Telecom network operator Idea Cellular today announced its investment in 3G network in Delhi NCR.
As part of the 3G launch, Idea Cellular has made substantial investments in 2,500 3G cell sites and 5,000 modernized 2G cell sites in Delhi NCR.
The Aditya Birla group company is rolling out 3G network on the most efficient 900 MHz spectrum band.
Facts about Idea Cellular 3G
Idea Cellular earlier said its mobile data ARPU increased to Rs 144 in Q2 FY 2016 from Rs 119 in the same period previous fiscal – boosted by higher mobile data usage per data customer to 615 MB from 447 MB.
Over the last one year, the 3G data subscriber base for the company has grown by 86 percent with the addition of 9.1 million new 3G data customers.
Idea Cellular has 19.6 million 3G data customers. The data ARPU of 3G data customers is Rs 202 in the September 2015 quarter.
Overall mobile data traffic – on 2G and 3G networks – of Idea Cellular rose by nearly 1.83 times to 72 billion MB from 39.4 billion MB.
Idea Cellular’s Capex spend in Q2 fiscal 2016 was Rs 17,266 million. The company added 9,947 sites on 2G and 3G services. Idea Cellular has also invested in adding 5,300 km of OFC to reach 100,400 km of fiber.
Idea 3G in Delhi
Ambrish Jain, deputy managing director, Idea Cellular, said: “Over the last two years, Idea Cellular has invested in acquiring spectrum in the 900 MHz band and setting up a future-ready, modernized network to cater to the growing demand of mobile users in the region.”
Idea Cellular CMO Sashi Shankar is spearheading a marketing campaign to promote its 3G services in the Delhi metro which is experiencing significant call drops. But a press statement from Idea Cellular is silent about the 3G speed and coverage.
Idea Cellular has over 6 million subscribers in Delhi with approximately 30 percent being data users. The telecom network operator is also in the process of expanding its network of service centers in the Delhi NCR region.
With the launch in Delhi and the proposed launch in Kolkata metro, Idea Cellular will have its own 3G network in 13 telecom circles which contribute to nearly 80 percent of the company’s revenue and 60 percent of industry revenue.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
