Reliance Jio Testing Enters 2nd Phase, Massive Beta Launch Soon

Reliance Jio 4G to Impact 3G in IndiaReliance Jio Infocomm is conducting pre-launch testing of the telecom network. A beta program is to be initiated in a few weeks to test the network and upgrade it for commercial launch of operations. Jio has demonstrated pan-India Lawful Intercept and Monitoring (LIM) facilities for LTE Services to the DoT. It has also participated in the acceptance testing of its network with DoT for intra-and inter-circle MNP. Jio has completed interconnect with all operators across circles. Jio says it has faced no issues in the interconnect of VoLTE calls with 2G/3G networks.

Jio services will include voice, high-speed broadband, digital commerce, media/entertainment, cloud and payment services. Jio proposes to launch innovative tariff plans offering flexibility to customers to devise their own plans and share plans and track usage on a real time basis.

Jio has built 250,000 route km of fiber and a pan-India IP network which it plans to double within the next 3 years. It plans to roll out 75K sites covering 80% of overall population into the launch and 100% in three years, whereby it would double its domestic fiber portfolio to provide fixed and wireless connectivity.

Jio plans device availability via the open market and self branded devices (Reliance Retail). It is engaging with manufacturers of 28 handsets and five chipsets (Apple, Samsung, Micromax, Qualcomm, MediaTek, Intel, etc.) and aims for sub-Rs4000 LTE handsets into the launch. Jio will have direct physical presence with a pan- India network of 1,000 Jio Centers. The distribution network will include 0.5mn connectivity outlets plus 1mn recharge outlets at launch, distributed customer care, and support infrastructure setup.