Reliance Communications To Launch Gsm Service By Fiscal Year (2008) End

[Arun 795]

Press Trust of India

New Delhi - April 28, 2008

Reliance Communication today 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. At present, Reliance Telecom's GSM cellular services are already available in 340 towns within its eight-circle footprint.

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 20 million 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.

[Honest 836]

^^^

Thats a good news my dear friends. Atleast we got the deadline from Reliance for its Gsm service to be launched nationwide. Now we can expect better offers and services in the near future.

Regards.

[Arun 795]

TRAI for additional financial, roll-out burden on RCom, Tatas

18 May, 2008, 1058 hrs IST

Press Trust of India

New Delhi: In a move that could upset Reliance and Tata's plans to start GSM mobile services, TRAI has asked the government to prescribe "contingent" roll out obligations besides seeking additional Performance Bank Guarantee and Financial Bank Guarantee from the two operators.

Anil Ambani group company Reliance Communication and Tata Teleservices have been permitted to use GSM platform as a dual technology to offer mobile services and are being given the radio frequency in respective circles.

"In order to ensure that the additional spectrum is efficiently and properly utilised in a timely manner, the licensee (RCom and Tatas) should also be required to fulfill the contingent roll-out obligation," TRAI said in a letter to Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura.

The regulator said that the Unified Access Service (UAS) licenses of the two operators be amended accordingly incorporating specific mention of roll-out obligations and liquidated damages for GSM services in case of failure to honour the commitment.

The two companies could not be contacted for their comments despite repeated attempts.

TRAI's suggestion has come months after DoT having allocated GSM frequency to Reliance Communications for all the circles the company had applied while Tata Teleservices and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd are being given start-up circle wise frequency depending upon the availability.

Besides imposing contingent roll-out obligations, TRAI said that DoT may also take additional Performance Bank Guarantee from these licensees.

[Greens 21]

with rollout obligations other new entrants are going to have a tough time.

[siskue2005 0]

end of current Fiscal year would mean, that they will launch it by 2009 March Only!!!

or am i wrong??

[KumaarShah 143]

AFAIK,

Fiscal year is from Jan to Dec

and Financial Year in India is from Apr to Mar

Correct me if I am wrong.

[Arun 795]

Reliance Communications to get links to GSM network

The Hindu Business Line

New Delhi, July 15

Paving the way for Reliance Communications to roll out its pan-India GSM cellular services, the telecom regulator has directed all existing mobile operators to provide inter-connectivity to the new entrant.

Existing GSM operators had refused to offer inter-connectivity to Reliance Communications on the grounds that the latter’s GSM network was part of a new licence and therefore it will have to negotiate fresh terms with the likes of Bharti Airtel and Vodafone.

TRAI has, however, held that Reliance’s GSM network was part of the unified access licence it already holds for offering CDMA-based mobile services and therefore there was no need for renegotiating the inter-onnection terms.

Without interconnection, Reliance Communications would not have been able to start services as it would have meant that a Reliance GSM subscriber would not be able to call any of the 200 million GSM subscribers belonging to the existing operators across the country.

Existing GSM operators had argued that since the Government’s decision to allow dual technology to RCom was under the scrutiny of the High Court, they were not under any compulsion to provide inter-connection till the matter was cleared.

Reliance Communications, on the other hand, said that its GSM roll-out was not a new licence and the Department of Telecom had permitted the company to offer dual technology under its existing licences. It alleged that GSM operators were using inter-connection to block its entry.

As per TRAI’s regulation, operators are required to offer inter-connection to each other on mutually agreed terms within a stipulated period of time. The regulator has now told the GSM players to comply with this regulation.

[Arun 795]

Reliance Communications takes US$ 500-mn loan from EDC Canada

Business Standard - Mumbai July 28, 2008, 5:28 IST

Reliance Communications (RCom) has received a $500-million loan from Export Development Corporation of Canada (EDC), which the private telecom major will use for the procurement of GSM equipment.

This increases the Anil Ambani group firm’s overseas loan procured for GSM operations to $1.25 billion, including an earlier $750 million received from China Development Bank.

[Arun 795]

Reliance Communications to close GSM rollout by ’09

DNA India

Friday, August 01, 2008 03:20 IST

Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications (RCom), the second largest mobile service provider in India, is set to roll out its GSM (global systems for mobile communications) service in new circles by the end of the year. The company has GSM operations only in eight out of 23 telecom circles in the country.

RCom expects to finish pan-India rollout of the GSM service by mid-2009, chairman Anil Ambani said in an analysts’ call after the company’s June quarter results were announced on Thursday.

RCom is a CDMA (code division multiple access) major and sees good opportunities in the GSM business.

The company said that the GSM service would help the company expand market share and increase its average revenue per user (ARPU) as GSM ARPUs are usually higher than those of CDMA players.

The company currently has 43 million CDMA subscribers and 8 million GSM users. It was given start-up spectrum to become a pan-India GSM operator earlier this year.

The GSM market is dominated by players such as Bharti, Vodafone, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Idea, and Aircel while RCom and Tata Teleservices rule the CDMA market.

[Arun 795]

Reliance Communications awards GSM BTS Equipment contract to TenXc

3 Aug, 2008, 13:55 hrs IST

Press Trust of India

Private sector telecom operator Reliance Communications has contracted Canadian firm TenXc Wireless for increasing the efficiency of using the scarce spectrum for its GSM network.

TenXc Wireless, an innovator in Intelligent Radio Frequency (RF) solutions would supply Spectrum efficient Bi-Sector Array antennas for the nationwide GSM rollout of Reliance Communications, sources said.

Department of Telecom has been urging telcos to efficiently use spectrum.

TenXc Bi-Sector Array Antennas, use the patented beam-shaping technology to maximise efficient use of radio spectrum and provide superior call quality.

"Reliance Communications is committed to provide superior customer experience and enhance value for our many million shareholders by optimal utilisation of resources, especially scarce national resources like Spectrum", said company spokesperson when contacted.

"With the deployment of TenXc's next-generation BTS Antennas, Reliance Communications nationwide GSM network would offer mobility services to millions of Indians in the same amount of spectrum as compared to the existing GSM networks", the spokesperson added.

"Radio Spectrum remains a scarce resource for mobile operators in India and its efficient utilisation is much required for accommodating more subscribers," said an industry analyst.

Other benefits of TenXc Bi-Sector Array Antennas are they increases site capacity, maximises performance, maximises coverage, and minimises installation and site costs.

[Honest 836]

GSM players to provide interconnectivity to Rcom: Trai

Press Trust Of India / New Delhi August 04, 2008, 19:19 IST

Telecom regulator Trai today asked GSM mobile service providers including Bharti, Vodafone to provide interconnectivity to Anil Ambani group Reliance Communications for starting its services in dual technology.

Trai directed Bharti, Vodafone, Idea, Spice and BSNL to allow interconnection of RCOMs' GSM network with these operators so that the company can launch its Global System for Mobile communications-based Cellular Services without any further delay, sources close to the development said.

The telecom watchdog also cautioned these operators that non-compliance would invite action as per the act.

Rcom has been offering Code division multiple access (CDMA)-based mobile service throughout the country and has recently been allowed by the government to start GSM service simultaneously.

The GSM operators had been opposing the entry of Rcom in GSM mobile services sector.

The operators had also petitioned in TDSAT and High Court against the policy of government to grant Dual Technology Spectrum to the company.

Rcom had already done the soft launch of GSM service in Delhi.

To begin with, the company has offered over 1,000 connections to its employees as part of soft launch and after review Rcom would offer services on commercial basis, sources close to the development said.

Launch of GSM-based cellular services by Rcom will bring in more competition, better choice to the customers, affordable tariffs and better quality of services.

[KumaarShah 143]

^^^

Even if all the above happens, it will take them atleast 6 months or more to roll out services. After this the real tamasha will start. The CC will make the same nincompoopical blunders and the subscribers will continue to suffer and fight RCOM

[raccoon 53]

Lol... for sure... but it will be intresting to see how RCom takes on the established players. If they want to make any substantial market share in a hurry, they will need to offer something substantially better to customers and shake up the market... Like how Reliance Infocom did when it 1st entered the market. But I dont think ADA is upto it... We can only wait and watch...

[Honest 836]

GSM operators refuse links to RCom

Business Line, New Delhi, August 06.

New Delhi, Aug. 6 Reliance Communication’s plans to launch its GSM services has a hit bump with the existing operators refusing to accept the telecom regulator’s orders to offer interconnection links to the new player. The Cellular Operators Association of India has told the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that the order to offer link within 7 days was misplaced and needs a review.

Without interconnection, Reliance Communications will not be able to start commercial services as it means that a Reliance GSM subscriber would not be able to call any of the 200 million GSM subscribers belonging to the existing operators across the country. Rcom on Sunday announced a soft launch of its GSM services in Delhi for some of its employees. The TRAI had directed the GSM players on Tuesday to offer interconnection within 7 days or face action.

Response to TRAI order

In response to the TRAI order, the GSM operators said that as per the current interconnect norms RCOM will have to renegotiate the terms with the existing players. “The Authority in its draft Reference Interconnect Order has also provided for a review of the Interconnect Agreement every time there is a material change in the licence conditions. Clearly, the permission to a CDMA licensee to set up a new GSM network is a material change in licensing conditions and necessitates a re-negotiation of the Interconnection agreements.”

TRAI had observed earlier that Rcom would be offering its GSM services as part of its existing unified access licence and therefore there was no need to renegotiate the interconnection agreement.

Taking on the TRAI order, the COAI said that interconnect agreements entered into by existing GSM operators and RCom are for the latter’s CDMA network. “The establishment of a new network by one party will therefore necessarily require a review of the interconnect agreements to allow for the introduction of this facility,” COAI said.

[Honest 836]

GSM cos hampering entry of Rcom, Tatas in GSM telephony: AUSPI

8 Aug, 2008, 1923 hrs IST, ET

NEW DELHI: CDMA operators association AUSPI today charged the GSM players with hampering their entry into GSM space as also defying the regulator's direction on dual technology by denying interconnection to RCOM and Tata Tele.

"The COAI has been trying to stop launch of fresh competition in the cellular market in every possible way. Its latest attempt to delay onset of competition by AUSPI members including Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices... by denying them network on existing Points of Interconnections," AUSPI said in a letter to TRAI Chairman Nripendra Misra.

It said the move is not only illegal but also against the interest of consumers, as the full benefit of the competition will be delayed.

AUSPI has also submitted that COAI's representation is not the consensus view of GSM operators - a few members including Aircel and BPL have already opened GSM codes of member service providers.

The delay in interconnection is the handiwork of only few dominant GSM players with an aim to scuttle serious competition. It is a blatant attempt to defy DoT's and TRAI's directives, AUSPI said.

TRAI had earlier said the existing interconnections can be used for exchange of traffic for both CDMA and GSM technologies.

"On August 4, 2008, TRAI had again issued a fresh directive to the defaulting operators to open GSM levels allocated to our member service provider on existing PoI. COAI is contemplating to defy the fresh directive and questioning the TRAI's powers to issue this direction," it said.

[Honest 836]

RCom links: TRAI, GSM players stand-off continues

Business Line

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GSM players say the regulator did not give them an opportunity to present their case before issuing the notice.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Delhi, Aug 15 The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has once again rejected GSM operators’ stand on offering links to Reliance Communication and has issued a fresh deadline of August 21 for complying with its orders.

The telecom regulator has earlier asked all the GSM players to provide links to RCom’s GSM network.

The existing GSM players had refused to offer interconnection to Reliance on the grounds that the company had to negotiate fresh commercial terms.

GSM operators had said the existing interconnect agreement with Reliance was limited to providing links for its CDMA network.

They had said that since RCom’s GSM service was a new network,the terms of the interconnection had to be renegotiated.

Without interconnection, Reliance Communications will not be able to start commercial services as it means that a Reliance GSM subscriber would not be able to call any of the 200 million GSM subscribers belonging to the existing operators across the country.

RCom had recently announced a soft launch of its GSM services in Delhi for some of its employees.

Rejecting the GSM operators’ stance, the telecom regulator has issued notices to Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar, Idea Cellular and BSNL to provide links to RCom.

The telecom regulator said Rcom’s GSM service was part of its existing licence and therefore links have to be provided as per current laws governing interconnection.

Misplaced intervention’

GSM operators said TRAI’s intervention in the case was misplaced because interconnection terms were supposed to be negotiated mutually between two operators.

They said even if the TRAI had to step in, it had to follow a process before issuing deadlines and notices to comply with orders. GSM players said the telecom regulator had not given them an opportunity to present their case before issuing the notice.

“The Authority in its draft Reference Interconnect Order has also provided for a review of the Interconnect Agreement every time there is a material change in license conditions. Clearly, the permission to a CDMA licensee to set up a new GSM network is a material change in licensing conditions and necessitates a re-negotiation of the interconnection agreements,” the Cellular Operators Association of India, said.

[kesav 127]

TRAI should never bend to these kind of foolish arguments by GSM operators.

POIs are created only for the purpose of interconnection and it has to be technology neutral. What happens on either side of POI is irrelevant for the operators concerned.

We've seen enough of time wastng technologies adopted by GSM operators to avert competition.

Its high time TRAI puts down its feet down firmly.

India has been lacking in enforcement in each and every department like Traffic Rules, Environmental Rules, Pollution control rules, Construction rules and the list never ends.

Unless our departments show the glimpses of enforcement, perpetrators will never stop disturbing our communal harmony and peace.

I've been thinking that TRAI as a Telecom Regulator can show the way to other departments in terms of enforcement. By looking at the no. of notices issued this week I can only conclude that operators doesn't respect Regulator at all. Its even pathetic that notice has to be issued to a public sector company(BSNL).

TRAI website

I plead TRAI to show the power of Regulator by blocking the subscriber addition for the operators who're not falling in line within seven days.

We've thousand and thousand lines of rules which came out with the help of wisdom of great Indians and if these are not enforced then we'll have another ABDUL KALAM in 2020 dreaming about developed India in 2040.

Edited August 16, 2008 by kesav

[Honest 836]

TRAI asks Bharti, Idea, BSNL, Vodafone to link Rcom

17 Aug, 2008, 2004 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI : TRAI has directed GSM operators, including Bharti, Idea, BSNL and Vodafone, to provide interconnection to Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications' GSM network immediately and report compliance by August 21.

"Report the compliance within seven days of the date of issue of this direction that is latest by the 21st August, 2008, TRAI said in separate direction to all these players.

It has also issued similar direction to Spice Communications.

This is the second time the regulator is taking up the issue with the GSM players which have refused interconnection with the Anil Ambani group company.

GSM players say for providing interconnection to a new network, RCom had to negotiate fresh commercial terms. The existing interconnect agreement with Reliance was limited to providing links for its CDMA network.

TRAI has rejected this contention saying the case for renegotiating comemrcial terms is devoid of merit.

"This is not tenable as the DoT's instruction dated the 24th March, 2008 for opening of allotted codes and and TRAI's direction of 6th January, 2005 are not subordinate to or conditioned by negotiations between the service providers", the regulator said.

It also turned down the GSM players argument that new points of interconnection will have to be created once Reliance Communications Ltd's network is established saying the Licensor (DoT) has issued instruction to all service providers for opening the codes and once instruction has been issued by the DoT then there is no reason for any service provider to contravene the instruction issued by the licensor.

Economic Times reports...

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will ask the Department of Telecom (DoT) to take action against GSM operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular if they fail to connect their networks to Reliance Communications’ (RCOM) GSM network by August 21, 2008. TRAI is also considering “to launch criminal proceedings against GSM players if they fail to comply”.

“We will ask DoT to penalise GSM players for violating licensing conditions if they do not provide links to RCOM. The other option is to bring criminal proceedings against these operators, but we hope it does not come down to that,” a top TRAI source told ET. However, with leading GSM operators hardening their stance and deciding to defy TRAI’s directive, the issue may be dragged to the court.

[FEVIN-RAJ 61]

This is purely anti-customer .....

these operators doesn't obey the regulatory athority also

[Arun 795]

COAI maintains status quo on TRAI directive on interconnection; still won't interconnect with Reliance

Live Mint

Monday, Aug 18 2008. 6:11 PM IST

Unfazed by a seven-day ultimatum set by the country’s telecom regulator, TRAI, to interconnect to the new GSM networks of Reliance Communications Ltd or RCom, a lobby representing incumbent mobile phone operators here who use GSM technology said it was sticking to its stand that a new interconnection agreement has to be made between GSM operators and RCom, since there is a ”material change” in the licence conditions.

RCom, which mostly used a rival code division multiple access (CDMA) technology on its networks, is now starting GSM-based services.

“The existing agreement applies only to the interconnection between GSM networks and RCom’s CDMA network. There is a material change in the licence conditions, as the GSM network rollout in a new aspect. Hence, the interconnection agreement has to be renegotiated,” said T V Ramachandran, director-general of the Cellular Operators Association of India or COAI, adding the group was ”considering various options”.

On 6 August, COAI in its letter to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or Trai, had said the prevailing interconnection arrangement existing since 2003 with RCom pertains only to the CDMA network. “There arises a need to first mutually establish the technical and commercial terms of interconnection for RCom’s new GSM network. And consequently establish the physical interconnectivity...”

TRAI on Thursday had directed GSM mobile phone operators such as Bharti Airtel Ltd, Vodafone-Essar Ltd, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Idea Cellular Ltd, and Spice Communications Ltd to provide interconnection to RCom’s GSM mobile phone services within seven days, ending 21 August, and warned of legal action for contravention of the direction and terms and conditions of the licence agreement.

A Reliance Communications spokesperson did not answer calls made to his mobile phone for comment.

[Honest 836]

COAI may challenge TRAI's directive on RCom interconnection

19 Aug, 2008, 1304 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: GSM operators may approach TDSAT challenging TRAI's directive, which asked them to give interconnection to Reliance Communication GSM network.

"We are certainly examining legal option and will take a call on this today," GSM operators association COAI Director General T V Ramachandran told reporters.

The telecom regulator in the second ultimatum to GSM operators, including Bharti, Vodafone and BSNL, has given August 21 as the deadline to give interconnections to the RCom GSM network.

TRAI has cited it as a licencing condition to provide interconnection among the service provider implying if a mobile operator does not give interconnection to another based on mutual commercial agreement, it is a violation of license condition attracting penalty.

GSM operators on their part said, Reliance GSM has a new network for which commercial term has to be re-negotiated. The existing arrangement between RCom and GSM operators are for the CDMA network.

[@ksh@T 20]

idea ready to get connected with RCOM - GSM . . . thats the latest news

[Honest 836]

Idea agrees to interconnect RCom`s GSM services

Newswire18 / New Delhi August 20, 2008, 0:33 IST

Idea Cellular has agreed to provide interconnection to Reliance Communications' GSM services, according to industry sources.

On Thursday, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had directed Idea Cellular, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Bharat Sanchar Nigam to provide interconnection to Reliance Communications' GSM services.

The country's leading CDMA services provider had recently soft launched its GSM services in New Delhi.

Following Idea's move, Vodafone Essar is also expected to agree to interconnect. The only companies left out will be Bharti Airtel and BSNL.

The four GSM operators had earlier refused to provide interconnection to Reliance Communications' GSM services saying that the previous agreement pertained to the latter's CDMA services and hence a separate agreement needs to be signed for GSM operations.

Reliance Communications will roll out GSM services nationally by the year-end.

BSNL in talks with RCOM for interconnection

20 Aug, 2008, 0031 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: Directed by telecom regulator TRAI, state-run BSNL is in dialogue with Reliance Communication (RCOM) to work out an amicable interconnection arrangement for the Anil Ambani group firm's GSM network.

"We are in a dialogue with them (RCOM)... There has been no conclusion yet on the outcome of our talks on a agreeable interconnection arrangement," BSNL CMD Kuldeep Goyal told reporters.

When asked whether BSNL would challenge the TRAI directive, he said "Whether we will challenge the TRAI directive on providing interconnection to RCOM or not depends on the outcome of these talks. Let us see what happens before August 21," he added.

On August 14, TRAI had directed GSM players Idea Cellular, BPL, Voadafone Essar and Bharti Airtel to interconnect with RCom by August 21.

It has also asked state-run BSNL to link up with RCom but the PSU is not a part of the COAI petition.

In a related development, Aditya Birla Group company Idea Cellular is understood to have also worked out a similar interconnection pact with RCOM, according industry sources.

However, it could not be confirmed as Idea Cellular Chairman Sanjiv Aga declined to comment.

A company official, however, said Idea was negotiating with RCOM on the interconnection. But he declined to comment on the outcome.

When contacted T V Ramachandran Director General of COAI, the GSM operators' body, said he had no idea about Idea Cellular's interconnection pact with RCOM.

"But if Idea agrees to interconnect with RCOM it does not become a part of our proposed petition to TDSAT. However, our position to challenge TRAI directive stands," Ramachandran said.

Bharti, Vodafone and BPL now are part of COAI's petition.

[Honest 836]

Apart from Idea and BSNL, some other operators too agreed to provide link to Rcom GSM. The other operators are MTNL, TATA, Aircel and Spice.

Five operators agreed to provide link to RCom GSM

Economic Times

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the deadline of TRAI's direction to give interconnection to RCom GSM network, five operators, including Idea Cellular, MTNL and Tata Communication have agreed to provide link of their network to the Anil Ambani group company.

According to sources, Idea Cellular has agreed to provide interconnection to RCom thereby not becoming a part of COAI's likely petition against TRAI's directive on the same. Besides, other operators to provide interconnectivity to RCom GSM network are Aircel and Spice Communication.

The other PSU BSNL, which has also been directed by TRAI, is in negotiation with RCom. "We are in a dialogue with them (RCom)... There has been no conclusion yet on the outcome of our talks on a agreeable interconnection arrangement," BSNL CMD Kuldeep Goyal had said yesterday. So now, it is Bharti and Vodafone, who are yet to consider giving interconnectivity to RCom.

However, the latest position could influence COAI's decision to challenge the TRAI's order although it could not be confirmed whether COAI would change its position or not. On August 14, telecom regulator TRAI had directed GSM players Idea Cellular, BPL, Vodafone Essar and Bharti Airtel to interconnect with RCom by August 21. Aircel, Spice, Idea are members of COAI.

[Himanshu Singh 19]

Guys I think Operators should be let free to decide whom to connect with and whom not to. I know it sounds foolish and would create chaos and confusion but seeing the way Airtel and Vodafone have behaved with Rcom i think Reliance should publicly announce that they dont wish to interconnect with Airtel and Vodafone. It wont put only Rcom subscribers at discomfort. Even Airtel and Vodafone customers will suffer. In fact I would go one step ahead and ask Rcom to stop interconnecting Airtel on its CDMA network till it agrees without any conditions to link with its GSM network. Hold the bullies by their horns Mr. Anil.