It looks like we will have to further wait for Reliance Industries's data services: Reliance Industries chairman and CEO Mukesh Ambani has informed that they are currently conducting limited field trials for the initial set of its broadband services and will be launching expanded trials for Reliance Jio next month. These expanded trials would continue through the end of 2014 and early 2015, following which, the company would be launching its data services in a phased manner across India. This was stated by Ambani during the company's 40th Annual General Meeting today, and was disclosed by RIL new media director Gautam Chikermane on Twitter. While there is currently no specific information on the initial cities chosen for this service or the company's 4G rollout plans, these services will apparently cover 5,000 cities and towns and over 2.5 lakh villages in the initial phase and will eventually cover over 6 lakh villages. Note that Reliance Industries had mentioned in its annual report last month, that they are rolling-out high speed internet services via optical fibre (FTTX) in over 900 cities/towns in the country. The company had also rolled out free Wi-Fi hotspots in eight locations at Ahmedabad and nine locations at Baroda and Surat. That being said, it's worth noting that BWA rollout obligations also kicks in by mid-2015, as per which all BWA licensees have to provide street level coverage in at least 90% of the metro service areas and at least 50% of the rural short distance changing areas (SDCAs), failing which the BWA spectrum provided will be withdrawn. Airtel is currently the only telco offering 4G services in the country.…
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