Now 4G services at the price of 2G!

Videocon Telecom is planning to offer the next generation mobile telephony and data services i.e. 4G at rates similar to 2G service tariff in Gujarat. The company is planning to launch trials of the 4G LTE FDD on 1800 mhz in Gujarat around the festive season of Diwali before deciding on a formal launch.

"Gujarat will be the first circle where we will be rolling our 4G LTE FDD services. We will sell high price at lower price. In Gujarat, 4G services will be available at the rate of 2G. Before the launch of 4G services, we are planning to conduct trials around Diwali in Gujarat to gauge the market," said Arvind Bali, director and chief executive officer of Videocon Telecom. Bali said that though several telecom operators have bagged spectrum for 4G services, the handset market and other telecom ecosystem in India is still not ready for the new technology. However, in a bid to prepare for the 4G launch in Gujarat, Videocon Telecom is planning to invest around Rs 400 crore primarily on Network, IT and 4G LTE FDD roll out.

Apart from 4G roll out, the investment will see the company adding 730 more cell towers to the current number of 4103 towers in the state of Gujarat. "By end of March 2014, we will have around 2 million subscribers in Gujarat which we hope to take up to 4 million by next year. Also, from a current revenue of Rs 150 crore in Gujarat for 2013-14, we are targeting a revenue of Rs 350 crore in 2014-15," Bali added.