Telenor India's journey was a significant one, with the company expanding its operations across the country. Telenor Group, a Norwegian telecommunications company, acquired Uninor, a mobile network operator in India, in 2009.
Telenor India initially launched operations in nine circles in 2009. The company's focus was on providing affordable and high-quality services to its customers. Telenor India's network covered over 50 million subscribers across the country.
Telenor India's acquisition by Bharti Airtel was a major development in the company's journey. The acquisition was finalized in 2017, marking the end of Telenor's operations in India.
Telenor India's History
Uninor launched in eight telecom circles on 3 December 2007, after completing one of the world's largest GSM Greenfield launches.
The brand was built around an ambition to serve the young, aspiring India, and six months later, five additional circles were launched including metropolitan areas like Mumbai and Kolkata.
Uninor facilitated rapid scaling of the company through a lean operation model, where a large share of the network infrastructure is outsourced to business partners.
The company 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.
Uninor won back licences and spectrum in 6 telecom circles after the 2012 auction, including Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West) & Uttarakhand, Bihar & Jharkhand, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh & Telangana.
Uninor shut down services in Punjab, Rajasthan, and West Bengal after midnight on 16 February 2013, due to a Supreme Court order.
Airtel Acquisition and Rebranding
Airtel acquired Telenor India in 2017, buying its assets, customers, and spectrum in seven circles.
The acquisition was announced in February 2017 and was approved by the National Company Law Tribunal in March 2018.
Airtel will retain around 4,000 of Telenor India and Tata Teleservices employees.
Telenor India's operations will continue as normal until the completion of the transaction, after which the company will undergo seamless integration with Airtel.
The acquisition added 43.4 MHz spectrum in the 1800MHz band to Airtel's portfolio.
Telenor India was previously known as Uninor, which was launched in 2009 and had grown to become a preferred mass-market brand.
Airtel Acquisition
Airtel acquired Telenor India's assets and customers in all seven telecom circles it operated in.
The acquisition included the transfer of all of Telenor India's assets and customers, further augmenting Airtel's overall customer base and network.
Airtel gained 43.4MHz spectrum in the 1800MHz band from the Telenor acquisition.
Telenor India's operations and services continued as normal until the completion of the transaction.
Bharti Airtel received regulatory approval from CCI, SEBI, and the stock exchanges in June 2017.
The deal was approved by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in March 2018.
Airtel plans to retain around 4,000 of Telenor India and Tata Teleservices employees.
Airtel's acquisition of Telenor India was a significant move to bolster its strong spectrum footprint in key circles.
Telenor India's customer base was around 44 million at the time of the acquisition.
The acquisition was expected to close within 12 months of the agreement being signed.
Telenor India's assets and spectrum will be integrated into Airtel's network after the completion of the transaction.
The acquisition will enable Airtel to further strengthen its market position in several key circles.
Airtel's Managing Director and CEO (India and South Asia) Gopal Vittal said the acquisition will undergo seamless integration on both the customer and network sides.
Telenor Group's Chief Executive Officer Sigve Brekke said the decision to exit India was taken after thorough consideration and a review of the business's future prospects.
Telenor India was treated as an asset held for sale and discontinued operations in Telenor Group's financial reporting from the first quarter of 2017.
Uninor Rechristened
Uninor has been rebranded as Telenor India. The entity is now known as Telenor India Communications Pvt. Ltd.
This change is more than just a name change, it's about expanding the commitment to bring the best value to its customers. The company has 40 million customers.
Since its launch in 2009, Uninor has grown steadily to capture the fourth position in most of its operating circles. It has emerged as a preferred mass-market brand.
The name change is about expanding the promise of being the most affordable to being best on value. The company promises to be fair and surprisingly easy.
Telenor Group is a Norwegian multinational telecommunications company. The company is fully owned by Telenor Group.
India Approves FDI in Telewings JV
India's government gave the green light to Norwegian telecom major Telenor ASA to invest 10 billion rupees in the Indian telecom sector.
Telenor's application to increase its stake in Telewings, its Indian joint venture, was cleared by the government's finance ministry.
Telenor will now hold a 74 percent stake in Telewings, up from 49 percent, after the investment.
Telenor operates in India under the brand name Uninor, with a presence in six telecom circles, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.
Telewings participated in the auction for 2G spectrum last November and was awarded airwaves worth 40 billion rupees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Telenor a big company?
Yes, Telenor is a large mobile telecommunications company with a global presence. It operates in many countries, particularly in Scandinavia and Asia.
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