Reliance Communications (RCOM) and Aircel have reportedly begun discussions over a possible merger of their operations, in a move which could create India’s second largest cellco by subscribers. According to Reuters, RCOM has entered a 90-day exclusivity period for the talks with Aircel, and while no financial details of the proposed transaction have been disclosed, an unnamed source with direct knowledge of the matter was cited as saying that, should the deal go through, RCOM shareholders will receive free shares in the new combined wireless entity. Meanwhile, the same source noted that RCOM will continue to own its enterprise and undersea cable businesses.
RCOM has already made a move towards realising consolidation in the Indian mobile sector, which is the scene of intense competition; as previously reported by CommsUpdate, last month the operator agreed to acquire the wireless business of Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL), the Indian telecoms arm of Russia’s Sistema, through a stock swap deal.