In It seems that all that talk about the Ambani brothers beginning to join hands is seeing the light of day.
According to a release put up on IndiaPRWire.com, Mukesh-owned RIL is likely to use Anil-controlled RCom's access systems, fiber-optic backbone, international cable systems and internet gateways to provide high-speed data services. This will be the first major collaboration between the Ambani brothers since the division of Reliance conglomerate in 2005.
For the first phase of RIL's wireless broadband foray, says the release, it plans to lease around 26,000 towers from telecom power operators. The major source of its infrastructure will be contributed by RCom. The partnership does not include any equity investments by RIL in RCom.
RIL plans to offer data services at costs as low as Rs 10/GB, as opposed to competitors' price of Rs. 100/GB. Both companies will also work towards launching tablet devices at low prices. Currently, RCom offers tablets at Rs 12,999 apiece. Spokespersons from both the companies informed that the tie-up aims at bringing down the price to Rs 6,000 apiece.
Interestingly, the release is written in a way to convey that the deal between the two brothers is not final and the due tendering process is well on.
The biggest question that remains now: When?
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