Aditya Birla owned Idea Cellular has decided to formally launch its services in the country’s financial capital, Mumbai within the next few days.

One of the company’s official who wished not to be named said, “We are ready... all of us at the Birla group have shifted to the Idea network.” In order to offer its services to the customers the company has also set up a network of 200-odd stores. In some places, the marketing team is also offering the product. The official also added that all the beta tests were successful. However, on the question of launching its services in Mumbai, Idea managing director Sanjeev Aga decided not to comment anything. The company in February last year set aside Rs 650 crore for the Mumbai roll out from its initial public offers (IPO’s).

According to the statistics released till end of July by the Cellular Operators Association of India, out of a total 10 million customers in Mumbai, Vodafone Essar has the largest number of customers with 37.89 lakh.

Idea Cellular, a wireless telephony company started its operations in the country in 1995 as a joint venture between the Tatas, Aditya Birla Group and AT&T by merging "'Wings Cellular'" operating in Madhya Pradesh, UP West, Rajasthan and Tata Cellular as well as Birla AT&T Communications. The company, according to a data released recently by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, has been adding customers faster than larger rivals Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Group Plc's Indian unit.