New Delhi, 4th July, 2005 – Breaking all barriers of distances and geographies, India’s leading cellular service provider, IDEA Cellular Ltd.  has launched for their existing and new Pre-paid customers of Delhi & NCR region the best ever tariff of only 99 paisa per minute for calls to any GSM mobiles except BSNL and MTNL, anywhere across the country. The offer is also applicable to all Idea Post-paid subscribers on the new Idea India plans.

Commenting on this offering Mr. Rajendra Chourasia, Circle Head, Delhi NCR, IDEA Cellular Ltd. said, “Idea has always pioneered innovative tariffs in the country and has always taken a lead in delighting its customers through their innovative products and tariffs. This tariff of STD at 99 paisa is Idea’s next big tariff innovation after its highly successful Idea to Idea rate of 75 paisa per minute”.

“This customer-centric approach has helped Idea to acquire and retain the customers at a pace much faster than the industry.”

Idea has introduced these new tariffs w.e.f. 6th July, 2005 wherein all private GSM’s can be called for 99 paisa, local and STD, and Idea to local Idea at 75 paisa. Local SMS will cost Rs. 1.00 from the earlier Rs. 1.50, which is lower than most other operators, and all these at no daily deductions or additional rentals.

Customer Service and Innovation are the drivers of this Cellular Brand. With GPRS currently available on all its’ networks, for both pre and post paid customers, IDEA Cellular is the first company to demonstrate and commercially launch next generation EDGE technology (a 3G technology) for its Delhi circle.

As a leader in Value Added Services, Innovation is central to IDEA’s VAS Factory. It is the first cellular company to launch music messaging with ‘Cellular Jockey’, ‘Global SMS’ in over 540 networks across all technology platforms, a voice portal with ‘Say IDEA’. A frontrunner in introducing revolutionary tariff plans, offering maximum savings to its customers, IDEA Cellular has the distinction of offering the most customer friendly and competitive Pre Paid offerings, for the first time in India, with ‘Eco Talk’, ‘Flexi-charge’ and other segmented offerings. The most recent offering - ‘Lifetime Idea’ is the first and only loyalty program, for pre paid customers, introduced by a Cellular brand.

Idea has many milestones to its credit, mainly – scoring the highest percentage in Metros and Circle B & C in Customer Satisfaction and the highest percentage in Value Added Service and Overall Sales satisfaction as per the Voice and Data - Customer Satisfaction Survey in December 04. The largest M&A deal in India INC, through its acquisition of Escotel in 2004 and its Rs. 5000 crore financial closure, both being largest ever in the history of Indian telecom.

IDEA Cellular Ltd. is headquartered in Pune.