RCOM may go in for wireless broadband link

Kolkata: RelianceCommunications is working on the possibility of launching EV-DO (wireless broadband data connectivity) for its 28 million CDMA users.

EV-DO stands for Evolution-Data Optimised or Evolution-Data only and is typically used to provide ‘broadband-speed’ internet access to mobile telephone subscribers. Loosely put, EV-DO in CDMA is equivalent to 3G in GSM network — both offers high speed, broadband data connectivity that allows features like streaming video, watching online movies and high-speed internet. “We are working on the possibility of introducing EV-DO for our CDMA subscribers.

However, there are a lot of factors that need to be evaluated and we are yet to take a final decision,” SP Shukla, president personal business told ET. 3G, stands for third generation standard for GSM networks and wide-area wireless voice telephony, and broadband wireless data, in a mobile environment.

It is a wireless radio broadband data standard adopted by many CDMA mobile phone service providers in the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Russia, Brazil, and Australia. EV-DO allows same data download and upload speed as is available for 3G. Interestingly, BSNL is also looking at the possibility of launching EV-DO for its CDMA subscribers.

Talking about Reliance Communication’s plans for the east, Mr Shukla said that the company intends to cover 9,000 towns in east by the end of the fiscal. Currently, it has covered only 2,000 in this region. Nationally, Reliance Communications has decided to cover 22,000 town by the end of the year against 10,000 now.

Incidentally, Reliance Communications on Wednesday slashed its tariff for life time validity package to Rs 222 from Rs 495 for its GSM users in all its eight circles. Lifetime validity allows customers to remain connected for life time without paying any extra amount.

However, to make call one has to refill the mobile with coupons of certain denominations. It has simultaneously launched a GSM handset at package offer with pre-paid connection and life time validity at Rs 1,234.