History

Calendar year Events

• 2010
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000
• 1999
• 1997
• 1996
• 1995

• Subscriber base as on December 31, 2010: 81,778,655
• Idea won 3G Spectrum in 11 service areas in India. These markets account for over 81% of the company’s total revenue
• Idea crossed usage of ‘One Billion’ Minutes per day on the network, propelling it amongst the Top 10 country operators in the world
• Idea emerged as the 3rd largest mobile operator in India, in revenue terms.

• Subscriber base as on December 31, 2009: 57,611,872
• Idea becomes a pan-India operator
• Emerging Company of the Year - fastest growing mobile operator in the world’s fastest growing telecom market

Becomes pan-India operator in 2009

• Subscriber base as on December 31, 2008: 40,016,153
• Idea acquired 9 licences for Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Chennai, West Bengal, Orissa, Kolkata, Assam, North East and Jammu & Kashmir
• Acquired Spice Communications with the operating circles of Punjab and Karnataka
• Launched services in Mumbai metro in the largest single metro city launch, ever
• Launched services in Bihar

• Subscriber base as on December 31, 2007: 21,054,027
• Won an award for the "CARE" service in the "Best Billing or Customer Care Solution" at the GSM Association Awards in Barcelona, Spain
• Initial Public Offering aggregating to Rs. 28,187 million and Listing of Equity Shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange
• Merger of seven subsidiaries with Idea Cellular Limited
• Reached the twenty million subscriber mark

• Subscriber base as on December 31, 2006: 12,442,450
• Became part of the Aditya Birla Group subsequent to the TATA Group transferring its entire shareholding in the Company to the Aditya Birla Group
• Acquired Escorts Telecommunications Limited (subsequently renamed as Idea Telecommunications Limited)
• Restructuring of debt
• Launch of the New Circles
• Reached the 10 million subscriber mark
• Received Letter of Intent from the DoT for a new UAS License for the Mumbai Circle.
• Received Letter of Intent from the DoT for a new UAS License for the Bihar Circle through Aditya Birla Telecom Limited. ABNL, the parent of Aditya Birla Telecom Limited, pursuant to a letter dated November 22, 2006, agreed to transfer its entire shareholding in Aditya Birla Telecom Limited to the Company for the consideration of Rs. 100 million.

• Subscriber base as on December 31, 2005: 6,473,962
• Reached the five million subscriber mark
• Turned Profit Positive
• Won an Award for the "Bill Flash" service at GSM Association Awards in Barcelona, Spain
• Sponsored the International Indian Film Academy Awards

• Completed debt restructuring for the then existing debt facilities and additional funding for the Delhi Circle.
• Acquired Escotel Mobile Communications Limited (subsequently renamed as
• Idea Mobile Communications Limited)
• Reached the four million subscriber mark
• First operator in India to commercially launch EDGE services 2005

Acquired Escotel, incumbent cellular service provider in Haryana, UP(W) & Kerala and new licensee in HP

• Reached the two million subscriber mark

• Changed name to Idea Cellular Limited and launched "Idea" brand name
• Commenced commercial operations in Delhi Circle
• Reached the one million subscriber mark

Brand IDEA launched Delhi operations commence (Nov)

• Acquired RPG Cellular Limited and consequently the license for the Madhya Pradesh (including Chattisgarh) Circle
• Changed name to Birla Tata AT&T Limited
• Obtained license for providing GSM-based services in the Delhi Circle following the fourth operator GSM license bidding process

Acquired RPG Cellcom, service provider in Madhya Pradesh (Feb) Awarded

• Merged with Tata Cellular Limited, thereby acquiring original license for the Andhra Pradesh Circle

• Migrated to revenues share license fee regime under New Telecommunications Policy ("NTP")

• Commenced operations in the Gujarat and Maharashtra Circles

MoU for merger between Birla AT&T and Tata Cellular Limited ­ Andhra Pradesh signed (Jan)

• Changed name to Birla AT&T Communications Limited following joint venture between Grasim Industries and AT&T Corporation

• Incorporated as Birla Communications Limited
• Obtained licenses for providing GSM-based services in the Gujarat and
• Maharashtra Circles following the original GSM license bidding process.

We are part of the Aditya Birla Group and all our Promoters are companies belonging to the Aditya Birla Group.