Virgin Mobile India launches MVNO with Tata Indicom
Virgin Mobile started its virtual doors in India. Virgin Group’s partner is Tata Indicom , which is part of the cdma based Tata Teleservices. The new mobile operator is the “first nation-wide youth focused mobile service” and the “first CDMA service where all customers will be on RUIM (SIM)-based phones.”
Now the weird part. Even though Virgin Mobile doesn’t own the infrastructure they don’t call the new service an MVNO. Apparently, virtual operators are still not permitted in the “world’s fastest growing mobile phone market,” hence Richard Branson refers to the joint venture as “a brand extension” plan. The difference is that both companies — Virgin Mobile India and Tata Teleservices — have the freedom to work with other partners and enter into similar agreements with other players. This strange agreement has already led to legal battles with rival GSM operators who asking the legality of deal when MVNO is not allowed.
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