Aircel to launch GSM service in Kolkata

This would make it the fifth player in the GSM telecom space and seventh among CDMA service providers in the metropolis.

The company has presence in the West Bengal circle since 2005 and the plan for the Kolkata circle was firmed up about a year ago.

The Kolkata launch would complete Aircel's eastern region footprint. It was already present in the North Eastern states, Bihar and Orissa.

According to market sources, Aircel was likely to come out with two pre-paid schemes initially. Senior company officials are arriving here to mark the launch.

The telecom company's infrastructure has been in place since the last one month, the sources said.

At present, the Chennai-based company provides telecom services in nine circles out of 23 circles of the country.

The sources said the company has received the licence to roll out services in 13 circles, where the company would launch service in the next 24 months.

On the technology front, Aircel remains in the forefront with WiMAX service, which is available in several cities.