Idea to add 3,700 broadband sites in Maharashtra and Goa

Idea Cellular 4G GoaIdea Cellular has revealed the telecom operator’s strategy to add more than 3,700 broadband sites in Maharashtra and Goa before March 31, 2018.

The largest telecom operator in Maharashtra and Goa will have more than 34,000 cell sites by the end of this financial year to support the expansion of 4G coverage.

The increase in number of cell sites enables Idea Cellular to enhance 4G capacity and bandwidth in its leadership circle. The company is in the process of doubling its current 4G capacity by adding 5 MHz spectrum in the 1800 MHz band supporting the company strategy to offer two times or three times more speed to its mobile Internet users.

Idea Cellular is the only network in Maharashtra and Goa to deploy two carriers on 1800 MHz FDD band for 4G making it the largest capacity live 4G FDD network in the circle.

Idea Cellular said over 7,200 Idea 4G sites covering over 525 census towns and 7,100 villages in Maharashtra and Goa will be operating on double 4G capacity.

Idea is planning to rollout 4G services on 2300 MHz TDD spectrum band in the circle. The company is already in the process of setting up sites for enabling its customers to access high-speed 4G services on the TDD band.

Maharashtra is becoming a challenging telecom market for Idea Cellular. According to TRAI statistics, Idea enhanced its wireless subscriber base from 26.995442 million in August 2017 to 27.147341 million in September 2017.

Reliance Jio, which entered the Indian telecom market in September 2016, has increased its wireless subscriber base from 9.435454 million to 9.965772 million.

Airtel lost its wireless subscribers from 14.641920 million to 14.579113 million. Vodafone also lost mobile users from 19.473342 million to 19.430890 million. Aircel has also lost mobile subscribers from 2.279693 million to 2.253416 million. BSNL has marginally increased wireless user base from 6.735393 million to 6.797441 million.

Idea customers, who have mobile handsets supporting Carrier Aggregation of both the FDD and TDD bands, can experience up to 3.5x increase in internet speed. Customers with mobile handsets that do not support Carrier Aggregation will also experience up to 2x increase in internet speeds.

“Our initiatives will further enhance the experience of our over 2.7 crore customers in the circle and get them to access the 4G network,” said Rajendra Chourasia, chief operating officer, Maharashtra & Goa, Idea Cellular.