Reliance Communications (RCom) launched its GSM network on Sunday in select cities across the country, making it the country’s only cell phone service operator with both GSM and CDMA technologies.
RCom soft-launched its GSM network in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Surat, Lucknow and Ludhiana. The commercial launch would happen by the year-end. When contacted, an RCom spokesperson confirmed the launch and said that commercial rollouts are on schedule.
According to analysts, most new subscribers prefer GSM technology and RCom was intending to tap a chunk of these. “Eighty per cent of new Indian subscribers prefer GSM,” an analyst with a brokerage said. “The foray into GSM will boost RCom’s subscriber base.”
In India, all telecom service providers except RCom and Tata Teleservices use the GSM technology.
The company announced its GSM rollout early last year and has spent over Rs 6,000 crore for the network and infrastructure facilities. “The company has invested Rs 800 crore each in Mumbai and Delhi alone to set up 2,500 towers,” said an RCom official.