FIPB has finally cleared the
indirect holding of Orascom in Hutchinson Whampoa. Orascom after the FIPB clearance now controls 10% in Hutch India. Orascom controls around 60% of Pakistan cell phone market. This clearance couldn't have come at a better time especially when our
Prime Minister has declared Pakistani hands in
7/11 Mumbai blasts. Orascom though is an Egyptian company, has strong interests in Pakistan and Bangladesh cell phone markets.
I strongly recommend FIPB, TRAI and TDSAT together investigate the interests of Orascom in Hutchinson India as Hutch has a history of shady deals and illegal practices. Ahead of Qualcomm’s July-19th board meeting to decide on the handset roylaty issue for Indian cellcos, HFCL, a CDMA operator has announced that it has applied for GSM spectrum for the Punjab circle.
Bharti-Airtel which had announced the launch of it’s fixed wireless phone(FWP), Airtel Mega, today announced of its availability in Kerala.
