Quippo Plans $3 Billion Investment in Indian Telco Infrastructure

India's Quippo Telecom Infrastructure (QTIL) expects to invest US$3 billion in fiscal year 2008-2009 to boost its telecoms infrastructure business. The expenditure would be split along internal expansion and acquisitions, QTIL Managing Director Arun Kapur told reporters.

The company is also confirmed that it is in talks with Tata Teleservices to take a large stake in the company's tower business.

"We are in an advanced stage of negotiation with Tata Teleservices and the deal is expected to be concluded by next month," he said. "Consolidation is the order of the day. This is a capital -intensive industry. In this scenario consolidation is going to be the name of the game," he added.

Quippo currently operates around 4,500 towers and plans to increase this to 10,000 by March 2009.

The company also plans to venture into active infrastructure sharing as the government seeks to promote this to speed up cellular coverage in rural areas and reduce tower density in urban areas.

Posted to the site on 14th April 2008