3G needs more time, say experts

Mumbai: Although 3G services launched by private telecom companies have seen a good traction so far, it will take about six months to a year for the network to mature and be robust, feel officials with telcos and analysts.

Operators are not only focused on getting a blanket 3G coverage in circles where they have won spectrum, but also on getting a pan-India 3G footprint. While they have invested heavily in getting 3G licenses, they are also devising small sachet plans to get low average revenue per user (arpu) subscribers to use these services.

3G Attracts 9 Million Users In 4 Months

The third generation (3G) has created a rage since its launch four months ago, garnering at least 9 million active users ever since. This number holds special significance taken into consideration that till date, there are only 11 million wireline broadband customers.

Bharti Airtel leads the 3G race with with 3 million active subscribers closely followed by Tata DoCoMo with 1.5 million subscribers. BSNL, Idea Cellular and Vodafone have about a million 3G subscribers each. Reliance communications was reluctant to disclose the numbers, but reliable sources revealed that it also had close to a million subscribers.

Mobile expected to pace India's broadband penetration

Mobile broadband subscriptions using 3G technologies in India are expected to reach 41 million connections by the end of the year, far outpacing the 11 million connections using wired technologies, according to Maravedis.

The report predicts Bharti Airtel will lead the charge in 3G connections as it moves forward with its network build, while those operators looking to deploy either WiMAX or TD-LTE using their BWA licenses are expected to lag in the near term. Bharti Airtel was the country’s largest operator with more than 146 million subscribers near the end of last year.

Aircel rolls out 3G in Jammu

After a successfully launching its 3G Services in Srinagar, Aircel Thursday rolled out the services in Jammu.Hub Business Head Gurmeet Makkar and Circle Operations Head Harvinder Pal Singh kicked off the much awaited services at an impressive function in Jammu.

Hub business head said that 3G is going to propel the internet penetration in the state and this facility can be used by people belonging to various shades of life.

“3G tariffs would be quite economical and these can up go up with the class of people. Fast internet, high-speed data transfer, multiplayer gaming, entertainment, Live TV, Video Calling and maximum download facility are some of the key features of our 3G service. All this would be available to our subscribers in Jammu. We have got license to run the 2G service in 22 circles and broadband wireless access in 8 circles,” said Makkar.

State Wise 3G Licenses in India

India is now 3G..Switch to 3G..get Super-fast Speed, Be Super, Start 3G Life and Many more are now each home via digital Media as print and News media are full of 3G Buzz now days to attract customers to own network and subscribe for 3G Services. But before getting 3G Services lets explore the 3G World that what are possibilities of 3G services with your operators and where they offer services as none of them have 3G Licenses to more than 13 except BSNL. 3G GSM Service licence bid touches Rs. 16,751 crore which ensures the Government of India a revenue of Rs. 67,719 crore. No single bidder bid for a pan-India 3G license so state operator BSNL would be remain the biggest 3G operator in India. Here are state wise operators having 3G Licenses in India.