Datacom, the new operator which started of as one of the most promising player able to give a challenge to incumbent operators but eventually lost out the race momentarily due to management control disputes, seems to be heading back in the right direction. Reports say that the HFCL Group of Nahatas and the Videocon group promoted by the Dhoot family have reached an agreement to settle the disputes.

As part of the agreement, the Dhoots will buy out the 36 percent stake held by Nahata camp in Datacom. This will include merging of HFCLs mobile operations in Punjab.

While the two camps have officially not confirmed the development, indications towards the same sounded strong as R N Dhoot who is virtually heading Datacom currently said that there might be some good news in the new year. He was also present during the IPTV service launch of Nahata promoted, Smart Digivision in tie-up with BSNL.

The last year saw Datacom gaining a head start among the new operators by roping in top level talent including Ravi Sharma of Alcatel-Lucent as well as aggressively gearing up for launch of services. But within some time it emerged that the two camps, involving Nahata and Dhoot had strong difference of opinion in the day-t-day functioning of the company as the Nahata camp alleged that they were increasingly kept in the sidelines in management decisions. The Dhoot camp though refuted these allegations

Eventually there was mass exodus of employees particularly from the top management. Also while other new operators were able to find strategic foreign partners, Datacom became a object of neglect for such players.