Telecom provider Telenor confirmed to MediaNama that it is looking to launch 4G services across six circles it operates in. Telenor provided the following statement: "Telenor India is piloting 4G services in Varanasi. Based on the encouraging results of the pilot, we are planning to launch 4G services in 6-8 cities across our six circles in the next few months. As part of a modernization plan to make its network future ready, Telenor is deploying Lean GSM to extract higher spectral and energy efficiencies, and deliver better quality voice and data services. Telenor has swapped 8000 sites with state-of-the-equipment and will be using narrow band LTE to launch 4G services across selected cities." Telenor provides mobile services in UP (West), UP (East), Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat circles. The company has a permit to operate in Assam but is yet to start its services there. A report from the Press Trust of India says that Telenor will be 4G ready by the fiscal end and has awarded a Rs 1240 crore contract to Chinese telecom equipment firm Huawei for modernising all its 25,000 mobile base station in the six telecom circles. Telenor had begun offering 4G services in Varanasi in March 2016. The service was provided over a narrow band and the company said it would extend the service to Andhra Pardesh and Telangana. Telenor reported that its active internet subscriber base stood at 26.3% of its connections for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 (Q4 2015). The company reported…
