Reliance ph-II rollout

Reliance Infocomm, a leading mobile service provider, has announced its Phase -II expansion plans in Karnataka. This will entail an investment of Rs 300 crore. The company has said that the blueprint for Phase-III expansion in Karnataka is already being prepared.

Reliance will cover over 300 towns in Karnataka and the expansion will stretch from Aurad in the north to Chamarajnagar at the southernmost tip of the state. Currently, it has a presence in 47 cities and towns in Karnataka.

"We are going on a 100-day coverage blitzkrieg where we will be adding about two towns per day. We are investing Rs 300 crore in this Phase-II expansion," Viney Singh, CEO-wireless business, Reliance Infocomm, Karnataka Circle, said.

When asked about the total capacity that the company would be adding in Karnataka following this Phase-II expansion, Reliance officials said that nearly 500 towers will be added across the state.

Each tower can take nearly 4,000 subscribers and this capacity will be able to sustain the company's expansion plans in the state for the next 20-25 years, according to officials at Reliance Infocomm.

Reliance officials also added that the investment of Rs 300 crore is part of the company's overall investment of Rs 25,000 crore for the telecom business which was committed during its inception in May 2003.

Over the next 100 days, Reliance plans to cover over 1,700 villages in 26 districts, encompassing 145 taluks. The state-wide coverage plan also includes all major national and state highways and the five major rail routes.

Currently, Reliance Infocomm has 6.12 lakh subscribers in Karnataka, of which 60 per cent are pre-paid subscribers.