Telenor India Company Profile and Facts

Author

Reads 3.7K

Branding and Marketing Text on a White Surface
Credit: pexels.com, Branding and Marketing Text on a White Surface

Telenor India is a subsidiary of the Norwegian multinational telecommunications company, Telenor Group. It was established in 2009.

Telenor India operates in several Indian states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Assam. The company provides a range of services including voice and data services, as well as mobile and internet services.

Telenor India has a strong presence in rural areas, with a focus on providing connectivity to underserved communities. The company has invested heavily in its network infrastructure to ensure reliable and high-quality services.

Telenor India has a large customer base, with over 40 million subscribers across its network. The company aims to provide affordable and innovative services to its customers.

History and Milestones

Uninor was launched in eight telecom circles on 3 December 2007, after completing one of the world's largest GSM Greenfield launches which was also one of the fastest telecom roll-outs ever in India.

The company's initial goal was to serve the young, aspiring India, and it quickly gained momentum, launching in five additional circles six months later, including metropolitan areas like Mumbai and Kolkata.

Credit: youtube.com, Telenor India Rebranding Film

Uninor grew from 0 to 45.6 million customers within less than two years, emerging as the most successful of the new entrants that obtained licenses in 2006.

The company had more than double the subscribers of all of the other entrants combined, a testament to its rapid scaling and effective operations.

Uninor's modern equipment and lean operation model enabled it to introduce targeted offerings and serve a large audience with limited spectrum, making it a pioneer in the Indian telecom industry.

Telenor Group, the parent company of Uninor, took a majority stake in the company in 2008, injecting fresh equity investments of ₹61.35 billion into Unitech Wireless.

Uninor was eventually renamed Telenor India, with the company's president and CEO, Sigve Brekke, stating that the name change was about preparing the company for a new and exciting future.

Telenor India has a 5 per cent market share, making it the eighth largest operator among the country's 12 mobile players, according to GSMA Intelligence.

The company has 48 million mobile connections and offers only 2G service, promoting itself as the most affordable and providing the best value, with plans to move to 3G or 4G by the end of the first half of next year.

Company Information

Credit: youtube.com, India Corporate Video

Telenor India is a subsidiary of the Norwegian company Telenor Group. It was established in 2009.

The company's headquarters is located in Gurgaon, Haryana, India.

Bharti Airtel Sale

Bharti Airtel acquired Telenor India's assets and customers in seven telecom circles: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), and Assam.

The acquisition deal was announced in February 2017 and was approved by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in March 2018.

Airtel will gain 43.4 MHz spectrum in the 1800 MHz band from the Telenor acquisition.

Telenor had accumulated losses of $2.87 billion since it started operating in India.

Airtel plans to retain around 4,000 of Telenor India and Tata Teleservices employees.

The transaction is expected to get completed in the next 12 months after necessary approvals are taken.

Bharti Airtel will not make any cash payment for the acquisition, but will make all future payments of spectrum and mobile phone towers.

Aerial view of urban buildings and trees with a telecom tower in New Delhi, India.
Credit: pexels.com, Aerial view of urban buildings and trees with a telecom tower in New Delhi, India.

The acquisition will strengthen Airtel in seven highly populated states and add 43.4 MHz spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in those circles.

Telenor's CEO, Sigve Brekke, said that the decision to exit India was not taken lightly, but the significant investments needed to secure Telenor India's future business on a standalone basis will not give an acceptable level of return.

Airtel's Managing Director and CEO, Gopal Vittal, said that the acquisition will create substantial long-term value for shareholders given the significant synergies.

The Department of Telecom approved the merger of Telenor India with Bharti Airtel on 14 May 2018, paving the way for final commercial closing of the merger between the two companies.

See what others are reading: Airtel Payments Bank

Where Is Based?

Telenor India is based in Gurgaon, Haryana. Many people are familiar with Gurgaon as a major city in the state of Haryana, located in the north of India.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Recent Developments

Credit: youtube.com, Telenor India Launches Tatkal Credit Facility for Instant Recharge - hybiz

In 2012, Unitech and Telenor signed an agreement that led to Unitech's exit from the joint venture, Uninor.

Unitech transferred Uninor's assets to Telenor, who then formed Telewings Communications Services Private Limited with Lakshdeep Investments & Finance.

Telenor held a 49% stake in Telewings and later raised it to 74% in 2013.

By 2014, Telenor Group had increased its stake to control 100% of Telewings, making it a wholly owned subsidiary.

Telenor spent ₹100 crore on re-branding Uninor as Telenor India in 2015, adopting the same logotype, font, and visual expression as the Telenor Group.

Telenor India CEO Vivek Sood noted that the company had broken even within four years of operations.

Unitech Exit and Rebranding

Unitech exit and rebranding was a significant development for Uninor. In October 2012, Unitech and Telenor signed an agreement to transfer Uninor assets to Telenor, effectively ending Unitech's involvement in the joint venture.

Telenor then formed a new joint venture with Lakshdeep Investments & Finance, called Telewings Communications Services Private Limited. Telenor held a 49% stake in the company at the time.

A silhouette of a telecom tower against a dramatic sunset sky in Solapur, India.
Credit: pexels.com, A silhouette of a telecom tower against a dramatic sunset sky in Solapur, India.

In December 2013, Telenor raised its stake in Telewings to 74%. This move marked a significant shift in control of the company.

Telenor Group eventually raised its stake to 100% in 2014, making Telewings a wholly owned subsidiary. The company was subsequently renamed Telenor (India) Communications Private Limited.

Telenor spent ₹100 crore on rebranding Uninor as Telenor India in 2015. The rebranding effort included adopting the same logotype, font, and visual expression as the Telenor Group.

Airtel exits India after acquiring local arm to counter Jio

Telenor has decided to exit India, a country that was once its big bet.

Telenor accumulated losses since it started operating in India stand at $2.87 billion.

The Norwegian firm entered India in 2008 as a joint venture partner with Unitech Wireless.

Airtel has acquired Telenor's local arm, including its subscribers, infrastructure, and spectrum.

The acquisition is expected to get completed in the next 12 months after necessary approvals are taken.

Towering Transmission Lines and Telecom Masts
Credit: pexels.com, Towering Transmission Lines and Telecom Masts

Telenor has 700 permanent employees, and it's unlikely that there will be job losses.

The acquisition will strengthen Airtel in seven highly populated states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP (East), UP (West), and Assam.

Airtel adds 43.4 MHz spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in the circles.

Bharti Airtel's Managing Director and CEO (India and South Asia), Gopal Vittal, said the acquisition will create substantial long term value for their shareholders given the significant synergies.

Lisa Ullrich

Senior Copy Editor

Lisa Ullrich is a meticulous and detail-oriented copy editor with a passion for precision. With a keen eye for grammar and syntax, she has honed her skills in refining complex ideas and presenting them in a clear and concise manner. Lisa's expertise spans a wide range of topics, from finance and economics to technology and culture.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.