After Reliance Jio, Idea offers 100% cashback on Rs 357 plan

Idea Cellular, reportedly India’s third largest 4G operator by volume, has started offering a 100% cash-back scheme even as the Cellular Operators Association has complained against such schemes. Similar cash back schemes have been announced by Reliance Jio in an effort to maintain its subscriber base. Like Jio, Idea too offers cash back coupons of […]

As Jio reality sinks, Idea abandons ‘limited aggression’ strategy

Idea Cellular has abandoned its earlier strategy of ‘limited aggression’ in dealing with the threat from Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, and will be more visible in its counter strikes from now, said CEO Himanshu Kapania. “From end October, Idea has shifted its earlier stand of limited aggression, which was limited to offering unlimited plans […]

Idea sees half of India remain 2G-only in 2022, to refarm 900 MHz for 4G

About 600-650 mln telecom customers in India will remain ‘pure 2G’ users even in the year 2022, while 4G users would swell from 175 mln to 750 mln, said Himanshu Kapania, CEO of India’s fourth largest telecom operator Idea Cellular. At present, India has around 1.05 bln active telecom users, out of which around 70% […]

Idea, Vodafone to share 4G network; Broadband towers overtake 2G

Idea Cellular and Vodafone in India started sharing their some of their networks in October, and will soon increase their 4G coverage by about 5,000 villages due to this, the Aditya Birla Group company said. “In October 2017, Idea and Vodafone India have entered into Active Infrastructure sharing arrangement, to avoid duplication of spends and […]

American Tower Corp buys towers of Idea and Vodafone in India for $1.2 bln

Vodafone India and IdeaCellular Ltd said they agreed to sell their standalone tower businesses in India to the local unit of American Tower Corp for an aggregate enterprise value of Rs 7,850 cr (US $1.2 billion). In case the sale is completed before the merger of Vodafone India and Idea, Vodafone India will receive Rs […]

Bharti Infratel to try to buy Vodafone & Idea stake in Indus Towers

Bharti Infratel, the tower arm of Bharti Airtel, said it has decided to explore the possibility of buying out the stakes of Idea Cellular and Vodafone in rival tower company Indus. Bharti and Vodafone currently own about 42% each in Indus, while Idea holds about 11%. As a result, anyone who buys the stakes of […]

Why Reliance JIO’s new tariff plan is BAD for Bharti Airtel, Idea & Vodafone

The stock of Bharti Airtel is at a two-year high, not far from its life-highs of late 2007, but going by the latest tariffs unveiled by Reliance Jio, investors will do well to hold off on the bubbly for a while longer. Airtel closed at Rs 461.30 on Tuesday, buoyed by two factors — the […]

Reliance Jio’s New 4G Plans: No More Tariff Increases?

Reliance Jio has unveiled a set of new plans that will come into effect from tomorrow, effecting a price increase of about 15% to existing tariff. The phrasing of the new plans also suggests that these are ‘regular’ plans, and not promotional offers that will disappear after three months. 15% ON AVERAGE Most scheme has […]

Idea, Airtel offer 84 GB 4g data for Rs 400 to target users

Idea Cellular and Bharti Airtel are offering 1 GB of 3G or 4G data per day for 84 days at a price of around Rs 400 in select circles, including voice benefits, matching Jio’s lowest tariff. The offer is available only for targeted users. For example, for someone who has already activated a similar pack […]

To arrest subscriber decline, Idea offers 84 GB, on-net calls for 230 rupees

Idea Cellular, the third largest telecom operator in India by revenue, has started offering new customers 84 GB and free on-net calls for 84 days for just Rs 230 in the Kerala circle. Similar schemes are likely to have been launched in other circles as well. It also offers a 451 rupees first recharge coupon […]

JIO IMPACT: India mobile data usage up 500%, price down 97% in 1 year

The average data consumed by wireless users in India has increased five fold in the last year one year, even as prices crashed by 97% due to the launch of Reliance Jio. For India as a whole, the total consumption of wireless data touched 4.3 bln GB in the three months from April to June […]

TRAI forcing the shut down of 2G networks – Idea Cellular CEO

Idea Cellular CEO Himanshu Kapania said sector regulator TRAI was forcing telecom operators to shut down their older networks as it pushes for the adoption of newer technologies, seeking urgent intervention from the government. Kapania said the move towards phasing out of older technologies could have a negative impact on connectivity, especially in areas like […]

Ambani suddenly looks like the smart guy after TRAI termination charge cut

Operators such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, BSNL and Idea Cellular are likely to cut call tariffs for 2G and 3G users after TRAI decision to cut ‘termination charges’ to 6 paise per minute from 14 paise. More importantly, the bet that Mukesh Ambani placed by making voice free seems to be paying off as his […]

Idea Cellular raises 4G plan prices by 25%, 84-day pack now at Rs 505

Even as Reliance Jio continues its slow move towards ‘full pricing’ of its services, rival Idea Cellular has taken a step towards increasing promotional 4G pack prices across its tariff cards. While the operator was offering 1GB data per day for 84 days at around Rs 400 in key 4G states, it has now increased […]

50% of Idea Cellular cell-sites now have 3G or 4G

Idea Cellular said it has now achieved 3G or 4G penetration for 50% of its cell-sites. “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 said. […]