The telecom department (DoT) has relaxed restrictions on mobile services along international border. Mobile operators will now be able to provide services up to 500 meters of India’s international border. Before this, operators were barred from offering services up to 10 km from the international border.

"There shall be a ‘no service zone’ of 500 metres width along the international border within Indian territory for wireless or mobile services," said a notification from the DoT. The notification said that the licensee shall use requisite technology to ensure that the signals become unusable within 500 metres of international boundaries.

However the mobile operators are required to create a buffer zone of 10 kms width along the line of control, the line of actual control, Akhnoor and Pathankote areas in Jammu and Kashmir. In buffer zones mobile operators are asked not to deploy their cell sites or radio transmitters.

Reliance Communications president Mr B.B. Anand said that it a welcome step. "We were opposing the earlier restrictions because it was not applicable in the north-east. Take the case of Tripura, the entire state falls within the 10 km range from the international border. We were also asking why people living close to the border should be deprived of mobile services," Mr Anand told. "We are very supportive of government decision. This will help in the economic development of border areas like any part of the country. We will fully comply with the guidelines," Mr Manoj Kohli, president, Bharti Airtel told this newspaper. Periodic checks may be carried out by the DoT or its authorised representatives, including security agencies to ensure the compliance with the conditions.

"In case, any violation in respect of usable mobile signals in the no service zone or detection of cell sites in the buffer zone are detected, stern action will be taken according to the terms and conditions of the license agreement, including imposition of financial penalty," warned DoT.

Courtesy : Expressindia.com.

Communications minister Dayanidhi Maran said on Thursday that the telecom department has set a target of providing 9 million broadband connections by the end of 2007 and 20 million connections by the end of 2010.

With the availability of new disruptive wireless broadband technology, such as WiMax, Mr Maran said that the country will start adding more than a million broadband connection per month before the end of 2007. He said that there would be a special emphasis on the Northeast states and Jammu and Kashmir.

Under the action plan it is envisaged that broadband coverage of all secondary and higher secondary schools, public health care centres and village panchayats would be provided by 2008. He said that 1,000 blocks will be connected by wireless broadband by December 2007.

The remaining 5,000 blocks will be provided wireless broadband by June 2008.

Funds for this would be provided by universal service obligatory(USO) fund.

Mr Maran said that BSNL, as part of their action plan, will add an average of 5 lakh broadband connections per month from January 2008. BSNL will also roll out IPTV in major cities. In addition to this, BSNL will aggressively roll out high speed broadband ( Wi-MAX) services.

Courtesy : Asianage.com

Bajaj Auto Ltd. will invest Rs 300 crores by March 31, 2008 to set up a chain of retail showrooms across the country. The company has decided to open 55 such showrooms under the brand name of ‘Probiking’ by the end of 2007-08 financial year.

At present, Bajaj Auto enjoys 34 per cent market share in the country’s two-wheeler market. However, in the premium segment, the company is the market leader, enjoying 60 per cent share. "We are looking at 100 per cent growth in sales in our premium segment bikes in the next fiscal. The Probiking initiative will help to meet our target," Mr Srinivas the vice- president (human resources), said.

The company will launch Pulsar 220 cc, its latest model in the premium segment in next 4-5 months. Mr Srinivas said, "We have earmarked Rs 230 crores for buying the showroom property." The company has already opened Probiking in Pune, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kolkata in the last one month. All the showrooms will house a ‘dynamometer’ for a static test ride wherein a person will be able to ride the bike inside the showroom.

Bajaj Auto will also set up off-sites exclusive service facilities adjacent to the showrooms.

"Absolute top-end products will be sold from the Probiking showrooms. All the showrooms will be owned by Bajaj Auto, but 13 of those will be managed by the company and our dealers will manage the rest of the stores," Mr Srinivas said in Kolkata.

Courtesy : Asianage.com