RCom extends 3G footprint through roaming pacts

Taking advantage of the April 29 order of theTelecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) that permitted 3G intra-circle roaming between operators, Reliance Communications (RCom), on Wednesday, announced extension of its 3G services in five new circles.

RCom will offer the service using Aircel's network under a roaming pact with Aircel. However, while TDSAT has permitted 3G roaming pacts, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is still looking into legality of moving the Supreme Court against the TDSAT order on 3G ICR. The DoT had earlier barred Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular from offering 3G services using each other's network where they do not have required spectrum under roaming pacts between themselves.

RCom, on Wednesday, said it will extend its third generation (3G) services to 18 of the 22 telecom circles in India, from 13 at present. The five new circles are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,Kerala and Uttar Pradesh (East), with services commencing from June 20, 2014.

In a statement, RCom said the extension would help the Anil Ambani firm to cover 80% of India's 3G data revenue market and incremental smart phone sales. RCom is positioned to target a disproportionate share of the corporate, small and medium enterprises and high-value customer market, it said.

"This makes our service available in all metros and major metros in the country, enabling us to target the fast-growing data market in these circles. Together, these circles account for 80% of incremental smartphone sales in the country," said Gurdeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer (Consumer Business), RCom.

RCom had 37.4 million data customers,including 12.9 million 3G customers, at the end of January-March 2014 quarter. "As India's youngest pan-India GSM operator, we are committed to improving the quality of our customer mix, andour extended 3G presence will help us attract a disproportionate share of customers in the high-value corporate and SME segments. This will also help us further consolidate RCom's position as the leading Indian data operator," said Singh. Bharti Airtel has 3G spectrum in 13 of the 22 telecom circles, while Vodafone has it in nine and Idea Cellular in 11.

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