Reliance Industries plans to set up three-in-one telecom towers, starting with Mumbai, as it readies to launch fourth generation telecom services across the country.
RIL, controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, is slated to launch 4G operations this year through its subsidiary Infotel Broadband.
Infotel Broadband plans to set up towers (fabricated structures made mainly of steel) that would support its 4G equipment (base transceiver stations) and video cameras for street surveillance. The towers would also double as street lights, with lighting equipment mounted on them, sources close to the development said. The company is believed to be in talks with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) for setting up about 8,000 such towers in the metro. If successful, the company intends to replicate this model across other telecom circles.
An RIL spokesman, when contacted, declined to comment.
Infotel Broadband is also in talks with various Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other institutes for technological support.
According to reports, countries such as Zimbabwe, China and Japan are experimenting with such technologies and reducing the cost and space used for various utilities and services.