Tikona Digital Networks set to launch LTE broadband services in state

The Internet broadband market in Gujarat is getting bullish with new entrants offering a slew of packages. After You Telecom that began offering fixed broadband services, another new entrant, Tikona Digital Networks (TDN) is now planning a 4G - LTE broadband foray in Gujarat.

While the company is currently offering fixed broadband services in the state, TDN will be rolling out 4G LTE services in next 12-18 months in Gujarat, said Heramb Ranade, chief marketing officer, TDN. To begin with, the new broadband service will be offered in four major cities of Gujarat including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot.

"We had won licenses of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) or the 4G LTE spectrum as it is known for Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh East, Uttar Pradesh West and Himachal Pradesh. Of these, Gujarat is the biggest market for us. Which is why, we will be rolling out 4G LTE services in the state by next year soon," said Ranade.

Unlike 3G which offers an average usable data transfer speed of 1-3 MBPS, 4G technology will offer about 10 MBPS.

On its part, TDN is looking at desktop and laptop users who require high data transfers.

"Typically 3G so far has been restricted to mobile handset users. However, for 4G LTE we are looking at desktop and laptop users who have propensity of high amount of data transfers. While in next three years we are looking at half a million subscriber base, in next 7-8 years TDN should have four million subscribers in Gujarat," said Ranade.

On an average, monthly data transfers in Gujarat is around 10 GB for TDN which is expected to grow further in the coming months. Under the fixed broadband services, TDN currently has 15,000 subscribers in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, talking about market share, Ranade said, "Currently, Gujarat has a subscriber base of 600,000-700,000 broadband users. However, the monthly addition of subscribers in Gujarat is happening at a rate of 12,000-15,000 users, of which TDN is enjoying a market share of over 20 per cent."

Nationally, Gujarat contributes over 10 per cent to TDN's overall revenue and subscriber base, added Ranade.