Vodafone Idea tests revolutionary approach to network deployment

Vodafone Idea, the country’s third largest mobile operator, has started deploying a revolutionary new approach to creating its cellular network, but has also encountered several challenges in doing so. The company is experimenting with the so-called ‘open radio access network’ or Open RAN technology, which is a break from the traditional one-box technology promoted by […]

Vodafone Idea to shut down 88,000 sites, save Rs 490 cr per year

Vodafone Idea will shut down nearly 88,000 cell sites (tenancies) as part of the company’s network optimization drive, the company’s chief technical officer Vishant Vora told analysts in Mumbai yesterday. Vodfone Idea had sent out notices to shut down 66,000 towers in the first week of September itself, resulting in savings of Rs 1,800 cr […]

Bharti Airtel to merge its tower subsidiary Infratel with Indus Towers for joint holding with Vodafone

Bharti Airtel announced the much-anticipated merger of its tower subsidiary with Indus Towers, a three-way tower venture controlled by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular. Indus Towers is currently jointly owned by Bharti Infratel and Vodafone, who own  42% each, Idea Group (11.15%) and Providence Equity Partners, who hold4.85%. Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Group will […]

Bharti Infratel to merge with Indus Towers before Vodafone-Idea deal?

UK’s Vodafone is looking to combine its stake in Indus Towers, India’s largest tower company, with Bharti Infratel, the tower arm of market leader Bharti Airtel, on the basis of $5 bln valuation for its asset, the Economic Times reported, quoting unnamed sources. The move would seem to indicate an upcoming merger of Indus Towers and […]

Idea-Vodafone set to use 60% of spectrum for 4G, Kapania seen leading

Idea Cellular and Vodafone India will gear their network heavily towards 4G after merger and will also shut down over 60,000 cell sites as part of network optimization, going by the presentation being made by Idea in front of investors. The companies had earlier announced that they would surrender around 6,300 cell sites that are […]

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 […]

Telecom Tower companies will be big beneficiaries of 4G boom – KPMG

Due to the expansion of 3G and onset of 4G technologies, telecom tower industry’s tenancy ratios will increase to 2.9 times by March 2020 from 1.95 times as of March 2015, according to an ASSOCHAM-KPMG joint study. Tenancy ratio refers to the number of tenants (operators) who have put up their antennae and other active […]