Idea Cellular has launched 3G services in Punjab, expanding its footprint to 28 States in the country. The country’s third largest mobile operator, which provides 3G services on its own network, covers the rest of the country through intra-circle roaming agreements.
The services would be rolled out starting with the capital city of Chandigarh and agricultural belts of Nawanshahr, Jagraon, Malerkotla and Nabha to the industrial hub of Ludhiana. Its 3G network will increase to 170 towns across the State with 1,800 3G cell sites by the end of the financial year 2015, the company said in a statement.
“Having witnessed consistent growth over the last 5 years, Idea is now well poised for the next wave of mobile broadband revolution, and has been investing in spectrum acquisition, network expansion, enhancing sales and service delivery channels, to proliferate mobile data services across the country. Our recent spectrum win in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz band has now given us the ability to further expand our 3G network, and launch 4G services in key revenue markets including Punjab, at an appropriate juncture,” said P Lakshminarayana, Chief Operating Officer (Corporate) at Idea Cellular.
At 2:20 pm, the Aditya Birla group company’s shares were trading down by 0.48 per cent at Rs 134.95 share on a weak Bombay Stock Exchange.