Reliance Jio issued 2.2 crore numbers as 4G services launch comes a step closer

The Department of Telecom is learnt to have issued 2.2 crore numbers to Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio Infocomm, paving the way for the company to launch its 4G services.

"They (RJIL) have been issued 22 million numbers last evening (Wednesday)," official sources told PTI.

No immediate comments were received from RJIL.

RJIL has a Unified Licence, which allows it to provide mobile phone services as well. It is the only company that has a pan-India broadband wireless access spectrum that can be used for 4G services.

This would be the second innings for Mukesh Ambani in the telecom business after he led Reliance Infocomm, which is now known as Reliance Communications and is headed by his younger brother Anil Ambani.

The numbers were issued to RJIL on the subsequent day after its signing the infrastructure sharing agreement with telecom major Bharti Airtel.

Under the agreement, RJIL in the future can also have access to 2G and 3G airwaves held by Airtel.

Airtel, on the other hand, can access the Reliance Jio's 4G spectrum in areas where it does not hold these airwaves.

Airtel at present has 4G spectrum in eight service areas and provides these high speed services in six cities. RJIL is yet to launch its services.

The company was earlier issued numbers for testing purposes. RJIL last October had approached the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for numbers to test voice services on its 4G network for Jamnagar, Delhi and Mumbai.