Idea Cellular Subscriber Base Passes 30 Million Mark

India's Idea Cellular has reported that it half year with a subscriber base of 30.38 million, adding 6.38 million subscribers during the half year, reflecting an improvement in national market share from 9.4% to 9.8% during the period.

Idea says that it maintained its sustained growth program during the first half, adding 34.6% cell sites to its opening count, launched services in Mumbai and increased spend on brand build. These, coupled with 4.0% drop in realised rate during the quarter have led to a decline in EBIDA margin.

Idea Cellular has licenses to operate in all 22 service areas of India with commercial operations in 13 service areas. With a customer base of over 30 million, Idea Cellular now runs operations in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh & Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra & Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Mumbai, and Bihar & Jharkhand (Oct 08).

Idea holds spectrum for Orissa, Tamilnadu (including Chennai) and Karnataka, and is awaiting spectrum for the remaining 6 service areas. With the planned launch of services in Orissa and Tamilnadu and after the proposed amalgamation of Spice Communications (Punjab and Karnataka service areas), Idea's footprint will by the fiscal year end cover approximately 90% of India's telephony potential.

Spice, in which the Company has acquired an equity stake and while it intends to merge it into the Company, has operations in Punjab and Karnataka service areas. The company also holds UAS Licenses for these service areas where no roll out has happened. A decision has therefore been taken to de-merge these UAS Licenses.

Idea Cellular is a part of the Aditya Birla Group, and is listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

 

Posted to the site on 20th October 2008