Airtel unveils 3G services in North Karnataka

Source: http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/airtel-unveils-3G-services-in-North-Karnataka/5113113082

The North Karnataka region has over 30% of airtel’s customer base having GPRS connectivity. Besides, the region has the second largest number of 3G enabled handsets in Karnataka after the city of Bangalore.

Bharti airtel, India’s largest telecommunications company, announced the launch of its 3G service in the North Karnataka towns of Hubballi, Dharwad & Belagavi today. Home to the largest customer base of airtel mobile customers in Karnataka, these towns today joined the airtel 3G map in India, to offer unparalleled airtel internet experience on 3G. This follows the successful 3G launches in Bengaluru, Mysore, Mangalore, Udupi, Manipal, Shimoga, Davanagere & Tumkur.  The North Karnataka region has over 30% of airtel’s customer base having GPRS connectivity. Besides, the region has the second largest number of 3G enabled handsets in Karnataka after the city of Bangalore. With nearly 50% of retailers in North Karnataka selling airtel GPRS packs, this is a very apt region for the availability of 3G services.    Firmly entrenched as an industrial hub in Karnataka, airtel’s 3G operations are set to change the way North Karnataka functions.  When 3G operations are underway, many customers will get to experience the differentiators that airtel brings to the table.  airtel internet on 3G gives customers the power of higher speeds to enjoy multimedia services, high-speed mobile broadband and internet access with the ability to view videos on your mobile phone, make video calls, watch live TV, access high speed internet and enjoy live streaming at never before speeds.  Speaking at the launch, Mr. Venkatesh V, CEO - Karnataka Circle, Mobile Services, Bharti airtel Ltd said, "The launch of our 3G services is the start of a new era, the beginning of a journey of mobile internet revolution in Karnatak. As we begin our operations in North Karnataka, we believe that it is a transformational shift we are ushering in. We aim to bring to our customers an enriched user experience on the back of a world class delivery. The launch of mobile number portability services is an added bonus for all those seeking 3G services for video calls and enjoy the advantage to the power of mobile internet"  airtel’s 3G services, delivered on a state-of-the-art high speed HSPA network, usher in a new era of unique life enriching services in entertainment, utility, commerce and health – all now on the customer’s mobile phone.  The launch of its 3G services is a key milestone in Bharti airtel’s vision to play a leading role in delivering the power of the mobile internet to an increasing number of people in India. With the mobile industry across the world expecting to connect 2.4 billion people to the internet over the next five years, most for the first time, it is incumbent upon service providers to bring all the ecosystem players together in a cohesive manner – handset manufacturers, equipment vendors, application developers and even consumers – to scale up the penetration for 3G services in the country.  Comparison between 2G and 3G  2G/ 2.5G 3G Speed 10 kbps to 256 kbps Up to 21 Mbps EXPERIENCE Voice plus basic  Data Applications Advanced data applications APPLICATIONS Digital Voice & Circuit switched Digital voice, Packet & Circuit Switched 2G 3G Music download 1 min 6s Blogs 37 s 7s Email ppt 4 min 25s Photo viewing 10s 1s Video clip viewing 2 min 12s PPT viewing 4 min 24 s Latency 100ms 50 ms Keeping the focus on the user experience and relevant services, airtel’s 3G price plans are personalised and simple to understand:  1. PAYG VBC (Pay as you go): For all existing airtel 2G customers who want to experience the power of airtel internet on 3G for a short while, this tariff plan is the solution. The customer will pay the same prevailing data rates as on 2G service, but with the advantage of a faster mobile broadband. 2. Sachet Plans: The objective of these plans is to drive mass trial and adoption of 3G, and will serve as the natural upgrade path to higher rental plans. These plans will have validity of lesser than or equal to 10 days. Name of the plan MRP Free Data Validity Sachet Plan Rs. 9 10 MB 1 day (Same day) Sachet Plan (Time based) Rs. 45  30 minutes 1 day (Same day) Sachet Plan Rs. 60 65 MB 3 day 3. Standard Plans: These plans are best suited for the mid to high-end users of data and will have a validity of 30 days. Name of the plan MRP - Prepaid MRP - Postpaid Free Data Validity Standard Plan Rs. 103 Rs. 100 100MB 30 Days Standard Plan Rs. 200 Rs. 200 250MB 30 Days Standard Plan Rs. 450 Rs. 450 600MB 30 Days Standard Plan Rs. 750 Rs. 750 2GB 30 Days 4. FlexiShield Plan: This plan has a combination of free data usage and a low inbuilt VBC rate. The plan is constructed in a way that it provides the customer, the flexibility to start from a relatively lower initial rental commitment and shields from a bill shock. Name of the plan MRP -Prepaid MRP - Postpaid Plan Details Validity FlexiShield Plan Rs. 675 Rs. 675 Initial Free Data of 1.25GB. After the initial free data is exhausted, VBC rate of 1p/100Kb, will be applicable for data usage at 3G speed, till total Data Bill reaches Rs. 2000. After reaching bill cap, customer can continue to enjoy internet access, at speed of  20Kbps 30 Days Note: Sachet Plans available only on Prepaid, FlexiShield Plan available on both postpaid & prepaid airtel has also introduced a first of its kind internet usage calculator that will help customers monitor and analyse their current internet data usage and choose an airtel 3G plan accordingly.

Seminar resolves to work collectively for development of north Karnataka

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/29/stories/2010062960110300.htm

Staff Correspondent


Talk: The former Minister and president of Hyderabad-Karnataka Horata Samit0i Vaijnath Patil speaking in Belgaum on Monday. Belgaum: A seminar on “Problems of north Karnataka and solutions” unanimously adopted a resolution to work collectively for the development of both Belgaum and Gulbarga divisions in north Karnataka.
The seminar brought representatives of various social, political and farmers' organisations on a common platform to re-assess problems coming in the way of their progress and to explore opportunities to bring them on a par with other developed regions of the State. It aimed to draw the attention of the Government to the special focus necessary to address issues of regional imbalance affecting backwards areas like Mumbai-Karnataka and Hyderabad-Karnataka.
Prominent among those who addressed the gathering included the former Minister and president of the Hyderabad-Karnataka Horata Samithi Vaijnath Patil, Congress leader S.B. Sidnal, the former MP S.C. Malgi, the former MLA L.B. Karale and JD(S) leaders Arvind Dalvai and Syed Mansoor. Vice-president JD(S) farmers' wing Kalyanrao Muchalambi and Belgaum district vice-president of the JD(U) Vasant Kulkarni were instrumental in organising the seminar.
‘Neglect'
The speakers observed that both regions had been victims of neglect and discrimination by successive governments. Political power, which remained in the hands of those belonging to the southern parts of the State, did not do justice to these regions, they alleged. Even those elected representatives from north Karnataka did not contribute to development, they charged. Thus, the regions remained relatively backward in education, agriculture, irrigation, industry and communication.
The need of the hour was to bring together leaders and people of the two regions and expedite the process of development, they said.
Imbalance
Later, speaking to presspersons, Mr. Patil sought to clarify that the demand for amending Article 371 of the Constitution was not only for the benefit of the HK region, but it could also be extended to other backward districts in the NK region and boundary areas of south Karnataka. The objective behind the demand was to address issues of regional imbalance, he said.
About 60 to 70 per cent of admissions in medical, engineering and technical institutions were from Bangalore and Mysore regions. An equal proportion from these regions served in government services, as per the M.D. Nanjundappa Report on Redressal of Regional Imbalances. Admissions and appointments must be localised to address this issue.
Mr. Muchalambi added that appointments to the posts of vice-chancellors at the universities in north Karnataka regions should be made from among academicians of the region.

Seminar on development of NK region

HUBLI: A two-day state-level seminar on `Development and Environment with special focus on north Karnataka' will begin at BVB College of Engineering and Technology here on Saturday. The seminar will discuss some of the important issues concerning the development and growth of small and medium cities in north Karnataka. It envisages the concept of sustainable development as an approach to ensure balanced growth, sustained economy and take a look at the positive outcome of such development with a view to create a socio-economic well-being, eventually aimed at addressing the regional imbalance.

Arresting environmental degradation, setting up an agenda for urban environmental management and ensuring eco-system restoration are the other important aspects that will come up for discussion.

Eco-Watch, Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development and BVB college are jointly organizing the seminar.

Essar Steel to open three more hypermarts in K'taka - one in Mangalore and two in north Karnataka

Essar Steel, part of Essar Group, is planning to open three more hypermarkets in Karnataka, taking the total count in the state to six, its top official said.

Launching its third hypermarket in the state and first in Bangalore at Jigani on the outskirts today, firm's Executive Director (Sales & Marketing) Vikram Amin told reporters the company will be opening three more hypermarts, one in Mangalore and two in north Karnataka in the next three to four months.

Essar steel already has two hypermarts, one in Hubli and another in Belgaum.

Essar hypermarts cater to the customers in the SME segment ranging from small manufacturers, local fabricators and general engineering firms to large corporations and construction companies, offering a comprehensive range of flat and long steel products for a variety of applications.

Sales from such hypermarts account for 25 per cent of Essar Steel's annual revenues, he said.

The company, which has over 300 retail outlets across the country, is looking at ramping it up to 750 by the end of this year. Out of these, 150 will be hypermarts and 600 express marts, Girish Rao, CEO Essar Hypermart said.

Essar Steel is at present selling 100,000 tonnes of steel. "We are planning to sell 3 million tonnes through retail business," he said.

The firm is looking at closing the year with a revenue of Rs 3,500 crore.

Industrialists pin hopes on proposed adalat in Hubli

Source: http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Industrialists+pin+hopes+on+proposed+adalat&artid=nR/GlmjXSCo=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=

Basavaraj F Kattimani
First Published : 27 Jan 2009 04:41:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 27 Jan 2009 11:07:50 AM IST

HUBLI: The proposed industrial adalat in Hubli next month has rekindled and renewed the hopes of many industrialists who are finding it difficult to run their units due to various problems.

For the first time, the state government has planned to hold such industrial adalat at Belgum divisional level in Hubli on February 10 to give much needed fillip to the industries

in the region.Belgaum division consists of eight districts including, Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Bagalkot, Bijaur, Karwar and Belgaum. Industrialists who are running the units ranging from small, medium to big industries are entitled to participate in the adalat to get their problems solved.

According to sources, most of the industrial sectors in these districts lack basic facilities such as adequate water, power, good roads and other basic amenities. Negligent attitude of the governments which ruled the state so for has contributed in the closure of many industries in the region. To know the root cause of the problems faced by industrialists, the adalat is being organised.Major problems the industrialists are facing in the region are inordinate delay in getting clearance certificate from the pollution control board and technical problems in getting financial assistance from the banks to expand and modernise their industrial units.

Most of the industrialists are yet to get sale deeds from the government after starting the industrial units on the land purchased from the government.So, the government is expected to give more focus on solving these problems in the adalat. All the officers concerned from KIADB, pollution control board, Registration office, revenue department and other officers involved in the industrial growth will participate in the adalat.“We have pinned a lot of hopes on the proposed adalat that it will at least give patient hearing to our problems and solve them,” said industrialists.

Talking to The New Indian Express, Murugesh Nirani, Small and Large Scale Industries Minister said: “As we want to attract the investors to begin their units in North Karntaka region we are putting in sincere efforts to develop the industrial sectors by organising programmes like industrial adalats.” All the industrialists are requested to send their grievances to the industrial centres and offices concerned which will be handled during the adalat. All the grievances will be solved on the spot and steps will be taken to give clearing certificate from pollution control board and sales deeds on the spot, he said.He appealed to the industrialists to make the best use of the adalat.

kattimani@epmltd.com

CET counselling centre may open at Dharwad

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/cet-counselling-centre-may-open-at-dharwad/00/12/346749/

The students of North Karnataka districts and Hyderabad Karnataka region could be spared of the trouble of going all the way for CET counselling to get admission for engineering and medical courses. The state government has decided to set up CET counselling centres in Dharwad-Hubli and also at Gulbarga.

Commissioner of Pre-University Education Shridhar Hegde along with CET administrative officer S P Kulkarni visited a few places in Dharwad-Hubli on Sunday to select the location of CET counselling centres. He visited IT Park in Tirakaramanakere near swimming pool in Hubli, SDM College of Engineering and Technology, Dharwad and University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad.

The team will also visit Gulbarga for the purpose. Speaking to Business Standard S G Hegde said the idea was to enable the students attend the counselling at a nearby place instead of travelling all the way to Bangalore. The students will be free to opt for any counselling centre-Bangalore, Dharwad/Hubli, Gulbarga. The move will avoid rush at Bangalore CET cell besides saving money, time and energy for the parents.

“We are visiting different places and having a look at the infrastructure and other facilities. The final location is not yet decided” Hegde said.

The Karnataka government and private colleges have fixed the seat-sharing formula at 50:50 for engineering and 42:58 for medical courses. The CET has been done away with for dental, Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy courses from this academic year. Admissions will be based on Class 12 or PUC marks.

The fee structure has come down for engineering courses, while it is unaltered for medical courses. In the 50:50 engineering seat ratio, 25 per cent would be kept for poor and meritorious students. The fee for them is Rs 15,000. The remaining 25 per cent of seats will have Rs 25,000 fees same as last year.

In minority institutions, 20 per cent government engineering seats are allotted for poor and meritorious students with fee of Rs 15,000 and another 20 per cent for Rs 25,000. The rest would be given to managements. In non-minority colleges, 50 per cent seats will go to managements. NRI quota will be decided by the Supreme Court.

US industrialists to invest in Karnataka

Source: http://www.sahilonline.org/english/news.php?catID=statenews&nid=3315&viewed=0

Hubli: American industrialists have shown interest in investing in medical, solar and IT field in Karnataka, Minister incharge of Dharwad district Murugesh Nirani said today.Addressing a press conference here during his official visit to participate in a programme of the BJP government, he said about Rs four lakh crore was expected to flow in the state in the coming years.

This promise was made to a team of ministers from the state during their visit to the United States, Mr Nirani said.The team met more than 800 investors in the US, who showed keen interest to invest in various industries in Karnataka, he added. The State government had decided to hold investors' meet in Bangalore in January to attract more number of investors. Similarly, another meet would be organised in Hubli and Dharwad, he added.Claiming that BJP government in the state had met the expectations of the people, Mr Nirani said most of the promises made were set in motion for implementation.

Many developmental projects were also taken up in north Karnataka, he said, adding that the overnment was keen on developing IT park in Hubli and Aryabhata IT project.He said many more programmes would be implemented for the welfare of the people in the coming years.

Karnataka Govt planning industrial corridor

Hubli (PTI): The newly-elected BJP government in Karnataka plans to establish an industrial corridor along National Highways NH4 and NH218 with the objective of generating employment to people in North Karnataka region, state Minister for Large and Medium industries Murugesh Nirani has said.

Speaking to reporters, the minister, who is in-charge of Dharwad district, said that industries could tap into the raw material resources and basic facilities available along the two highways, connecting Bangalore to Belgaum and Hubli to Bijapur.

He said that iron ore was available in Bellary and instead of exporting iron ore, iron sponge plants could be set up at Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts. Similarly, steel plants could be set up to provide employment.

Similarly in Bagalkot, Gulbarga and Tumkur district, where limestone is available, cement plants could be set up.

Nirani said that in Bagalkot, Bijapur, Belgaum, Shimoga districts, centres of horticulture, foodprocessing units could be set up using the agricultural products here.

The government would appeal to industrialists to establish industries in Hubli-Dharwad, for which a high level committee would meet at Bangalore on June 27 to consider 36 pending plans and encourage them to move to North Karnataka for establishing industrial units here, he said.
Of the 45 SEZs planned, two for Belgaum and one for Hubli-Dharwad had been sanctioned, he added.