Idea to invest Rs 40-50 cr in Haryana to strengthen network

Having invested Rs 600-625 crore on infrastructure in rolling out its 2G & 3G services in Haryana, Idea Cellular would further invest Rs 40-50 crore in the state in next fiscal in strengthening its network, including 2G and 3G. The company is planning to add 1,000 more cell sites in the next financial year. At present, it has 2,161 cell sites in Haryana.

The company has 3.02 million subscribers in Haryana and it is the second largest player in terms of revenue. The company recently announced the launch of its ‘Gold Standard’ 3G services in Haryana. Now, the company’s 3G services are available in, in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and UP West, and Haryana.

Speaking to Business Standard, Idea Cellular Ltd, COO-Delhi & Haryana, Sanjeev Govil said, “ We have launched 3G services in Haryana recently, covering Ambala, Hissar, Rewari, Rohtak, Panipat, Bhiwani, Jhajjar and Hansi. Starting with 8 towns in Haryana, Idea’s 3G services will progressively grow to cover 24 towns by April 2011 and over 230 towns by the end of financial year 2012. Further in order to strengthen our network we would be adding 1000 cell sites which includes sites for 2G and 3G services.”

It has set up ‘Experience Kiosks’ to facilitate the customers of Haryana. These will be available to all users at select ‘My Idea’ stores and ‘Idea Points’ in these towns. On being asked about the response of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in Haryana, he added, “About 75,000 subscribers joined our network and we lost about 16,000 subscribers. So as far MNP is concerned we are comfortably placed in Haryana.”

Sharing his views, Rajat Mukarji, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Idea Cellular, said: “We have traditionally focused on growth from semi-urban heartlands of India and will continue to drive its 3G services from these industrial, agricultural and educational regions. We are happy to flag off Gold Standard 3G services in select locations in Haryana today, and will continue to expand 3G services in centres of learning, and high potential rural hinterlands where broadband is yet to make a breakthrough.”

On nationwide plans, he added, “Our 3G services will be available in 200 towns by mid April ‘11, progressively growing at the rate of 10 towns per day to cover 750 towns by mid 2011, and 4,000 towns by the end of financial year 2012, across the country.”

It has also introduced Time based Billing plan for 3G services enabling users to avail high-end data services without worrying about the volume of usage. To promote usage, It has introduced ‘sachet’ pricing offering attractive trial packages with per day billing.

It is worth mentioning that Idea won 2.1 GHz (3G Spectrum) in 11 circles – MP & Chattisgarh, HP, Maharashtra & Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Haryana, UP East, UP West, AP, J&K and Punjab – which contribute over 80% of the company’s revenues. Idea has planned a progressive roll out of 3G services in these locations.