Idea Cellular has upgraded nearly 1,600 of its existing 3,500 telecom sites with 4G services, and will upgrade an additional 1,000 sites in Mumbai by end of the monsoon period.

Idea Cellular, which has a subscriber base of 4.4 million and revenue market share of 10.2 percent in Mumbai, launched its 4G services in Mumbai on 2100 MHz spectrum band.

Idea 4G services promise broadband speed of up to 34 Mbps. Idea offers an initial 90-days invitation offer to its 4.4 million mobile users and new customers joining the company during the same period, as and when they upgrade to a 4G device and a 4G SIM.

During the offer period, both prepaid and postpaid users will get 10 GB 4G free data on a 4G handset and 4G SIM on Idea’s 4G network. Idea sales and service teams will assist customers through a network of nearly 140 Idea showrooms and 25,000 retail outlets. The customers upgrading to 4G SIM will also get an incremental 4GB 4G data for 14 days.
In addition to the 4G Invitation offers, new customers joining Idea Cellular in this 90-day promotion period with 4G handsets can recharge with Rs 395 and get unlimited local and national calling, bundled free with daily data of 1GB 4G/2G for a duration of 84 days (for all activations within the promotional period from 25 May 17 to 22 August 17).

Idea has also introduced an Unlimited Combo Offer for Rs 192 with unlimited local calling within Mumbai and Maharashtra service area with 1GB (4G/2G) data for 28 days.

By recharging for Rs 148, Idea prepaid customers can make free Idea-to-Idea calls across India, and 4G handset customers will get 300 MB Data.

For Rs 348, users can make free voice across all networks in India and customers with 4G handsets will get 1GB/day mobile data services on 4G/2G platform valid for 28 days.

“The company is upgrading most of its 2G network to 4G services. We are happy to invite all our 4.4 million Idea customers to experience our latest 4G services and join the digital revolution,” said Pamesh Gupta, circle head – Mumbai, Idea Cellular.

Idea said its mobile broadband services are now available to over 525 million Indians covering near 6,000 towns and 100,000 villages on 3G and 4G network pan India.

Idea 4G is now available in 20 circles excluding Kolkata and Delhi covering 350 million Indians across nearly 50,000 towns and villages.

With the additional Capex guidance for FY 2018 at Rs 6,000 crore, on a back of Rs 7,800 crore Capex in FY 016-17, Idea remains committed to rapidly expand its mobile broadband services across length and breadth of the country.

“The company with the focused last 18 months investment in wireless broadband is emerging to become a key mobile data player with its Pan-India presence, offering high-speed internet access to over 525 million Indians spread across nearly 6,000 towns and 100,000 villages on 3G & 4G network,” said Rajat Mukarji, chief corporate affairs, Idea Cellular.

During this year, Idea is scheduled to expand its 2G, 3G and 4G services to over 300,000 sites on 2G, 3G or 4G. Out of a current base of nearly 200 million customers, 25 million are enjoying Idea wireless broadband services.