Idea to invest 50 cr on expansion in Haryana

Idea has already invested around Rs 600-625 crore on the whole network set up within the Haryana state, the company counted as India's third largest mobile operator IDEA Cellular is now planning to invest Rs.50 crore more by the next year for expansion of its network.

Large amount will be invested into adding around a thousand cell sites, comprising both the 2G as well as 3G networks. The well known cellular brand, which launched its 3G services in eight towns of Haryana recently, has plans to cover 24 more cities by this month and more than 230 towns by the end of financial year 2012.

According to Financial Express, Sanjeev Govil, chief operating officer- Delhi and Haryana, Idea Cellular stated, "We have over 30 lakh subscribers in Haryana covering 95% of the population. There are about 2,200 cell sites and we plan to add a thousand more in FY12. 3G services have been launched in towns of Ambala, Hisar, Rewari, Rohtak, Panipat, Bhiwani, Jhajjar and Hansi. We shall be rolling out the services in 24 towns by April and 239 towns by fiscal end covering 43% of the existing subscribers."

Sharing data about customers joining and leaving their network due to mobile number portability, Govil said, "Idea is the second largest operator in Haryana in revenue terms and the subscriber churning and joining ratio is also better than operators in the region. Around 75,000 subscribers have moved from other networks to Idea in Haryana via MNP. We have lost around 60,000 subscribers to other networks so far."

Idea is currently providing its 3G services to the mobile users in MP, Gujarat, HP, Maharashtra, and UP West, besides Haryana.