Thanks to Reliance Jio 4G beta launch, Idea Cellular is planning to launch 4G services starting Q1, 2016

Thanks to Reliance Jio 4G beta launch, Idea Cellular is planning to launch 4G services starting Q1, 2016.

Idea Cellular has already started work on network infrastructure and plans are to launch 4G LTE service in 10 service areas such as Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Orissa and North East in a phased manner.

To start with Idea Cellular is looking at Kerala followed by southern circles like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh as they are contiguous circles.

The No 1 telecom operator in Kerala has now achieved an unprecedented milestone in the history of the circle by registering over one crore customers on its network in the state.

Idea’s 4G Spectrum Footprint in India
Circle – Spectrum (in MHz)
Maharashtra – 5.0*
Kerala – 10.0
Madhya Pradesh – 5.0
Punjab – 5.0*
Haryana – 5.0*
Andhra Pradesh – 5.0
Tamil Nadu – 5.0
Karnataka – 5.0
North East – 5.0*
Orsisa – 5.0
* Contiguous block of 5 MHz (1800 MHz) is not available in Pune and Nashik for Maharashtra, Amritsar & Ludhiana for Punjab, Sirsa for Haryana and Khasi Hill & Tawang for North East service area
Source: Idea, TeleAnalysis

Having established the largest mobile network, Idea is now readying to launch 4G LTE services in Kerala in early 2016. The company plans to add 4,200 cell sites in FY16 to close the financial year with over 15,000 cell sites and thereby enhancing the experience of one crore customers on 2G, 3G and 4G LTE networks.

Talking about the company’s plans, Ambrish Jain, deputy managing director, Idea Cellular said, “Idea is the only mobile operator in India that continues to witness strong growth in market share in the circles where it leads, such as in Kerala. With the onset of the digital era, the company is now well poised to take the mobile users to the next level of digital experience through a range of mobile internet based services on 3G and 4G LTE technologies. We have invested in spectrum acquisition and network infrastructure to initiate the launch of 4G LTE services in 10 service areas including Kerala, starting calendar year 2016, in a phased manner.”

Ensuring business continuity for its 1 crore subscribers in Kerala, Idea acquired 6 MHz of spectrum in the efficient 900 MHz band in the March 2015 auction. In the previous auction, the company had acquired 10 MHz of contiguous 1800 MHz spectrum to be able to launch 4G LTE services in Kerala. Idea’s 3G services on 2100 MHz spectrum band currently covers 81 percent of its subscriber base and is growing rapidly.

According to Vinu Verghese, chief operating officer – Kerala, Idea Cellular, “It is gratifying to gain the trust of over 1 crore customers over a period of two decades. I thank our customers for their faith in Kerala’s No 1 operator. Our strong leadership position in the market and the consistently growing market share is a result of our commitment to constantly enhance customer experience through unparalleled network coverage and superior product offerings.”

To service one crore customers Idea stores have been expanded to over 500 across Kerala

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