Telecom Lead India: Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Industries (RIL) is getting ready with its top team to manage 4G / LTE venture under Reliance Jio Infocomm.
It is expected that 4G / LTE will be unveiled in the second half of 2013. RIL bought the license to run broadband wireless access in 2010. Its total investment will be around $10 billion. Reliance Jio Infocomm is in talks with AT&T, the U.S.-based telecom giant, for a strategic partnership.
Though Mukesh Ambani and team has hired a couple of new team members, most members in the core team of its mobility venture were part of the group’s first telecom foray on December 28, 2002. It is believed that a couple of senior professionals from telecom equipment industry will also joining the 4G service provider soon.
Manoj Modi
Core team of Reliance Jio Infocomm is headed by Manoj Modi, known for launching Reliance Communications’ cost effective mobility plans, before the split between Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani.
Sanjay Mashruwala
The newly appointed managing director of Reliance Jio Infocomm is Sanjay Mashruwala, a 30-year RIL veteran, Economic Times reported recently. Mashruwala does not have any telecom industry background.
It is not clear what will be the role of Sandip Das, who resigned as the CEO of Malaysia’s Maxis Communications, in the 4G venture.
Sandip Das
Vodafone’s former customer services head, Madhumati Lele, is set to become the first woman executive in the leadership team.
Mathew Oomen
Reliance Jio Infocomm’ operational head is Mathew Oomen, who held several key positions in Reliance Infocomm and Flag Telecom before becoming the CTO at Sprint-Nextel.
Kiran Thomas
Kiran Thomas, assistant vice-president at RIL, who had earlier looked after the group’s retail business, is part of the 4G venture.
Arvind Rao
Arvind Rao, former CEO of OnMobile, has joined Reliance Jio as its innovation head. He has substantial experience in mobile VAS and data offerings.
Sumit Chowdhury
Sumit Chowdhury, who was VP and partner at IBM India, joined RIL last year as its CIO officer to look after the technology and product platforms. Prior to IBM, Chowdhury worked for Reliance Communications. Sumit is known for developing products for enterprises as well.
Mahendra Nahata
HFCL Chairman Mahendra Nahata is also part of Jio’s management team.
Reliance Jio Infocomm’s 4G / LTE strategies
Economic Times says RIL finalized a two-pronged strategy comprising wireless mobility as well as offering high-speed broadband, TV and other services to homes through fibre network, on the lines of Google’s Fibre Project.
The Google Fibre project, launched in Kansas City in July 2012, provides both Internet as well as a high-speed broadband option for $70/month. Television services are available for $120 per month, along with 1 terabyte of Google Drive, 2 terabyte of DVR recorder plus a Nexus 7 tablet coupled with the provision to stream content on iPad and Android devices.
