After achieving an impressive subscriber base of more than 21 million in CDMA-based mobile services, Anil Ambani is now eyeing the fast-growing GSM-based service with massive expansion plans in eight circles at an estimated investment of Rs 1,600 crore (Rs 16 billion).
Reliance Telecom Limited, an Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group company, which operates GSM service in eight circles mainly in east and north-eastern states, has worked out expansion plans to increase coverage to about 4,300 towns from the existing 330 towns, according to sources.
The company plans to float a tender of 10/12 million lines within the next year as part of its expansion and the entire service would cost around Rs 1,600 crore, it was learnt.
A company official confirmed the development, but declined to give further details.
RTL operates GSM services in Kolkata, West Bengal, Assam, the north-east, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh circles.
The expansion plans for Anil Ambani's company comes in the wake of reports that the GSM-based mobile service has shown phenomenal growth in India where out of the 100 million mobile subscriber base, the GSM-based mobile user base is 80 million.
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