Reliance forges Indian 3G roaming deal

Indian operators Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices and Aircel this week announced a three way inter-circle roaming partnership to offer pan-Indian 3G services to their customers.

Reliance currently offers 3G services in 13 circles where it holds licences: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, North East, Jammu & Kashmir. But the deal will make it the first operator to deliver nation 3G roaming.

“These alliances will further consolidate RCOM’s position as the leading data operator in the country and will help the Company improve its post-paid and corporate customer market share”, said Gurdeep Singh, CEO, consumer business at Reliance Communications.

Reliance claimed 36.2 million customers, including 11.1 million 3G customers, at the end of 2013, making it the market leader for 3G subscribers, the company said.

This partnership follows a recent decision by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to clear a WCDMA intra-circle roaming agreement between Indian operators Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone India saying that the pacts did not violate any licence conditions.