Date: 1/22/2008 2:09:19 PM

MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) Indias Reliance Communications Ltd said it has won a licence to be Ugandas sixth telecom operator and plans to launch services in the east African country by the third quarter of 2008, local business daily The Economic Times reported, quoting unnamed sources.

The report said that the Indian telecom major will invest 8 bln rupees to roll out fixed and mobile telecom networks enabling it to compete with other Ugandan operators like MTN, Uganda Telecom, Hits Telecom, Celtel and Warid Telecom.

Reliance Communications has won two licences as public infrastructure provider and public service provider which will allow it to offer mobile, fixed, internet, national and international long distance services, in addition to WiMax and Wifi services in Uganda, the paper said.

The licences also provide for international long distance services enabling Reliance Communications to link its Ugandan network with its unit Flag Telecoms upcoming undersea cable slated to cover countries like Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Madagascar and Mauritius, the report said.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2007/12/18/afx4450833.html