GTL forms strategic alliance with Vanu Inc to conduct shared active infrastructure field trials in India

Telecommunications network services provider, GTL Ltd, and software radio innovator for the wireless infrastructure industry Vanu Inc, have entered in to an alliance to address the shared active infrastructure services market in India.

The two companies have agreed to conduct field trials in India for the industry's first software radio-based solution to allow multiple operators on a shared common, active / passive wireless infrastructure network, while allowing them to maintain independence, gain from cost sharing and lower entry costs.

The companies say the solution will also allow carriers to serve new markets, saving time and expense of building a traditional network and look forward to new revenue streams from the "explosive subscriber demand in emerging markets" and areas with low average revenues per users.

Commercial deployment is subject to necessary government and regulatory approvals in India.

The alliance covers deployment of the Vanu Anywave MultiRAN system by the GTL on its customer's active and passive infrastructure assets. GTL will also offer its
Sourcing, provisioning, equipment deployment and system integration services.

"Interest in RAN sharing is growing around the world as carriers across large geographic areas look to technology to serve areas with low population density or low ARPU," said Charudatta Naik, whole time director and chief operating officer. "The formation of this alliance and the field trials in India will bring in the best of breed innovative technology and network planning and deployment expertise to offer an unbeatable value proposition to our customers."