Indian telecom service provider Idea Cellular has purchased spectrum for Rs 30,100 crore during the March 2015 spectrum auction.
The telecom industry can notice some identical strategy moves in the case of Idea Cellular and Airtel. Both Idea Cellular and its rival Bharti Airtel have bought spectrum in 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands. The difference in their approach is that Bharti Airtel is ready to talk about its plans on TD-LTE and FD-LTE technologies for 4G launch. Idea Cellular is cagey about 4G. Earlier, Idea Cellular said 4G will be considered only after 2016.
ALSO READ: Airtel to focus on both TD-LTE and FD-LTE after purchasing spectrum for Rs 29,130 crore
Idea Cellular said it has won 54 MHz of 900 MHz spectrum, ensuring telecom business continuity for its over 106 million subscribers in nine mobile markets.
The Aditya Birla-group promoted Idea Cellular has acquired additional spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in six service areas, 2100 MHz spectrum in Kolkata, and additional 5 MHz on 900 MHz in Maharashtra for second carrier of 3G services.
This will enable Idea to further expand its 3G Services to 13 circles covering 80 percent of its overall revenue and enable 4G roll out on 1800 MHz in 10 service areas covering 61 percent of Idea’s gross revenue.
ALSO READ: Vodafone to bet on 3G after buying spectrum for Rs 25,810 crore
The 9 MHz spectrum won in Maharashtra will enable Idea Cellular to deploy 3G services on 900 MHz (in addition to the existing 2100 MHz band), at an opportune time. Idea will have 3G networks of 900 MHz band in Maharashtra and Delhi.
With the acquisition of 79.40 MHz across three spectrum bands of 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz in the recent auction, Idea now has 270.7 MHz of spectrum on a pan-India level.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
