Infocomm on major expansion drive in the state

Reliance Infocomm, which has eight lakh subscribers in Gujarat circle, plans a massive rural push by adding 16,000 villages under its cellular network by end of this year. It would add 181 new towns during the second phase of its roll out.

Reliance Infocomm, which at present lacks proper network coverage on major national highways and even on Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway, now would cover all major national and state highways connecting Ahmedabad with major cities in Gujarat and Diu, a union territory.

Addressing a media conference here on Tuesday, Vijay Grover, circle chief executive officer, Reliance Infocomm, said, "Post phase-II roll out, Reliance would be covering more than 94 per cent of urban population of Gujarat and 16,000 villages which will help us increase our subscriber base substantially from the current eight lakh. The expansion would also mean that the subscribers in the proposed towns and villages would be able to use the company's high-speed mobile Internet service R-Connect as our study reveals that people living in villages in Gujarat have a strong demand for Internet services."

At present, Reliance Infocomm provides service in 55 towns in the state which would be hiked to 236 towns once the phase-II roll out is completed which is part of Reliance Infocomm's second phase national roll out.

"With data capability, Internet now will be provided in these 16,000 odd villages and we have also decided to initiate unique marketing campaign targeting the rural population in the state. We also have decided to expand network coverage sectorwise such as religious towns, industrial areas, maritime zones and places of tourist importance under which network will be extended to towns such as Mandali, Alang, Metoda, Mithapur, Atul, Palej, Sikka, Thangadh etc," said Grover.