Further news has emerged on Indian operator Aircel’s plans to expand its presence in the world’s second-largest mobile market, following reports earlier this week the company will invest US$5 billion in its network over the next three to five years. A new report from Reuters notes that majority-owned parent company Maxis Communications is investing a total of US$10 billion in its subsidiary; half of that total has already been spent on expanding the network, and the other half is the cash earmarked for growth in the next few years. Previous plans to become “a full-fledged national operator by 2009” appear to have been delayed though, with Reuters citing Maxis chief executive Sandip Das as stating that all of India will be covered within two years. Aircel currently operates in 13 of India’s 22 service areas. Das reiterated plans to double the subscriber base from around 17 million to 30 million by the end of this year.

The country’s seventh-largest operator also has an appetite for bidding at India’s eventual auction of 3G spectrum, but does not intend to get carried away. “I do hope the bidding will be rational,” Das told Reuters. An original reserve price of INR20.20 billion (US$390 million) is being reviewed by a ministerial panel and might be increased. Reuters notes Das is also considering a future listing for Aircel.