Reliance Communications planning 4G foray? Lists smartphone on website

In a development that indicates Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications (RCom)'s 'plan' to enter 4G operations in near future, the company for the first time has listed Samsung Victory 4G, an almost two-year-old CDMA smartphone with 4GLTE connectivity, on its website along with host of other 2G and 3G compatible handsets.

RCom has listed Samsung Victory 4G for Rs 12,970 besides EMI option. It is also available with or without the ' zero plan' offer.

While a senior RCom official was quick to reject the 'planned' foray into 4G services, industry experts said that RCom would have to move to 4G operations sooner or later to remain afloat in the market.

While Bharti Airtel is already offering 4G services, Reliance Jio Infocomm is gearing up to launch services on 4G network. "Many other Indian telecom operators are also open to 4G services depending on demand," said a senior official of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

According to the official, RCom's seven spectrum licences in the 900 MHz band and three in the 1,800 MHz band-both GSM bands-will expire in 2015-16.

Under the new Unified Licence (UL) regime, which came into effect from December 2013, telcos who get new licences can offer 2G, 3G or 4G or any other form of services irrespective of the band of spectrum they possess.

The official added that RCom already has 800 (CDMA band), 1,800 (2G band) and 2,100 (3G) spectrum in various circles.

"RCom has 5MHz in the 800 band, which is contiguous in 11 of the 22 telecom circles, including Delhi and Mumbai. It will be easier for them to build up the 800 MHz-4G LTE ecosystem such as in South Korea. RCom is already using this spectrum to offer EVDO Wireless Broadband, which has been contributing significantly to its bottom line," the official further added.

DoT is considering auctioning of 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz bands of 4G spectrum.

But there is uncertainty on the auction of 800 MHz band, which companies use to offer CDMA-based services. DoT had opposed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's recommendations on keeping the base price for 800 MHz spectrum high. It is expected to ask Trai to reconsider the proposal.

In association with Mail Today