RCom plans largest wireless network in the world

Reliance Communications has grand plans. The Anil Ambani-led telecommunications major aims to have the single largest wireless network in the world by year-end, covering over 900 million Indians.

The company will invest Rs 16,000 crore (Rs 160 billion) for network expansion in FY08, said RCom chairman Anil Ambani on Tuesday in Mumbai.

RCom is looking at inorganic growth route across the world. The company will cover 23,000 towns, or every single Indian habitation with a population of over 1,000 persons, he said. The company will cover almost 100 per cent of all rail routes, all national highways, and 84 per cent of all state highways, he added.

The company has more than 1 million retail customers in the United States, the largest for any Indian company across any sector, a media release from RCom said.

RCom has launched virtual international calling and voice content services in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. The company is one of the leading providers of international connectivity and data services to telecom operators, content providers and Internet communities.