Reliance Info to launch services in Andamans

Reliance Infocomm Ltd would be launching its cellular services in the Andaman and Nicobar chain of islands in the first week of April, with technical support from Canada's Telos Technology Inc.

Reliance will be the first cellular operator in India to go beyond the geographical limit of Port Blair "" its services would be available in three other islands in the first phase, while islands under the Nicobar district would be covered in the second phase.

V G Somasekhar, head of operations, Chennai and Andaman and Nicobar islands, Reliance Infocomm, said, "In another three weeks, we will introduce cellular and fixed wireless services in Port Blair, Dilanipur, Huddo and Mini Bay. These will be both pre-paid and post-paid services."

At present, only the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) provides cellular services in the region, but this is restricted to Port Blair.

Interestingly, there is a lucrative grey market for prepaid connections in the region. A BSNL pre-paid connection costs at least Rs 4,000 here. "Since the tsunami, the situation is bad. Though recharge cards are available in Port Blair, new connections are not. And getting a post-paid BSNL connection has become a matter of luck," said Sushant Sarkar, a BSNL consumer.

Reliance's entry is expected to ease matters for the mobile users. A BSNL official refused to comment on the issue.

The cellular market in the region is expected to heat up soon with more service providers set to launch their services. Sources said Bharti Cellular is also gearing up to introduce its GSM services here.

While Bharti officials could not be reached for comment, sources here said that Airtel is planning to launch its services in the Andamans during April-May this year.