announced forming a global joint venture. Combining the unique strengths of Alcatel-Lucent and Reliance Communications, the Joint Venture company would foray in the fast growing USD 16 billion Managed Network Services industry and will cater to telecom operators, both CDMA and GSM, across the globe.

The first assignment of this joint venture will be to provide Managed services for Reliance Communications nationwide CDMA & GSM networks in India.

“World over, the biggest challenge Telecom operators are facing is to continuously improve competitiveness by reducing operating expenditure and enhancing network quality to provide superior customer experience. The combined expertise and experience of Reliance and Alcatel-Lucent would create an unmatched blend of leadership in technology, innovation, scale of operations and customer service to become the worlds leading Managed Network Services Provider”, said Mr. Sandip Biswas, Head - Managed Network, Reliance Communications. “The Joint Venture is a leap forward in Reliance Communications’ vision to continuously redefine the benchmarks of customer experience and enhance value for our 2 million shareholders”.

With the unique combination of network management and operations expertise, consulting and IT experience, as well as technology, the Joint Venture would facilitate a proactive, quick-to-respond environment to fast-paced and dynamic market conditions to leading telecom service providers including Reliance Communications. The joint venture will support the expansion and growth of Reliance Communications, within and outside India, bringing predictability of the operations and related expenses, while maintaining the highest standards of customer experience.

“Alcatel-Lucent is committed to help Reliance retain its market leadership role by helping them increase their customer satisfaction and business capitalization by operating and maintaining their networks together with managing complex network projects" said Andy Williams, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s Services business. “This partnership confirms our trusted partner relationship with Reliance Communications and reinforces Alcatel-Lucent’s position as a strong and competitive managed services provider.”

A new legal entity is being formed as part of the joint venture. Alcatel-Lucent will have the operational control of the new entity. Reliance Communications is represented in the Joint Venture through its wholly owned subsidiary. The joint venture would thereafter expand its operations in the global arena.

About Reliance Communications
Reliance Communications Limited, founded by the late Shri Dhirubhai H Ambani (1932-2002), is the flagship company of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The company has a customer base of over 48 million including over 1.5 million individual overseas retail customers. Reliance Communications corporate clientele includes 1850 Indian and multinational corporations, and over 250 global carriers. Reliance Communications has established a pan-India, next generation, integrated (wireless and wireline), convergent (voice, data and video) digital network that is capable of supporting best-of-class services spanning the entire infocomm value chain, covering over 15,000 towns and 400,000 villages.