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Mr R. Balachandran, CEO (AP Circle), Reliance Infocomm, addressing a press conference in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The company announced network expansion to 295 towns in 23 districts of the State. - A. Roy Chowdhury

Hyderabad , Dec. 15

RELIANCE Infocomm has embarked on Phase II expansion of its mobile telephony services in Andhra Pradesh. It would increase coverage from 104 to 399 towns and extend optical fibre cable network from 6,500 to 9,000 km, thereby reaching more than 65 per cent area and 17,000 villages across the State.

The Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Infocomm, Andhra Pradesh, Mr R. Balachandran, said that the company has over 800,000 customers and is poised to hit the one-million mark shortly.

"In barely 18 months of the launch, our service reach has expanded to 104 towns and we have added 26 towns this month. Given the current expansion phase, we would be able to increase this four-fold early next year."

Refraining to comment on the overall investment that the company would make within the circle, Mr Balachandran said this would be part of the company's plans to invest Rs 25,000 crore across circles over five years.

This countrywide project seeks to expand from 1,100 towns and cities to 5,100, and the optical fibre network is slated to grow from 80,000 km to 1,20,000 km.

"We have begun to offer broadband services to the corporate segment and this has gradually become popular. Backed by the large Statewide network, we plan to broaden its reach touching other user segments as well," he explained.

Reliance will be the only mobile service operator in several places in the State along with extensive coverage in about 22 major pilgrim centres, including Srisailam, Mantralayam, Yadagirigutta, Puttaparthi and Vemulavada, Mr Balachandran said.

More Stories on : Telecommunications | Andhra Pradesh

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