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Info-Tech - Telecommunications


Reliance Infocomm plans to expand reach in TN

R.Y. Narayanan

Coimbatore, Sept. 30

RELIANCE Infocomm Ltd (RIM) is on an expansion binge in Tamil Nadu and plans to increase its coverage more than five-fold in the next five months to bring under its CDMA network 575 cities and towns in the State.

While not indicating the exact investment the company would be making for its expansion, company officials mentioned that the State would get about 10 per cent to 12 per cent of the national allocation of about Rs 4,000 crore by Reliance Infocomm as part of its Phase II rollout across the country.

In its efforts to reach out to even remote areas and provide quality service to the customers, the company will be using a mix of different technologies, including microwave and satellite technologies.

Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, Mr V.G. Somasekhar, Head, RIM Business, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Chennai said his company has networked about 110 towns and cities in Tamil Nadu and its market share in the mobile telephony market, with a customer base of more than 9 lakh, was around 22 per cent. Tamil Nadu is a preferred State for the company.

He said his company saw scope for business in the State since, compared to the population, the tele density is low — the number of land lines was about 30 lakh though the State's population is around 5.2 crore. The number of mobile phones also was less. With the State having a flourishing industrial culture, the business prospects are good and RIM wanted to capitalise on that.

He said RIM has planned to expand its network covering 466 new towns in the State, taking the total number of towns to 575. This expansion would cover even small towns, which, though lacking basic infrastructural facilities, would boast of world-class connectivity.

The eventual goal is to bring close to 1,000 towns under RIM's CDMA network but he would not like to specify the time-frame for achieving it.

Mr Somasekhar said under the phase II of the expansion plan, 14 national highways, 22 State highways and 37 railway routes throughout the State would be brought under the RIM network. RIM would adopt a mix of technologies, including microwave and satellite, to reach out to even the normally inaccessible locations.

More Stories on : Telecommunications | Tamil Nadu

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