Govt allows RJio VoLTE calls to other networks

The department of telecommunications (DoT) has amended the Unified Access Service licence agreement, allowing interconnection of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networks with telecom networks.

This will enable Reliance Jio’s users based on a Voice over LTE fourth-generation technology (4G) network to make calls to those of other operators and vice versa.

This will enable interconnection among upcoming networks which will be based on IP, mainly 4G technology. In February, Trai recommended changes to unified licence to pave the way for interconnection at IP level between licensed operators.

RJio launch: Reliance Jio is on course for a commercial rollout of its services this year. In its quarterly results release, the company said it was the first telecom operator to hold pan-India Unified License and holds 751.10 MHz of liberalised spectrum across the 800-MHz, 1,800-MHz and 2,300-MHz bands.

The company has entered into agreements with Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Communications for change in spectrum allotment in the 800-MHz band from RCom to RJIL across nine circles and sharing of spectrum in the 800-MHz band across 17 circles

The department of telecommunications (DoT) has approved spectrum sharing between Reliance Communications (RCom) and Reliance Jio in nine of the country’s 22 telecom circles.

This will allow both the companies to offer 4G services on the 10 MHz block in the 800-MHz band after the sharing arrangements. The nine circles are Mumbai, UP (East), Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Assam and North East, according to a filing by the company on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

“We wish to inform that DoT has taken on record 800-MHz spectrum sharing in seven circles of the company and two of Reliance Telecom, a wholly-owned subsidiary with RJIL,” RCom said in a regulatory filing.

For the remaining 13 circles, RJio plans to buy spectrum from RCom by paying about Rs 4,500 crore to the department. RCom has already liberalised its spectrum by paying Rs 6,000 crore to the government. This fee would apply to all circles where airwaves weren’t sold via auctions and then operators can use the spectrum for deploying any technology.

In January this year, the two companies had announced a plan for spectrum sharing and trading for 800-850-MHz spectrum, giving RJio an edge over the competition. The deal will give RJio a pan-India 4G network on the 800-850-MHz frequency, along with 2,300-MHz it already owns. The lower frequency offers better indoor coverage and provides seamless voice services through Voice over LTE (VoLTE). RJio has already soft-launched its 4G services.

A 10 MHz block can provide up to 80 mbps speed. With the 800-MHz spectrum advantage, this can deliver internet services faster than many wireline broadband/Wi-Fi services offered today, at a much more affordable cost. The subscriber capacity also multiplies exponentially when spectrum is combined into a single block of 10 MHz, say sources.