Reliance Jio signs 4G pact with China’s Huawei

Telecom arm of RIL, Reliance <g data-gr-id="19">Jio</g> Infocomm has signed a pact with Chinese firm Huawei for sourcing various 4G devices. RJio plans to launch 4G service this year in around 5,000 towns and cities, accounting for over 90 <g data-gr-id="20">per cent</g> of urban India and over 215,000 villages. 

“Reliance <g data-gr-id="24">Jio</g> and Huawei have signed an agreement for 4G devices which includes smartphones, tablets and <g data-gr-id="25">mifi</g> dongles. It has signed <g data-gr-id="31">agreement</g> with <g data-gr-id="32">couple</g> of <g data-gr-id="33">other Chinese device maker</g> as well,” an industry source said. The shipments dates are yet to be confirmed, he said, adding that there are two other Chinese firms in advanced talks to supply 4G devices. RJio and Huawei did not respond to queries on the deal. Last week, RJio had said that it is “actively working with all major handset device manufacturers to ensure and certify their phones for use on <g data-gr-id="26">Jio</g> network and shall ensure adequate availability of phones in entire price range”. 

On May 7, RJio raised a $750 million (nearly Rs4,500 <g data-gr-id="18">cr</g>) loan to procure goods and services from Samsung Electronics and Ace Technologies Corp. As per the licensing agreement, August 31, 2015 is the deadline for all firms which won BWA spectrum in 2010, including RJio, to roll out the services in at least 90 per cent of the service areas, failing which the <g data-gr-id="27">Deoartment</g> of Telecom will have the right to withdraw the radiowaves.