Indian telecom network operator Idea Cellular has utilized Rs 1,726 crore investment in the September quarter to beef up its 3G and 2G presence.

The Aditya Birla group company added 9,947 2G and 3G cell sites — 3,701 2G cell sites and 6,246 3G cell sites in the second quarter of fiscal 2015-16. The telecom operator has also built 5,300 km of OFC to reach 100,400 km of fiber across the country. Idea Cellular has 119,276 2G cell sites and 39,867 3G sites at present.

Idea Cellular network spreads to 80 percent of Indian population at 965 million for GSM services and 305 million Indian population on its own spectrum 3G services (excl. Kolkata).

The company aims to make investment of Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 6,500 crore (excluding any spectrum related payment) FY 2015-16.

Idea Cellular 4G dreams

Idea Cellular is gearing up to launch 4G soon in 10 service areas to compete with Vodafone, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio Infocomm.

4G services of Idea Cellular will cover more than 750 large and small towns in the first half of 2016.

Maharashtra & Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Punjab and Haryana and 4 emerging markets of Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and North East will be in the 4G coverage map of Idea Cellular.

The company plans to introduce Idea branded digital services applications like Idea Music, Idea Games, Idea Movies, Idea API & Idea Digital Wallets etc. from next financial year.

Idea Cellular data biz

The mobile data customer base  — 2G and 3G — increased by 4.2 million to 41.3 million. 24.8 percent of overall Idea subscriber base is using Idea 2G or 3G platform to access internet.

10.4 million Idea subscribers upgraded to Idea Mobile Data service usage. With expansion of Idea own 3G coverage in 12 circles and slated Idea 3G launch in Kolkata metro service area shortly, net new data subscriber addition is expected to accelerate.

Baburajan K
[email protected]