After Bharti Airtel, other leading telcos Idea Cellular and Vodafone have given indications of launching 4G service after winning spectrum in recently concluded auction.
 
While Idea Cellular, India's third largest mobile operator announced that it will launch 4G services in 8 of its key revenue markets, where it acquired fresh spectrum in the recently concluded auction, Vodafone said that it retained its existing spectrum in the three metros and significantly enhanced its data capabilities by buying 4G spectrum for the next generation of mobile services in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Karnataka and Kerala.
 
“These circles make up over 50% of our current data revenues and we expect them to be at the forefront of 4G adoption as they were for 3G. In Mumbai, we are able to provide both 2G and 3G on 900MHz. This is unique in India”, Vodafone said.
 
Without being specific on the launch of 4G services, Idea said that launch will take place at an appropriate juncture.
 
Idea Cellular says that it now possesses the ability to launch 4G services in Kerala with 10 MHz, and in Maharashtra & Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, and North East, using 5 MHz of contiguous 1800 MHz spectrum won in each of these service areas.
 
Idea Cellular said that in its 6 strategic markets of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra & Goa, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Punjab, and Haryana, representing 53 percent of its revenues, customers will be able to seamlessly experience all three Mobility technologies - GSM, 3G, and 4G services in the coming years.
 
Marten Pieters, Managing Director & CEO, Vodafone India said, “We are pleased to have secured our business for the next 20 years in three of our most important circles by buying enough spectrum to continue our successful journey. We have also opened the door to the next generation of mobile technology, 4G, by acquiring 1800 spectrum in the places where we expect this market to take off first. Vodafone Mumbai is the only operator in India to have data capabilities on all the commercial spectrum bands: 3G on 900MHz and 2100MHz and 4G on 1800MHz.”