Number of forward looking initiatives taken in Telecom Sector in Last One Year: PM

During the last one year, the government has taken a number of forward looking initiatives in the telecom sector. This was stated by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, while inaugurating India Telecom 2012, here today. He said, “We have announced the New Telecom Policy 2012. We have attempted to clarify the policy positions on a number of complex issues. We have attempted to ensure adequate availability of spectrum and its allocation in a transparent manner through market-related processes. I am confident that the futuristic policy regime that we are now putting in place will address, and address effectively, the concerns that have been worrying investors and will provide a new impetus to the growth of telecommunication industry in our country.” 

The Prime Minister flagged the issue of penetration of basic telecom services in our rural economy. He said, ” The full potential of telecommunications in enabling higher growth will not be realised until the use of telephones spreads much wider in the rural economy of India as well. While urban India has today reached a teledensity of 169 percent, the teledensity in rural India stands at only 41 percent. Not only this, the bulk of the 59 percent people who do not use phones in rural areas is perhaps from the socially and economically backward sections of our society.” 

Court clears Subhash Chandra for lie detector test

The Delhi Police’s plea to subject Zee News editor Sudhir Chaudhary and Zee Business editor Samir Ahluwalia to a polygraph test was dismissed by a court on 13 December 2012 after they refused their consent to the procedure in a case of alleged extortion.

The police sought the test, arguing that even after the editors and Zee Group chairman Subhash Chandra were confronted with one another, the accused concealed facts relating to their alleged attempt to extort Rs.100 crore from Jindal Steel and Power Limited, in the form of advertisements, for diluting the two news channels’ campaign against the firm in the coal block allocations scam.

2G Spectrum Case: Chief Justice refers Shahid Balwa’s plea to Special Bench

A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir has refused to entertain 2G scam accused Shahid Balwa's plea to set aside an order issued by another of its benches monitoring the high profile case, dealing a blow to him and all other accused in the case.

Balwa, the founder of defunct mobile firm Swan Telecom, his brother Asif and two associates in his real estate group DB Realty — Vinod Goenka and Rajiv Agarwal — had earlier this week moved Chief Justice Kabir's bench to set aside the stay imposed by the 2G bench on the Delhi High Court's right to quash charges against them.

NHK to debut Ultra-HDTV special

Japanese public broadcaster NHK is to broadcast its annual New Year’s Eve TV spectacular ‘Red & White Song Contest’ in Super Hi-Vision, the 8000-line high-end version of Ultra-HDTV.

The telecasts will be beamed to two locations, Tokyo Tower and at a TV station in Yokohama. A statement said: “The public viewings will coincide with the start of the live programme at 19:15pm. NHK invites viewers to come and enjoy this fusion of Japan’s most popular music show and future television technology, which will bring to life all the excitement and passion of a thrilling event delivered live from NHK Hall.”

Kazakhstan bans opposition TV channel

A Kazakh court has closed the opposition TV channel K-Plus and blocked its online resources, the International Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech Adil Soz said.

The ban is linked to the case of Kazakh opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov who was charged with "inciting social hatred" and sentenced to seven and a half years behind bars for his role in the Zhanaozen oil-workers' protest last year.

NDS enables over 50% of all Digital Cable Homes in India to Watch TV

NDS’ milestone of reaching 50% of Indian digital TV homes, authored by Jayant Changrani, Country Head and General Manager-India, NDS (now part of Cisco).

As we near the end of the calendar year, the last part of which as a newly acquired Cisco company, we’ve reached yet another milestone in India. At the end of 2011, NDS celebrated that its solutions were enabling digital TV for over 20 million homes in India, and according to market statistics effectively 100 million viewers. Today, we are proud to announce that we are enabling digital TV for over 50% of all digital cable homes in the country.

Govt to auction 900 MHz band spectrum held by telcos

Government will auction the spectrum being held by incumbent GSM operators in 900 MHz band whose licence are coming up for renewal in November 2014, Telecom Secretary R Chandrashekhar said on 13 December 2012.

They will, however, be allowed to hold 2.5 MHz in each circle in the same band even after expiry of their licences after a paying a market—determined price.