Last month, Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications (RCom) made headlines when they were allocated GSM spectrum in 14 circles by the Department of Telecom (DoT).

RCom, which had previously applied for a pan-India GSM license, was allocated 4.4MHz start-up spectrum in these 14 circles.

Incidentally, RCom is the country's largest CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) services provider, having GSM (Global System for Mobile services) operations in six circles. Out of its nearly 40 million customers, 35.5 million are on CDMA, with the remaining on GSM services.

Now, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Communications, Reliance Telecom Limited (RTL), has been granted in-principle approval by the Ministry of Communications and IT for providing CDMA mobile services under the existing Unified Access Service Licenses in Assam and the North East. This is in addition to existing GSM services provided by RTL.

RCom reportedly informed the Bombay Stock Exchange earlier this week that in addition to existing GSM services provided by RTL in Assam and the North East, it will also offer CDMA services in these areas.

Meanwhile, RCom, after being allocated GSM spectrum in 14 circles by DoT, had announced plans to place an order for nearly 80 to 100 million lines for GSM mobile services, which would qualify as the biggest telecom equipment order placed so far.