~TECH-BYTES~

Even as Reliance Communications (RCOM) received formal approval from the government to launch GSM technology of mobile phone services in India, existing GSM players are up in arms to oppose the move.

“Reliance Communications Limited has received requisite approvals from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to offer GSM services on a nationwide basis under its existing Unified Access Services Licences,” the Anil Ambani-promoted company said in a statement to the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

Opposing the move, the Cellular Operators association of India (COAI), a leading GSM industry body in a letter to the DoT secretary D.S. Mathur said: “It may first be pointed out that crossover is not permissible under the present policy and license regime has been recognized by both DoT as well as TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India)”.

“Without prejudice to our submissions that such crossover/dual allocation of spectrum cannot and should not be permitted, it is submitted that even if the same were to be allowed, it can only be done through change in both policy as well as license as also after following due process of law,” COAI added.

Come September 21, 2007, Hutch will be renamed Vodafone. Vodafone had acquired 67 per cent in Hutchison Essar from Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa a few months ago, in a bid to enter the fast-growing Indian market.

Global player Vodafone completed the acquisition of Hutchison Essar in May 2007 and the company was formally renamed Vodafone Essar in July 2007.

Asim Ghosh, MD, Vodafone Essar, says, “We’ve had a good innings as Hutch in India and today marks a new beginning for us, not as a departure from the fundamentals that created Hutch, but an acceleration into the future with Vodafone’s global expertise.”

This transition is estimated to touch over 35 million customers across 400,000 shops and thousands of Hutch’s own employees, as well as employees of its business associates. This makes it the largest ever transformation for Hutch, considering the fact that in India, the brand itself has undergone several changes in the past.