Reliance Communications (RCOM) has inked a master services agreement with Reliance Industries’ I-am-tired-of-waiting-for-its-launch data services venture Reliance Jio Infocomm, allowing the latter to share RCOM's city fibre infrastructure across the country for its 4G services. RCOM notes that this deal will cover nearly 500,000 fiber pair kilometers across 300 cities and towns in India and the pricing will be at ‘arm’s length’ based on prevailing market rates. This is the third infrastructure sharing deal between RCOM and Reliance Jio Infocomm, after a Rs 1,200 crore fibre optic network infrastructure sharing deal in April 2013 and a Rs 12,000 crore worth tower sharing deal in June 2013, as part of which Reliance Jio Infocomm had leased RCOM’s 45,000 ground and rooftop based towers for its 4G services as well as create joint working arrangements to configure additional towers to be built at new locations. RCOM CEO (Wireless) Gurdeep Singh had first mentioned this deal in June 2013, when he said they were in talks for a third deal with Reliance Jio Infocomm to share optic fibre in cities, with the deal expected to be announced by December 2013. However, earlier this year during the company's Q3-FY14 earnings conference call, Singh had mentioned that the deal is still in negotiation and will be announced at the "appropriate time". Interestingly, RCOM also notes that it is currently discussing other mutual co-operation initiatives with Reliance Jio, although it didn't disclose any specific details on these initiatives. Earlier this year, Singh had mentioned that the Reliance Jio partnership allows RCOM to monetize their assets as well…
