Uninor lines up Rs.600 cr capex for this year

Opens five new stores, 30 Wi-Fi enabled outlets in AP, TS

Hyderabad: Telecom operator Uninor, a part of Norway’s Telenor Group, on Thursday said it lined up Rs 600 crore as capital expenditure for the current year and most of it would go into establishment of 5,000 new base stations across the country.

"As part of our efforts to strengthen our network across the six circles we are operating in, we are heavily investing in setting up of new base stations. Our target for this year is 5,000 new base stations across the country, representing a 30 per cent over the last year,” Morten Karlsen Sorby, CEO, Uninor, told media here after launching the company’s initiative of ‘Customer First Day’. He further said that most of the Rs 600 core capex earmarked for the current year would be used for setting up the base stations. The company follows calendar year as financial year.

To mark the ‘Customer First Day’ which is aimed at enhancing the company’s focus on needs of the customers, Uninor has launched 500 Wi-Fi enabled stores including 100 new retail outlets. “In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, we launched 30 Wi-Fi enabled stores in addition to five brand new outlets,” he explained. At present, Uninor has more than 1,500 stores and 3.65 lakh touch points across its six operating circles where it enjoys a customer base of 42 million. “In the first six months of 2014, our revenues went up by 40 per cent, indicating robust growth across our plans,” he said.

Replying to a query, he said average revenue per customer for Uninor was in the range of Rs 107 to Rs 108.

Asked as to when the company would roll out 4G services, he said there were no immediate plans to launch the commercial services of 4G as the penetration of 4G-enabled handsets was still low in the country. “For the 4G services to succeed, there should adequate penetration of 4G-enabled handsets. Until that happens, there is no use even if we launch the services. However, we plan to undertake testing of 4G services this year,” he explained.

Satish Kumar Kannan, Circle Business Head- Andhra Pradesh, Uninor, said the company also launched the self-help facility under which a customer can dial 121 to access their account information, customised tariff plans, activate and de-active add-on services and get details of the last recharge.

“Through the entire life cycle of our customers, we focus on providing affordable tariffs plans, build strong distribution network to provide convenience recharges, offer customised tariff plans and assistance on special services. This is an ongoing process but through dedicated days like Customer First Day we are encouraged to stay committed to this ambition,” he added.