Tag Archives: Telecom

Rs. 45,000 crore telecom scam – spat between Congress and BJP

08 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by in BSNL, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Instead of recovering the Rs. 15,000 crore (exactly Rs. 12,488.93) from the private telecom firms which the CAG has found out as the amount of tax due from them for the fraud committed by showing under-valued revenue, the Congress and the BJP are shouting at each other accusing the other for the fraud.

By under valuing the revenues, the six telecom private companies viz. Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance Communications, Idea Cellular Tata Teleservices and Aircel India had cheated the government of its taxes, as part of the revenue sharing. The CAG had submitted its report to the government that theses companies had shown their revenue less by about Rs. 45,000 crores, resulting in a loss of Rs. 15,000 crore to the government.

The fraud has taken place during the period of Congress, but even after coming in to power, the BJP has not taken any action.

In the meantime, the DOT has stated that the process for the recovery is being initiated.

Whether UPA or NDA, both take a soft stand when it comes to the corporate, MNCs  and big business. Of course, they are the governments of the corporates!

Air India have reduced its losses

11 Friday Dec 2015

Posted by in PSU, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Air India’s losses have come down more than 22% during the last 4 years. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju told the Parliament on 10th December 2015 that operating loss has been reduced considerably. The total revenue has increased to Rs. 20,606.27 crore in 2014-15 from the earlier revenue of rs. 14,713.81 rore in 2011-22 having an increase of 40.1%. (Courtesy: Business Line)

This is a good information that Air India is coming up financially. BSNL, another PSU, has also started improving financially from the present losses.

Call Drops problems to be attended urgently – PM

26 Wednesday Aug 2015

Posted by in Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Every body will agree with  Prime Minister Modi that the problem of call drops requires urgent attention. The only question is why the PM has not stated the same much earlier, since the problem was existing for a very long time. Any way, better late than never.

Every body, including customers, providers and government agrees that call drops is a very big issue. Calls are cut in between resulting a lot of irritation, unhappiness in relations, increased charges and so on. The reasons may be different; Lack of spectrum, lack of towers, providing more connections than capable by the system and so on.

There is really an urgent need to attend to the same on a fat track. A co-ordinated effort on the part of telecom companies and government is very much needed.

CBI registers case against former Minister A.Raja for disproportionate assets

20 Thursday Aug 2015

Posted by in Corruption, Telecom

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , ,

The CBI registered a disproportionate assets case against former Communications Minister A.Raja along with 16 others. Raja is already facing a CBI inquiry in the 2G spectrum allocation case.

It is interesting to note that  many of the former Communication Ministers like Sukh Ram, Dayanidhi Maran had faced corruption cases. Of course, telecom  is one of the most profitable sectors and bribery, corruption, favouritism are all part  in the crony capitalism.

Call Drops – Audit of telecom companies ordered – Communications Minister

31 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

The Department of Telecom will undertake special audit to assess the coverage and quality of service of all mobile operators in the metro cities to assess the gravity of problem to call drops. This was stated in a written reply given in the Parliament by the Minister of Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad.

“The TERM cells (field unit of DoT) have been asked to take up the special audit to assess the coverage/quality of service in metro/capital cities of all mobile operators network in order to assess the gravity of problem of call drops,”  the Communications  Minister stated.

There has been several complaints of call drops, especially in the metro cities. Many MPs had also raised the issue in the Parliament.

Though the call drops of BSNL is stated to be less than others, it also will have to seriously look in to the matter and ensure for a better service, which will attract more customers.

Twenty Five Years after Bhopal AIC

20 Monday Jul 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLEU, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

I am thinking of writing a small book on the Telecom employees trade union movement from the historic Bhopal All India Conference in 1991 till 2015, 25 years of trade union action, struggles, successes and drawbacks. It covers both the DOT and BSNL period.

Any comrade or colleague, who can provide valuable information of developments, incidents, photos during the period may kindly send the same to me so that it will enrich the book. This may be sent to my address – VAN Namboodiri, D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi- 110001 or by email to van,namboodiri@gmail.com’  I will be much thankful for the same.

Communications Minister warns Telecom Companies about call drops

25 Monday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Telecom

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Communications Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has warned the telecom companies that they have to urgently attend to the problems like call dropping which is putting difficulty for the customers.

This warning is appropriate. The subscribers are actually being harassed by such problems as call drops, no coverage etc. These should be urgently attended to by the companies.

Private telecom companies are allowed to reap undue benefits by DOT.

18 Monday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, General, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

Reproducing below a report from “Business Line” on the CAG report on Telecom.   

“The Telecom Ministry has sought legal opinion on a CAG report that stated undue benefits were extended to companies including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, RCom and Tata Teleservices on a number of issues.

According to a source: “The Ministry has sought legal opinion on the matter so as to undertake further course of action.”

Taking note of CAG’s findings, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has asked the ministry officials to seek legal opinion, sources said.

Raising concerns over various policy issues in the telecom sector, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has recently flagged financial gaps to the tune of over ₹31,000 crore including towards non-imposition of fines and the undue gains to private operators.

Reliance Jio Infocomm got undue benefit of ₹3,367.29 crore after the Department of Telecom (DoT) allowed it to provide voice calling facility under the new licensing regime, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had said in its report.

Whereas Bharti Airtel made an undue gain of ₹499 crore because of DoT’s decision to merge Chennai telecom circle with Tamil Nadu in a hasty manner in 2005, the government auditor said.

Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices got undue benefit to the extent of ₹882.06 crore (2009-10 to 2013-14) after the DoT granted telecom licences for dual technology in October 2007/January 2008, the CAG said.

The companies concerned had maintained that there was no wrong doing on their part

The CAG had also said the DoT allowed operators to enter into mutual commercial agreements for intra-service area roaming in 2008 resulting in adverse financial impact on revenues.

The auditor had also highlighted undue favour to CDMA operators when the DoT decided not to auction 800 MHz spectrum for enhanced voice data optimised (EVDO) services in 2010 though they were providing 3G EVDO services with the available 2G spectrum (800 MHz) without liberalisation of spectrum.”

How the telecom department was supporting the private companies is very clear from the above report. While the government is not prepared to give any assistance to the BSNL, thousands of crores of rupees are allowed to be pocketed by private companies on various counts.

Full MNP by July 2015 – You can dial distant numbers without ‘0’ or ’91’

18 Monday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Good News! At last full MNP is going to be implemented by July 2015. Once it is implemented there is no need to dial STD ‘0’ or ’91’. By dialing the 10 digit number you will get any number in India.

The private companies have been delaying implementation of MNP stating that much funds are required for the technical alternation for full MNP. It is hoped that they will not put more pressure on the government for further delay in  implementation of full MNP.

Former Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran’s property worth Rs. 742 crore attached by ED

01 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by in Corruption, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate officials on Wednesday attached DMK leader and former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran’s properties worth over Rs 742 crore in the controversial Aircel-Maxis deal.

Earlier, Dayanidhi Maran was interrogated over 2-3 days at ED’s Delhi office in the first week of December, 2014.

The agency had registered a case against the Marans under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and is trailing “proceeds of crime” to the tune of Rs 742 crore allegedly laundered by the brothers. (TOI)

Sukh Ram, A.Raja, now Dayanidhi Maran! The Communications Ministry is a gold pot.