Telecom network operator Telenor India today said it has modernized its 2,500 cell sites across six circles.

Recently, the company announced its network deal with Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies to swap its entire network of 24,000 base stations with the latest equipment by 2017. Huawei is replacing the existing network without disruptions in quality of services. Huawei bagged the network deal competing with Ericsson, Nokia Networks, Alcatel-Lucent and ZTE.

Telenor India aims to complete the modernization of 5,000 sites by the end of 2015 as part of the phase one of the project. Telenor is also expanding its network in Bihar and Jharkhand by adding 950 sites.

Telenor India, which has more than 48 million mobile subscribers and the number 4 in its six operational circles, aims to launch high speed Internet services in the coming years.

“The network modernization project will help us prepare to address the demand for high speed data as mobile internet will be the primary mode for consumers as services continue to get digital,” said Sharad Mehrotra, CEO Telenor India Communications.

The new equipments will increase spectral efficiency by 15 percent and improve in-door coverage by 15-20 percent, and also reduce power consumption by around 30 percent.

Telenor Group aims to offer mobile Internet to its 200 million customers.

Telenor India targets to offer mobile Internet to 50 percent of its users by 2017. At present, 22 percent of its 48.72 million subscribers access Internet on the phone. Telenor India has 2100 branded stores and over 380,000 points of sale in UP (West), UP (East), Bihar (including Jharkhand), Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Baburajan K
[email protected]