Although the race is far from over, current subscriber numbers indicate close competition among 3G service providers. Current standings are: BSNL, Airtel, Reliance, Docomo and Idea, in that order.
It has been just six months since 3G services were launched by private players in the country and the installation process is not even complete with many major towns yet to be covered by 3G networks. Yet, subscriber numbers already show decent uptake with more than 13 million people already using third generation telephony services.
Public sector units like BSNL and MTNL, which got 3G spectrum licenses a year ahead of private players and have been offering services for as long, failed to get many takers, which raised doubts as to whether 3G would be accepted by the masses.
