Idea adds 50,000 broadband sites in 12 months

Idea Cellular, one of the largest telecom operators in India has added 50,000 sites in the last 12 months taking its overall tally to 260,000 sites across the country.

Idea added nearly 50,000 broadband sites over the last 12 months period ending August ’17, growing its broadband footprint to cover 5,888 Census towns and nearly 105,755 villages, reaching out to 45% population of the country.

The company has set up an optical fibre network of approximately 150,000 route kms to strengthen its wireless broadband services. Idea plans to continue the rapid rollout of its pan-India wireless broadband network throughout FY18 with a capex of Rs. 6,000 crore.

Speaking on the occasion, Anil Tandan, Chief Technology Officer, Idea Cellular said, “Achieving a footprint of 2.6 lakh sites is a major milestone in Idea’s network growth journey – 50% of these sites are broadband. With aggressive capex infusion 1 lakh sites have been erected by Idea in the last 2 years, and we will continue to invest in expanding our wireless broadband capacity to enable the company’s Digital Idea plans.”

Ambrish Jain, Deputy Managing Director, Idea Cellular said, “Idea is fast transitioning from being a pure telecom services provider to an ‘integrated digital services provider’ to deliver on the Digital India mission.”

Idea’s 4G coverage has penetrated into the deep interiors of the country with villages having a population of 1,000 getting connected with ‘India’s Big 4G network’. Idea has also recorded 4G coverage in certain rural parts of the country where population is below 100 people.