Reliance Jio enters tower lease pact with ATC India

Reliance Industries' telecommunications unit, Reliance Jio Infocomm, which holds nationwide 4G permits, has agreed to lease mobile phone masts from infrastructure provider American Tower Corporation's (ATC) local arm.

In a statement announcing the deal on Monday, Reliance Jio and ATC India did not give financial details of the agreement.

According to the statement, ATC India has 11,000 mobile phone towers in the country. Boston-headquartered ATC has 67,000 mobile phone towers across 13 countries, it added.

Reliance Jio's agreement with ATC India Tower Corporation comes after its tower-leasing pacts with local firms Reliance Communications, Bharti Infratel and Viom Networks. Reliance Jio also has an agreement with Bharti Infratel's parent Bharti Airtel to share network.

The company, controlled by India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, bought 4G airwaves in a 2010 government sale, but is yet to launch services. It added some airwaves it can use to offer 4G services from an auction this year.

(Reuters)