Reliance rolls out RDEL, providing connections in SDCA

Chennai, Apr 25 (UNI) In support of the Centre's initative to increase the rural tele-density of the country, Reliance Communications has rolled out a massive Rural Direct Exchange Lines (RDEL) project, providing telephone connections to over 7.37 lakh new subscribers in 203 Short Distance Charging Areas (SDCAs) covering over 40,000 villages till March 31 2007.

According to a company release here today the agreement signed with the Department Of Telecommunications (DOT) in 2005, for subsidy support towards RDEL in specified SDCAs would entitle the company to receive subsidies for providing telephone connection to every subscriber.

About 912 Base Transceiver Station (BTS) towers were built by the company in these SDCAs.

Among the states, Karnataka topped the list with 1.28 lakh new subscribers, followed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh each with more than one lakh fresh subscribers.

However, SDCA-wise, Kerala circle achieved an impressive figure of 21,000 subscribers per SDCA, the release added.

UNI