Uninor announces 25% network expansion in one go

in Maharashtra and Goa  Largest ever network expansion by Uninor in the two states. Comes as Uninor

achieves profitability in the circle    (Pune-­‐   January   17,   2014)  Uninor,   India   and  Maharashtra’s   most   affordable   tariffs   telecom   service  provider,   today  announced   its   largest  ever  network  expansion   in  Maharashtra  and  Goa.   In  one  go,  Uninor  will   increase   its  network   coverage  by  25%  by  deploying  over  1000  additional  network   sites  within   the   next   5   months.   This   will   significantly   improve   the   network   experience   that   Uninor  customers  get  today  and  will  also  add  an  additional  population  of  over  70  lakh  to  its  coverage.      “Uninor  subscribers  will  now  get  an  even  better  network  experience  as  they  enjoy  the  lowest  tariffs  that   only   Uninor   offers,”   said   Ritesh   Singh,   Circle   Business   Head,   Maharashtra   and   Goa   “Just   to  reiterate,  Uninor  will  continue  to  be  the  Sabsesasta  service  provider  with  plans  like  25p  that  offers  cheaper  calling  as  compared  to  any  other  product  offered  in  the  circle.  “      This   expansion   comes   at   a   time   that   Uninor   has   achieved   profitability   in   its   operations   in  Maharashtra  and  Goa.  The  company  has  been  successful   in   implementing  an  operating  model   that  has   as   much   as   30%   lower   costs,   allowing   Uninor   to   become   profitable   even   as   it   continues   to  provide   the   lowest   tariffs   for   all   voice,   SMS   and   internet   services   for   the   mass   market.   The  profitability,  achieved   in   less  than  4  years,   is  a  record   in  Maharashtra  and  Goa  –  the  fastest  by  any  operator  in  the  circle.      “By   achieving   profitability   in   record   time,   we   prove   that   an   operator   does   not   need   to   offer  expensive   tariffs   to   become   viable.   It   means   that   Uninor   can   continue   to   be   the  most   affordable  service  provider,  offer  a  profitable  business  proposition  to  its  distributors  and  retailers  and  expand  its  network  coverage,  that  very  few  operators  are  doing  in  Maharashtra  and  Goa,”  added  Ritesh  Singh.      

• The  network  expansion  announced  by  Uninor  will  now   take   the  company’s   coverage   to  an  additional   200   towns   and   villages   across   the   circle   as   well   as   strengthen   the   network   in  existing   towns   and   villages.   This   will   also   result   in   the   expansion   of   the   company’s   retail  network  with  over  5000  new  points  of  sale  and  create  significant  additional  employment.  

   As  a  part  of   its  Sabsesasta  portfolio  of  products,  Uninor  offers  25  paise  calling  on  its  STV  31  where  customers  can  make  calls  across   India   for  28  days  and  save  as  much  as  50  percent  on  their  mobile  bill,   STV   58   provides   unlimited  U2U   calls   for   28   days   and   Rocket   Recharge-­‐   an   innovative   product  which  understands  the  customers  usage  pattern  and  offers  products  according  to  his  need  .      At  the  end  of  this  phase  of  expansion,  Uninor  will  have  over  4490  network  sites,  with  70000  point  of  sales  outlets,   300  express   stores,   1000  RSEs  and  about  315  distributors   in   the  Maharashtra  &  Goa  circle.   Together   this   distribution   network   will   cater   to   over   10   million   existing   and   potential  subscribers  in  the  circle.    About  Telenor  Telenor  Group  is  an  international  provider  of  tele,  data  and  media  communication  services.  Telenor  Group  has  mobile  operations  in  12  markets  in  the  Nordic  region,  Central  and  Eastern  Europe  and  in  Asia,   as  well   as   a   voting   stake   of   42.95   per   cent   (economic  stake   33   per   cent)   in   VimpelCom   Ltd.,  operating   in   17   markets.   Headquartered   in   Norway,   Telenor   Group   is   one   of   the   world’s   major  

mobile  operators  with  161  million  mobile  subscriptions   in   its  consolidated  operations  per  Q3  2013,  revenues  in  2012  of  NOK  102  billion,  and  a  workforce  of  nearly  34,000.      About  Uninor  Uninor   is   majority   owned   subsidiary   of   Telenor   Group   –   one   of   the  major   mobile   operators   with  headquarters  in  Oslo,  Norway.    Uninor’s  pre-­‐paid  GSM  services  are  commercially  available  in  the  six  circles   of   UP   (West),   UP   (East),   Bihar   (including   Jharkhand),   Andhra   Pradesh,   Maharashtra   and  Gujarat.  Together,   these  circles  account   for  more   than  50%  of   India’s  population  giving  Uninor   the  ability  to  serve  every  second  person  in  India.      Uninor   is   a   young   operator   that   focuses   on   the   mass   market   serving   over   32   million   customers.  Uninor’s   innovative   products   and   services   empower   customers   to   enjoy   the   benefits   of   mobile  telephony  through  its  simple  price  proposition  of  –  ‘Sabse  Sasta’  (lowest)  tariffs  for  all  basic  services.  The  company  is  committed  to  profitable  growth  in  this  highly  price  sensitive  and  competitive  market.  For  more  information,  please  visit    www.uninor.in