Idea to invest Rs 104 cr in Kerala

Idea Cellular plans to invest Rs 104 crore in Kerala this year, set up a new mobile switching centre (MSC) and increase its base stations.

Kicking off the brand migration process of Escotel to Idea, Vikram Mehmi, chief executive officer, Idea Cellular, said that technology investment would include setting up of a new MSC at Kozhikode to improve the overall quality of service and to add 137 more base terminal stations (BTS) to the present 190.

Idea, Kerala, which is currently the market leader with over 4,73,000 customers, plans to offer wide coverage on the national highways 47, 17 and MC road, including all rail roads, Mehmi said.

Idea's aim was to ride the value chain and get to the number two position in the country as soon as possible, he added.

With the acquisition of Escotel, Idea Cellular has enhanced its footprint to cover 60 per cent of India's population and over 65 per cent of the potential telecom market.