RCom says spectrum being utilized inefficiently
New Delhi: Criticising operators of global system for mobile (GSM) communications technology who complain of spectrum shortage, Reliance Communications (RCom) has written to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) saying operators are inefficiently utilizing the spectrum. RCom has also suggested that GSM operators are hoarding spectrum and not making fresh investments for expansion on the specious grounds that return on capital is poor.

In its reply to Trai's consultation paper on new licence norms, RCom said GSM operators served 135 million customers with about 37.2 MHz spectrum, which translated to 3.62 million subscribers per MHz. In comparison, China serves 425 million GSM customers with 50 MHz spectrum or 8.5 million subscribers per MHz.

The criticism comes as communications minister D Raja is considering a policy on 3G spectrum and finalising the release of more spectrum to the industry.
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Tata Tea rejects Munnar land grab accusation
Thiruvananthapuram: Tata Tea has rejected charges that Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company Pvt Ltd, in which Tata Tea holds an 18 per cent stake, has encroached on Government land in Munnar in Kerala.

Percy Siganporia, managing director Tata Tea, told the press that there was no truth in the allegations that Tata Tea and KDHP had encroached on government land in Munnar. He emphasized that the 58,741.82 acres that KDHP holds in the Kanan Devan Hills village were awarded to Tata Tea by the Land Board as per the provisions of the Kanan Devan Hills (Resumption of Lands) Act 1971. Under the Act, 71,051.22 acres were vested in the Government of Kerala and KDHP has not done anything detrimental to this land, which was handed over to the government, he added.

In 2005, Tata Tea transferred management control of 17 tea estates in Munnar to KDHP in which employees hold a 69 per cent stake. However, Tata Tea continues to support welfare activities in Munnar such as a high school, a hospital and a complex for differently-abled people.
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ExlService makes expansion plans in India, overseas
New Delhi: Nasdaq-listed BPO firm ExlService Holdings, plans to invest $8 million to set up a new unit in Hyderabad and is also eyeing overseas markets.

The company said its Hyderabad facility would typically be a 1,000-seater and may be further ramped up in the future. EXL has three units in Gurgaon, Pune and Noida. The Hyderabad unit is slated to open by mid-2008.

The company said it is currently focussed on both organic and inorganic growth and is constantly scouting for captive partners as we want to take full advantage of the increasing trend of captives selling out to third-party BPOs.

The BPO firm will soon open its BPO facilities in the Philippines, Romania and Croatia by following both the inorganic as well as greenfield route.

ExlService Holdings was recently rated one of the top 10 Indian third-party BPO players by the Indian IT industry's apex body Nasscom (National Association of Software and Service Companies).
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Tata group looks at doubling turnover by FY08
Mumbai: Tata Group is looking at doubling its turnover to $50 billion this fiscal with the acquisition of Anglo-Dutch steel firm Corus.

Company officials said the group should touch the $50 billion turnover mark in FY08. With a 30 per cent growth this year, the groups $22 billion turnover in FY07 would become $28 billion in FY08 while Corus would bring in an additional turnover of $22-23 billion.

The Tata group is also betting big on it's international businesses, expected to contribute 50 per cent of the total turnover in 2008.

In 2006-07, the international business contributed only 30 per cent of the $22 billion turnover, which worked out to $6.7 billion.
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Tata Sky close to one-million users
Bhubaneswar: Tata Sky, the Tata group - Star joint venture, is approaching the one-million subscriber mark in the country.

Meanwhile, with a view to provide customers convenience, the company has launched a special promotional offer 'Ek-pe-Teen and Do-pe-Paanch'.

The offer entails 3 months of free subscription on the purchase of one connection, and five months of free subscription on purchase of two or more connections.

The company provides services in over 4,200 cities in the country. The top 50 cities account for about 50 per cent business.
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