3G for Mobile Phones to be launched in India in early 2006
By agencies   |   Tuesday, 16 August 2005, 19:30 IST
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BANGALORE: India will launch 3G technology for mobile phone services early next year, Dayanidhi Maran, Minister for Communications and Information Technology said. Maran was quoted as saying the planned launch of 3G services will allow mobile phone users to download data at between 2.5 and 3-Mbits/s and help provide videoconferencing and telemedicine facilities. The government-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. and the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. will begin launching 3G services in January 2006, while private mobile phone services firms will also launch these services at around the same time, Maran said. Both the government-owned firms have already invited tenders for supply of 3G equipment, while private firms expect at least a couple of pilot 3G projects to be launched around the year-end. Meanwhile, India's delayed spectrum policy is likely to be announced later this month, according to reports. The policy is expected to contain details of whether or not licensing fees will be charged for offering 3G services, how much will be charged and what other frequency bands will be delicensed.

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