RCS&RDS plans to revamp stores and smartphone range

Newsroom 14/10/2013 | 05:53

RCS&RDS is planning to overhaul its outlets next year, Valentin Popoviciu (in picture), the telecom operator’s business development manager, told Business Review.

“Currently we have approximately 250 stores across the country. We will revamp our stores and cash points in the future,” he said. “Recently, we have focused on the online domain where we have updated the way we interact with the client, moving some of the options and services to Digicare, the customer account that any user can activate to have all services available 24/7.”

The operator’s smartphone range will also be updated. “From 2014, when we can start using the 900Mhz frequency, we will come up with a new range of smartphones,” Popoviciu told BR.

RCS&RDS will also step up its efforts on the mobile data front. Currently, the operator has 600,000 mobile internet subscribers. “Once we obtain the 900 MHz license in 2014, we will re-launch the mobile data and voice service. Of course 4G is the next step but we believe the 3G potential has not been sufficiently exploited,” said Popoviciu. He did not provide the number of fixed internet customers, but the latest figures indicate 1.2 million clients.

RCS&RDS also plans to expand the network of hotspots, which allows its customers free access to Wi-Fi in public places. In March, the operator announced that its Digi Wi-Fi network had reached 2,400 hotspots, located mostly in cities across Romania.

Last week, RCS&RDS announced that it would be offering the highest fixed internet speeds on the market, from November, of 500 Mbps and 1 Gbps at prices of RON 49 and RON 59, respectively. The upload speeds for both packages will be 100 Mbps.

The internet will be packaged as part of the Digi Net Fiberlink 500 and Digi Net Fiberlink 1000 offers. The service coverage spans more than 150 towns in both urban and rural areas, after the operator expanded its fiber optic backbone.“This service places us among the few operators in the world that offer speeds of 1 Gbps,” said Popoviciu.

The company has invested more than USD 2 billion in infrastructure to date, according to Popoviciu.

It also plans to launch an online content video platform. RCS&RDS is promoting its own content via dedicated TV channels available to its subscribers, such as Digi 24, Digi World and Digi Life. On this topic, Popoviciu said “launching new channels is always an open subject” but currently “no such thing is being planned.”

At the end of July, Pro TV announced its exit from the must-carry list of programs, which means cable providers must now request approval and pay to broadcast the Pro TV channels to their subscribers. On this matter, Popoviciu told BR, “Pro TV is currently in the basic package offered to clients, and they do not have to pay extra for it. There are ongoing discussions about that at the moment but we still do not have a final answer.” 

Otilia Haraga

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