Indian telecom network operators such as Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, Vodafone, Reliance Jio, etc. need to learn from the investment strategy of American wireless operator AT&T.
AT&T is investing heavily in both wireless and wired networks, 4G LTE networks, Distributed Antenna System (DAS), Wi-Fi hotspots, HD Voice, fiber, high-speed broadband , VoLTE and small cells.
The main focus of AT&T’s investment programs is in ensuring reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for residents and businesses.
The main difference between AT&T and Indian telecoms is the fact that Indian operators are cagey about investment in wired networks and wired broadband. Indian telecoms are not making huge investment in public, entertainment and sports venues. AT&T focuses on improving indoor coverage in several crowded locations in key markets.
Some of the Indian telecom operators started adding new cell sites in religious and entertainment venues to bolster network performance.
AT&T is offering 1Gbps Internet speeds over fiber-based network in select US markets – competing with Google.
At present, Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Reliance Jio Infocomm cannot compete with AT&T in their investment plans, but they need to invest in improving network coverage and quality of services across the country to boost customer experience.
AT&T is transparent that it shares investment details for several key towns. It shares the details about new networks coming up in select locations and investments made in three years. Vodafone India recently started sharing details about investment and the number of cell sites being set up in states and key cities.
Bharti Airtel is also sharing details of its investment in network sites after launching the Rs 60,000 crore Capex initiative in November 2015.
Reliance Communications, a company promoted by Indian businessman Anil Ambani, does not share details of the company’s investment program except sharing the Capex plan.
AT&T investment in select locations in three years
In the last three years, AT&T invested nearly $525 million in Massachusetts wireless and wired networks during 2013-2015.
In 2015, AT&T made 21 wireless network upgrades in Massachusetts, including activating new cell sites in Boston, Hadley, Lowelland Springfield; adding free Wi-Fi hotspots to Boston’s Downtown Crossing and Back Bay Neighborhoods; and boosting network performance at tourist site Wachusett Mountain.
AT&T invested nearly $400 million in Boston area. In 2015, AT&T made 11 wireless network upgrades in the area, including activating new cell sites and enhancing network capacity for local customers.
AT&T has invested nearly $40 million in Rhode Island.
AT&T invested nearly $20 million in Provo and Orem area.
AT&T invested more than $150 million in Idaho wireless networks. In 2015, AT&T made 90 wireless network upgrades in Idaho.
AT&T invested nearly $20 million in Boise wireless networks. AT&T invested more than $15 million in Ogden wireless networks during 2013-2015.
AT&T invested nearly $90 million in Salt Lake City wireless networks.
AT&T invested more than $200 million in Utah wireless networks. In 2015, AT&T made 274 wireless network upgrades in Utah. AT&T boosted service for the 2015 Sundance Film Festival with a Cell Site on Wheels (COW).
AT&T invested nearly $850 million in Kansas wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made about 240 wireless network upgrades in Kansas. In 2015, AT&T launched AT&T GigaPower, which offers up to 1Gbps Internet speeds over fiber-based network, in eight Kansas communities.
AT&T invested nearly $110 million in Wichita area wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made 42 wireless network upgrades in the Wichita area.
AT&T invested more than $675 million in Kansas City-area wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made 46 wireless network upgrades in the Kansas City area. AT&T GigaPower, its ultrafast network delivering Internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) over fiber, in more than a dozen communities in the Kansas City area, was yet another focus area.
AT&T invested more than $90 million in Topeka area wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made 7 wireless network upgrades in the Topeka area.
AT&T invested nearly $300 million in Denver wireless networks. AT&T added capacity to public or entertainment venues including: Colorado Convention Center, Coors Field, Denver International Airport, Park Meadows Mall, Pepsi Center, Sports Authority Field, Vail Resort and Town of Vail. It boosted service for the 2015 MLS All-Star game with a Cell Site on Wheels (COW) at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
AT&T invested more than $35 million in Colorado Springs wireless networks.
AT&T invested more than $575 million in Colorado wireless networks. In 2015, AT&T made 648 wireless network upgrades in Colorado.
AT&T invested more than $550 million in Arkansas wireless and wired networks.
AT&T invested more than $70 million in Springfield area wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made several wireless network upgrades in the Cape Girardeau-Jackson area.
AT&T invested nearly $100 million in Hartford area wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made 3 wireless network upgrades in Hartford area.
AT&T invested nearly $1.85 billion in Missouri wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made more than 600 wireless network upgrades in Missouri.
AT&T invested nearly $110 million in New Haven and Milfordarea wireless and wired networks during 2013-2015.
AT&T invested nearly $80 million in Bridgeport area wireless and wired networks.
AT&T invested more than $15 million in Jefferson City area wireless and wired networks.
AT&T invested nearly $35 million in Joplin wireless and wired networks.
AT&T invested more than $30 million in Cape Girardeau-Jackson wireless and wired networks.
AT&T invested more than $1.3 billion in St. Louis area wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made more than 60 wireless network upgrades in the St. Louis area.
AT&T invested more than $525 million in Connecticut wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made 10 wireless network upgrades in Connecticut, including expanding 4G network.
AT&T invested nearly $175 million in New Mexico wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made more than 100 wireless network upgrades in New Mexico, including new cell sites, LTE upgrades and the addition of network capacity.
AT&T invested nearly $65 million in Albuquerque wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made more than 30 wireless network upgrades in the Albuquerque area.
AT&T invested more than $1.1 billion in greater Seattle area wireless network.
AT&T invested more than $60 million in Honolulu wireless and wired networks.
AT&T invested nearly $125 million in greater Portland area wireless network.
AT&T invested more than $35 million in Spokane wireless network.
AT&T invested nearly $350 million in Phoenix wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made more than 300 wireless network upgrades in the Phoenix area.
AT&T invested more than $50 million in Tucson wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made more than 30 wireless network upgrades in the Tucson area.
AT&T invested more than $500 million in Arizona wireless and wired networks. In 2015, AT&T made more than 350 wireless network upgrades in Arizona, including new cell sites, LTE upgrades and the addition of network capacity.
AT&T invested nearly $110 million in Hawaii wireless and wired networks.
AT&T invested more than $1.4 billion in Washington wireless networks. In 2015, AT&T made 25 wireless network upgrades in Washington.
AT&T invested nearly $325 million in Oregon wireless network. In 2015, AT&T made 18 wireless network upgrades in Oregon.
AT&T invested nearly $175 million in Alaska wireless network.
AT&T invested nearly $900 million in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County wireless and wired networks.
AT&T invested nearly $100 million in Wyoming wireless networks. In 2015, AT&T made 126 wireless network upgrades in Wyoming.
AT&T invested more than $2.7 billion in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington wireless and wired networks during 2013 -2015. In 2015, AT&T made 269 wireless network upgrades in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area. It added 27 new cell sites and 239 additions of network capacity.
It’s time for Indian telecoms to gear up to share more information on investments with their 900 million plus mobile subscribers. Mobile users can also select their service providers based on their capability to serve them better in their regions.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
