Tata Teleservices plans to invest Rs 3,500 crore (Rs 35 billion) in 2007-08 for expanding its footprint into new territories and launching 3G services.
"We will add more cell cites and expand to another 1,000 towns and if we get the 3G spectrum, we will roll out this service as well," Tata Teleservice CEO Darryl Green told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday.
Tthe delay in finalising the 3G policy was depriving the consumer from enjoying the benefits of the latest technology, Green said.
"Last year, Department of Telecom said it would put a 3G policy in place by December 2006. Now it is March," he said.
The company has applied for licences to operate in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the rest of the northeast. "If we get licences, then a part of the Rs 3,500 crore (Rs 35 billion) will be used to set up services in these areas," Green said.
Tata Teleservices would be enhancing its services with latest technology to attract new subscribers. The company has been adding about six million subsribers every month, he said.
Green ruled out the possibility of Tata Tele venturing into GSM technology. Now, it runs on CDMA technology. "GSM is a 20-year old technology and fading into the twilight. We won't be looking into it," Green said.
To hive off cellular tower busines: The company also said on Thursday it would hive off its cellular tower business in three months, while earmarking Rs 35 billion for expanding services in more towns across the country.
The company, which has invested Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) in the tower business so far, is in talks with six companies to operate its towers, Tata Teleservices CEO Darryl Green told reporters in Mumbai.
The company, which offers CDMA services, would invest Rs 3,500 crore (Rs 35 billion) in 2007-08 for rolling out services in more towns as it plans to add 100 million subscribers by 2011 from the present 15.5 million, he said.
Market leader Bharti Airtel and Vodafone, the newest entrant in the Indian mobile space, too have targeted addition of 100 million subscribers each. India is the world's fastest growing mobile market with over seven million subscriber additions every month.