ericsson's fourth GSM RBS facility globally and has enabled the company to expand its manufacturing level from AXE switches to base stations. The company's previous three facilities are in Sweden, China and Brazil.

The factory will manufacture more than 1,000 base stations per month with the capacity to scale up operations as per increase in demand. These base stations will help operators to reduce capital as well as operating expenditure by up to 30 per cent.
Back to News Review index page  

Tata Coffee to enter JV with Beeyu Overseas
Kolkata: Tea producing company, Beeyu Overseas Ltd will form a joint venture with Tata Coffee for setting up a fridge dried coffee plant in the country. The total investment in the project would be around Rs80 crore, out of which Beeyu and Tata Coffee would chip in Rs10 crore each, while the balance would be raised by way of debt.

The 50:50 joint venture is likely to be floated in April, and the plant would be located at Madurai.

Beeyu has tea plantations in Tamil Nadu and produces 3000 tonnes of tea per annum.
Back to News Review index page