Airtel is all set to buy Tikona Digital Networks’ 4G business for 1,600 crores (approx $244.20 million) to expand its 4G network. According to the deal, the telecom company will be acquiring Tikona’s 4G business including Broadband Wireless Access spectrum and 350 sites, in five telecom circles.
Tikona currently has 20 MHz spectrum in the 2300 MHz band in five circles that includes- Gujarat, UP East, UP West, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The company will be rolling out its high speed 4G services in the five circles immediately after sealing the deal.
Airtel will be undertaking Tikona’s 4G business in Gujarat, Up East, UP West, and Himachal Pradesh while in Rajasthan, it will be accomplished by Airtel’s subsidiary Bharti Hexacom Limited. Combined spectrum holding of Airtel in these five circles will be within the spectrum caps prescribed the Government, post-acquisition.
According to the company, the deal will help fill BWA (Broadband Wireless Access) gaps in UP East, UP West, and Rajasthan. It will also take Airtel’s overall BWA spectrum holding in remaining two circles to 30 MHz. After the closure of transaction, the largest telecom operator in India will have 30 MHz in the 2300 MHz band in 13 circles, sufficient to handle the surging data demand.
“Airtel’s continued focus on strengthening its 4G capabilities across multiple spectrum bands will be complemented with the BWA spectrum acquisition from Tikona,” said Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel. “We believe that combining our capacities in TD-LTE and FD-LTE will further bolster our network, and help us provide unmatched high-speed wireless broadband experience to our customers.”