reliance-industries-news

Mukesh Ambani urges Indian government to push policy reforms with a swift-hand

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:29:48 +0100

Expressing his views at the recently held World Economic Forum’s (WEF) India Summit (organized by the World Economic Forum and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Mumbai) Mukesh Ambani, chairman of India’s largest private sector company Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), stated that the UPA government needs to push policy reforms in critical areas of functioning and incorporate quick decision-making skills to sail through the current turmoil economic .

Mukesh Ambani’s views were further supported by leading industrialists and businesspersons of the country who vociferously called upon the government to initiate faster growth programs that, congruently, take account of equitable growth and social justice in mind.

At present, India is facing the brutal brunt of a highly volatile economy. Rising inflation and the unhurried approach of the government to control it have driven investors - domestic and foreign - and entrepreneurs away from the once-admirable prospect of flourishing India. While the government stands to face a eye of rebuke, industrialists and business leaders including Mukesh Ambani are optimistic that things can turn around, given the government tightens its loose ends. Ambani said, “We need to get a minimum agreement saying at the end of the day we are working for all the people and we have to have a pathway to move towards 21st century governance.” His views underlined the need to have in place a government that acts more as a facilitator rather than as the mover of economic growth.

Reliance chairman also opined that at present, India is need of dynamic governance, composed of young leaders as “leadership reflects our demographics”. He emphasized that in spite of the grim situation the world is facing, India is at a stage where it is ready to take-off on the back of a young population and high-level of entrepreneurship.

While the government lay in acceptance of the facts of its unruly conduct, it underscored the need to include with the suggested policy reforms elements of sustainable and ecological growth.

RIL’s Latest Advent: 4G Revolution and Low Cost Tablets

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 06:37:09 +0100

The Telecom subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Industries Limited aims at spreading a 4G revolution in India. By early next year, they plan to offer high speed data services on reasonably priced tablets. Mid 2012, they intend to scale it up to a countrywide network.

RIL’s major plan is to offer fourth generation enabled data cards to be plugged into computers and laptops, and provide data connectivity with high speeds of 50-100 Mbps. This will enable data connectivity much faster than what 3G offers currently, at lower prices.

RIL also plans to offer tablets at Rs. 3,000 or even lower to attract more customers. This strategy of offering products at a low price to gain more customers is similar to their move in 2003, when it took mobile phones to the common masses with its ‘Monsoon Hungama’ offer. The ‘Monsoon Hungama’ offer won Reliance 1 million customers in just 10 days, as it offered handsets at Rs.501 only.

RIL has examined prototypes of tablets from over 15 Taiwanese and Chinese original equipment, and chooses to focus on 3 to 4 models. These are likely to be priced between Rs. 3000 and Rs. 8000.

In order to acquire content for its wireless broadband offerings, Reliance Industries Limited is in talks with several media and entertainment companies. Walt Disney’s Indian venture UTV software is one among these companies, and their deal with RIL is close to being finalized. RIL will be able to offer games, entertainment and applications for younger customers through this deal.

A spokesperson from the company declined to comment and said that Reliance would not comment on speculation. However, as per an update on RIL’s Telecom business, their Telecom unit is ‘in the process of setting up a world-class broadband wireless network using state-of-the-art technologies and finalizing the arrangement with leading global technology players, service providers, infrastructure providers, application developers, device manufacturers and others to help usher the 4G revolution into India’.

For RIL’s broadband gear, the company is in the final phase of talks with three vendors – Alcatel Lucent, Ericsson and China’s Huawei. We are unable to comment if they will be signing contract with a single vendor, or all three.

It is expected that RIL go in for pan-India tower deals on regional basis. They will tie up with the tower firm that has maximum reach and density in that particular zone.

Reliance is certainly working out of its way for the success of their newest venture. It hopes to regain investors’ confidence that has been hampered by the criticism from the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Mukesh Ambani led RIL to ink deal with UTV - Walt Disney, India

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:21:11 +0100

The latest in the series of multiple deals being signed by Reliance Industries. Mukesh Ambani led conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), is set to strike a new deal with Walt Disney – India in an effort to acquire content for its upcoming telecom operations. The deal will be sealed between Reliance Industries and UTV Software, a subsidiary of UTV in which Walt Disney holds 50.44 per cent stake.

Known to be a pioneer in India’s core industry sectors – including energy, refining, and synthetic fibers – Reliance Industries has switched gears to expand its scope and scale to commercial and wide-spaced services, such as retail, financial services and more significantly telecom and broadband services. After successfully acquiring Infotel Broadband services, the only firm to secure nationwide wireless broadband radio airwaves (in 22 circles) in an auction conducted for Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Spectrum conducted by the DoT, RIL plans to roll out top-of-the-line telecom services in India. It plans to build a data-focused business which will provide mobile, smartphone, tablet and computer users access to the internet related services via a wireless broadband network. Through this latest deal, Mukesh Ambani led RIL stands to gain access to games, entertainment and children's content for their budding telecom operations, especially for its 4G platform. The deal with UTV, soon to be acquired fully by Walt Disney, will help RIL propel its plans of rolling out data-focused business sooner than anticipated.

Reliance, in a season of new acquisitions and deals, has laid out plans to incorporate one more partner in its endeavor to establish holistic partnerships with leading business players. After a successful innings, which saw Reliance ink deals with global majors – including London based energy giant BP PLc, followed by an equally prolific deal with hedge fund institution DE Shaw, and acquisition of assets in shale gas sector, mineral sector and others, RIL will be seen broadening the scope of its gradually developing telecom unit.