Reliance Jio's idea is to build a compelling product which can provide the requisite reach and fall back for its 4G offering on mobility. In case of RCOM-RJio 800MHz asset merger, the footprint with 15 number of circles is rivaled only by Bharti Airtel with 21 circles. However, RJio might have to seed handsets as low end handsets do not offer this band compatibility.
RCOM has given up spectrum in Assam, Bihar, Odisha and NE circles and bought 800MHz in critical circles like Gujarat where it does not have 5MHz contiguous spectrum. RJio has bought 800MHz in 10 circles out of which it has 5MHz contiguous spectrum in 4 circles and 6 circle overlap with that of RCOM?s winning circle in the current auction. According to TRAI recommendations on spectrum trading norms trading of spectrum will be allowed within the same band. RCOM will have to liberalise the existing 800MHz holding by paying the market price to be allowed to for spectrum trading but the price to paid will be remaining life which is 6 years.
