"3g" kicks off in India

India today made its tryst with 3G mobile services with the launch of ‘Jadoo’, a service to be provided by the state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL).The service is currently available to select high-end users of MTNL mobile services in Delhi, while the commercial launch is expected in February.Jadoo provides an array of choices to its subscribers — high-speed internet on mobile, video-calling, video surveillance and live TV. The service was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi today.

“The customers will have to buy a separate SIM card for 3G services. Existing customers will be able to retain their number,” said an MTNL official.

“This service is much faster than what the subscribers have experienced. Compared with the GPRS services on phones or broadband, video and audio streaming here is much faster and also makes for a better viewing,” the official addedMTNL will have the first-mover advantage in the 3G space in Delhi and Mumbai, while Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd will enjoy the dominance in the rest of the country. The auctions for the 3G spectrum for the private players are likely to be completed in February 2009.

Source : Business Standard