MUMBAI: Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio Infocomm is racing to launch its 4G services before a government-mandated timeline, after recent trials of parts of the network threw up technical problems around connecting one point with another, two people close to developments said.
"The network backhaul isn't ready. Even the billing system is not in place. It would take nearly a month to set up and try out that system. Moreover, it cannot really be put in place until the company has an operational network," said a third person.
Jio could be closest to a launch in Mumbai and Gandhinagar where it is testing services. Besides these two regions, the company is tying up 3,700 sites for its network in Delhi, another person said.
Securing sites and permissions to lay more optic fibre is also proving to be a challenge, said a fourth person close to developments. The company has said it plans to launch its high-speed data and voice services in 2015 but has never given a specific date. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) rules stipulate that it must roll out services by second half of 2015, five years from the time it was allotted 4G airwaves in the 2300 MHz band. Responding to a query from ET on problems with signal testing, a Reliance Jio spokesman said these were rumours.
"We would like to assure you that these (problems with signal testing) are mere rumours. Hence at this point, there is nothing that we can share with you. We will be happy to share with you any development we achieve on this front with you as and when there is any," the spokesman said.
However, the spokesman did not respond to when the company planned to launch its services. Industry body the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), of which Reliance Jio is a member, has however requested the DoT to extend the deadline for roll out of 4G services to 2020, citing various hurdles mainly delay in development of technology and regulatory procedures.[/code] The request is pending with DoT.
Everyone knew what Jio was trying has never been tested at such a large scale, so there were bound to be some glitches," said the first person quoted earlier. Jio was the only company to have won data airwaves across India in a government auction in May 2010, but that was in the 2300 MHz band — an airwave frequency that has a short range and therefore needs nearly three times the number of telecom towers compared to networks operating in the 900 MHz band. The voice quality on the band is also poor compared to other frequency bands. To supplement its frequency spectrum, the company bought more airwaves in the 1800 MHz band in February 2014 and is widely expected to buy more in the 800 MHz band in the upcoming auction — both of which can be used to offer 4G services, though under different technological standards. Some say Jio could even be targeting 900 MHz, which is considered the most suitable for 3G voice and data, even though it may cost them over $1 billion more to re-tune networks.
Reliance Jio racing to launch its 4G services before government-mandated timeline - The Economic Times
"The network backhaul isn't ready. Even the billing system is not in place. It would take nearly a month to set up and try out that system. Moreover, it cannot really be put in place until the company has an operational network," said a third person.
Jio could be closest to a launch in Mumbai and Gandhinagar where it is testing services. Besides these two regions, the company is tying up 3,700 sites for its network in Delhi, another person said.
Securing sites and permissions to lay more optic fibre is also proving to be a challenge, said a fourth person close to developments. The company has said it plans to launch its high-speed data and voice services in 2015 but has never given a specific date. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) rules stipulate that it must roll out services by second half of 2015, five years from the time it was allotted 4G airwaves in the 2300 MHz band. Responding to a query from ET on problems with signal testing, a Reliance Jio spokesman said these were rumours.
"We would like to assure you that these (problems with signal testing) are mere rumours. Hence at this point, there is nothing that we can share with you. We will be happy to share with you any development we achieve on this front with you as and when there is any," the spokesman said.
However, the spokesman did not respond to when the company planned to launch its services. Industry body the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), of which Reliance Jio is a member, has however requested the DoT to extend the deadline for roll out of 4G services to 2020, citing various hurdles mainly delay in development of technology and regulatory procedures.[/code] The request is pending with DoT.
Everyone knew what Jio was trying has never been tested at such a large scale, so there were bound to be some glitches," said the first person quoted earlier. Jio was the only company to have won data airwaves across India in a government auction in May 2010, but that was in the 2300 MHz band — an airwave frequency that has a short range and therefore needs nearly three times the number of telecom towers compared to networks operating in the 900 MHz band. The voice quality on the band is also poor compared to other frequency bands. To supplement its frequency spectrum, the company bought more airwaves in the 1800 MHz band in February 2014 and is widely expected to buy more in the 800 MHz band in the upcoming auction — both of which can be used to offer 4G services, though under different technological standards. Some say Jio could even be targeting 900 MHz, which is considered the most suitable for 3G voice and data, even though it may cost them over $1 billion more to re-tune networks.
Reliance Jio racing to launch its 4G services before government-mandated timeline - The Economic Times
