NEWS – May 2007
- Air India mulls low cost service on long distance routes
The Business Line, May 03, 2007 - Move to curb flight overbooking
The Business Line, May 03, 2007 - DoT bars pvt operators from carrying intra-circle calls
The Business Line, May 04, 2007 - Cabinet okays airport regulator Bill
The Business Line, May 04, 2007 - Bill to hike compensation for air accidents introduced
The Business Line, May 04, 2007 - Parliamentary panel for expediting fertiliser subsidy directly to farmers
The Business Line, May 05, 2007 - DoT imposes penalty for licence norms violation
The Business Line, May 05, 2007 - Telcos must address consumer complaints within 7 days: TRAI
The Business Line, May 06, 2007 - States drag their feet on rural electrification policy
The Business Line, May 07, 2007 - Direct to home: TRAI releases stakeholders’ views
The Business Line, May 09, 2007 - `Most Indian airports not geared for A380′
The Business Line, May 10, 2007 - Norms for domestic airlines flying abroad may be reviewed
The Business Line, May 11, 2007 - TRAI tightens screws on Internet service providers
The Business Line, May 11, 2007 - Regulator fixes tariff subsidy to TNEB at Rs 1,412.58 cr
The Business Line, May 11, 2007 - Govt sets up group to plan rural broadband rollout
The Business Line, May 12, 2007 - Indian plans self check-in kiosk at Kolkata airport
The Business Line, May 12, 2007 - House panel raps telecom bodies for delayed projects
The Business Line, May 13, 2007 - Telecom regulator moots 74% FDI for cable TV operators
The Business Line, May 14, 2007 - I had planned to do away with roaming charges: Maran
The Business Line, May 14, 2007 - `Speed up Chennai, Kolkata airport modernisation’
The Business Line, May 14, 2007 - TDSAT seeks details of pacts on global roaming calls
The Economic Times, May 15, 2007 - DoT may stop telcos from denying access
The Economic Times, May 15, 2007 - DoT seeks TRAI views on mixed tech use by cell firms
The Business Line, May 17, 2007 - Govt mulling 100% FDI in titanium mining
The Business Line, May 17, 2007 - Cable operators in CAS areas warned
The Business Line, May 17, 2007 - Ministry of Co Affairs is now Ministry of Corporate Affairs
The Business Line, May 18, 2007 - CAG pulls up Centre for slow progress in power programme
The Business Line, May 19, 2007 - States to acquire land only from willing sellers for SEZs
The Business Line, May 19, 2007 - Govt plans allowing 100% FDI in merchant airport
The Business Line, May 19, 2007 - Airport regulatory authority planned
The Business Line, May 20, 2007 - TRAI reviewing cable TV tariffs
The Business Line, May 22, 2007 - `Lease airstrips to pvt developers’
The Business Line, May 24, 2007 - Air India Express will be low-cost carrier face of new merged entity
The Business Line, May 25, 2007 - DoT issues show-cause to cellular operators
The Business Line, May 25, 2007 - Blowing the whistle on cartels
The Economic Times, May 29, 2007/li> - Draft aviation policy focus on AAI recast, connectivity & FDI
The Economic Times, May 30, 2007 - BSNL likely to cut domestic roaming charges
The Economic Times, May 31, 2007
Air India mulls low cost service on long distance routes
The Business Line, May 03, 2007
Air India is desirous of offering a low cost service on long distance routes, perhaps through its low cost subsidiary, Air India Express, the airline’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mr V. Thulasidas, said today. At present, Air India Express offers flights to major international destinations within a distance of around 4 hours from different cities in India. Most of the flights are quick-turn-around flights with a ground time of around 1-hour at the destinations.
Move to curb flight overbooking
The Business Line, May 03, 2007
In an attempt to ensure that airlines do not overbook, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation has made printing of row and seat number on the passenger boarding card mandatory. An official statement issued here on Tuesday said that specific seats would be allotted to all passengers at all airports with the row and seat number being indicated in the boarding cards. Currently the boarding cards mention only the seat number.
DoT bars pvt operators from carrying intra-circle calls
The Business Line, May 04, 2007
At a time when competition is being seen as the driver for growth of telecom sector, the Department of Telecom has barred private national long distance operators from carrying intra-circle telephone calls meant for the Government-owned BSNL’s subscribers. In a recent direction to the private operators, the DoT has in effect said that BSNL can continue to exercise monopoly and recover charges from private access providers for carrying the calls within a circle.
Cabinet okays airport regulator Bill
The Business Line, May 04, 2007
The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its nod for the proposed Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) Bill, which seeks to create a level playing field and foster healthy competition among all airports within the country. The Bill will now have to be passed by Parliament before the authority can be formally set up. The proposed authority would also seek to encourage investments in airport facilities, regulate tariff of aeronautical services, protect the reasonable interest of the users apart from ensuring that the airports operate in an efficient, economic and viable manner.
Bill to hike compensation for air accidents introduced
The Business Line, May 04, 2007
A new Bill has been introduced in Parliament that seeks to enhance more than three-fold the compensation that an air traveller would be entitled to in case of death or injury while on an international flight from here. Moving the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill, 2007, the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, said that it is proposed to enhance the amount of compensation for death or injury to $65,000 from the existing level of $20,000.
Parliamentary panel for expediting fertiliser subsidy directly to farmers
The Business Line, May 05, 2007
The Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers has recommended that the Government should complete the process of starting the pilot project for providing fertiliser subsidy directly to the farmers expeditiously and the plan should be linked with the economic condition of the farmers as this would ensure the maximum benefit.
DoT imposes penalty for licence norms violation
The Business Line, May 05, 2007
Rejecting requests from telecom operators for a relaxation, the Department of Telecom has decided to go ahead and impose penalties on various operators for three different instances of violation of licence norms. In a meeting of the Telecom Commission, held last week, it has been decided to impose penalty on mobile operators who had not fulfilled the roll out obligations and those who had offered services like `Talk On’ that are not permitted under the licence conditions.
Telcos must address consumer complaints within 7 days: TRAI
The Business Line, May 06, 2007
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has made it mandatory for all operators to set up round-the-clock call centres to resolve consumer complaints. Operators have been given 60 days time to set up the call centres. TRAI has also directed the service providers to appoint nodal officers for each Circle within one month and an appellate authority within 3 months.
States drag their feet on rural electrification policy
The Business Line, May 07, 2007
The Centre’s much-touted Rural Electrification Policy, aimed at providing access to electricity to all households over the next two years, appears to be a non-starter due to lack of response from States. According to the policy, notified on August 23 last year, all State Governments were required to prepare and notify a rural electrification plan to achieve the goal of providing access to all households within six months of the policy being notified — by end-February. Not even a single State had, however, forwarded its plans to the Centre by the stipulated deadline.
Direct to home: TRAI releases stakeholders’ views
The Business Line, May 09, 2007
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has released stakeholders’ views on several issues for its consultation paper on Direct to Home. Stakeholders included broadcasters, existing DTH operators — Tata Sky and Dish TV — Reliance Bluemagic and Sun Direct, who have licence for DTH service and cable associations.
`Most Indian airports not geared for A380′
The Business Line, May 10, 2007
Kolkata will have to wait for a while for the Airbus A380 as the city airport’s existing infrastructure cannot handle the “super jumbo”, according to a senior airport official. “Currently it will not be possible for the A380 to operate from here. But post-modernisation, the airport will not only be able to accommodate large aircrafts like Airbus A380 but will also compare with any other airport in the world,” the official told Business Line when asked about the city airport’s preparedness to accommodate the A380.
Norms for domestic airlines flying abroad may be reviewed
The Business Line, May 11, 2007
The Government plans to review by the end of the year the current norms for domestic airlines flying abroad , the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, said here on Thursday. “We could review the norms for allowing airlines from India to go abroad when a review is done for allowing only Indian and Air India to fly to the Gulf region. There is, however, unlikely to be any blanket review for allowing airlines from India to fly abroad. We will look at country-specific proposals,” the Minister said.
TRAI tightens screws on Internet service providers
The Business Line, May 11, 2007
Sounding the death knell for smaller Internet Service Providers in the country, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has proposed to do away with the district-based Internet licences, apart from making it mandatory for all ISPs to pay an entry fee and an annual licence fee. Announcing its recommendations on a new Internet services regime, TRAI has also proposed to bring down the FDI cap for ISPs from 100 per cent to 74 percent.
Regulator fixes tariff subsidy to TNEB at Rs 1,412.58 cr
The Business Line, May 11, 2007
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has fixed the tariff subsidy payable by the State Government to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board at Rs 1,412.58 crore for 2007-08. The Electricity Board had on February 9, applied to the commission to direct the State Government to pay the subsidy of Rs 1,479.78 crore. The tariff subsidy is payable for supplying free power or supplying power at reduced tariffs to some sections of the consumers. The State Government supplies free electricity to agriculture, handlooms and hut dwellers; and at reduced tariffs to domestic consumers, places of worship and powerlooms.
Govt sets up group to plan rural broadband rollout
The Business Line, May 12, 2007
The Government has formed an Inter-Ministerial Group for planning the rollout of broadband infrastructure in rural areas with support from the Universal Services Obligation (USO) fund. The group, comprising Ministries of Health, Home, Human Resource Development, Panchayati Raj and IT, will discuss how the various Government Departments and agencies spread across the country can promote the usage of broadband.
Indian plans self check-in kiosk at Kolkata airport
The Business Line, May 12, 2007
Indian will soon install a “Self check-in kiosk” for its passengers at the Kolkata airport. Currently, the facility is available only at the Delhi airport. According to informed sources here, following installation of the Self check-in kiosk, any person holding a Net-ticket, e-ticket or a ticket procured through Dial-a-Ticket route with no registered baggage will be able to check-in at the kiosk. The kiosk would serve as a self-service boarding card machine and would benefit passengers who do not wish to stand in long queues but would prefer to head straight for security check instead.
House panel raps telecom bodies for delayed projects
The Business Line, May 13, 2007
Telecom market may be growing at a scorching pace but the various Government agencies, responsible for fuelling the growth, are lagging behind 10th Plan targets. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology has in its report rapped the various telecom institutions including the Telecom Engineering Centre, the Wireless Planning Co-ordination (WPC) wing, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Wireless Monitoring Organisation for not completing various projects and under utilisation of funds allocated under the Budge
Telecom regulator moots 74% FDI for cable TV operators
The Business Line, May 14, 2007
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has proposed that cable TV operators be allowed to increase their FDI cap from the existing 49 per cent to 74 per cent to bring them at par with the telecom sector. TRAI told the Government that the FDI levels for the two sectors should be at par because there was a convergence of services beginning to happen.
I had planned to do away with roaming charges: Maran
The Business Line, May 14, 2007
Mr Dayanidhi Maran, who quit as Union Communications and Information Technology Minister, regretted that he had to step down before he could implement another ambitious idea of his — that of doing away with roaming by cellular operators. He was to have held discussions with cellular operators later this week and his plan was to announce the decision on June 3 — the birthday of the DMK President, his granduncle and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi.
`Speed up Chennai, Kolkata airport modernisation’
The Business Line, May 14, 2007
The modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports should be completed on a priority basis so as to ease the traffic over Delhi and Mumbai airports, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, said on Monday. The Committee report, which was tabled in Parliament on Monday, has recommended that both Chennai and Kolkata airports be developed as international hubs to cater to the needs of the people in the eastern and western parts of the country.
TDSAT seeks details of pacts on global roaming calls
The Economic Times, May 15, 2007
Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on Monday directed private telecom operators to submit the documents regarding agreements between them on sharing revenue on international roaming calls. “Produce the accounting papers and papers showing revenue distribution between private operators of roaming charges,” a TDSAT bench, headed by Justice Arun Kumar, said. The Bench was hearing a cross-appeal filed by BSNL and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) against telecom regulator Trai over revenue share on roaming calls.
DoT may stop telcos from denying access
The Economic Times, May 15, 2007
The Department of Telecom (DoT) plans to make it mandatory for all operators to open their networks to roaming customers from other service providers after the introduction of third generation (3G) telecom services in India. If implemented, private cellular operators will be largest beneficiaries as they will be roam on the extensive networks of state-owned BSNL. This proposal will also enable 3G subscribers to roam on the existing 2G networks.
DoT seeks TRAI views on mixed tech use by cell firms
The Business Line, May 17, 2007
The Department of Telecom has sought the views of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on allowing mobile operators to offer services using a combination of GSM and CDMA technologies. At present only state-owned telecom companies BSNL and MTNL are allowed to offer services using both technologies on a pan India basis. The move assumes significance in the light of an application from Reliance Communication seeking spectrum for rolling out GSM services even as it is the largest CDMA operator in the country.
Govt mulling 100% FDI in titanium mining
The Business Line, May 17, 2007
In order to increase the availability of titanium, a strategic mineral that is used in manufacturing airframes and engines of aircraft and other components, the Government is contemplating allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment in limonite mining (titanium ore). As of now, up to 74 per cent FDI is permitted with a mandatory clause that the Indian partner must be a public sector unit. The move follows demands from the airline industry.
Cable operators in CAS areas warned
The Business Line, May 17, 2007
The Government on Wednesday warned cable operators that overcharging in notified conditional access system (CAS) areas would be met with a cancellation of licence. The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Mr P.R. Dasmunsi, told the Rajya Sabha: “The licence of cable operators will be cancelled if they overcharge (more than the prescribed CAS charges).” The price of channels in CAS area has been fixed by the TRAI at a maximum of Rs 5 per channel.
Ministry of Co Affairs is now Ministry of Corporate Affairs
The Business Line, May 18, 2007
From being a Department of Company Affairs to a full-fledged Ministry of Company Affairs and now to a Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The Ministry has, during the last three years, re-oriented itself to meet the expectations of a vibrant corporate sector in its march towards the globally competitive environment, an official release said here today. During the tenure of earlier Governments at the Centre, Company Affairs was just a department, which used to, off and on, be under either the Finance Ministry or the Law Ministry.
CAG pulls up Centre for slow progress in power programme
The Business Line, May 19, 2007
The Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) has pulled up the Centre for slack progress in its key reform tool in the power sector – the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (APDRP). The performance audit of the APDRP, tabled in Parliament on Thursday, has showed deficiencies in the systems and procedures for release and utilisation of funds under the scheme.
States to acquire land only from willing sellers for SEZs
The Business Line, May 19, 2007
Land owners willing to sell their lands for special economic zone (SEZ) projects to State governments could do so on their own, with the Department of Commerce clarifying the position. The Empowered Group of Ministers (eGoM) on SEZ stipulated on April 5 that pending applications for SEZs might be processed for in principle and formal approvals and notifications subject to the proviso that the State governments would not undertake any compulsory acquisition of land for such SEZs.
Govt plans allowing 100% FDI in merchant airport
The Business Line, May 19, 2007
The Government plans to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the creation of merchant airports but is still to take a view on whether an airline or airport would be allowed to set up such a project. This emerged at a meeting, the Secretary, Civil Aviation, Mr Ashok Chawla, had with various stakeholders including bankers, airport operators, infrastructure companies and representatives of the apex chambers of commerce and industry.
Airport regulatory authority planned
The Business Line, May 20, 2007
The Union Government is contemplating to set up an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority to ensure a level-playing field for all airport developers. Addressing the session on `The challenge of connectivity’ at the Look South 2007 conference organised by FICCI, Mr K.N. Srivastav, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, said over 300 new aircraft would be added to different airlines in India in the next five years.
TRAI reviewing cable TV tariffs
The Business Line, May 22, 2007
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is reviewing tariffs of cable television services. While tariffs have been fixed for Conditional Access System (CAS) notified areas at a maximum of Rs 5 per channel, for the larger audience outside of CAS areas prices since the past two-and-half years have been left to market forces.
`Lease airstrips to pvt developers’
The Business Line, May 24, 2007
Assocham has urged the Government to lease out at least 200 airstrips and airports to private airport developers to give them a shape of merchant airports. Out of the 450 such airstrips and airports that the country has, leasing out 200 would attract Rs 20,000 crore private investment and save the economy a loss of Rs 200,000 crore per annum to transport cargo on feeder routes.
Air India Express will be low-cost carrier face of new merged entity
The Business Line, May 25, 2007
Mumbai May 24 Air India Express will be the low-cost carrier (LCC) face of the new entity Air India, as it will be known after the completion of the merger of Air India and Indian. “Alliance Air and Air India Express will join as one company called Air India Express, which will operate as low cost carrier on domestic as well as international routes,” the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India, Mr V. Thulasidas, told presspersons as Air India Express inducted seventh Boeing 737-800 in its fleet.
DoT issues show-cause to cellular operators
The Business Line, May 25, 2007
Even after disconnecting millions of subscribers, cellular firms including Bharti Airtel and Hutch have been given a show-cause notice by the Department of Telecom for not fully completing the verification process of the remaining subscribers. The show-cause notices were issued after the DoT-appointed vigilance officers found out that the details of a number of subscribers were not available even after the March 31 deadline set by the Government.
Blowing the whistle on cartels
The Economic Times, May 29, 2007
Prime minister Manmohan Singh, during his speech at the CII Annual Summit on May 24, 2007, called on corporate India to “desist from non-competitive behaviour”. He added: “The operation of cartels by groups of companies to keep prices high must end. It is unacceptable to obstruct the forces of competition from having freer play.” Most pertinent and timely advice; coming from no less a person than the prime minister. It would hopefully be taken very seriously by any businesses living on the wrong side of the law.
Draft aviation policy focus on AAI recast, connectivity & FDI
The Economic Times, May 30, 2007
The Cabinet is scheduled to unveil the new civil aviation policy on Thursday which, among other things, makes out a strong case for restructuring the Airports Authority of India (AAI), improving domestic and international air connectivity and reviewing FDI norms in the sector to encourage investments. Though the civil aviation ministry has for long thought of giving shape to a proper policy framework to regulate the sector, it is only now that it is being put before the Cabinet. The ministry has, in the interregnum, set in motion the process of merging Air India and Indian Airlines, which is one of the important recommendations of the draft national civil aviation policy (NCAP).
BSNL likely to cut domestic roaming charges
The Economic Times, May 31, 2007
State-owned telecom major BSNL is understood to have finalised plans to cut the domestic mobile roaming charges to as low as Re 1 a minute for incoming calls and Rs 1.50 for outgoing calls. Charges for receiving a call while roaming are at present Rs 1.75 per 60 seconds, while that for making calls are a maximum Rs 2.40 a minute, company officials told the media.