Reliance Communicationsplans WiMax services in 50 countries

Reliance Communications (RCom) is planning to set up WiMax networks across 50 countries in the next three years. To get a head start, RCom is planning to acquire a European WiMax operator that has WiMax licences in 20 countries across Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America, in a $300-400 million (Rs 1,200-1,600 crore) deal.

The acquisition of the European company will enable RCom set up fresh WiMax network in these countries and scale up the existing network. This would be company’s second acquisition in the WiMax space. In February, the company had acquired a significant stake in a French WiMax chip manufacturer Sequans Communications. The worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMax) is a telecommunications technology that provides wireless data over long distances in a variety of ways. RCom has set up WiMax networks in 18 cities in the country. As per RCom’s `Vision 2012’, the company intends to use undersea cables and WiMax-enabled last mile access in a similar number of geographies. It intends to provide highspeed broadband services, voice, video and data suite and 4G services, in the global market. The company intends to connect over 2.5 billion individuals over WiMax networks by then.