Mobile cos will need 2.64 lakh new towers by 2010

MUMBAI: Mobile operators who have lined up a massive $20 billion programme to expand their networks would need to install additional 2.64 lakh towers at various places in the country, according to GTL Infrastructure, the company providing infrastructure support to the operators.

In the annual report sent to the shareholders, Manoj Tirodkar, chairman of the company has said given the large capital requirement for setting up these cell sites, the operators would do well to share the infrastructure network and reduce their costs.

"Third party shared telecom infrastructure, although a new concept in India is a proven model globally. This model has proven to be a massive success in the USA and we are confident it will also succeed in India," Tirodkar said in the report.

As a group, GTL has so far put up 20,000 sites across the world. While GTL Infrastructure, which was carved out into a separate company has plans to complete rollout of 6700 cell sites during the current year.

Presently, cellulur companies themselves have divisions for setting up new towers. However, GTL expects to take over the tower companies belonging to cellular operators or acquire stakes in these companies.

The company has also pointed out that the demand for towers would increase manifold with the introduction of 3G system which support increased data transfer speed. The existing 2G system focus only on voice communication.

The company has said currently cellular operators have committed 30 per cent of their capex plan for 3G network which require twice the cell-site density of existing cellular infrastructure.