Indian wireless operator Idea Cellular has replaced most use of traditional corrugated copper cabling in its network with CommScope's smoothwall RF feeder coaxial cable.

CommScope notes that its HELIAX FXL smoothwall cable is already installed in more than 100,000 sites throughout India and in use in nations around the world.

This cable, which features a patented microcell dielectric and foam-filled inner conductor will now be used in Idea’s base station sites in India.

This strategic move is expected to deliver a new level of benefits in wireless network performance and reliability compared to Idea’s corrugated copper predecessor HELIAX VXL.

The light, strong and flexible HELIAX FXL cable offers several advantages to Idea including cost savings, superior performance and efficiency and reliability and consistency.

Commenting on the rationale of the move, CommScope notes the increasing competition for subscribers in the rapidly expanding Indian wireless marketplace. This competition has challenged the operators to balance the need for the highest performance in their networks while keeping costs low.

"HELIAX 2.0 FXL smoothwall cable from CommScope is a great choice for operators and OEMs in India because of its superior performance and cost efficiency as compared to standard corrugated copper cable," said Stan Catey, senior vice president and general manager, Cable Products, CommScope. "The smoothwall cable is built to ensure the operator receives a consistent quality connection, plus it offers a significant immediate cost savings over corrugated copper cable."

"Throughout our relationship, CommScope has always produced quality, durable cables that help us reach out to our customers with the latest and most innovative technology," said Anil Tandan, chief technology officer, Idea Cellular Ltd. "Deploying HELIAX FXL smoothwall cable enables us to evolve our wireless networks while remaining conscious of its energy footprint."

Read a related article at TMCnet “CommScope Launches Global Energy Conservation Initiative for Wireless Industry.”