The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is considering whether the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) can have the power to penalise telecom players for violation of licence conditions. Currently, this power is vested in DoT.

Trai may get penal powers on violation of licences

Business Standard

Malaysia&rsquo;s leading telecom operator, Axiata, has backed out of its negotiations to pick up a substantial stake in broadband wireless access (BWA) operator Tikona Digital due to differences over valuation and uncertainty on the Indian telecom policy, following the cancellation of 2G licences by the Supreme Court.

Axiata logs out of talks to buy stake in Tikona Digital

The country&rsquo;s two top companies, oil-to-retail giant Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd, have got into a tie-up to collaborate in setting up a chain of beauty and wellness formats across the country. Their stated aim is to bring these products to the masses.

Reliance, HUL to market beauty & health together

Eight months before handing over the reins of the Tata Group empire to his successor, Ratan Tata has detailed a vision under which the group&rsquo;s turnover will hit $500 billion (Rs 25 lakh crore) by 2020-21. That&rsquo;s a fivefold increase over the expected turnover of $100 billion (Rs 5 lakh crore) in the financial year that ended on Saturday.

Ratan Tata's Vision 2020: A $500-bn global empire

Seven years after entering into a 50:50 partnership, the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee group is close to buying out Dainik Bhaskar (DB) Corp from Diligent Media Corporation, which publishes DNA, the daily English language newspaper.

DNA: Zee close to buying out Dainik Bhaskar

In 2000, it was an out and out man&rsquo;s world, with women accounting for just three per cent of the ownership of cars. Korean car maker Hyundai wanted to change that and launched Tulip Club, aimed at women car owners. But Tulip withered soon enough because of poor response, as the handful of women car owners were uncomfortable with sharing their identity and residential address.

More women now in the driver's seat in car market

Aditya Birla Capital Advisors, the PE arm of the Aditya Birla Financial Services Group, plans to invest Rs 100 crore in the Mumbai-based Trimax IT &amp; Infrastructure.

Aditya Birla arm to invest Rs 100 cr in Trimax

Big business is eyeing the media space once again. Just four months after Reliance Industries invested in the Network 18 group in a multi-layered deal, leading business houses, including the Aditya Birla Group, are looking at acquiring 26 per cent stake in the Aroon Purie-controlled Living Media India.

Big business houses eye stake in Living Media 

The country&rsquo;s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, is set to challenge the dominance of the Toyota Innova with the launch of Ertiga, a multi-utility vehicle (MUV), later this week.

Maruti to launch Ertiga to take on Toyota's Innova

The Mexico-headquartered Cinepolis, the world&rsquo;s fifth largest multiplex operator with over 2,500 screens, is in talks with the Anil Ambani-promoted BIG Cinemas for a strategic alliance.

BIG Cinemas, Cinepolis in talks for alliance

Communications Minister Kapil Sibal has told Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee his ministry would not be in a position to continue work on the optical fibre cable (OFC) network scheme meant for defence services.

Sibal says no cash to lay out defence network

The memories of a bitter family feud over a decade ago have prompted Max India group Chairman Analjit Singh to create a succession plan under which all shares owned by the promoters have been shifted to two trusts.

Analjit charts succession plan

Coca-Cola India will import caramel made through a modified process from its international suppliers to allay any fear that excessive drinking of colas could have an adverse impact on health. However, no deadline for the change has been fixed by the soft drinks major.

Coke, Pepsi scramble on caramel issue

The committee to review spectrum usage charges has recommended FM radio frequencies be auctioned by the department of telecommunications (DoT) after being delinked from the broadcast licence of the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB).

Delink FM Radio licences, spectrum: Review panel

The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India wants to divest its 18.81 per cent stake in state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) through private placement of shares.

LIC wants to exit MTNL via pvt placement

The committee of &lsquo;Review of Spectrum Usage Charges&rsquo; has recommended that FM radio frequencies may be auctioned by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) after being delinked from the broadcast license of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).

Panel for delinking licence and spectrum in FM Radio

Cash-strapped Lilliput, the country&rsquo;s largest kidswear brand, may soon get a luxury makeover.

French luxury fund L Capital front runner to buy Lilliput 

As many as 73 million telecom subscribers in the country could be caught in the crossfire if there is a delay in the re-auction of 122 licences that the Supreme Court cancelled recently.

73 mn subscribers caught in 2G re-auction crossfire

In its next big step in the 2G probe, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will now look at telecom companies that were granted licences before 2007. The investigating agency has sought from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) the details of adjusted gross revenues, provided by unified access service licensees for all circles and operators, for additional spectrum of above 8 MHz, from 2002-03 to 2007-08.
Under the new telecom policy announced by the government, the maximum

CBI expands probe to pre-2007 licences

The Jagran group that publishes the country&rsquo;s most widely read Hindi newspaper, Dainik Jagran, is close to buying out Nai Dunia, the Indore-based Hindi daily promoted by Vinay Chhajlani.

Jagran group to buy Nai Dunia

Reliance Communications-controlled FLAG Telecom has filed a prospectus in the Singapore Stock Exchange to list and divest 75 per cent stake in the submarine cables business for $1.25-1.5 billion (Rs 6,250-7,500 crore).

Surajeet Das Gupta