DoT will provide modern telecommunication facilities through satellite during the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra beginning from the first week of June. Inmarsat terminals will be operated at PCOs in four base stations in Indian territory at Gala, Budhi, Gunji and Nabidhang high above the sea level, an official statement said. Yatris can make STD/ISD calls from these places at normal rates and these facilities will be available for the entire period of the yatra, it said.

Lanka ups telephone tariffs by 66%

Sri Lanka sharply increased telecommunication tariffs by up to 66.66 per cent on Thursday but reduced charges for internet users and international calls. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission said it allowed Japanese-managed Sri Lanka Telecom, the country's main telephone company to raise tariffs to ensure a minimum 25 per cent revenue increase.

Clearship launches Infotrans

Clearship Group has launchedInfortrans, an end-to-end freight logistic solution system using the internet. Indigenously designed and developed within the Clearship Group, Infotrans creates an information highway built around a worldwide network to provide customers with on-line assistance round-the-clock, round-the-year. With Clearship's Virtual Office, export/import houses at home and abroad can now access information whenever, wherever and whichever way they want.

FastSURFR launched

Bangalore-based Convergent Communications India has launched its `FastSURFR', a 56k high speed data and fax modem. Company managing director Venkat Kedlaya in a press release said this external desktop modem has been tuned to suit the Indian conditions and was economically priced. FastSURFR sends and receives faxes at 57600bps and provides Internet download speeds up to 56k bps.

HP announces new services

Hewlett-Packard has announced four new financing and support services that provide customers who are consolidating their ITenvironments improved cost savings, confidence and control. HP now offers these customers a total cost of ownership study; a feasibility study for the consolidated environment; global integration and installation services; and a consolidated, mission-critical support contract.

Compaq launches Presario 5290

Compaq India has launched its next generation of home computing experience in India with the launch of Presario 5290. It is the first model from the PC company to be based on Intel's Pentium III processor. Priced at a whopping Rs 1.40 lakh, the Presario 5290 will however be available nationally at over 65 Compaq retails stores across the country only from May 9.

Kshema to tread expansion trail

Software start-up Kshema Technologies is looking to offload around 20 per cent of its Rs 2.5 crore equity to foreign institutional investors at a premium of Rs 250 to Rs 300 on its Rs 10 face-value share. The company is looking to raise Rs 10 crore by June to fund its expansion plans.