Telecom service provider Aircel is now currently conducting trials of 4G services in Andhra Pradesh, according to reports. While the tests are currently underway, a top official from the provider was reported saying that it will take some time before the service can commercially be launched. Deepinder Tiwana, AP circle Business Head of Aircel, said, "The trials are currently on but we don't have the required ecosystem, including the 4G-enabled mobile handsets, to launch the services commercially." Aircel is currently the second cellular service provider after Reliance to get 4G, or Long-Term Evolution (LTE) license, for the AP circle. While talking about this, Tiwana said, "Data services are growing exponentially in Andhra Pradesh. About 44% of our 1.85 million subscribers in AP use data services, including 12% for 3G. This has enabled us to double our revenues in 2013 compared to the previous year.”
Aircel has begun testing for 4G in the AP circle (Image credit: Getty Images)
Keeping this in mind, Aircel, according to the official, is planning new data plans including voice plans to give more value-for-money services to customers. Rationalising this, the official said, "We have identified the priority segments and are accordingly drawing up our strategies to drive future growth." Currently, the only telecom provider who has 4G services for data plans is Airtel, although the service does not extend to voice plans. The private mobile phone operator, which was reported making a loss of about Rs 250 crore per annum till last year, has since seen a change in fortunes. According to Tiwana, the company “will start making full-year profit from next year.” The official did not reveal any figures for the same, though. While telecom providers all seem to be gearing up to roll out 4G services in India early next year, manufacturers like Micromax, Karbonn and others have also begun to work on LTE-enabled devices as well. The 4G devices in question may be priced somewhere between Rs 15,000 and Rs 44,500.
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