Reliance Communications is planning to rope in strategic partners for its infrastructure and technology innovation unit for 3G mobile business, and is in discussions with global players like Motorola and HP.
Sources said that discussions are also being held with likes of Intel and Sony.
RCOM, Anil Ambani group's telecom arm, is looking for partners in its 3G Innovation Lab, which has been set up as an end-to-end wireless network infrastructure and new technology provider for high-speed 3G (third generation) mobile services.
Sources said RCOM will also let out the services of the Lab to other operators and service providers to further monetise its investment in this newly set-up unit.
This could be part of RCOM's plans to raise funds for launch and expansion of its 3G services, for which it has made large investments, they added.
The company paid more than Rs 8,500 crore for securing the spectrum (radio waves) to offer 3G mobile services and analysts have estimated that more than Rs 5,000 crore could be required for rolling out the networks.
RCOM is planning to launch 3G services by the end of this year, subject to the release of spectrum next month.
{{/usCountry}}RCOM is planning to launch 3G services by the end of this year, subject to the release of spectrum next month.
{{/usCountry}}Other players with whom the discussions are being held include global technology players such as Red Hat, SNAPin Software, weComm, Rubberduck Media Lab and Skyfire Labs.