[B]MTNL to test launch 3G services in Delhi by September-end
[/B]Source: The Economic Times
State-run telecom firm MTNL will test launch the first ever 3G mobile services in the country in Delhi by the end of this month. The company will trial launch its services in and around the central Delhi, mainly around Connaught Place area, the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) said in a statement.
MTNL is planning to provide 3G services by installing 7,50,000 GSM lines each in Delhi and Mumbai. The telecom firm has already done the indoor trial of the service and will launch the high-end service in Delhi by the end of this year.
However, in Mumbai, the service will be launched early next year, it added.
In this regard, the company has already procured all the required equipment in this regard and currently mobilising the necessary radio equipment. 3G services will enable the users to get high speed data services, video streaming and better voice solutions. The company has already been allocated the scarce 3G spectrum much ahead of the auction scheduled to happen by the end of this month.
[B]
Delhi to see India’s first ever 3G mobile service this month[/B]
Source: Newstrack India
The state owned telecom operator, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), is all set to launch India’s first ever 3rd Generation (3G) full-fledged mobile service in the national capital by the end of this month while in Mumbai, it is expected by early next year.
The trail for 3G mobile services in Delhi will be in and around the Capital’s Connaught Place area.
Indoor trial of 3G in Delhi has already been completed. This experimental service will be launched by the end of September, as per an official press release.
MTNL has already got the core equipments for successfully beginning this service on trial basis. Moreover, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has already allocated one block of spectrum each to MTNL in Delhi and Mumbai and to BSNL in other service areas before beginning the process of 3G Spectrum allocations.
According to DoT, each telecom players would get two blocks of spectrum allocation in each circle, as per TRAI’s recently released guidelines for 3 G spectrum allocation.
DoT has already begun the exercise of selecting the procedure of e-auctioneer agency, which would conduct the online bidding process for 3G-spectrum allocation. MTNL and BSNL will pay a price for the spectrum allocated to them equal to the highest bid in the respective service area.
MTNL plans to provide 3G services by installing 3G GSM core capacity of 750,000 lines each in Delhi and Mumbai. These lines are currently being installed. The Company has planned to expand GSM capacity in Delhi and Mumbai by 2 million each including 3G capacity.