3G launch delayed to 2008

India is set to miss the deadline for the launch of commercial 3G services yet again. ET reports that the Ministry of Defence has informed the Department of Telecom that the armed services would require additional time, up to 390 days, to vacate the 45 MHz spectrum which it currently occupies. The delay means that [...]

HC stops BSNL from awarding GSM tender

Acting on a petition filed by Motorola, which was disqualified by BSNL on technical parameters from participating in the bidding of $4.7 billion GSM tender, the Delhi High Court has restrained BSNL from awarding any contract for its GSM network expansion till the next date of hearing on November 16. Earlier last month, BSNL had [...]

Bharti awards $400 mn contract to Nokia

India’s top mobile operator Bharti Airtel has announced yet another network outsourcing deal by awarding a $400 million contract to Nokia for expanding its managed GSM networks in eight circles of Mumbai, Maharashtra & Goa, Gujarat, Bihar, Orissa, Kolkata, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. “This will enable Bharti to focus on its core areas: product [...]

Ring Back Tone for international roamers

Trai has directed mobile operators to provide special ring-back tone facility to help discourage unwanted calls while on international roaming. International roaming subscribers generally don’t receive caller line identification on incoming calls, making it difficult for them to identify and choose the calls that they want to answer. This facility will allow the playing of [...]

We need to think from a long-term perspective: Probir Roy

Rediff interview with Probir Roy, co-founder and director, PayMate. PayMate is a mobile payments company spun off by founders of Coruscant Tec. Sherpalo Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, two of Silicon Valley’s most reputed venture capital firms invested about $5 million in the company this year. You can soon pay your shopping, restaurant, [...]