Ambani

Indian authorities reject Ambani sibling spectrum deal

The future of telecommunications operator Reliance Communications (RCom), owned by billionaire tycoon Anil Ambani (pictured), has been thrown into confusion after Indian authorities refused to approve a spectrum sale deal to Reliance Jio (Jio), the company owned by Anil’s brother Mukesh Ambani.

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) told RCom it could not sell its spectrum to rival Jio as the proposed deal did not conform to its guidelines.

No charges have been filed against the Ambani family, which controls Reliance Group, despite the decision by a British authority to ban a former UBS banker for setting up an illegal vehicle for the Indian family.

A statement from Reliance Group, headed by Anil Ambani, said the family members were “neither party to the proceedings, nor represented therein”.

An $11 billion deal to create the world's largest independent telecom infrastructure company has collapsed, the Ambani family, who was behind the deal, announced on Monday.

The deal between Reliance Infratel, a subsidiary company of the Ambani family-controlled Reliance Communications, and GTL Infrastructure was announced in June and was set to become the largest deal involving a family company this year.

Reliance, headed by billionaire Anil Ambani (pictured), gave no reason for the failure of the deal, but said it was now speaking to other parties.

Reliance Broadcast Network, a subsidiary of the family-owned Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Group, announced 18 August it has signed a joint venture agreement with US-based CBS Studios International to provide a new set of TV channels in India.

Reliance and CBS will both have a 50% equity share in the new company, called BIG CBS Networks, which will initially create three new English language TV channels. The deal is a first for both companies as they attempt to tap into India's growing TV market.