With the launch of Reliance Jio Infocomm’s 4G services inching closer, the company has approached the Department of Telecom (DoT) for network testing to be conducted along with various security agencies.
An official source said, “Reliance Jio has written to DoT to start test of legal interception and monitoring solution in its network across circles which is conducted along with security agencies and is mandatory before launch of telecom services.”
Since May 2014, the pace of the role out significantly picked up when the installation of Long Term Evolution (LTE) base stations went up to 6500 per month from the original 3000 per month figure. The company already has its infrastructure in place. These tests will help ensure that the services are rolled out seamlessly.
Launch of Much Awaited 4G Services
Reliance Jio intends to launch its 4G services across majority of its telecom circles by March 2015. Through an investment of INR70,000 crores the company intends to cover about 5000 towns and cities. This accounts for over 90% of urban India. In addition to this, Reliance Jio will also initially cover 215,000 villages while its target is to expand to over 600,000 villages in the long run.
According to the licensing rules, 2015 is the last year for companies that won Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum in 2010 to roll out their offerings to at least 90% of the service areas. DoT has the right to withdraw the radio waves of the companies that fail to do so.
To ensure seamless service delivery of its 4G offerings, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has entered into agreements with a number of firms for leasing towers across India. Reliance Jio will be able to leverage the 113,000 towers set up by Indus Towers along with 27,800 towers installed by GTL Infra. In addition to this, similar agreements have been signed with Tower Vision, ATC India, Bharti Infratel, Reliance Communications and Viom Networks that together offer about 142,400 towers on lease.
4G License Holders in India
Reliance Jio is the only company to hold a pan-India broadband wireless access spectrum that can be used to provide 4G services commercially. Reliance Jio also acquired spectrum in the 1800 Mhz band that is typically known as the 2G spectrum. At INR11,054.41 crores, the company won this license for 14 out of 22 service areas in India. It announced that these radio waves will also be used for 4G services.
Apart from Reliance Jio, Tikona Digital, Airtel, Aircel and Augere Mauritius also won BWA spectrum in mid-2010. Out of these, only Airtel and Aircel have been able to partially launch 4G services using BWA airwaves. Airtel is already offering 4G services in Kolkata, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Bangalore while Aircel’s services are extended in the states of Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir. Reliance Communications and Vodafone India also plan on launching their 4G services in the coming year.
With so many telecom operators vying for the top position as the leading 4G service provider in India, it is expected that price will be a significant determinant of success.