India's BSNL Planning 3G Launch Across 700 Cities

India's state-owned operator, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) intends to expand its 3G network to 700 cities across the North and East of the country by June. A second wave of launches in the South of the country will follow in July. Ericsson is BSNL's partner for 3G roll-out in over 400 of these cities.

"We plan to bring 3G to north and east India by June," BSNL Deputy Director General (VAS) S S Sirohi told the Economic Times newspaper. "The services would be launched in east and west Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam. We plan to cover over 700 cities in the next three months (by June)," Sirohi added.

A 3G network is expected to be launched in Kolkata next month.

At the end of last month, the operator launched its 3G network in 11 cities on the same day - and is aiming for 60 million 3G subscribers within 12 months. Based on figures from the Mobile World, BSNL ended last year with 46.2 million subscribers

BSNL and MTNL were both granted 3G licenses in advance of the main auction to private operators - and will be required to pay the same license fee as is finally agreed on when the private auction is completed.

A recent study from iSuppli forecasted that 3G and WiMAX will garner subscriber bases of 250 million and 19 million respectively by 2012.

On the web: Economic Times - Mobile World

Posted to the site on 8th March 2009