Tata's efforts for .tata domain hits Moroccan wall

The multi-billion dollar juggernaut Tata Group’s efforts to secure a domain name .tata has hit a Moroccan wall. A province in the African country bears the same name and has refused to give its endorsement to Tata’s bid.

Tata Group has now approached the government of India to open diplomatic channels to impress upon the Moroccan government not to obstruct its application to Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). “It is an example of issues faced in internet governance. The Tata Group has requested the Indian Government to take up the matter with the North African country through diplomatic channels,” sources said.

The group’s subsidiary TATA Motors has secured .tatamotors domain name. Officials privy to the case reveal that the events started in 2012 following Tata’s application to ICANN, an American non-profit organisation for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of databases of the name spaces of the internet. After years of deliberations and evaluations, ICANN changed the status of the industrial giant from “on hold” to “Will not proceed” in 2015. Experts say that this means a nudge to the company to withdraw its application.

The bone of contention is a province in Morocco with a population of about 150,000. This makes ‘Tata’ a protected geographic name, and the onus is now on the Tata Group to show ‘unequivocal’ endorsement or non-objection from the provincial government of Tata. Morocco has apparently written a letter to ICANN that it may want the .tata domain name for itself.

As organisation ICANN is fine-tuning its rules for internet governance, there have been instances of confusion previously. DotConnectAfrica’s application for .Africa first got an endorsement from an African Union representative only to be withdrawn later.

Officials say that the issue can be resolved amicably and building Tata province a new school may open the doors for the Indian conglomerate that has its presence from salt making to high-end luxury cars.

IAF to give chance to private players in aircraft manufacturing

 

For the first time going beyond the domestic aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and to give impetus to domestic aviation industry, the Defence Ministry on Monday decided to opt for a foreign vendor that can partner with even private players to manufacture 56 transport aircraft.

 

The decision was cleared at the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting chaired by Defence Minister AK Antony. The decision will help the Indian Air Force (IAF) to explore options beyond the over-burdened public sector undertaking HAL that has long been facing complaints of delays and quality control issues.

According to sources, “A tender for the acquisition of these 56 aircraft will soon be issued. As per the tender provisions it will be mandatory for the foreign vendors to select an Indian partner from public or private sector.” The tender valuing around Rs. 12,000 crore will be issued under ‘Buy and Make India’ category of the Defence Procurement Procedures.

As per the proposal approved by the DAC, 16 of these aircraft will be purchased in fly-away condition from the foreign vendor, the next 16 will have 30 percent indigenous components and the last 24 will be 60 percent indigenized. The first of the 56 aircraft set to replace the Avro transport aircraft in the IAF will be delivered four years after the signing of the contract.

The decision has opened doors for private sector players like Tata, Mahindra and Reliance, which can form a consortium with the foreign vendors. The IAF has been keen on giving a chance to the private players to develop an alternative to the HAL.

In the recent times, the government has also taken cognizance of the IAF’s complaints regarding the delayed delivery of equipment by the HAL.  There have been delays in some projects like the Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT) Hawk; delay in establishing the facilities for complex engine components and radar software in respect of SU-30 MKI fighter jets, delay in certification of Shakti engine by the Original Equipment Manufacturer in respect of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), changes in Standard of Preparation (SOP) in respect of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and delay in development of engine for Intermediate Jet Trainer.