Reliance to launch GSM service by year end

NEW DELHI: Reliance Communication on Monday said it would launch GSM based nation-wide mobile services by the end of current financial year, to become the only operator offering mobile services on both GSM and CDMA platforms.

"We are aiming to set up nationwide GSM and CDMA network by fiscal end which will cover 23,000 towns and six lakh villages serving 97 per cent of the Indian population," Reliance Communications President S P Shukla said.

The company has been given start up GSM spectrum (radio frequency) to offer wireless services under the dual technology and also CDMA spectrum in the remaining two circles of North East and Assam.

With the focus to enhance the momentum of teledensity growth in rural India, the company has also launched a affordable mobile offering, Gaon Chalo for rural areas.

Reliance Communications would roll out mobile network in another 8,000 towns and 2 lakh villages over the next six months.

"After bringing down cost of calls, validity and devices in urban India which triggered unprecedented market growth, we will now do the same for the rural population," he said.

The new offer would enable a rural customer to go mobile at Rs 49 which is a 50 per cent discount over the cost to go mobile in the urban areas.

Under the "Gaon Chalo" scheme, customers have the option of buying a new pre-paid SIM card with lifetime validity for Rs 249.

Moreover, customers can choose any validity, talk time or tariff proposition on this card. The company also eyes 50 per cent future growth from semi-urban and rural markets, he added.