BSNL to roll out 3G services in NE states, Chennai by Jan

State-run telecom major BSNL will roll out its 3G services in the north-eastern states and Chennai by January 2009, Communications and IT Minister A Raja today said.     

"BSNL will roll out the services by January 2009 in the north-eastern states and Chennai," Raja said.     

However, another telecom PSU MTNL would also roll out 3G services in Delhi and Mumbai by December, he added.     

Government had alloted one block of spectrum each to state-run BSNL and MTNL paving the way for the PSUs to roll out their 3G services.     

Raja had already approved the release of one block to MTNL in the Delhi and Mumbai circle or the metro service areas and another block to BSNL for rest of the country.     

The spectrum blocks released for the two companies have the size of 2x5 MHz in 2.1 GHz Band.     

Both PSUs had started their mobile services after private players were already established themselves in the mobile segment.

But on 3G, these two PSUs would have a headstart.     

MTNL has already said it would start 3G services in the Delhi circle within three months after getting the spectrum.