Tag Archives: Telecom

Rs. 4,800 crore loss to Government in allotment of spectrum to Reliance Jio.

20 Monday Jan 2014

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Another scam on spectrum allotment has been exposed by the CAG. The report charged the government with allotting spectrum to Reliance Jio below value which resulted in Rs. 4,800 crore to government.
The report stated” Due to the provision of inadequate eligibility criterion for the participation in the auction of BWA spectrum and deficient due diligence on the part of the DOT Officials, the promoters of IBSPL.. made windfall gain of Rs. 4,800 crore at the cost of public exchequer immediately after closure of BWA Spectrum auction in June 2010.”

The full details of scam is going to be exposed.

Group of Ministers on Telecom will finalise M&A Norms

29 Friday Nov 2013

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The meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telecom, which is scheduled to meet on 3rd December 2013 is expected to finalise the norms for Mergers & Acquisitions for the telecom industry. Now that the telecom situation in the country, the spectrum auction etc. is almost normalised, the chance for M&A have increased.
The Telecom Commission may put certain conditions for the M&A in connection with the % of assets of the merging company, the charges for the spectrum allocation etc. so that there is no discrimination between the single technology operator and the double technology operator. The former company may have only GSM or CDMA, while the latter will have both GSM and CDMA.

Next Spectrum Auction in January 2014

24 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by in Telecom

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It is reported that the next auction of the spectrum will be conducted in January 2014, as per the Secretary, Telecom, Shri M.F.Farooqui. This will be the third auction so far. It is expected to get about Rs. 11,000 crore from the auction according to the Telecom Secretary.
The minimum bid price etc. will be decided by the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Spectrum.

Home Ministry opposes increase of FDI in Telecom

01 Thursday Aug 2013

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It is reported that the Home Ministry has opposed the proposal for increasing of FDI from 74% to 100% on security concerns. It is fully correct. We have already expressed our strong protest and the BSNL workers have organised agitational programme on the issue.

But, however, the Cabinet may approve the increase, because they want foreign investment and any security concern will not stop them from acquiring FDI. Let us wait for the decision of the Cabinet. But in the meantime make maximum propaganda against this anti-people decision.

BSNL employees oppose FDI increase

25 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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BSNL Employees all over India expressed their strong protest against the government decision to increase FDI in Telecom from 74% to 100% and in Defence from 26% to 49% (case to case basis in the latter), by wearing badges and organising lunch hour demonstration.

The decision of the UPA government to increase the FDI in these two sectors is full of security risk. Telecom is the second line of defence and naturally if 100% FDI is allowed, not only all the Indian companies will be taken over by the foreign MNCs, but the entire system of security will be under threat.

If the government continues with mortgaging the communications system to the MNCs, further struggle will erupt.

Home Ministry oppose FDI increase in Media.

21 Sunday Jul 2013

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The proposal of the Commerce ministry to increase the FDI from 26% to 49% has been strongly opposed by the Home Ministry on the ground that there is serious security concerns. Well and Good! The Defence minister has opposed FDI in Defence stating that it is retrograde and have got security concerns. Again, well and good!
But what about the increase in Telecom from 74% to 100%. It was also recommended by the Commerce Ministry. Telecom sector is the second line of defence and any increase of FDI is also serious security concern. But where is Kapil Sibal, Communications Minister? Why he is not opposing the FDI increase as has been done by the Home Ministry and Defence ministry? Strange indeed! The Communications Ministry is not interested in security concerns?

Forum Calls for protest action against 100% FDI in Telecom

17 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations in its meeting held on 17th July has strongly protested against the decision of the government to increase the FDI in Telecom Sector from 74% to 100% and in defence from 26% to 49%. This decision is completely against the security concerns of the nation. The Indian telecom companies will be taken over by the foreign companies, since they can own up to 100% as per this decision. Pumping of so much foreign money in to the sector will jeopardise the future of BSNL and MTNL.

The Forum, therefore has decided to organise agitatioanl programmes against the increase in FDI. Lunch hour demonstrations will be organised on 25th July 2013. The employees will wear badges protesting against the FDI increase and demanding dropping of the unwise decision. The badge will have the following slogan: DROP DECISION TO INCREASE FDI IN TELECOM AND DEFENCE”
Forum will continue the struggle against the FDI increase.

100% FDI in Telecom – Risk to National Security

17 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The decision of the government to increase the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in telecom is nothing short of inviting serious risks to national security. The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations  strongly protests against  the move and will meet today to discuss the issue and plan agitational programmes.

Already 74% FDI is allowed in the telecom sector. This has resulted in majority influence of foreign MNCs in some of the private telecom companies. The case of Vodafone is well-known. Neither they agree to the restrictions of the government of India on many occasions, but they are also openly violating the regulatory conditions. They refuse to pay due income-tax levied on them. If 100% FDI is allowed as decided now, many of the Indian private companies will be taken over by the Foreign MNCs with disastrous result for India. The snooping by the US Intelligence Agency through the mobile companies are well exposed and known to all. Under such circumstances any increase in  the FDI and giving a free hand to foreign companies in the telecom sector, which is the second line of defence, will be suicidal.

The increase in FDI will seriously and adversely affect the growth of BSNL. Pumping of huge money to the private telcos and lack of funds for the PSUS, BSNL and MTNL, will lead to the marginalisation of the latter. This in turn will be utilised by the private companies to increase the rates for calls and other telecom services on a large-scale and the customers will have to pay more.

The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations expresses its strong protest and demands the government to desist from the move to increase the FDI to 100%,  failing which the unions in BSNL will be compelled to resort to agitations programmes.

PM strongly back 100% FDI in Telecom

10 Wednesday Jul 2013

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This is not surprising. The Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has strongly backed the proposed increase of 100% FDI in Telecom. In fact, it is his own child. The government is trying to sell the family silver in a massive way to favour the MNCs and get some money, which is not worth even 25% of the assets.

It is also reported that he is favouring the increase of FDI from 26% to 49% which has been strongly opposed by the Defence minister A.K.Antony who termed the proposal as retrograde.

Only a very strong and committed movement can save the country from this government, who is only the manager, from selling the assets of the country whose real owners are the people of this country.  At this time people have started recollecting the entry of East India Company in India, which heralded the British rule for two centuries. History repeats, but in new form and new ways. Unless one learns lessons from history and reacts, the future will be in peril.

Protest against 100% FDI in Telecom – Forum Press Release

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

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The following Press Release has been issued by Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations against the decision of the Telecom Commission to introduce 100% FDI in Telecom:

FORUM OF  BSNL UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS

Press Release                                                                                                                                   3rd July 2013

BSNL Unions Oppose 100% FDI in Telecom

The decision of the Telecom Commission to increase the FDI in telecom sector from the present 74 % to 100% is totally opposed by the BSNL workers. This decision of the government not only raises serious security concerns, but also will result in the Indian private telecom companies being taken over by the foreign companies and adversely affect the growth of BSNL and MTNL in the fierce competitive atmosphere.

Telecom Sector has always been considered as the second line of defence. Whether in the First War of Independence or in the II World War or in any major wars afterwards, telecommunications always played an important role.  The communications system in the country cannot be under the control of foreign companies, whose interests are based only on profit. Any nation has to be extra careful about its defences, which also require control on the telecommunications systems. In this connection, it is to be pointed out that the unverified mobile connections found out in the hands of the terrorists, belonged to companies with Foreign Direct Investment. If the full control is with the foreign companies who do not have any concern for the security of India, what will happen at times of crises need not be elaborated.

Already 100% FDI is allowed in telecom equipment manufacturing for the last two decades. For the first time, 49% FDI was introduced in telecom services in the 1990s. In 2005, it was increased to 74%. Now the full circle is reaching with 100% FDI, if the central government approves of the same.

It is interesting that as usual, this decision is taken just before the scheduled tours of the Finance Minister and Communications Minister to US, in the second week of July. It is to be noted that the US as also the telecom MNCs have been putting much pressure on the government of India to increase the FDI in telecom services, which is one of fast growing sectors in the country.

The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations strongly oppose the decision to increase the FDI to 100% in Telecom Sector and demand the government to desist from this dangerous move.

V.A.N.Namboodiri

Convener, Forum

Mob: 09868231431