Indian mobile operator Reliance Communications (R-Com) is reportedly set to launch a tender worth US$500 million for GSM-based 3G equipment. According to a report in India’s Economic Times, which quotes company sources, R-Com will issue the tender to a number of vendors, including Huawei, Alcatel Lucent, Nokia Siemens Networks, ZTE and Ericsson, within the next few days. The report notes that the tender is part of the predominantly CDMA-based operator’s new GSM strategy. R-Com was awarded a nationwide GSM licence in December 2007 and was allocated GSM spectrum in 14 circles earlier this year. The operator plans to launch 2G GSM services in the top cities in these circles by the year-end and has previously awarded an equipment contract worth US$600 million to Huawei to facilitate the rollout. The operator already operates GSM services in eight circles.

R-Com’s move to find a 3G equipment vendor comes just days after the Indian government confirmed its plans for 3G spectrum allocation and license auctions, which could lead to the creation of as many as ten Indian 3G operators. According to Economic Times sources, R-Com’s 3G tender will involve overlaying a 3G network on the 2G GSM networks that are nearing completion.