The mobile communications network infrastructure outside major cities was almost non-existent and there was no retail infrastructure (i.e., facilities for selling handsets, SIM cards, and network access plans) in place to reach most Indian citizens. To give you a sense of the scale of the challenge, the following diagram sets out the vertical value chain for the telecommunications industry (covering mobile and fixed line communications) - much of which would have to be built before mobile communication services could be offered to India's mass market.

Communications Industry Value Chain Suppliers Component/ Hardware Communications Supplier Network Network Operators Companies Equipment Content/ Mfgr Software Supplier Wireless & Wireline Service Providers Cable/ Satellite Resellers Consumer Business Customers