Nascent Indian mobile operator Reliance Jio plans to launch 4G services around December according to Mukesh Ambani, chairman of parent company Reliance Industries.
Ambani told shareholders at Reliance Industries’ AGM today that the company is…
Nascent Indian mobile operator Reliance Jio plans to launch 4G services around December according to Mukesh Ambani, chairman of parent company Reliance Industries.
Ambani told shareholders at Reliance Industries’ AGM today that the company is currently in the pre-launch testing and stabilisation phase of developing its network.
“Over the next few months, we will initiate an extensive beta launch involving millions of friendly customers across all our markets. This beta programme will be upgraded into commercial operations around December of this year.”
Jio aims to achieve 80% network coverage by the end of the year and 100% within the next three years, he said. It also intends to double its fibre footprint – the network currently spans 250,000 route kilometres – over the next three years.
The newest entrant to India’s crowded mobile market has already signed multiple infrastructure sharing agreements with rivals and, according to Ambani, invested nearly Rs340bn (US$5.3bn) in spectrum.
Ambani said Jio, whose largest rivals will be incumbent Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India, aims to ensure 4G smartphones are affordable, adding that he is confident devices below the Rs4,000 (US$63) mark will be available in India by the end of the year.
