RCom to upgrade CDMA network to 4G from May
In this article (5)
India’s Reliance Communications (RCom) has revealed plans to progressively upgrade its CDMA customers to 4G starting in May.
The operator will upgrade its CDMA network to LTE using the newly liberalized 800-MHz spectrum starting on May 4, citing a letter sent from the company to the Department of Telecom.
RCom will progressively move its roughly 5 million CDMA customers onto 4G as the rollout progresses.
RCom has already liberalized its 800-MHz spectrum in 16 of India’s 22 telecom circles and recently received clearance from India’s cabinet to do the same in four more.
The first round of spectrum liberalization cost a hefty 53.83 billion rupees ($806.5 million), while the second will cost around 1.3 billion rupees. In the remaining two circles, RCom has already paid for liberalized 800-MHz spectrum.
The sources stating that RCom plans to take advantage of its spectrum sharing pact with Reliance Jio Infocomm by deploying its own network but mostly using Reliance Jio’s infrastructure to provide the 4G services.
RCom and Reliance Jio plan to leverage each others’ spectrum to ensure they are both capable of providing pan-India 4G coverage and competing against the nation’s three largest operators, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular, which have already launched 4G.
Questions & Answers
Q.When will RCom begin upgrading its CDMA customers to 4G?
When will RCom begin upgrading its CDMA customers to 4G?
RCom plans to start upgrading its CDMA customers to 4G in May, specifically beginning on May 4. This upgrade will utilise the newly liberalised 800-MHz spectrum, according to a letter sent to the Department of Telecom.
Q.How many CDMA customers will be impacted by the 4G upgrade?
How many CDMA customers will be impacted by the 4G upgrade?
RCom intends to progressively move its approximately 5 million CDMA customers onto the 4G network as the rollout unfolds. This significant customer base will transition to the upgraded service over time.
Q.Which other company's infrastructure will RCom use for its new 4G services?
Which other company's infrastructure will RCom use for its new 4G services?
RCom plans to use Reliance Jio Infocomm's infrastructure to provide its 4G services, using a spectrum sharing pact. While deploying its own network, it will mostly rely on Jio's existing setup.
Q.What is the primary reason for RCom and Reliance Jio's spectrum sharing agreement?
What is the primary reason for RCom and Reliance Jio's spectrum sharing agreement?
The primary reason for their spectrum sharing agreement is to ensure both companies can provide pan-India 4G coverage. This strategy aims to enable them to compete effectively against India's three largest operators.
Reader pulse
RCom's 4G move is:
22,029 votes so far