The Times of India               11.06.2013

Kolkata Municipal Corporation gives nod to Reliance 4G in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Decks were cleared for introduction of 4G connectivity in Kolkata after a group of senior officials from Reliance held a meeting with civic top brass at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters on Monday afternoon.

In the meeting, it was decided that KMC will fix the fee for laying underground cables after consulting civic authorities in Mumbai and Delhi since cable lines under 4G technology have already been laid in these two metro cities.

A senior KMC official, however, said that Monday's meeting was convened to iron out differences that had come up in the previous meeting held between the civic body and Reliance.

Several civic departments had objected to the preliminary proposals from the private player, the official said.

Firstly, the KMC roads department had made it clear that under no circumstances will the department allow Reliance to dig up mastic asphalt roads for laying of cable for introduction of 4G. The KMC lighting department too had objected to using its lamp posts for hanging wires in lanes and by-lanes where digging of roads wasn't possible.

"Now, we have decided to let them dig roads on condition that they would pay the restoration fees," said Atin Ghosh, mayor-in-council member overseeing the KMC engineering department.

Last May, Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Jio announced rolling out of 4G connectivity in Bengal to offer faster speed and better data distribution. The investment would stand at Rs 3,000 crore, the firm had said.

According to industry sources, Reliance will use the method of directional boring or horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for laying the fibre optic network. The method is a trenchless way of installing underground pipes, conduits and cables.

Reliance had earlier announced its plans to roll out 4G connectivity across the state with an investment of around Rs 3,000 crore. Earlier the company said that the plans are to set up 3,500 towers across 56 towns. A network of around 5,500 km of optical fibre cables is also planned to be laid across the state. Almost half of the optical fibre network will be in Kolkata and areas adjoining the city.

Industry sources said the company could take on lease 25% - 30% of its telecom infrastructure requirements from Reliance Communications.

Tarun Jhunjhunwala, business head and state mentor (East), Reliance Jio, had said the target is to start 4G services in metros by the end of the first quarter of 2014. Industry sources said that laying of optic fibre netwrok has already started in districts of West Bengal.