Our Bureau

Kochi , Nov. 3

BPL Mobile will add 100 cell sites across Kerala within 100 days as part of the company's network and capacity enhancement plan.

The company is anticipating an investment to the tune of Rs 75 crore to set up the 100 additional cell sites. There are also plans to double the subscriber base within the next six months, Mr K.A. Mohammed Saleem, Chief Operating Officer, BPL Mobile, said.

With the network roll out of new cell sites, the company is planning to spruce up its coverage and capacity on highways, rail routes and in peripheral areas of large community living, he added.

Mr Saleem said BPL Mobile was able to register 100 per cent growth in subscriber base to over 3,53,508 by the end of September this year (1,52,784 subscribers in September last year).

According to Mr Saleem, BPL Mobile had a phenomenal growth in the subscriber base and revenues after achieving the long-term debt financing requirements in August last year. The doubling of network capacity and coverage had helped to double the subscriber base in a span of one year.

The new network expansions are planned in various locations in Thiruvananthapuram city, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasargode.

According to Mr R. Suresh Kumar, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, currently, there are over 50 showrooms and 10 galleries plus over 7,000 retail outlets spread across the State. The company is also planning to upgrade its network by extending the GPRS mode to Kerala.

The overwhelming response to 1-second billing clearly demonstrates that consumer confidence can be regained in the category through a fair and transparent pricing approach, he added.

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