Idea Cellular signs agreement with Ericsson to deploy 4G/LTE network

Idea Cellular has signed agreement with Ericsson to deploy 4G/LTE network in select circles and transform the firm’s existing 2G and 3G infrastructures. The LTE deployment will cover Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, the North - East and Himachal Pradesh, which serve over 40 million subscribers. The agreement includes transformation of the company’s existing mobile radio access and core network infrastructure across nine circles for 2G and five circles for 3G.

The contract covers equipment, software and a range of professional services, including project management, systems integration and supervisory managed services for 4G/LTE across select circles for two years. For this, Ericsson will install its multi-standard RBS 6000 radio base station, which supports GSM/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA and LTE in a single cabinet and upgrade core network and operations support systems (OSS).

Idea Cellular, an AV Birla group company, provides Global System for Mobile communications (GSM)-based wireless service at the pan-India level, it is present in all 22 telecom circles.