UniverCell to retail Reliance NetConnect Broadband Plus in Chennai

UniverCell, a leading retailer of mobile phones and accessories in South India, has tied up with Reliance Communications to sell NetConnect Broadband Plus USB modems in Chennai. Reliance launched its Reliance Netconnect Broadband Plus wireless internet USB modems in March 2009.

UniverCell will retail NetConnect Broadband Plus USB modems at its 42 stores in Chennai. UniverCell currently has a chain of 300 shops, mostly in South India.

Reliance NetConnect Broadband Plus offers a data download speed of 3.1 mbps and an upload speed of 1.8 mbps. Rivals like Tata Indicom Photon Plus and MTS MBlaze too offer identical speeds.

Reliance Communications said that as of October 2009, it had 62.42 lakh customers in Tamil Nadu. It offers a range of internet access plans from Rs 499 to Rs 1750.

Wireless internet access is an emerging segment in India. Apart from private mobile operators like Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices and Sistema-Shyam Tele, government-owned BSNL also offers a wireless EVDO data service. Through its tie-up with UniverCell, Reliance Communications hopes to take its Reliance Netconnect Broadband internet to more users in Chennai.