Uninor to invest Rs 200 crore for network modernisation in Gujarat

Over 3,800 sites/base stations run by Uninor will be swapped with new, 4G technology-enabled equipment

Readying itself for a probable 4G launch in 2017, Uninor, the India business unit of Norway-based Telenor Group, on Wednesday announced signing of a contract with Huawei India for modernisation of its entire telecom network across all its circles including Gujarat.

The project will see modernisation of existing Base Transceiver Station (BTS) and other equipment by installation of new single RAN green BTS that will prepare the telecom operator for 4G roll out. In Gujarat, the project will see over 3,800 sites/base stations run by Uninor being swapped with new equipment that is modern, efficient and 4G technology-enabled.

 

For this, the operator will be investing roughly Rs 206 crore in Gujarat circle even as the total investment in all the six circles put together stands at Rs 1,204 crore, Rituraj Kalita, the Circle Business Head of Uninor Gujarat said.

"We are glad to partner with Huawei on this transformational project that builds our network to be future ready. With this ambitious drive, we will be able to offer any advanced internet service to our customers and provide a superior experience both on voice and internet. Being a mass market player, we continue to focus on building our capabilities to offer better internet and voice services at the most affordable prices," Kalita said.

The project will be spread over a period of three years and aims to modernise Uninor's existing network with Huawei's new architecture, platforms and equipment. This will make the network more spectrum and energy-efficient and at the same time enable Uninor to be future ready to address the exponential data growth in India.

Under the current programme Uninor will benefit from Huawei's "managed services" delivery system integrating multi-vendors that includes swapping of existing network with new and modern equipment, planning and optimisation, maintenance services and customer experience management. Huawei will bring its end-to-end network backbone elements to the project. This includes environment friendly green solutions that lower power consumption by almost 30 per cent and increase spectral efficiency for a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in overall network management.

Last year Uninor Gujarat had expanded its network coverage by 30 per cent and added around 800 sites across the state increasing the network coverage to nearly 55 per cent of population.