RIL chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani said the company is finalizing its roll out plans for commercially launching 4G services across India.
"We currently finalizing plans to offer nationwide digital services," said Mukesh Ambani addressing RIL shareholders.
Industry is expecting that RIL's telecom venture could be launching TD-LTE service in December this year. Telecom industry analysts feel Mumbai, Delhi and Gujarat will be RIL's top priority. RIL will be leveraging its growing retail business for mobile broadband launch.
It is interesting to note that the RIL CMD has shared information about most of RIL's important targets with shareholders. However, he could not share RIL's launch date for 4G in India, one of the most competitive telecom markets in the world.
RIL remains committed toward 4G LTE: Mukesh D Ambani
Though RIL started working on broadband wireless plans in 2010, recent regulatory issues and lack of strong LTE eco-system affected its launch strategy. Bharti Airtel has already started rolling out high speed mobile broadband services in select cities.
Airtel in association with ZTE launched 4G LTE services in Kolkata in April. The largest telecom operator unveiled 4G services in Bangalore in May. It has tied up with Huawei for the Karnataka launch. Airtel is in the final process of negotiating with Ericsson to launch services in Chandigarh.
Bharti Airtel selected Nokia Siemens Networks for launching in Maharashtra. The company has also bought Qualcomm's BWA license in India.
Reliance Industries on Thursday announced investment of Rs 100,000 crore in core businesses of petrochem and oil and gas as well as in new sectors of retail and telecom, to double operating profits in 4-5 years.
There is lots of synergy between RIL's existing retail business and planned telecom business.
Aiming to make consumer businesses a key part of the business, Mukesh Ambani said that the group's retail venture was aiming to grow its revenue 5-6 times and achieve sales of Rs 40,000-50,000 crore in the next three to four years.
Reliance Retail will be one of the important growth drivers for the group. Business has grown strong in five years of its beginning with over 1,300 stores and has created a leadership position. Reliance Retail has provided new employment for 50,000 people, including 25,000 people directly by Reliance.
The company is looking to grow its customer base by over three-times from about 30 lakh people visiting its retail stores every week currently to over one crore people every week in 3-4 years.
Reliance Retail through its newest format Reliance Markets is partnering kirana stores and small retailers to supply them products at low prices.
The retail venture will provide strong backbone for RIL's broadband plans. Can Mukesh Ambani take on Sunil Mittal with 4G launch? Does RIL need a voice business to strengthen his 4G venture? Will Indian customers take VoLTE services?
