4 lakh villages to access Net via RIM

Reliance Infocomm has embarked on a plan to provide Internet connectivity to over four lakh villages in India over its 80,000 km-long nation-wide terabit optic fibre cable (OFC) network.

Kamal P Nanavaty, chief operating officer of Reliance Infocomm (wireless business), said: "Our aim is to empower each and every village with Internet connection. Ideally, wherever our network reaches, it facilitates Internet connectivity."

The company intends to use its recently launched product R Connect that enables accessing the Net from any desktop computer or laptop using Reliance India Mobile (RIM) handsets as modems, he added.

Reliance Infocomm would offer download speeds of up to 144 kbps utilising code division multiple access (CDMA) technology, and intends to provide uninterrupted voice, data and video applications, Nanavaty said.