Idea has 2.6 Mn 3G Subscribers + Non Voice Revenue Jumps to 14.3%

Idea Cellular, PAN India GSM Mobile Service Provider has 2.6 Mn Active 3G Customers including those with Roaming Arrangements. Idea now has 12,825 towers serving 3G out of the total 83,190 it uses for serving Wireless customers i.e about 15% of 3G roll-out completed in a year.

Idea’s share of Non-Voice Revenue now stands at 14.3% [2G & 3G Data, SMS, Sale of Android Handsets and Value Added Services]

Idea’s ARPM declined 2.5% QoQ basis to Rs 0.422 from Rs 0.433. However, the company was successful in raising its Revenue Market Share by 110 bps to 14.4%.

Idea’s standalone wireless revenues grew a solid 6.7% qoq and 26.6% yoy to Rs54 bn. Network traffic grew 9% QoQ to 124bn minutes, up a very notable 10.3bn minutes.

Wireless subscriber Base Now Stands at 112,723,000 with Wireless ARPU Rs / Subs / Month is Flat at Rs 160 [YoY]. Wireless churn came down to 9.9% from 10.4% in 3QFY12 and 10.7% in 4QFY11.

Idea plans to spend Rs 3500 Cr this year on CAPEX excluding any payments towards Spectrum. Idea’s CAPEX Spend in FY2012 was Rs 40 Bn. Idea had represented to the TRAI not to auction the 700Mhz Spectrum, the best spectrum for Wireless Broadband and has been successful in pushing the Auction for few years which will give the company enough time to build balance sheet.

Idea 3G Update after Con Call with Management
Idea cellular 3G Data ARPU is Rs 91 and AVG Data Consumption is 315 MB.
Idea wants to create an eco-system for Wireless Broadband. Idea Data services are not targeted only at the elite but for the mass market which never had an opportunity to experience broadband services in the last 50 years. Idea has thus associated itself with Handset manufacturers to promote 3G on Small Screen. 3G on USB dongle is not Idea’s core business as is highly competitive.

Where will Idea Cellular promote 3G ?
Idea has upgraded its network capacities in areas where 2G data usage was thriving. The company plans to migrate these customers to 3G.