Indian operator plans to acquire 20 megahertz of spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band
Indian telecom group Bharti Airtel received approval for the acquisition of “4G” spectrum from rival operator Aircel, local press reported. The total value of the acquisition is at 35 billion rupees ($521.2 million).
The Telecom Ministry agreed to allow Bharti Airtel to acquire 20 megahertz of spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band in eight of the country’s 22 telecom circles. Bharti Airtel announced it had already completed the acquisition of spectrum in six of the eight circles – Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Assam and North End. The operator said the acquisition is not yet concluded in the remaining two circles of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.
With this acquisition, Bharti Airtel is set to have a pan-Indian LTE presence. The operator previously confirmed the recently acquired spectrum will be valid until 2030.
Bharti Airtel had 245.8 million mobile subscribers (24% market share) at the end of January, according to the latest figures from the country’s telecom regulator TRAI.
Smart expands 2G, 4G network infrastructure in the Philippines
In other APAC news, Philippines operator Smart Communications expanded the capacity of 2,035 mobile sites in 581 cities and municipalities using the 1800 MHz spectrum band. The telco said it is working to expand the capacity of its 2G network to handle more calls and text messages, particularly in dense urban areas in Metro Manila, North Luzon, South Luzon, in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Smart recently announced it has activated eight LTE cell sites using the 700 megahertz spectrum. Five of these cell sites are in Davao City, with one each in Tanay, Rizal; Bacoor, Cavite; and the Manggahan area in Pasig City. Smart plans to activate 360 LTE cell sites this year, initially in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao.
Smart and its parent firm PLDT signed an agreement with the Department of Transportation to strengthen data connectivity with the deployment of smart Wi-Fi capabilities in major airports, seaports and bus terminals, as well as mass transport systems MRT and LRT.
