Idea Cellular has decided to join hands with Nokia for its 4G rollout in 3 major circles comprised of Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. This development comes just 2 months after the telecom operator had announced it was partnering with Ericsson for its LTE deployment in Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, the North East and Madhya Pradesh.
Under the terms of the agreement, Idea Cellular will use Nokia’s Single RAN technology to allow for the simultaneous operation of 2G, 3G and 4G networks together on one platform. The player claims the deal will eventually result in better optimization of its investments and deliver a better mobile broadband experience with faster speeds.
Furthermore, Nokia is also supposed to bolster the upgrade and expansion of Idea Cellular’s core network and operational support systems in preparation for the spread of its 4G platform. That’s in addition to its services for network deployment, planning and optimization.
Idea has been making rapid progress when it comes to its LTE expansion plans. The company’s high-speed service made its way to the North East of India last month. It’s now extended its reach to 9 telecom circles in India and covered nearly 300 cities in the country since its LTE debut in December last year.
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Idea plans to have its 4G platform present in 750 towns across India by the time it’s done. Maharashtra and Goa are next on the agenda, with the two regions set to get LTE connectivity by June this year.