Date:23/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/23/stories/2007032303282000.htm

Business

Reliance expanding network

Special Correspondent

76% of the villages in the State to be covered

KOCHI: Reliance Communications plans to provide seamless coverage across all major national and State highways in Kerala.

Once the plan was implemented, all the 159 census towns covering 48 short distance calling areas in 63 taluks across the State would enjoy coverage, said Ajay Awasthi, Kerala circle Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company here on Thursday. For the network expansion, the present 560 tower sites would be more than doubled to 1,200 and an estimated 800 km of optical fibre cable would be laid additionally besides the existing 3,000 km in the State. Some of the places of worship covered across the State include Chakkulathukavu, Parassinikadavu, Malayattoor, Muthalkodam, Madhur, Thirunelli, Pampa and Aruvikkara. With this expansion, 76 per cent of the villages in Kerala and 78 per cent of the population would get coverage.

The network roll out into many new towns and villages would provide not only Reliance mobile telephony, but also Reliance Hello fixed wireless service. This expansion would enable subscribers with Reliance NetConnect wireless Internet services thus making Reliance the only operator that provided for high quality data network even in remote towns and villages, Mr. Awasthi said. Subscribers could also enjoy Reliance Mobile World value-added services, including mobile TV, examination results, movie clips, etc. Reliance data card that could be inserted to laptops would provide wireless Internet connectivity even in remote villages once the expansion is in place, he added.

V.G. Somaskhar, Hub Head, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, said that Reliance was planning an investment of Rs.11,000 crore in the next six months on a slew of projects. .