Quippo has $4-bn capex requirement to double tower base

Quippo Telecom Infrastructure (QTIL) today said it has a capex requirement of up to $4 billion over the next two years to double its tower base to 60,000.

The company is evaluating options of organic expansion as well as acquisitions, a senior company official said.

"We have a base of over 30,000 towers and we are certainly looking at doubling this over the next two years. The total capex requirement would be to the tune of $2 billion year on year," QTIL President Umang Das told reporters here.

He said Quippo wants to be a key player in the exponential growth of India's telecom sector. He estimated that India will double its subscriber-base to 1 billion by 2013, which would require about 4.5 lakh towers.

The company, which provides shared passive telecom infrastructure, is evaluating various options to raise funds, including an initial public offer (IPO), private equity funding and debt.

"We are looking at PE funding and debt sources. An IPO is also one of the options. We are examining the market right now," Das said.