Idea Cellular resumes 3G services via inter-circle roaming

Idea Cellular Monday resumed 3G services services through intra-circle roaming (ICR), across 10 circles, the company said here.

This came within a week of the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) allowing telecom service providers to provide 3G services beyond their licensed areas, quashing an earlier decision of the government.

Both pre-paid and post-paid Idea customers in Delhi, Mumbai, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kolkata & West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Assam and North East can now avail of 3G services, and roam seamlessly on Idea's 3G network spread across the country.

"Idea has partnered with leading telecom operators (Airtel and Vodafone) in the country to enable seamless 3G connectivity, in addition to building a robust network, strong distribution channel, and a wide range of services and Idea branded 3G devices, to enable 3G proliferation in India," said Sashi Shankar, chief marketing officer, Idea Cellular.

Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular won 3G spectrum in 2010 auction. Idea Cellular won 3G spectrum in 11 circles out of 22 telecom circles for Rs.5,768.59 crore, Airtel in 13 out of 22 telecom service areas for Rs.12,295.46, and Vodafone in nine for Rs.11,617.86.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) issued notice to Airtel, Vodafone and Idea on Dec 23, 2011, and asked these companies to stop 3G ICR within 24 hours and report compliance. But the telecom operators challenged the order.

These three companies then approached TDSAT against the DoT order to stop 3G intra-circle roaming agreement, under which they had also agreed to acquire customers in area where they did not win spectrum.