Reliance Jio in talks with 28 handset brands to sell 4G devices

Reliance Jio Infocomm, which will roll out fourth generation telecom services (4G) across 80 per cent of its licensing areas towards the end of 2015, is in talks with 28 mobile and tablet manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung and Micromax, to sell self-branded compatible devices.

Besides, it has also engaged with five chipmakers, such as Intel and Qualcomm, for smooth access of 4G connectivity on the devices, it has said.

“Proactively engaging smartphone brands (Indian and global), chipset manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) directly and catalysing open market devices for ensuring 4G as default features in all smartphones,” said Reliance Industries, the parent company of Jio. It is also looking for partners to produce Wi-Fi devices, offering 4G network connectivity to 2G and 3G devices.

“Apart from smartphones, Jio is also working with OEMs for pocket router solution which can seamlessly connect any 2G/3G smartphone to a 4G services network,” the firm said after the announcement of April-June quarterly result.

To support sales of both the 4G services and devices, it will launch 1,000 Jio Centers across the country and also expand Reliance Digital stores under its Reliance Retail business segment. Reliance Digital, which added over 100 Reliance Digital Express Mini stores during the April-June period, has a total of 1,298 stores across the country.

Other than Reliance Digital stores, the 4G devices would also be available in e-commerce websites as well as retail stores.

The latest entrant in the Indian telecom sector has so far laid 250,000 route km of optical fibre across the country to provide wire-based services, along with its 75,000-strong tower base which will provide wireless 4G network in 80 per cent of its total licensed area. It has plans to double the optical fibre footprint in next three years to cover its total licensed area.