Idea Cellular, one of India's mobile service operators, has announced a $500 million network expansion deal with Finland-based telecom infrastructure firm, Nokia-Siemens Network.
Idea Cellular, which operates in 13 telecom circles in India with a customer base of 15 million, is part of the $24 billion Aditya Birla group.
Nokia-Siemens Networks is a joint venture between Finland's Nokia Corp., and Germany's Siemens AG.
Under the deal, Nokia-Siemens Network will expand Idea Cellular's GSM networks in six circles of Delhi, Haryana, eastern and western Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.
The contract is for a period of 2 years. It incorporates supply and services of GSM equipment, value-added services and packet core equipment.
Sanjeev Aga, managing director of Idea Cellular said, "This expansion is part of our larger growth strategy to take our services to more consumers by penetrating deeper in the circles we operate. This will allow us to more than double our existing capacity and reach out to thousands of new population centres in these circles."
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