RCom tower arm in talks for infra sharing deal

Company has long been expected to take RCom towers on rent to roll out high-speed Internet services

Mobile phone carrier Reliance Communications Ltd's telecommunication tower arm is in "advanced" stages of discussions with three carriers for "a large" infrastructure sharing deal, a senior company executive told analysts on a conference call.

Gurdeep Singh, chief executive of Reliance Communications' wireless business, did not give any further detail.

Singh said it was "premature" to comment on contours of any potential deal, when asked if the company was open to lease out its towers to Reliance Industries Ltd at a discount to market price.

Reliance Industries, controlled by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, holds 4G permits for all of India, and has long been expected to take Reliance Communications towers on rent to roll out high-speed Internet services.