Aircel launched its operations in Mumbai

Aircel Mumbai has commenced operations today. Aircel rolled out its prepaid mobile services on Thursday, and will launch post paid mobile services later. Aircel is majority owned by the Malaysia-based Maxis Communications. Airtel postpaid cards will come for Rs 99. Aircel data cards for internet browsing are also on cards in Mumbai.

Aircel currently has about 22000 cell towers across India, and it is planning to scale up the cell sites to 44,000. Aircel Mumbai infrastructure has been provided by Nokia Siemens Networks. Aircel has tied up with Wipro to set up a data centre in Bangalore.

Mumbai already has six GSM cellphone service providers. These are Airtel, MTNL, Loop Mobile, Vodafone-Essar, Reliance GSM and Idea Cellular. For Aircel, it will be a tough battle to make its mark on this crowded cellular market. Mumbai will be the 17th circle for Aircel to start its operations. Aircel, which has 18 million subscribers in India is the fifth-largest mobile service provider in the country.

Aircel has recently rolled out its GSM service in Bangalore, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi as its 14th circle on the Company’s Pan India operation. Further the company also announced that it will launch its services in Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), and Maharashtra circles by April. Presently the company operates in 14 circles.

Details of Prepaid Schemes :

Cost of local outgoing calls to any Aircel Mobile, other mobile or landline is Re. 1 for first minute, 50 paise for second minute and 30 paise third minute onwards.

Cost of STD calls to any Aircel Mobile, other mobile or landline is Re. 1.5 for first minute, Re. 1 for second minute and 75 paise third minute onwards.

SMS charges are Re. 1, Rs. 1.5 and Rs. 5 for local, national and international SMSes respectively

Benefits for first 3 months
Customer will get 1500 minutes free every month for first 3 months. Minutes valid for local Aircel to Aircel night calling (between 11pm to 7am).

* STD to Aircel number of UP- East, UP-West, Delhi & Bihar @ 50p/min. This would be applicable for first 90 days from the day of activation.

** For ISD regular rate shall apply, however, for the first 3 months special ISD tariffs to special countries will be given free of cost :- US/Canada(except Alaska, Hawaii & Guam)-Rs.1.50, UK(Fixed Line),China, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong-Kong, Vietnam & Korea-Rs.4.00, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Jordan, Oman & Yemen- Rs.7.00

Benefit for the first month
*** 300 SMS free (local + National) with a validity of 30 days.