Idea Cellular said it has launched its 4G LTE services in the Odisha circle as part of its efforts to expand high-speed internet coverage across India.
With this launch, the company has expanded its 4G LTE service footprint to 8 telecom service areas, including the 4 telecom circles of South India, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and Chennai, and 3 telecom circles of North India; Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab, that it launched in December and January respectively.
It will cover 12 major towns of Odisha such as Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and further 18 major towns will be covered by March 31, the company said on Tuesday.
"Starting 23rd December, we have been rapidly expanding our high speed 4G LTE service footprint from 4 to 8 telecom circles now. With revised capex guidance for FY16 at Rs 75 billion we are accelerating our 4G rollout to cover the length and breadth in the 10 telecom circles, including Maharashtra and Goa and North East that are slated for launch before March," said Ambrish Jain, deputy managing director of Idea Cellular.
By June 2016, Idea plans to grow its 4G footprint to cover 750 cities in the country.
Idea Cellular currently holds 1800 MHz 4G spectrum in these 10 Telecom circles which cover 50 per cent of telecom market and over 60 per cent of Idea’s gross revenue.
Idea has recently signed an agreement with Videocon Telecommunications Limited for acquiring 1800 MHz spectrum under ‘Spectrum Trading Agreement’ in two of its key telecom leadership markets of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh (West).
Post-completion of this transaction, 4G services will be extended to 12 service areas, covering 75 per cent of Idea’s revenue base in the country.
BW Reporters
Haider Ali Khan is an alumnus of IIMC. He holds a degree in English Journalism from the prestigious campus. His passion includes Aviation, Technology, Politics and Sports.
