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Honest

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  1. Shyam Telelink to start services this month 25 Sep, 2008, 1729 hrs IST, PTI NEW DELHI: Shyam Telelink, a subsidiary of Russian telecom giant Sistema, will be the first among the new operators to get the a pan-India licence to roll out telecom services in both GSM as well as CDMA space from September 30 in Rajasthan. Following Rajasthan, Shyam would start services in the southern circles in the next two-three months, sources close to the development said. Shyam has received a pan-India licence for offering services, with spectrum in all the circles. The company has already set up more than 800 towers in Rajasthan and is also setting up a network across the country to start services, sources added. Shyam received start-up spectrum in the CDMA space on an all India basis, thereby placing it among the likes of Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices in the CDMA domain.
  2. Government seeks compliance report from telcos on pesky calls 25 Sep, 2008, 1909 hrs IST, ET NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecom has directed all service providers to comply with the regulations on pesky calls and discontinue the phone connections of non-registered tele-marketing companies by October 19. The operators shall not provide or discontinue to provide telecom resources to non-registered telemarketing companies and in this regard all licencees are required to ensure that the directive is complied with, a DoT letter said. A compliance report in the matter must be submitted within a month of issue of this directive, DoT said. The letter was issued on September 19. RBI last week had asked the banks and their associates not to engage unregistered telemarketers, a move that is expected to reduce the number of unsolicited calls. DoT has also asked operators to publicise the facility of 'National Do Not Call Registry' among the general public. The slogan for it, DoT said, is "To avoid unwanted telemarketing calls, register your telephone number in NDNC Regsitry--call 1909 or send SMS 'START DND on 1909". In fact, with complaints against ineffectiveness of the National Do Not Call Registry' rising, the DoT is now mulling over turning it into 'Do Call Registry' (DCR). This implies that subscribers enlist themselves if they wish to receive unsolicited telemarketing calls, just opposite to the erstwhile process of subscribers registering in case they did not wish to take unwanted calls. The existing registry, which became operational last October, has around 9 million mobile subscribers enlisted. There have been increasing complaints that unsolicited telemarketing calls persist, despite putting the mechanism in place.
  3. Over 4 billion cell subscribers by end of 2008: UN 25 Sep, 2008, 1657 hrs IST, AGENCIES GENEVA: The number of cell phone subscribers will reach 4 billion by the end of the year, largely because of growth in emerging markets, the UN telecommunications agency said on Thursday. The International Telecommunications Union said growing use of mobile phones in Brazil, Russia, India and China have driven global coverage to over 60 per cent.
  4. Four firms bid for 3G e-auction agency 25 Sep, 2008, 2017 hrs IST, IANS NEW DELHI: Four information technology firms Thursday submitted bids for selection of an e-auction agency that will conduct online auctions for third generation radio frequencies in India, an official said here. "Only four companies - mjunction, Rothschild, MSTC Ltd and Sai Information System - have submitted their bids with us today," a Department of Telecom (DoT) official told reporters. The interested firms were required to submit their bids by Sep 25. According to DoT guidelines, all the firms bidding to be the agency to conduct the e-auction will have to declare their shareholding pattern - both Indian and foreign firms, if any. Besides, the DoT has said potential bidders cannot have more than 10 per cent stake in any telecom or Internet service provider in India. Under the guidelines, only those companies which have a paid-up capital of Rs.25 million, a net worth of at least Rs.100 million, and have conducted similar auctions before will be eligible to apply. "All applicants that meet the eligibility criteria will have to make a presentation before the evaluation committee demonstrating their experience and capacity to conduct the auction Monday, September 29," DoT official said. While the covering letter was opened Thursday, the government will declare the eligible bidders Friday. The eligible bidders will make presentations before the DoT evaluation committee Sep 29. The finalisation and declaration of technical bids will be Oct 1, to be followed by the opening of financial bids Oct 3. The bids are to be finalised by Oct 6. The DoT had earlier said the auctions of 3G radio frequencies for telecom operators will be held within three months of selecting the agency to conduct the same. This implies, if the agency in selected by October, the auctions must be conducted before January, 2009.
  5. ^^^ My dear friends, this seems to be a feature rich handset. Regards.
  6. ^^^ My dear friend, most of the Chinese mobiles even doesn't support Java. So, it is far away to use Java Applications on Chinese mobiles. Regards.
  7. ^^^ @Vikasmahajanz My dear friend, you are not allowed to do so. As the thread is moving towards illegal discussions on this neet and clean forum, so by now we are closing this thread. Regards.
  8. ^^^ The handset seems to be really cool. Any Idea of the price for this handset my dear Akshat ? Regards.
  9. Metamax.in

    Yes my dear friends, the plans are really expensive. Hope the users get the world class service at this price. Regards.
  10. Chrome - Browser By Google.

    Chrome Market Share Dips Losing ground to IE and Firefox After the hype comes the fact. Chrome seems to be steadily "losing" its user base. Users who had shifted from Firefox and IE (Internet Explorer) seem to be reverting to their browsers of choice after "checking out" Chrome. Internet measurement company Net Applications revealed that last week, in its third week of existence, Chrome accounted for 0.77% of the browsers that people used to visit websites tracked by the company. This is down from the 0.85% share that it held a week prior to this announcement. At the time of launch, Chrome had managed to garner more than 1% of the market share. The only time the Chrome usage surpasses the 1% mark is post-midnight, US time when most users use browsers other than IE for casual browsing. Even Firefox is not new to this trend of the market share rising during post-working hours. The main reason for this is the standardization of Internet Explorer in many organizations. Employees in some organizations are tied to IE only and are not allowed to use other browsers. Another factor is Google's "online" installation procedure. This has certainly not helped Chrome's cause considering many Google domains are blocked in corporate networks. For Firefox users, it has to be the lack of add-ons for Chrome that has forced them to switch back. Both IE and Firefox have seen their shares marginally increase over the past week. Opera and Netscape have seen a slight drop in their usage while Safari is the only browser that has escaped Chrome's impact -- partly owing to the non-availability of Chrome for Macs. Another factor causing Chrome's steady slide could be Google's not-so-loud promotion for the browser. Apart from a few sponsored search-listing results, Chrome has not made a major marketing splash. Google expects the usage to rise once the add-ons start trickling in. Courtesy : Techtree
  11. A PC for Just Rs 2,499 Introducing the Nova netPC, brought to us by Tata Teleservices Maharastra Limited Last month we reported about Tata Teleservice association with Novatium to offer a low-cost computing solution. That news has now seen fruition as we currently report the release of the Nova netPC in Mumbai, month for Rs 2,499. The Nova netPC is a thin-client based network computer that can be used for both Windows and Linux operating systems as well as for accessing the Internet. It is also capable of running local applications using USB peripherals. The thin-client basically connects to a "cloud" from which it can pipe in data and applications. According to the company, its server-driven content and update delivery feature makes it an obsolescence-free desktop, as all the updates are carried out centrally through the server. Courtesy : Techtree
  12. Google phone wins cheers, requests for better 25 Sep, 2008, 1200 hrs IST, REUTERS NEW YORK: Nice try with the new phone, Google. Better luck next time. That's what some seem to be saying about Google Inc's first foray into the world of cell phones. But while it may not attract long lines like Apple Inc's iPhone, it offers much to those looking to use their phones for more than talking. So what's it like? The G1, which is made for Google by HTC Corp and sold by Deutsche Telekom AG unit T-Mobile, actually resembles an older handset - the Sidekick, a soapbar-shaped phone also created by G1 designer Andy Rubin, the father of Google's Android mobile operating system. It has touch-screen controls, and a miniature computer keyboard that is uncovered by sliding the screen out. This means a chunkier gadget than the svelte iPhone. But it makes for a more familiar typing experience for consumers who dislike iPhone's virtual keypad, especially for typing longer notes. The G1, which was greeted with cheers when it was unveiled in New York on Tuesday, shares many functions with iPhone -- a full web browser, an online market to buy games and software, and a music player. This will work in its favor for shoppers whose expectations from Google weren't as lofty. Experts were not as giddy. Some analysts noted its lack of some typical smartphone features such as corporate e-mail and companion desktop software. "This is an important device, but there has to be more to it," Michael Gartenberg a Jupitermedia analyst who described the phone as "a good first step" after the launch, even as he created a checklist of what he wants for the next versions. Upcoming versions of the phone could have a completely new user interface, as Google has opened the operating system to outside developers. Both T-Mobile USA and HTC already have plans to offer more phones based on the Google systems. G-INTEGRATION The biggest draw for G1, especially for people who already like to use Google a lot on the desktop, could be its tight integration of familiar Google Web services, such as Google maps, search and Gmail, into its traditional phone features. For example, tapping on any address in the contact database automatically links you to Google Maps, where you can get directions from your current location - which the phone automatically knows thanks to its GPS technology. If you're still worried about finding the place after all that, G1's Streetfinder produces a snapshot of the actual buildings at the location. Google has also developed a compass feature that changes the view as you move the phone, giving the impression that you're already there. Also, once you've stored your friends' email addresses, you can also jump automatically from the contact database to gmail by simply tapping on the address. One of the phone's quirkiest features is actually its security system. Instead of typing a password you slide your finger over a series of dots to get into the phone. So instead of remembering a password you just need to remember what kind of line to draw to join the dots. Similarly, photographs taken on the phone's 3-megapixel camera can be quickly shared with friends by choosing a share option when the image is on your phone and then choosing either email or an Internet photo sharing site, such as Flickr. Web surfing is similar to iPhone's, although iPhone enthusiasts may have to refrain from using two fingers to either pinch a page smaller or slide it bigger - a feature unique to Apple. Google's Android Market lets users download from a choice of almost 2,000 software applications, including everything from Ecorio, which helps users track their carbon footprints, to ShopSavvy, a comparison shopping aid. While applications from Android Market are all free so far, T-Mobile USA said it expects its customers to be able to buy applications in the future. The G1, which comes in black, brown and white and is $20 cheaper than iPhone at $179 with a 2-year contract, will be available in T-Mobile USA stores October 22. Current Analysis analyst Avi Greengart summed it up. "There's nothing here that isn't available in one form or another on some of the other competing products," he said. "But at the same time, it's all here in a pretty nice form factor at a great price."
  13. Motorola Asc In Trouble?

    ^^^ My dear friends, Motorola cutomer service is better then Nokia. And LG too is the best. Regards.
  14. ^^^ My dear friend, the Chinese Pda handsets are actually not at all PDA. They are just touch screen handsets. In 4k-5k we can't expect a PDA handset. Although Motorola is soon launching a PDA handset @ Rs.8000/-. I think by next month it will be launched. Regards.
  15. ^^^ Very correct my dear Kumaar. He will wake-up after dozen of operators start their services throughout the nation. Regards.
  16. Anil files Rs 10,000 cr defamation suit against Mukesh 24 Sep, 2008, 2115 hrs IST, PTI MUMBAI: In another twist to the feud between the Ambani brothers, the younger sibling Anil's Group is understood to have filed a defamation suit for a whopping Rs 10,000 crore against elder Mukesh Ambani for remarks purported to have been made by him in an interview with the New York Times several weeks ago. Mukesh Ambani-led RIL spokesperson declined to comment on any query related to this development, while the spokesperson for Anil Ambani's Group was inaccessible despite several attempts. The defamation suit is believed to have been filed in the Bombay High Court about a month ago, but no details of about 200-page petition were not available immediately.
  17. Beware: Your Email & Bank Passwords can be Hacked ! An attack, simply done, could leave all your personal data vulnerable Did you ever feel that your email account has been hacked and is being misused? Could it be that someone is using your credit card maliciously and you don't even know about it? Are your bank account details as safe as you think? You may have taken all the necessary precautions to safeguard yourself against malicious attacks -- antivirus software, firewall, anti-spyware, and anti-malware, the best email spam filters, and so on. But there could very well be a chink in your e-armour -- your WiFi or LAN network. When you setup a WiFi network at your home, or anywhere else, for that matter, you are inviting trouble. Some of the broadband providers also provide a shared Internet connection with customers in the same building; this too could be another vector for a particularly nasty attack. Under these scenarios you could be susceptible to what is known as an ARP cache poisoning attack. An ARP poisoning is basically when a hacker lies to your machine. It enables local hackers to play around with your data like it's child's play. So easy, it's scary ARP, or Address Resolution Protocol is what a network uses to associate an IP address with a device's MAC address. Thus, ARP is what essentially helps connect devices together on a network. Unfortunately, the way this connection works is without any form of authentication. So a device can easily masquerade as another, which of course allows a hacker to associate any device on your network with any IP and MAC address! This also opens up several attack vectors for the hacker such as Denial of Service and MAC flooding. Perhaps, most frighteningly, the hacker can act as a go-between amidst two devices on your network -- intercepting network traffic between the two. These two could very well be your computer and your Internet router. In effect, any communication made between your PC and the outside world can be sniffed at, hacked at, decoded and stolen. (If you are wondering how this can happen: the hacker will essentially make the router think that his computer is your computer, while simultaneously make your computer think that the hacker's PC is your router! Fiendish.) Now whenever you access the Internet, your PC send all data packets to the hacker's. We don't have to tell you how scary this is. And it's easy. All you need is a tool called Cain and Abel. Advantages of this attack: 1. Does not leave a clue. 2. Works on WiFi and LAN networks 3. Can intercept Encrypted traffic The solution? You can assign static IP addresses to your network devices, and also static ARP entires. Under Windows, "ipconfig /all" on the command line will tell you the IP and MAC addresses of every device on your network. Then using the "arp -s" command, you can add static entries for those devices. You could also use a software tool for the same. Download an application called Anti-ARPSpoof here[ZIP]. The tool basically sets up a static route entry which is a sure-shot solution to prevent this attack. There is another open-source tool available called ArpON which detects and blocks all ARP poisoning and spoofing attacks. Remember that this is only locally possible. A hacker would need to be either physically present on your network or have control of a machine on your network to be able to carry out this attack. Courtesy : Techtree
  18. Swan Telecom may buy Allianz Infra's licences 25 Sep, 2008, 0129 hrs IST, ET NEW DELHI: After offloading a 45% stake to UAE’s Etisalat for $900 million, Swan Telecom is set to acquire the mobile licences held by Allianz Infratech. The deal, which may run into a couple of hundred crores, is likely to be announced within a fortnight, according to industry sources. Allianz had applied for telecom licences on a pan-India level but was given permission to launch services in only two circles, Madhya Pradesh & Bihar. Swan, which has bagged licences to operate in 13 of the 22 telecom zones in India, is not present in these two circles. Allianz Infratech is promoted by four individuals-aviation entrepreneur Ajay Singh, Ashish Singh, Praveen Singh and Ashish Deora, who hold 25% each in the company. Following the deal, Swan will be able to provide telecom services in 15 circles covering over a billion people. However, when contacted, Swan managing director Shahid Balwa denied the development. He, however, admitted that Swan would make an acquisition to extend its footprint in India, while refusing to divulge further details. After the Etisalat deal, Mr Balwa had told ET that Swan would launch mobile services in the first quarter of 2009, adding that the company was in talks with existing operators and stand-alone tower companies for infrastructure sharing. Swan is one of the seven companies that was successful in winning GSM licences earlier this year. After the deal, Allianz would be the first of the new entrants to sell out. It’s not clear under the current merger and acquisition norms in telecom whether a new player like Allianz can sell out. Early this year, Allianz Infratech failed to make the cut to bag a pan-India telecom licence as its net worth was lower than the mandated Rs 1,350 crore. It was later awarded licences for only two circles. While the company paid about Rs 30 crore as entry fee for these two circles, the value of these licences would be multiples of that amount. For instance, Swan paid about Rs 1,400 crore for its licences in 13 circles earlier this year. The company is now worth $2 billion or Rs 8,800 crore, based on the valuation in the Etisalat deal.
  19. Samsung Launches The Omnia in India Samsung has launched its fully-loaded handset, Samsung Omnia (SGH-i900), in the Indian market. The Omnia features Samsung's patented TouchWiz user interface to make entering data and text simple. With unique widgets, users can customise and personalise the way they use their phone. The phone has a high resolution, touch-sensitive, 3.2-inch WQVGA LCD screen that uses intuitive tap, sweep, drag and drop operations as well as an on-screen QWERTY keyboard. Further , the Omnia facilitates easy and convenient calling and texting with a dedicated dome key for controlling communications. The phone features MultiCodec support for DivX, Xvid and other video formats; offers GPS, including navigation and geo-tagging capabilities and comes with a five-megapixel CMOS camera with the latest value-added features, which include auto-focus (AF), face detection, smile detection and auto-panorama shot. Based on the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system, Samsung Omnia gives users a mobile extension to their PC experience, with access to MS Office documents such as PowerPoint, Excel and Word. Users can also send and receive email and manage their appointments in Outlook while on the go. The phone also allows users to switch seamlessly between Microsoft Outlook email and productivity applications that replicate the look and feel of their PC - with a stroke of their finger. The Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system means users can download additional programs as they would on their PC and customize it for their individual needs. For ease of navigation, an optical mouse similar to those on laptop computers offers improved usability and one-handed control. Announcing the launch of Samsung Omnia, Sunil Dutt, Country Head-Samsung Telecom, said, "Samsung Omnia is our flagship model aimed at users who desire a lot of functionality, a lot of style, a lot of usability and a lot of entertainment in one innovative device. Samsung Omnia will help users to be at the forefront of work and play and at the same time, to stay connected anytime, anywhere". The 12.5-mm slim phone sports a platinum-look finish and hairline patterns on the back and is available with 32 GB Memory (16 GB Internal Memory + 16 GB MicroSD card from Sandisk) and 24 GB Memory (8 GB Internal Memory + 16 GB MicroSD Card) and is priced at Rs. 39,999 (32 GB Memory) and Rs. 37,999 (24 GB Memory). Courtesy : Tech2
  20. Nokia Tube Launching Next Month A touchscreen mobile phone from Nokia Bringing an end to months of speculation, we now know that the Nokia Tube is real. What's more, it's out next month. The Nokia Tube is a touchscreen mobile phone from Nokia, which is expected to be officially launched on the 2nd of October, says Pocket-lint. Presently known as Tube, this touchscreen handset will most likely launch under the XpressMusic sub-brand of Nokia. The launch scheduled next month goes in line with Nokia's promise to launch a touchscreen phone before this year ends. As of now, there is not much information available on the handset. But hey, we got some pics, pics are nice. Right? We'll keep you posted as more develops. On to the pics: Courtesy : Techtree
  21. BlackBerry Storm to Strike Soon The Storm has more leaks than RIM can fix. New information on the touchscreen phone inside. UPDATE: To be released end of October Research in Motion (RIM) is back in the news again. BlackBerry Thunder, the much-anticipated touchscreen smartphone from RIM, will be launched, re-branded as BlackBerry Storm, reports Reuters. However, technology bloggers and speculators are unsure whether Bell or Verizon will be the cellular service provider of the North American market. Reports indicate that Verizon Wireless has more or less confirmed the launch -- RIM has rolled up its sleeves to launch the touchscreen BlackBerry line smartphone -- BlackBerry Storm 9530, which will feature "global capabilities". Though Verizon didn't disclose the specifications and release date, the slideshow leak of the official presentation indicates that the new BlackBerry Storm is going to make the iPhone pant in the touchscreen smartphone race. Last week, we reported on the leak of the Storm announcement video of Verizon at CrankBerry and being touted as a strong competitor for Apple's iPhone. The leaked slides and specs follow: The BlackBerry Storm has similar features to the iPhone: - 3.5-inch half-VGA display (480x360) - 7.2 mbps HSDPA/UMTS (2100/1900/850 MHz) - 3.5G EvDO Rev A support - Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) - UMTS/HSPA 2100MHz - 1GB of memory, 128MB Flash memory - MicroSD support and expandable up to 8GB - 3.2-megapixel camera, autoflash, auto focus, 2.5x digital zoom and image stabilization - Video capture (480 320) and MMS mode (176 144) - Assisted GPS -- Enhanced version of GPS that performs at a faster speed Another Job Aid leak triggered speculations on possible Storm variants like a GSM-only version, which might come out in the future. The spyshot images clearly show the features and specifications of BlackBerrry Storm 9500. Incidentally, at the launch of BlackBerry Bold in India, Jim Balsillie, the co-CEO of RIM, refused to comment on any rumors about BlackBerry Storm. However, he did mention that they'll roll out a touchscreen device if there is a customer requirement. When launched, the BlackBerry Storm will be the first touchscreen smartphone from BlackBerry. It has the capability to take on the iPhone on aspects of a better camera and 3.5G EvDO support. The latter is, however, cellular service provider-dependant and won't be available in many countries, including India. When contacted, Blackberry refused to comment at this point. We'll keep you posted with updates as and when they develop. UPDATE: Multiple sources have confirmed that BlackBerry Storm will be a Vodafone exclusive in the UK and will see release at the end of October. Courtesy : Techtree
  22. DoT opens doors for bandwidth resellers Business Line New Delhi, Sept. 24 In a move that would improve the availability of cheaper international bandwidth in the country, the Government has decided to allow unlimited number of bandwidth resellers in the country. What are they Bandwidth resellers are companies that do not own any infrastructure, but buy capacity from large international long distance service providers like VSNL or AT&T and then resell it to consumers like business process outsourcing units. This could result in cheaper Internet services and international long distance calls. While this decision was taken a few months ago, DoT has decided to start receiving applications for reselling licences starting today. DoT has, however made it clear that only Indian entities will be given the licence to become a reseller. Beneficiaries The move will benefit larger consumers of bandwidth such as ITeS companies, BPOs and Internet service providers who will be able to buy bandwidth from the resellers at much lower costs. It will also benefit IT services companies as they will be able to expand their product portfolio by bundling international leased lines along with the services that they offer to their customers. ILD operators, who can now ride on the resellers to increase their reach apart from getting assured business. Licence fee However, DoT will also impose a licence fee on the resellers, who will have to pay 6 per cent of their annual revenues. While this is being done to level the playing field with long distance licence holders, the revenue share could act as burden on the service provider. More competition In countries such as Germany, there are 27 resellers offering international bandwidth compared to five licensed ILD operators. Similarly, in the US, of the 32 bandwidth providers, 26 are resellers, making bandwidth available at rock-bottom prices DoT said that resellers are being permitted with a view to promote competition and affordability in international bandwidth.
  23. TRAI objects to revenue break-up Business Line New Delhi, Sept. 24 The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has raised objections to the Government’s decision to allow operators to separate their revenues from 2G and 3G services respectively for the purpose of calculating the annual spectrum charges. TRAI has told the Department of Telecom (DoT) that such a separation is not possible. “Both these services are capable of providing triple play services. Moreover, there will be many common control equipment for 2G and 3G and apportioning the cost to these two services will be a very complex and cumbersome exercise. There is also an apprehension that such bifurcation of revenues may lead to wrong booing of revenues by some of the service providers and lower spectrum charges,” the TRAI said in a note to DoT. Operators currently pay a maximum of 4 per cent of their annual revenues depending on the quantum of the 2G spectrum they use. DoT has said that operators need to pay one per cent on revenues earned from offering 3G services as spectrum charges. This means that an operator like Bharti Airtel, instead of coughing up a total of 5 per cent of their combined revenues from both 2G and 3G services, will have to pay 1 per cent on revenues from 3G services and another 4 per cent on revenues from 2G services separately. Given the average revenue per user at present is around Rs 300 per month, operators will have to pay a maximum of around Rs 3 per 3G subscriber each month to the Government under the new formula. If DoT had imposed the revenue on combined revenues, then operators would have had to pay Rs 15 even for the newly acquired 3G subscriber. Huge savings DoT’s decision will result in huge savings for the existing operators who win 3G spectrum. According to industry observers, it could encourage operators to rope in more subscribers for 3G services as they have to pay a lower spectrum fee compared to what they pay for 2G services. DoT’s decision, however, is in line with its earlier stand to allow operators with dual technology to pay spectrum charges separately.
  24. Two Dial Up Connections

    ^^^ My dear Vikas even if you use different makes of handsets then too this will not work at all. Regards.
  25. Valuations leapfrog for new telecom entrants 24 Sep, 2008, 1146 hrs IST, ET NEW DELHI: Swan Telecom, which bagged a licence to run mobile services in 13 circles in January for less than $351 million, has walked away with a $2 billion valuation, more than 6.5 times in just a few months and with very little spectrum in hand. This handsome valuation comes despite the knowledge that spectrum is available in only a handful of the 22 circles for new entrants and is a testimony of the high growth path that lies ahead for India. In January 2008, the telecom ministry awarded 120 licences to nine companies at roughly Rs 1,651 crore or $351 million for a 23-circle pan-India licence. The main beneficiaries were Swan, Unitech, Loop (Essar), Videocon, Idea, and Shyam among others and the government earned around Rs 9,000 crore from this sale. While Swan is the first to close a deal, almost all the other new entrants are boasting of similar $2 to $3 billion valuations or six to eight times what they paid for entry only eight months ago. This confirms the finance ministry and Central Vigilance Commissions (CVC) fears that the telecom ministry’s 2G spectrum sale in January has been undervalued. The finance ministry had argued for at least a 3.5 times higher valuation, thus indicating a loss of at least Rs 25,000 crore. However, with a market valuation of over six times what the ministry sold it for, the loss to the exchequer is now closer to Rs 40,000 crore. Had the government consolidated the spectrum and sold it through an auction process, this money would have flowed into its own coffers rather than into the hands of a few gold diggers. Several government departments and analysts had protested that this sale of spectrum bundled with 2G licences at 2001 prices had caused huge losses to the exchequer . The Prime Minister himself questioned the process and pricing on several occasions while the CVC launched a probe over spectrum being sold at a price that was far below the market rate. Till now, these numbers have been debated without any actual deal in place. This first closure establishes a market-based pricing, confirming that while the private sector will make a killing, government has taken a hit on revenues and raises more questions than it answers. India’s telecom sector has registered brilliant growth, one of the reasons why companies are willing to pay top dollar for scarce spectrum. Its subscriber base is expected to double from 300 million to nearly 620 million by 2012.
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