RCom rolls out GSM services in Mumbai

ADAG company offers one-time subscription charge of Rs 25.

As part of its nation-wide rollout plan, CDMA major Reliance Communications (RCom) today launched its GSM services in Mumbai.

RCom, which became the first private CDMA player in India to provide GSM services, had recently announced to launch these services in 11,000 towns across the country. To capture its share in the fast-growing GSM subscriber base, RCom has focused on the segment that provides less than Rs 300 as average revenue per user (ARPU) and launched its services at competitive prices. The company has launched a first-of-its-kind Customer Experience Programme (CEP) for this segment at a one-time subscription charge of Rs 25 (including GSM SIM).

The plan offers 900 minutes of talk-time on local calls and SMS to any network that can be accrued by Reliance Mobile GSM customers in daily tranches of Rs 10 spread over 90 days. After consuming Rs 10 during the day, the subscriber can use top-up cards with denominations ranging between Rs 10 and Rs 500 with the same tariffs. Over and above the free talk-time, GSM customers will get free unlimited calls on Reliance network (both GSM and CDMA) between 10 pm and 6 am throughout Mumbai, rest of Maharashtra and Goa, getting access to seven million Reliance phones in the region.

Commenting on the Mumbai launch, Reliance Communications’ Regional Head (West) Dinesh Gulati said, “The Reliance Mobile GSM offers a unique value proposition, fine-tuned as per the needs of every segment of the 250 million GSM customers in the country… Over 16 million GSM customers in Mumbai can now avail themselves of the state-of-the-art, next generation, EDGE ready Reliance Mobile GSM network -- the only network that offers digital voice clarity and up to 100 per cent cost savings for the cost-conscious mobile user segment.”

Other CDMA operator Tata Teleservices is also expected to roll out its GSM services this year. That apart, new entrant Shyam-Sistema is also eyeing the GSM space.

With 75 per cent of the entire telecom space dominated by GSM operations, this proves to be a lucrative option for CDMA as well as other telecom players.