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Reliance Communications (RCOM) has slapped a legal notice on the Department Of Telecom (DOT) over its decision to endorse TRAI’s subscriber-linked spectrum allocation norms.Reliance Communications has said that DOT must go by the Telecom Engineering Cell’s (TEC) report on the issue.

While TRAI had proposed that telcos increase their subscriber base 2-6 times before existing telcos get additional spectrum, the Telecom Engineering Cell’s (TEC) had suggested that GSM players increase their base between 4-15 times before they are given additional frequencies.

The legal notice given by RCOM asks DOT to freeze allocation of additional spectrum to existing GSM operators in excess of the licence mandated amount of 4.4/6.2 MHz as it arbituary,illegal and in violation of the licence agreement.And to enforce TEC recomended subscriber criteria which was accepted in principle by the DOT in October,2007.And to ensure immediate return of over 50 MHz excess spectrum being hoarded by GSM operators,free of cost and beyond their entitlement of 6.2 MHz.And to ensure refarming of 900 MHz spectrum being held by GSM operators.And finally levy additional spectrum fee,until excess spectrum of 50 MHz is returned by GSM operators.

The Association of Unified Service Providers of India, the body representing CDMA operators said that rejecting the TEC norms and accepting TRAI norms is arbitrary and the decision seems to have been taken under pressure. The government’s decision to accept the TRAI report was contrary to DOT’s earlier decision where it accepted the TEC report.

COAI said that as the Government had accepted TRAI’s norms on 26 December,2007, all pending applications for additional spectrum before this date should be considered under the earlier policy.

Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L & T), a Engineering and Construction company has announced that it will be investing Rs 1,800 Crore in the oil, gas and port sectors.The company would invest around Rs 650 crore for building an installation vessel for the upstream sector. K Venkataramanan, L & T President(operations), said that L & T is keen to acquire technological strength in deep water exploration for which it is entering into collabaration with foreign companies. And the company is also upgrading its facility at Hazira.

As more foreign companies bid under the new exploration licensing policy, L & T would have an enormous oppurtunity for providing onshore and offshore rigs for drilling.Apart from this, L & T is also setting up a project management institute at Baroda. L & T would also invest Rs 1000 crore for constructing a shipyard and was also building a port at Sohar near Oman at an investment of around Rs 118 crore. Beside the energy sector, L & T is also engaged in the construction of Greenfield Airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore.

The Chennai based TVS Motors is all to set to become the first global company to launch Anti-Lock Brake System(ABS) on its two-wheelers. Anti-Lock Brake System is often reffered as ’sure braking system’ for automobiles. It is a high-tech feature and is currently available in all premium cars and commercial vehicles across the globe. It is gaining immense popularity in India and comes as a standard fitment in all premium cars and high-end trucks and buses.

Due to the ‘in-demand’ safety feature, TVS is currently testing the indigenously developed Anti-Lock Brake System Technology on its bikes and scooters to reduce multiple vehicle crashes on the roads. A senior executive of TVS Motors confirmed that the technology is in the final stages of development and is undergoing testing at its Hosur facility. Anti-Lock Brake System is part of the 30 different technologies that we are developing in the two-wheeler range. The Anti-Lock Brake System will avoid in skidding of two-wheelers and allow sure stopping on wet and slippery roads.

The Anti-Lock Brake System is likely to be introduced initially on yet to be launched high powered bikes of TVS in the permium 200 cc segment. The new technology is expected to increase the prices of two-wheelers by 7 % to 8 %. It is a expensive technology and the company is trying to economise it by bringing in high localisation.

Anti-Lock Brake System(ABS) technology reduces chances of crashing and severity of impact. It significantly reduces the chances of a skid and subsequent loss of control by the driver on the vehicle. On the slippery surfaces it leads better control of the vehicle rather than go into a skid as it instantly locks the multiple wheels of the vehicle.