Sk C&c, Reliance Communications Close To Deal On 3g Value Added Services

[Arun 795]

Times News Network

4 Dec, 2007, 0216 hrs IST

Even as the rollout of third generation services on mobile phones remains stuck due to the spectrum row, Korean IT & telecom major SK c&c has initiated discussions with RCOM for providing value-added services on the 3G platform.

“We are in an advanced stage of talks with the Anil Ambani group company and hope to finalise the deal very soon as there is interest from both sides,” a S K c&c official said. Confirming the development, company’s president and CEO S K Yoon said that as the company has expertise in providing services on the CDMA platform and they are interested in leveraging upon the same in India. Back home in Korea, SK c&c provides value-added 3G services using the CDMA technology.

When contacted, an RCOM spokesperson declined to comment. However, officials of S K telecom said that the company is also discussing the possibility of a tie-up for offering IPTV services. This is despite RCOM’s tie up with Microsoft for roll-out of internet TV by March next year.

S K c&c is part of the SK Group of companies and is presently in the process of charting out aggressive India entry plans, which may include possible take-overs. The company has formed a three-pronged strategy to take on the Indian market.

In the first phase, the company plans to source expertise from the Indian players through partnerships and alliances. It also plans to hire around 1,200 consultants between India and China. Most of the appointments are expected from the Indian sub-continent as India looks more promising than China, said Mr Yoon.

In the second phase, it plans to have equity partnerships including joint ventures, while the plan for third phase includes introduction of as many as 230 value-added services for which talks are on with leading telcos in the country.