JOIN USR-Jio works on tech to onboard 2G/3G handsets
In case you have a 2G/3G phone and are worried that you cannot spend money to buy a 4G phone to experience Reliance Jio’s (R-Jio) 4G network, here is some good news.
R-Jio is also working with handset manufacturers to formulate a pocket router solution, through which existing 2G/3G smartphones can be seamlessly connected to 4G services network.
In an interaction with analysts, the management indicated that during lab testing, trials have been successful and R-Jio faced no issues in interconnecting voice over long-term evolution (VoLTE) calls with 2G/3G network.
Extensive beta testing is planned in coming months with a plan to launch commercial operations by December 2015.
Infrastructure in place
According to the management, the pan-India telecom infrastructure is already in place for R-Jio before its launch.
This includes spectrum, a network of nearly 2.5 lakh route km of fibre optics across India which is planned to be doubled over the next three years, over 75,000 towers at launch itself, and 0.65 million square feet of data centre capacity across three locations at launch which will be expanded to 1.5 mn sq ft in the next three years.
The infrastructure will also include over 1,000 Jio centres across the country with the distribution network, including 0.5 million connectivity outlets, and one million additional recharge outlets at launch.
Fuel retailing
As far as fuel retailing is concerned, the company has charted out aggressive growth plans in the bulk diesel market.
According to the management, the company has over 450 retail outlets and eight terminals already operational and is on track to operationalise the balance outlets as well (around 1,450).