Indian telecom service provider Bharti Airtel said it will have 4G presence across the country soon.
The company, which has TD-LTE presence in 4 circles, plans to roll-out high speed 4G networks in various circles using FD-LTE technology in the 1800 MHz band, besides its existing TD-LTE roll-out in the 2300 MHz band, giving it a pan-India 4G footprint.
The national presence will enable Bharti Airtel to compete with Reliance Jio Infocomm, when it unveils its 4G services on the TD-LTE network this year. The Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Jio Infocomm is yet to officially announce 4G launch date. Airtel recently said it achieved 1 lakh 4G users in 4 circles.
Airtel has already started expanding its 3G services. Nationwide presence in 4G will enable Airtel to improve data revenue.
During the telecom spectrum auction concluded today, Airtel has acquired 115.0 MHz spectrum for Rs 18,530 crore. Bharti Airtel will make an upfront payment of Rs 5,425 crore, with the balance to be paid in ten annual installments of Rs 1,310 crore each, commencing two years from now.
The company’s spectrum acquisition is in line with its strategy of building a robust network of the future and enhancing its leadership position in the fast growing data segment.
Gopal Vittal, Jt. MD & CEO – India, Bharti Airtel, said: “The auction has provided much needed long term certainty and clarity around spectrum and other regulatory policies. However, future auctions should ensure that more spectrum in the 900 MHz band is secured from other agencies and the operators who are grossly underutilizing this important spectrum band.”
Meanwhile, Vodafone today said it would launch 4G services in 5 telecom circles such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Karnataka and Kerala – where it acquired 5 blocks of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band during the auction that concluded today.
“We have retained our existing spectrum in the three metros and significantly enhanced our data capabilities by buying 4G spectrum for the next generation of mobile services in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Karnataka and Kerala. These circles make up over 50 percent of our current data revenues and we expect them to be at the forefront of 4G adoption as they were for 3G. In Mumbai, we are able to provide both 2G and 3G on 900MHz,” said Vodafone India CEO Marten Pieters.