>Wbm1058 at 22:26, 26 June 2021

2021-06-26T22:26:41Z

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{{short description|Defunct Indian telecommunications company}}
{{About|the mobile network operator|the comic book company|Aircel Comics|other uses|Air cell (disambiguation){{!}}Air cell}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Aircel Ltd.
| logo = Aircel Logo.svg
| logo_size = 250px
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| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]<ref name="About Aircel">{{cite web|url=http://www.aircel.com/AircelWar/images?url=/ucmaircel/groups/public/documents/webasset/faq-pdf.pdf|title=FAQ|access-date=1 July 2018}}</ref>
| industry = [[Telecommunications]]
| genre =
| fate = Bankrupt
| founded = [[Tiruvannamalai]], Tamilnadu and Registered at [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India ({{Start date|1999}})<ref name="About Aircel"/>
| founder = Chinnakannan Sivasankaran
| defunct = {{End date|df=yes|2018|02|28}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Aircel goes bankrupt, becomes fourth telecom player to bow out as cut-throat price war takes toll |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/telecom/aircel-bankruptcy-telecom-sector-nclt-numbers-insolvency/story/271714.html |website=Business Today |access-date=1 July 2018}}</ref>
| hq_location = Opus Centre, 47, Central Road, MIDC, [[Andheri]]
| hq_location_city = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]
| hq_location_country = India<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=http://www.aircel.com/AircelWar/appmanager/aircel/ap?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=customercare_contactus_page |website=Aircel |access-date=1 July 2018}}</ref>
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| services = [[Mobile telephony]], [[wireless broadband]]
| revenue = {{profit}} [[US$]]1.159 billion (2012)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voicendata.ciol.com/content/top_stories/vnd100_2012vol-II/112072429.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119074204/http://voicendata.ciol.com/content/top_stories/vnd100_2012vol-II/112072429.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 January 2013 |publisher=Voice & Data |title=Aircel: Banking on the Future |date=24 July 2012 }}</ref>
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| owners = [[Maxis Communications|Maxis]] (74%)<ref name=maxisshare>{{cite web|url=http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/29/business/4598603&sec=business |title=The Star - Business - Maxis owns 74% of Aircel |publisher=Biz.thestar.com.my |date=29 August 2009 |access-date=28 June 2012}}</ref> <br> [[Apollo Hospitals]] (Sindya Securities and Investments 26%)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/apollo-group-prathap-c-reddy-have-no-investment-in-aircel/article2227232.ece|title=Apollo group, Prathap C. Reddy have no investment in Aircel}}</ref>
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| website = {{URL|http://aircel.com/}}
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}}

'''Aircel Ltd.''' was an [[Mobile network operators of India|Indian mobile network operator]] headquartered in [[Mumbai]] that offered voice and [[2G]] and [[3G]] data services. [[Maxis Communications]] held a 74% stake and Sindya Securities and Investments held the remaining 26%.<ref name=maxisshare /> Aircel was founded by Chinnakannan Sivasankaran and commenced operations in [[Tamil Nadu]] in 1999. It was once a market leader in [[Tamil Nadu]] and had considerable presence in [[Odisha]], [[Assam]] and North-East [[telecom circle]]s. [[2G]] and [[3G]] Services including voice were shut down in all circles due to failure in merge with [[Reliance Communications]].

==History==
Aircel was founded by Chinnakannan Sivasankaran from [[Kovilur, Tiruvannamalai|Kovilur]] village, [[Cheyyar]] taluk, [[Tiruvannamalai]] district and started its operations in the [[Tamil Nadu]] telecom circle in 1999.<ref name="aircelbg">{{cite web|url=http://www.lightreading.in/document.asp?site=lrindia&doc_id=226988&page_number=1|title=Aicel: What the future holds|date=15 September 2012|publisher=Light Reading India|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217234051/http://www.lightreading.in/document.asp?site=lrindia&doc_id=226988&page_number=1|archive-date=17 February 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It became the leading operator in Tamil Nadu and one of the fastest growing mobile operators in India.<ref name="aircelbg"/> Malaysian telecom company [[Maxis Communications]] bought a 74% stock in the company from Sivasankaran in 2005. The remaining 26% stock is held by Sindya Securities and Investments promoted by Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director of [[Apollo Hospitals]]. In 2012, as a part of a major re-organization in its operations, the company scaled down its operations in five [[telecom circle]]s, namely [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Gujarat]], [[Haryana]], [[Kerala]] and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]. In April 2015, Aircel relaunched its service in [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_after-uninor-aircel-to-hang-up-in-5-circles_1752067| work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]| title=Aircel to withdraw from 5 circles| date=13 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/telecom/Aircel-to-cut-600-jobs/articleshow/16794330.cms |work=[[Times of India]] |date=13 October 2012 |title=Aircel to cut 600 jobs}}</ref> On 14 September 2016, [[Reliance Communications]] and Aircel announced the merger of their mobile network operations. Following the merger, the joint entity was expected to become India's fourth largest telecom operator in term of consumer base and revenues.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pandey|first1=Piyush|title=RCom-Aircel merger a strong challenger to Idea Cellular|url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/RCom-Aircel-merger-a-strong-challenger-to-Idea-Cellular/article14637988.ece|access-date=9 January 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 September 2016}}</ref> A year later, however, both the companies called off the deal citing regulatory and legal issues.<ref>{{cite news|title=RCom, Aircel hang up on merger plans|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/rcom-aircel-hang-up-on-merger-plans/article9883410.ece|access-date=9 January 2018|work=[[Business Line]]|date=1 October 2017}}</ref>

Aircel had planned to shut down its operations in unprofitable circles including, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (West) from 30 January 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aircel to shut operations in six circles from January 30|url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/aircel-to-shut-operations-in-six-circles-from-january-30-2465863.html|publisher=[[Moneycontrol.com]]|access-date=3 January 2018}}</ref> The [[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India]] (TRAI) asked Aircel to report the number of subscribers who have ported out from Aircel in these six circles. In cases, where the porting process could not be completed TRAI has asked the reasons for it.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pandey|first1=Navadha|title=Trai directs Aircel to submit a report on subscriber port-out in 6 circles|url=http://www.livemint.com/Industry/t3UQ3i4Civ6arkM7hEO57O/Trai-directs-Aircel-to-submit-report-on-subscriber-portout.html|access-date=9 January 2018|work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|date=21 December 2017|location=New Delhi}}</ref> After the failed merger deal with Reliance, Aircel had considered merging with [[Bharti Airtel]], whose chairman [[Sunil Mittal]] had stated in November 2017, that Airtel "was open to acquisition talks". {{As of|December 2017}}, Aircel was under a debt of around {{INRConvert|16000|c}}.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kurup|first1=Rajesh|title=Aircel looking at ways to stay afloat|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/aircel-looking-at-ways-to-stay-afloat/article9983369.ece|access-date=9 January 2018|work=[[Business Line]]|date=5 December 2017}}</ref>

==Services==

===3G===
On 19 May 2010, the 3G spectrum auction in India ended. Aircel paid {{INR}} 65 billion for spectrum in 13 circles: [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Bihar]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu & Kashmir]], [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]], [[Kolkata]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Northeast India|North East]], [[Odisha]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Uttar Pradesh|UP East]] and [[West Bengal]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.medianama.com/2010/05/223-3g-auction-india-ends-provisional-winners/ |title=India's 3G Auction Ends; Operator And Circle-Wise Results |access-date=21 May 2013|date=19 May 2010 }}</ref> It paid US$1.44 billion ({{INR}} 79.1 billion) for the 3G spectrum.<ref name="aircelbg"/> The company, {{as of|November 2012|lc=y}} had about 5 million 3G customers. Following the key players in 3G, Aircel also slashed its 3G tariff.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/telecom/Aircel-cuts-3G-tariffs-in-India/articleshow/13841425.cms |title=Aircel cuts 3G tariffs in India |date=5 June 2012 |access-date=21 May 2013 |work=The Times Of India}}</ref> In 2011, Aircel became the launch partner for Apple [[iPhone 4]] along with [[Bharti Airtel]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://site2preview.com/aircel2010_new/ver1/iphone4/i-phone-LP.html |title=• Aircel • |publisher=Site2preview.com |access-date=6 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324140302/http://site2preview.com/aircel2010_new/ver1/iphone4/i-phone-LP.html |archive-date=24 March 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===4G===
In June 2010, Aircel paid {{INR}} 34.38 billion for acquiring wireless broadband spectrum in eight circles: [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu & Kashmir]], North East, [[Odisha]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[West Bengal]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.medianama.com/2010/06/223-indias-broadband-wireless-auction-ends-operator-circlewise-results/ |title=India's Broadband Wireless Auction Ends; Operator & Circlewise Results |author= Pahwa, Nikhil |date=11 June 2010 |work= Medianama |location= Delhi |access-date=21 May 2013}}</ref> Aircel launched 4G services in Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir in August 2014, becoming the only private telecom operator to offer all the three existing technologies of 2G, 3G and 4G in these markets.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/Aircel-launches-4G-services-in-Tamil-Nadu-Jammu-Kashmir/articleshow/40364889.cms |title= Aircel launches 4G services in Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir |publisher= Times Of India |access-date=18 August 2014|date= 18 August 2014 }}</ref> Chinese equipment maker [[ZTE]] announced on 30 December 2013, that it had won a contract to deploy a 4G broadband network based on LTE technology for Aircel. The LTE network will be launched in Tamil Nadu and will be expanded later to other circles.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/zte-bags-4g-contract-from-aircel/article5518356.ece |title=ZTE bags 4G contract from Aircel |work= The Hindu BusinessLine |location= Chennai |date=30 December 2013 |access-date=24 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/telecom/ZTE-to-deploy-4G-LTE-network-for-Aircel/articleshow/28136544.cms |title=Aircel selects ZTE for 4G network rollout |work=The Times of India |location= Mumbai |date=30 December 2013 |access-date=24 January 2014}}</ref> On 16 July 2014, it launched 4G services in four circles [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Bihar]] and [[Odisha]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Aircel launches First 4G Mobile Services in Bihar|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/07/aircel-first-to-launch-4g-mobile-services-in-bihar/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=16 July 2014}}</ref>

===Business Solutions===
Aircel Business Solutions (ABS), part of Aircel, sold enterprise solutions such as [[Multiprotocol Label Switching]] [[virtual private network]]s (MPLS VPNs), [[Voice over Internet Protocol]] (VoIP) and managed video services on wireless platforms including WI-MAX.

==Network connectivity==
Aircel offered poor network coverage in Delhi & NCR circle.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Press Trust of India|title=Call drops: TRAI to impose up to ₹2 lakh penalty for poor service But Aircel has not improved their Network |url=http://www.livemint.com/Industry/dbzaNBToTiG6Wf1wzmxCEI/No-significant-improvement-in-call-drop-issue-Trai.html|access-date=5 June 2016|work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|date=15 October 2015|location=New Delhi|author1-link=Press Trust of India }}</ref> It used radio link time out technology without which the call drop rates will be significantly higher and many customers reported this.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Srivastava|first1=Moulishree|title=TRAI wants powers to impose penalties as telcos fail call drop test|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/trai-wants-powers-to-impose-penalties-as-telcos-fail-call-drop-test-116060101865_1.html|access-date=5 June 2016|work=[[Business Standard]]|date=2 June 2016}}</ref> In a 2015 survey conducted by ''[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]'' and InstaVaani in [[New Delhi]], Mumbai, [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]], [[Chennai]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Ahmedabad]] and Kolkata, it was found that Aircel offered the best service among all the telecom providers in the respective cities.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shashidhar|first1=Karthik|last2=Ghosh|first2=Shauvik|title=India's best and worst telecom firms|url=http://www.livemint.com/Industry/ZNfBYfxV3s94qdjcptSTnM/Indias-best-and-worst-telcos.html|access-date=5 June 2016|work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|date=8 July 2015}}</ref>

==Operations==
{{As of|2017|12}}, Aircel had a subscriber base of over 84.93 million and was India's sixth-largest [[GSM]] mobile service provider.<ref name="Dec17">{{cite web|url=http://www.trai.gov.in/notifications/press-release/press-release-telecom-subscription-data-28th-february-2018|title=Press release on Telecom Subscription Data as on 28th February, 2018 | Telecom Regulatory Authority of India}}</ref> With presence in 22 circles, Aircel was a market leader in [[Tamil Nadu]] and had considerable presence in [[Odisha]], [[Assam]] and [[North-East India|North-East]] circles. In 2012, as a part of a major re-organization in its operations, the company scaled down its operations in five telecom circles, namely [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Gujarat]], [[Haryana]], [[Kerala]] and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]. In April 2015, Aircel relaunched its service in [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_after-uninor-aircel-to-hang-up-in-5-circles_1752067|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |title=Aircel to withdraw from 5 circles| date=13 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/telecom/Aircel-to-cut-600-jobs/articleshow/16794330.cms|work=[[The Times of India]] |date=13 October 2012 |title=Aircel to cut 600 jobs}}</ref>

Now Aircel is under the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process From 12 March 2018.

==Sponsorship and brand ambassadors==
Aircel was the main shirt sponsor of [[Indian Premier League]] [[cricket]] team [[Chennai Super Kings]] and [[I-League]] [[association football|football]] team [[Shillong Lajong FC]]. Aircel was also the principal sponsor for [[Atlético de Kolkata|Atlético de Kolkata FC]] who play in the [[Indian Super League]] football competition. It was also a major sponsor of the [[Chennai Open]] [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]] tennis tournament and the [[Professional Golf Tour of India]]. Aircel also sponsored the Save the [[Tiger]] campaign for protecting India's tigers. The [[Brand_ambassador|brand ambassadors]] of Aircel included the [[India_national_cricket_team|Indian cricket team]] captain [[Mahendra Singh Dhoni]] and [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] actor [[Suriya (actor)|Suriya]]. Aircel also engaged with boxer [[Mary Kom]], [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] actors [[Dhanush]] and [[Sameera Reddy]].<ref name="aircelbg3">{{cite web| url=http://www.lightreading.in/document.asp?site=lrindia&doc_id=226988&page_number=3| title=Aicel: What the future holds (Page 3)| publisher=Light Reading India| date=15 September 2012}}</ref>

==Controversies==
Aircel is being investigated by [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] for alleged irregularities in the Maxis takeover. According to CBI, Aircel's previous owner C. Sivasankaran was forced to sell his stake to Maxis by the then Telecom Minister [[Dayanidhi Maran]] in 2005 in return for Maxis' investment of Rs. 5 billion in a [[Direct-to-home television|DTH]] company owned by the Maran family.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Marans-got-Rs-550cr-bribe-in-Aircel-Maxis-deal-CBI/articleshow/15175723.cms| publisher=[[Times of India]]| date=27 July 2012| title=Maran-Maxis deal}}</ref> There were also rumours in September 2012 that the Russian company [[Sistema]] was in talks to acquire Aircel which wasn't confirmed by either companies.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Sistema-in-talks-to-acquire-Aircel/articleshow/16388282.cms| publisher=[[Times of India]]| date=14 September 2012| title=Sistema to acquire Aircel?}}</ref> Aircel was one among seven operators to receive notices from the [[Department of Telecommunications]] for not meeting [[Mobile phone radiation and health#Health hazards of base stations|radiation norms]] in their base tower stations in September 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-14/telecom/33843566_1_radiation-norms-mobile-towers-antenna| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202094805/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-14/telecom/33843566_1_radiation-norms-mobile-towers-antenna| url-status=dead| archive-date=2 February 2014| date=14 September 2012| work=[[The Times of India]]| title=Aircel gets DoT notice}}</ref>
Nearly nine lakh customers across India on 21 February 2018 tried to port their numbers after facing frequent call drops, amidst reports of the company facing financial distress. After several users took to [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]] to express their fear of the company shutting down, Aircel clarified on social media that it is not closing its services and that users will be notified in advance of any such eventuality. A senior official told The Times of India, "The systems are unable to handle the surge. However, we are not going anywhere. It is our responsibility to serve customers until the end. We are devising a way to create manual codes to facilitate the porting process."
Finally most of its customers ported out since there was no network signal provided by them starting March 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/aircel-shutting-down-and-should-you-be-worried-customer-5-things-know-76864|title=Is Aircel shutting down and should you be worried as a customer? 5 things to know|date=22 February 2018}}</ref> On 28 February 2018 Aircel filed for bankruptcy at [[National Company Law Tribunal|NCLT]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/aircel-countrys-last-small-mobile-phone-firm-file-for-bankruptcy-today/articleshow/63110441.cms |title=Aircel, country's last small mobile phone operator, files for bankruptcy |last=Sengupta |first=Devina |date=28 February 2018 |work=The Economic Times |access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/aircel-india/aircel-press-release/1893902820650898/ |title=Aircel's bankruptcy note on Facebook}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Mobile network operators of India]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.aircel.com/}}

{{Telecommunication companies of India}}

[[Category:Telecommunications companies of India]]
[[Category:Mobile phone companies of India]]
[[Category:Internet service providers of India]]
[[Category:Companies based in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:Indian companies disestablished in 2018]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies disestablished in 2018]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]

Aircel - Revision history

>Wbm1058 at 22:26, 26 June 2021