Private telecom services provider Idea Cellular today said its consolidated net profit was Rs

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179.74 crore for the second quarter ended September 31, 2010.

The company had a net profit of Rs 220.15 crore in the July-September quarter last year, Idea Cellular said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

"Figures for the current period are not comparable with that of the corresponding period due to the merger of Spice Communications Ltd effective March 1, 2010, prior to which it was a joint venture," Idea said.

Its total revenues were Rs 3,659.19 crore in the second quarter ended September 30. The company had a total revenue of Rs 2,973.91 crore in the same quarter previous fiscal.

Idea is getting ready to roll-out 3G services. During Q2, it received 3G spectrum (radio waves) allotment letters for 10 service areas, out of 11, and is in the process of rolling out extensive networks for the next generation services.

The company is pursuing long-term arrangement with select operators for service areas where it does not have the 3G spectrum. Together, these would enable Idea subscribers, throughout the country.

On the standalone basis, the company has posted a net profit of Rs 165.98 crore during the second quarter of the current fiscal, while it had a net profit of Rs 259.89 crore in the same quarter corresponding fiscal.

Shares of Idea Cellular today closed at Rs 71.80 on the BSE, down 1.85 per cent from the previous close