Mcorp Chairman,BK Modi, said that the contract deal was not yet completed.Moreover Srei is the front-runner to bag its its towers.And with the $810 million loan, the company may expands its operation in Punjab and Karnataka.Spice joins hands with other leading telcos such as Airtel, Idea, Vodafone, Tata and Relience Communications who have hived off their tower arm. Spice has about 875 towers in the two telecom circles combined. The company also becomes the first company to completely sell off its tower arm.

Unlike the cashless transaction model followed by competitors, LIC’s product would be based on the lines of floater plan, which would give the policyholder the option to receive lumpsum, which means claims claims could be made for even treatment undergone at home. The additional feature would be domiciliary claim, where a patient taking treatment at home will be reimbursed as the person submits the complete bills.The sources said that unlike the current mediclaim products offered by the general insurance companies that cover the insured hospitalisation expenses and are annual in nature, LIC would pay the insured a predetermained lumpsum amount, depending upon his premium payment. The company has claimed that the present cashless model is not in favour of the customer as many hospitals were not accepting the facility.Moreover, in many cases hospitals are charging more if a patient comes with an insurance cover that offers cashless treatment.

LIC Executive Director, D.D.Singh said that Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) has accepted to launch health insurance products.This long term comprehensive health insurance products would be launched in the second week of February,2008.LIC is targeting to provide health cover to close to 1 crore families in the first year of the launch of the product and expects over Rs 5,000 crore of revenues. LIC’s product will also be a long-term product of over 10 years. The product is excepted to be marketed in a big way through all distribution channels of LIC, including its over 10 lakh agents.

Of the Rs 260 crore order, Gemini has bagged the Rs 200 crore order from Midas for the implementation of the EDWAS project on the turnkey basis.The BSNL tender envisages supply, installation and commissioning of 134 Base Station Sites in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Haryana for the purpose of providing voice and broadband data services.

According to the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) entered into with Midas, Gemini will be implementing and deploying the BSNL projects within the period of 150 days. Midas ia a player in the telecom market focusing on design, development and marketing of innovation and cost effective access solutions.

Shirish Purohit, CEO of Midas said that Gemini’s expertise and ground level presence in the regions fulfill their needs for a quality network rollout ina time-bound fashion. And they are looking for the long term synergies in their relationship with GCL.And moreover Gemini Communications is playing a larger role in our network rollouts not only in domestic markets but also in the overseas network implementation.

Vijay Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of Gemini Communications Ltd (GCL), said that it is the largest order bagged by GCL. And they will be deploying senior technology and project management experts as also skilled RF implementation and network engineers for expediting the performance of work.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj,the leader of BAPS has created and consecrated in accordance with the Hindu Rituals and a World Record of 713 temples in five continents between April 1971 and November 2007. Among these, the majestic, ornately hand-carved BAPS Swaminarayanan Akshardham Temple in New Dehli, India, stands apart as the largest Hindu Temple in the world. Witty said that it took three months of research, poring over the extensive architectural plans of the Akshardham and also those of other temples of comarable size, visiting and inspecting the site, before we were convinced that Akshardham Temple deserved the title.

Akshardham Temple in New Dehli is spread over expansive lawns covering an area of 86,342 square feet. It is 356 feet long, 316 feet wide and 141 feet high.This is the first time that the Guiness Book has recognised a Hindu Temple in its list of large religious structures.

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.

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.

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.

Telecom regulator TRAI has already decided that Access Depicit Charge(ADC) can’t be continued in perpetuity as the idea behind the levy was to have it only for a limited period, mainly to give time to incumbent operators to rebalance their tariff during the transition.

TRAI, the regulator also decided that when DOT feels that BSNL requires further financial support for its unviable rural landline services after March 2008, the PSU can be funded from the Universal Service Obligation Fund(USOF). All telcos in the country pay 5 % of their total revenues towards the USOF.

Association of United Service Providers of India (AUSPI), Secretary General, SC Khanna said that whenever Access Depicit Charge(ADC) reduction has taken place, the service providers have been passing on most of the benefits to the customers, so customers can expect some reductions.

Bharti Airtel Limited is the No.1 private sector provider of telecommunications services based on an aggregate of 53.02 million customers as on October 30,2007.Bharti Airtel Limited has 50.91 million GSM mobile customers and 2.11 million Broadband and telephone customers.The businesses of Bharti Airtel Limited is structured into three strategic business units - Mobile Services, Broadband and Telephone Services.And Ms Chauhan believes that Bharti Airtel Limited will continue maintaining revenue leadership based on its PanIndia presence and improving penetration and coverage.

Reliance Communications is the second largest telecom, eventhough with its GSM licence and spectrum by January 2008, it is unlikely to be ready to come near Bharati Airtel Limited by March,2008.Industry sources says that it will have to construct thousands of towers, get its subscriber schemes ready and make arrangement of systems but all this will take time.However Bharti Airtel Limited to remain industry leader in telecommunication sector upto date.

He also added that the tariff for the AC taxis would be 25 per cent more than the non-AC ones. At present there are more than 20,000 non-AC taxis plying in the city.He said that seperate counters would be introduced at the airports and major railway stations for AC taxis.

It will also raise the necessary funds for the usual operational needs and to meet the new Base II requirements. Indian Banks with offshore branches and foreign banks in India are expected to meet Base II requirements by March 2008 that aims to match capital reserve neeeds to the risks faced by the banks.

Bank of Baroda capital Markets, the merchant banking arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the bank is the sole banker to the issue.

The verdict was against a SEBI order that had found the brokerage violating fair business practices.The broking firm had appealed against SEBI, challenging its order.

This is the first time that XP users are getting an oppurtunity to download the major upgrade.Microsoft terms the latest version a “release canditate” and will bring out the final version of SP3 in the first half of 2008. The last major upgrade for XP was in August 2004.

Microsoft is in a dilemma since it has to acknowledge the sustained popularity of XP even while promoting its new OS,Vista.However,company spokespersons reminded that the SP3 would not improve XP funtionality to the levels of Vista.

With the fresh infusion of capital,Deutche Bank’s total capital in the country would be at Rs 5,700 Crore. This would be one of the largest capital that has been bought in by a foreign bank for its operations in the country.

Deutche Bank CEO, Gunit Chadha said that they would be in a position to consume the fresh capital in the next 12 months.And India is one of the fastest-growing markets for Deutche Bank.And there is a need for risk management, derivatives and infrastructure financing.

The German Bank is looking at pumping in Rs 685 Crore into its Non-Banking Finance Company(NBFC).NBFC’S operation will be into both corporate and structured finance and consumer finance.However, the NBFC is likely to concentrate more on corporates and invesment banking space.And it will target high net worth individuals in the consumer finance segment.

As the production of such chips is a costly business ,the seven companies are planning to work together for three years to produce the chips. However, Intel, the World’s biggest chipmaker, has not shown any interest in joining the team.

Rich Branton, vice president, Global Technology Solutions said that more than the past two years, Merck has utilized Cognizant’s extensive pharmaceutical expertise to streamline operational efficiencies and to consolidate our IT port folio.Moreover we have selected cognizant as ongoing strategic partner for the full suite of IT services as a result of our previous engagements and Cognizant’s deep domain experience and leadership position in our space.

Francisco D’Souza,its president and CEO, said that our ability is to integrate applications, infrastructure and business processes which enables us to provide Merck with a strong platform for its global transformational initiatives.Moreover Cognizant’s expertise in the healthcare and lifestyle industry.

Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Santosh Mohan Dev says that the country was the highest producer of two wheelers and it is not only used in cities but also in rural areas.

The two-wheeler industry is having a rough ride this year with sales plummeting.During the January-November period 2007,the total two-wheeler sales were down by 3.89 per cent at 74,66,601 units as against 77,69,153 units in the same period last year.

The motorcycles segment has been hit the most by raising interest rates as also due to unavailability of credit. Bike sales in the period were down by 7.24 per cent at 60,66,755 units as against 65,0032 units in the corresponding period last year.

IVRCL has executed more than 15-million square feet of real estate projects comprising mainly townships and residential developments as well as commercial developments.With 75-million square feet of saleable area, PUDL is ideally positioned to participate in the strong growth we expect in South India’s real estate sector.

A large part of land reserves is in Sriperumbudur near Chennai, where we expect the number of people employed to rise to 180,000 in four years from 10,000 at present.

The Department Of Telecom(DOT) has cleared Idea’s application for spectrum in both circles and company is expected to launch mobile services in 2008.This also marks the fourth managed services that NSN has bagged in India

The three year contract for Bihar includes supply of GSM/GPRS and SMS centre equipment, network implementation and care services.

At present Idea cellular offers telecom services in 11 of the country’s 22 telecom circles,and has a subscriber base of over 20 million.

CJ George,Managing Director of Geojit says that they would trade in local and international scrips in Saudi and it is the first Indian company to trade in the Saudi capital market. He said that Aloula Geojit was promoted by Geojit and AL Johar Group of Saudi Arabia along with the some high networth institutions and individuals in the Gulf region.

In the SR 100-million new venture, Geojit held 28 per cent of the paid-up equity capital for which it had invested Rs35.05 crore. Geojit was the single largest shareholder in the new venture.

Mahindra & Mahindra is a part of the diversified Rs 24,000-crores. Anand Mahindra was selected for the award, now in its 26th year, by an eminent jury chaired by Babu Kalyani, chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge.

Other jury members included Chanda Kochhar, joint Managing Director and CFO, ICICI Bank, Debu Bhattacharya, Managing Director,Hindalco, Adil Zainulbhai, Managing Director,Mckinsey & Company India , Akhil Gupta, senior Managing Director & chairman, Blackstone India, Jignesh Shah, Chairman & CEO, Financial Technologies and Hemant Luthra, resident,Systech.

V.Rajendran, Managing Director of Capstock told reporters that the firm would start office in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as joint ventures with the local firms.This would enable the company to penetrate further into the gulf and lure the Indians to the capital market.

The company is also planning to widen its network of branches in south.It will open 100 more branches through franchises by the next fiscal.At present, it has 100 offices located in all major south Indian cities.

He added that there is enough potential in the south and which is to be discovered ,so they are concentrating in the market.The firm is a member in Bombay Stock Market and National Stock Market. And moreover it also offers Wealth Management Services.

The company will start a knowledge centre on January 25 to create awareness among the potential investors on the capital markets. The centre will consists of publication and traning divisions. The publication division will bring out literature on the trend and direction of capital markets.