LizetteGoble at 16:21, 17 January 2026

2026-01-17T16:21:37Z

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{{Short description|Former Indian telecommunications company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{About|the previous Indian mobile telecommunications company supported by [[Aditya Birla Group]]|the successor (and current) company|Vodafone Idea}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Idea Cellular Limited
| logo =
| logo_size =
| image =
| former_name = Birla Communications Limited (1995-1996) Birla AT&T Communications Limited (1996-2001) Birla Tata AT&T Communications Limited (2001-2002)
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{Unbulleted list
|{{BSE was|532822}}
|{{NSE was|IDEA}}
}}
| fate = [[Mergers and acquisitions|Merged]] with [[Vodafone India]] into [[Vodafone Idea]]
| successor = [[Vodafone Idea]]<ref name="NCLT nod" />
| area_served = [[India]]
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list
|[[Kumar Mangalam Birla]] {{Small|([[Chairman]])}}
|Himanshu Kapania {{Small|([[Managing director]])}}
}}
| ISIN = INE669E01016
| industry = [[Telecommunications industry|Telecommunications]]
| products = [[Mobile telephony]], [[wireless broadband]]
| revenue = {{up}} {{INRConvert|36162.54|c}} (2016)<ref name="Idea 2016">{{cite web |url=http://profit.ndtv.com/stock/idea-cellular-ltd_idea/financials-yearly |title=Consolidated Result 2016-17}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{up}} {{INRConvert|12180.67|c}} (2016)<ref name="Idea 2016" />
| net_income = {{up}} {{INRConvert|2728.13|c}} (2016)<ref name="Idea 2016" />
| assets = {{up}}
{{INRConvert|98577.16|c}} (2016)
| equity = {{up}}
{{INRConvert|27262.46|c}} (2016)
| owner = {{Unbulleted list
|[[Aditya Birla Group]] (49.05%)
|[[Axiata]] (19.96%)
|[[Providence Equity Partners]] (10.60%)
}}
| members = 220.00 million
| members_year = June 2018
| parent = [[Aditya Birla Group]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1995}}
| founder = [[Aditya Birla Group]]
| defunct = {{End date|2018|08|31}} (as a [[company]])
{{End date|2020|09|07}} (as a [[brand]])
| location = [[Gandhinagar]], [[Gujarat]], India<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ideacellular123.com/IDEA.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=IDEA_Page_IVContact |title=Idea Cellular – Cell Phone Services |access-date=28 June 2012 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
}}

'''Idea Cellular''' was an [[India|Indian]] [[telecommunications company]] based at [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Idea Cellular – Cell Phone Services {{!}}3G, Prepaid, Postpaid & Wireless Internet |url=http://www.ideacellular.com/aboutus/aboutidea |access-date=2014-07-29 |website=www.ideacellular.com |language=en}}</ref> It was an integrated [[GSM]] [[Mobile Network Operator|operator]] and had 220.00 million subscribers as of June 2018.<ref name="Dec17">{{cite web|url=http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/PR_No.23_TSD_Eng_16022018.pdf|title=Press Release No. 23/2018|date=16 February 2018|publisher=[[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India]]|access-date=20 February 2018}}</ref>

In 2018 Idea Cellular [[Mergers and acquisitions|merged]] with [[Vodafone India]] into [[Vodafone Idea]].<ref name="VI">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/idea-vodafone-say-merger-complete-now-indias-largest-telco-with-408-million-active-users/articleshow/65619297.cms?from=mdr|date=31 August 2018|title=Idea-Vodafone say merger complete, now India's largest telco with 408 million active users|website=Indiatimes}}</ref>

==History==
Idea Cellular was [[Incorporation (business)|incorporated]] as Birla Communications in 1995 after [[GSM]] licenses were won in [[Gujarat]] and [[Maharashtra]] circles. The [[Company naming|company name]] was changed to Idea Cellular and the [[brand]] Idea was introduced in 2002 after a series of name changes following [[Mergers and acquisitions|mergers]] and [[Joint venture|joint ventures]] with [[Grasim Industries]], [[AT&T Corporation]] and [[Tata Group]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Idea Cellular – Cell Phone Services {{!}}3G, Prepaid, Postpaid & Wireless Internet |url=http://www.ideacellular.com/aboutus/history |access-date=2014-07-29 |website=www.ideacellular.com |language=en}}</ref> Following the exit of AT&T Corporation and Tata Group from the joint venture in 2004 and 2006 respectively, Idea Cellular became a [[Subsidiary company|subsidiary]] of [[Aditya Birla Group]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Cingular Allows Agreement to Sell Stake in Indian Wireless Service Provider to Expire | website=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130452/000095014405006486/g95844exv99w1.htm | access-date=2015-06-07}}</ref> [[Malaysia]] based [[Axiata Group Berhad|Axiata]] had bought around 20% [[Equity (finance)|stake]] in the [[company]] in 2008 for US$2 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=www.ETTelecom.com |title=Malaysian Telco Axiata may soon exit Vodafone Idea as stock continues its slide - ET Telecom |language=en |url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/malaysian-telco-axiata-may-soon-exit-vodafone-idea-as-stock-continues-its-slide/74367060 |access-date=2020-06-14}}</ref>

Idea previously bought a 40.8% stake in [[Spice Telecom]], for over {{INR}}2,700 crore.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/spice-telecom-buy-to-leave-idea-cellular-richer/story-4rnJnPMlFa4EiXEUsLswhP.html |title=Spice Telecom buy to leave Idea Cellular richer |last=Kumar|first=Arun|date=2008-06-30|publisher=Hindustan Times|access-date=2020-12-21}}</ref>

===Merger with Vodafone India===
The entry of [[Jio]] in 2016 had led to various [[List of telecom companies in India#Defunct operators|mergers and consolidations]] in the Indian [[Telecommunications industry|telecom sector]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/rws5uR2FeOti3o3nU7AirL/The-shakeup-in-Indias-telecom-sector.html|title=The shakeup in India's telecom sector|last=Raj|first=Amrit|date=2017-10-21|work=www.livemint.com|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref> It was announced in March 2017 that even Idea Cellular and [[Vodafone India]] would be merged. The merger got approval from [[Department of Telecommunications]] in July 2018. On August 30, 2018, [[National Company Law Tribunal]] gave the final nod to the Vodafone-Idea merger <ref name="NCLT nod">{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/nclt-gives-go-ahead-to-idea-vodafone-merger/articleshow/65616161.cms |title=NCLT gives go-ahead to Idea-Vodafone merger |last1=Parbat |first1=Kalyan |date=2018-08-31 |work=The Economic Times |access-date=2018-09-01 |last2=Sengupta |first2=Devina}}</ref> The merger was completed on 31 August 2018, and the newly merged entity was named [[Vodafone Idea]].<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Vodafone Idea Limited {{!}} Campaign |url=https://www.vodafoneidea.com/stronger-together |access-date=2019-07-24 |website=www.vodafoneidea.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Idea approves merger with Vodafone India, to create India's largest telco|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/companies-a-z/corporate-trends/idea-approves-merger-with-vodafone-india-to-create-indias-largest-telco/articleshow/57726194.cms|website=The Economic Times|access-date=20 March 2017|last1=Guha|first1=Romit}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kurup|first1=Rajesh|title=Idea Cellular board approves merger with Vodafone India; shares tank 9%|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/idea-cellular-board-approves-merger-with-vodafone-india/article9591707.ece|website=The Hindu Business Line|access-date=20 March 2017|language=en|date=20 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="BSE Disclosure">{{cite web |title=Disclosure under Regulation 30 of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015 |url=https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/30efb0f1-67b4-40d7-b7e8-d1c60104dd50.pdf |website=BSE |access-date=31 August 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The merger created the largest [[Telecommunications company|telecom company]] in India by subscribers and by revenue. Under the terms of the deal, the [[Vodafone Group]] holds a 45.2% stake in the combined entity, the Aditya Birla Group holds 26% and the remaining [[Share (finance)|shares]] will be held by the public.<ref name="BSE Disclosure" />

On 7 September 2020, Vodafone Idea unveiled this new [[brand identity]], Vi, which involved the integration of the company's erstwhile separate brands Vodafone India and Idea Cellular into one unified brand.

== Operations ==

In the 2010 [[3G]] [[spectrum auction]], Idea paid {{INRConvert|57.68|b}} for spectrum in 11 circles.<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 |first=Nikhil |last=Pahwa |work=[[MediaNama]] |date=19 May 2010}}</ref> After the launch of [[Mobile number portability|MNP]] in India, Idea further strengthened its customer base because it was the [[mobile network]] with most net port-ins.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/five-years-on-idea-vodafone-airtel-emerge-top-gainers-in-mnp-kotak/articleshow/51808066.cms|title=Five years on, Idea, Vodafone, Airtel emerge top gainers in MNP: Kotak|last=Abbas|first=Muntazir|date=2016-04-13|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref>

===Radio frequency summary===

Idea Cellular owned spectrum in 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands across the country.<ref>{{citation |url=http://telecomtalk.info/india-spectrum-data-sheet/134245/|publisher=Telecom Talk|access-date=15 July 2018|title=Pan India 2016 spectrum holding data sheet (updated)}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" | [[Telecom circle]] coverage
! scope="col" | [[E-GSM]] 900MHz [[GSM frequency bands|Band 8]]
! scope="col" | [[GSM]] / [[LTE-FDD]] 1800MHz [[LTE frequency bands|Band 3]]
! scope="col" | [[UMTS]] 2100MHz [[UMTS frequency bands|Band 1]]
! scope="col" | [[LTE-TDD]] 2300MHz [[LTE frequency bands|Band 40]]
! scope="col" | [[LTE-TDD]] 2500MHz [[LTE frequency bands|Band 41]]
|-
|[[Delhi]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Mumbai]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Kolkata]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Andhra Pradesh]] & [[Telangana]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Gujarat]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Karnataka]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{na|color=}}
|-
|[[Maharashtra]] & [[Goa]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Tamil Nadu]]|| {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{na|color=}}
|-
|[[Haryana]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Kerala]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Madhya Pradesh]]

|-
|[[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Rajasthan]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Eastern Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh (East)]]|| {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Western Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh (West)]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[West Bengal]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Assam]] || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Bihar]] & [[Jharkhand]] || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Himachal Pradesh]] || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[North East India|North East]] || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|-
|[[Odisha]] || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{ya|color=}} || {{na|color=}} || {{ya|color=}}
|}
'''Note:''' The above table contains [[Vodafone Idea]] radio frequency details because they used to share their networks with each other via ICR (intra-circle roaming agreement) in some circles. For example, Idea had started giving its customers in Delhi access to [[4G]] services in May 2018 via the [[Vodafone India|Vodafone]] network.<ref>{{citation |url=http://telecomtalk.info/idea-cellular-4g-delhi/177190/|publisher=Telecom Talk|access-date=15 July 2018|title=Idea Cellular 4G Services Now Live in Delhi Via ICR With Vodafone}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/idea-to-launch-volte-in-march-inks-4g-icr-agreement-with-vodafone/62634564|publisher=ET Telecom|access-date=15 July 2018|title=Idea to launch VoLTE in March, inks 4G ICR agreement with Vodafone}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons category}}
* [[Aditya Birla Group]]
* [[AT&T Corporation]]
* [[Axiata]]
* [[Grasim Industries]]
* [[Spice Telecom]]
* [[Tata Group]]
* [[Vodafone Idea]]
* [[Vodafone India]]
{{Portal bar|Companies|India|Telecommunications}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* [http://data.conferenceworld.in/IEEERAJSHREE/P150-156.pdf Liquidity and Profitability Tradeoff (a study of Idea Cellular Limited)]

==External links==
* {{Official website|}}

{{Telecommunication companies of India}}
{{Axiata Group}}
{{Aditya Birla Group}}
{{Asia Mobility Initiative}}
{{Major telecommunications companies}}

[[Category:Companies based in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies of India]]
[[Category:Axiata]]
[[Category:Aditya Birla Group]]
[[Category:Mobile phone companies of India]]
[[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]]
[[Category:Providence Equity Partners companies]]
[[Category:Internet service providers of India]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1995]]
[[Category:Indian brands]]
[[Category:Former Tata Group subsidiaries]]
[[Category:1995 establishments in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1995]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the National Stock Exchange of India]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange]]

Idea Cellular - Revision history

LizetteGoble at 16:21, 17 January 2026