 "Aircel to improve 4G coverage by Dec to meet deadline: CTO")
Chennai-based telecom operator Aircel, which is already offering 4G services to enterprise clients primarily via leased lines and wi-fi devices, said it will increase number of 4G sites in all the eight circles where it has licences by end of this year to meet the regulations of the spectrum auction rules.
"We are optimising our network coverage in 2G, 3G and 4G bandwidths by rolling out new sites. The network upgradation for 4G is to meet with the MRO (minimum rollout obligation) compliance," said Samir Dave, chief technology officer with Aircel during an interaction.
Aircel had won BWA (broadband wireless access) or 4G licences in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, North East states and Jammu and Kashmir in 2010 spectrum auction. According to Department of Telecom (DoT) guidelines, the winners of 4G licences have to provide at least 90 per cent coverage in urban areas and for rural, the coverage of high internet services should be 50 per cent by erecting certain number of towers within five years of allocation of circle licences.
The fourth largest telecom operator in terms of subscriber base, however, did not say whether the site increase plan means availability of 4G services for its mobile customers.
"We are currently focusing on enterprise customers, and are in the process of moving them to TDLTE platform from the WIMAX platform that was used earlier to provide 4G. Mobility customers would follow later," added Dave.
Since January this year, the company has so far completed erecting 7,400 sites and will complete erection of remaining of its primary target of 13,000 sites within December. Of the total 13,000 sites, the company deploys around 5400 sites for 2G network, while rest are dedicated for 3G and 4G network. It has all India licence for 2G, for 3G it has licences in 13 circles and has bagged licences for 4G network in eight circles out of total 22 circles in the country.
After the Union government recently allowed spectrum trading and sharing between telecom operators, the market was abuzz with rumours that Aircel might want to trade some of its spectrum, especially its 2,300 Mhz 4G spectrum to other operators who do not have pan-India licences and since some of its spectrum licences are lying under-utilised. Aircel said it would make its stand clear after guidelines are issued by the Union government regarding spectrum trading.
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"We are keeping all options open (to buy or sell) and are waiting for guidelines. It is because we do not hold licences pan India basis, but circle basis. So we will make our position clear once the guideline comes," said Dave.
The DoT is expected to come up with its spectrum trading and sharing guideline by end of this month.