Aditya Birla Group-owned GSM service provider Idea Cellular has expanded its presence in
Jammu and Kashmir by launching its services in nine districts in the valley, according to an
official release. The company now covers 12 districts in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Idea has expanded its network with nearly 300 cell sites (consisting of towers and other
communication equipment), covering Srinagar city, Badgam, Anantnag, Mattan, Kulgam, Pulwama,
Shopian, Ganderbal, Patan and Sumbal in the valley, in addition to its recently launched
network in Jammu City, Bari Brahmana, Bishnah, Katra, Udhampur and the Jammu-Katra highway.
Mobile users in Kashmir will now get Idea’s ‘Choose your
number’ service, wherein new subscribers can send an SMS from an Idea number and
get a choice of mobile numbers. The operator has also launched a CUG (closed user group)
pack at call rate of 18 paise per minute within a group, with rent of Rs 18 per month.
“The expansion of our services to Srinagar will enable the people of the state
capital and large parts of the valley to enjoy the same mobility services of Idea Cellular,
as in Jammu and the rest of the country,” said Anish Roy, chief operating
officer, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, Idea Cellular in a statement.
“We understand the mobile communication needs of the people, and the unique
geography of the region, based on which we have designed a network that covers large
population areas, and a product portfolio suiting the needs and affordability of the local
populace,” added Roy.
Idea’s network of customer service centres and retail outlets in the state is
being expanded to 18 exclusive Idea Points, and 3,400 other retail outlets. The company has
introduced a voice portal with content in the areas of news, sports, entertainment, and
other regional content in Dogri and Kashmiri languages for its subscribers in Jammu and
Kashmir.
Earlier, in November last year the service provider had launched its network in Assam in the
North East of India.