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Loop Mobile is all set to cater to the growing high-speed data demand by offering 3G services in the Mumbai circle. It is waiting for the legal glitches surrounding the intra-circle roaming to end.
“We already have an understanding with an operator for roaming, to collaborate and provide the service to our customers,” said Surya Mahadevan, chief operating officer, Loop Mobile.
There are four operators which have 3G spectrum in the Mumbai circle. While Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Reliance Communications won the slots in the bid, state-owned MTNL was allotted 3G spectrum by the government. Loop Mobile, which operates only in Mumbai, did not participate in the the competitively bid auctions in 2010, where only three slots were on offer.
“The roaming issue is in a legal glitch right now. We expect that all legal issues would get unravelled in three-four months,” said Mahadevan.
The top three telecom operators — Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular were asked to stop offering 3G services in circles where they do not possess the spectrum, by the government. The case is currently being heard in the Supreme Court.
The company is all set to spruce up its network to make it 3G ready and 'active' augmentation would happen as soon as they get a nod, legally. “We have upgraded our network recently in 2008. But if we need to provide 3G services, we would have to add more base transceiver station (BTS) and sites,” said Mahadevan.
Mumbai is one the fastest growing circles for 3G services and Loop, which has 8.9 per cent market share, does not want to be left behind as consumers have started adopting the 3G service. It currently offers data connectivity only via 2G services.
Loop, however, has no plans to stop at 3G services only. As its licence is up for renewal in November 2014, it is expecting renew its licence to the new, liberalised spectrum. The latest auction held late last year and early this year, allows winners of the licence to provide services across technologies like 2G, 3G and 4G as well.
Like other operators, Loop is campaigning against a high-floor price decided by the government for 2G spectrum. It is also fighting a case in the courts after the Department of Telecom asked it to participate in the auctions held last year, as a part if its licence renewal. The company however said its licence had an option for renewal and would not be forced to take part in auctions.
The company hopes all the regulatory worries would be sorted by the time its licences come up for renewal. Mahadevan said they are waiting to draw up a plan to provide services across the spectrum. “Who knows we might be in a better position to offer the latest technology by then, which national operators might not be able to,” he said.
