Videocon Telecom plans to invest Rs 210 cr for network expansion

NEW DELHI: Indian telecom service provider Videocon Telecom has planned to invest over Rs 210 crore in Gujarat Telecom circle in the current financial year (2015-16).

The telco’s investment will be on its GSM services network expansion, where the telco plans to deploy over 450 new cell sites, of these 330 sites will be for geographical coverage expansion across 142 new towns, and another 120 sites for capacity enhancement to accommodate more users.

The telco will be also investing to enhance its packet core to accommodate growing data usage on its recently upgraded 2.75G EDGE network. The telco currently has 3,989 cell sites in Gujarat and provides network coverage across 836 towns in Gujarat.

The telco which has recently bagged Pan-India ISP license, will also be investing on rollout of broadband services, primarily on FTTH (fiber to the home) and wireless broadband on the free band 2.4 Ghz spectrum. Videocon Telecom plans to roll out broadband services in select pockets across key cities including Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara in phase 1 of its rollout plan.

Among other telecom related, non spectrum dependent new business lines, Videocon Telecom will be offering other services including Smart city solutions, security solutions, E-surveillance, android & IOS platform based application including content and games. The telco also plans to venture into fast growing mobile wallet and e-commerce business. In addition to these, Videocon Telecom will also be venturing into world sim for international travelers.

Among its android and ios platform based applications, Videocon Telecom will be soon rolling out a Gujarati Chat application to give that local connect to users.

Focusing on its retail presence, the telco also inaugurated its 500th exclusive branded retail store in Ahmedabad today. The telco plans to add another over 250 stores across its operating circles in this financial year taking up the total count to 750 across its operational circles.

Arvind Bali, Director and CEO, Videocon Telecommunications, said, “Gujarat telecom circle is potential circle and of utmost importance to us. In order to strengthen our footprint in the circle, we will be investing Rs 210 crore in the circle this financial year. Our investment will primarily be on network expansion and rollout of broadband services, in addition to other emerging businesses.

With rollout of 450 new sites, we will be adding 142 new towns in our network footprint this year taking up the overall coverage to 978 towns. We plan to acquire 3.5 million new customers this financial year in Gujarat telecom circle, and this network expansion will be an important aspect to the same.

“We will also be rolling our broadband services in Gujarat this year, to start with in key pockets of Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara. The rollout primarily will be on FTTH, and we shall also be looking at wireless boradband,” said Bali.

“We are also venturing into other telecom related, non spectrum dependent services including Smart city solutions, E surveillance and other B2B and B2C solutions and fast growing Mobile Wallet and E-Comm space,” he added.