Reliance Communication announces launch of 3G services in 5 more states

Reliance Communications today announced the launch of its 3G services in 5 more telecom circles, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and UP-East. The company has expanded its 3G footprint to 18 Circles across the country. With this move, RCOM will now offer 3G services in the southern part of the country and UP-East as well. Customers will be able to access RCOM’s 3G services in the 5 new locations from June 20.   Relianc Communication currently has 3G footprint across the country with a presence in 13 locations Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, North East, Jammu & Kashmir. With this extension RCOM will have presence in 18 Circles, covering 80 percent of the country’s 3G data revenue market and benefits greatly from the increased smartphone sales. RCOM says it’s also going after the corporate, SME and high-value customer market, besides snagging regular subscribers in these new circles.   “We are delighted to expand our 3G footprint to 18 Circles across India, which makes our service available in all metros and major metros in the country, enabling us to target the fast-growing data market in these Circles. Together, these Circles account for 80% of incremental Smartphone sales in the country,” Gurdeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Business, Reliance Communications, said. “As India’s youngest pan-India GSM operator, we are committed to improving the quality of our customer mix, and our extended 3G presence will help us attract a disproportionate share of customers in the high-value Corporate and SME segments. This will also help us further consolidate Reliance Communication’s position as the leading Indian data operator,” he added.   Reliance Communications has previously invested in initiatives and one among them the Zero Plan and the recently-introduced One India, One Rate Plan, both have created new categories in the Indian mobility industry. The launch of 3G services in 5 new Circles targets corporate and SME customers, offering them internet connectivity, backed by Reliance Communication’s IP back-haul and 200,000 km of fibre.   For the quarter ended 31 March 2014, the company had 37.4 million data customers, including 12.9 million 3G customers, making up the largest 3G customer base in the industry. The new launches in five Circles, therefore, open up a significant market opportunity for Reliance Communication, as a major part of the country lacks access its high-speed data services.