Aircel targets youth with its 3G launch

Aircel, a 76:24 joint venture between Malaysia-based Maxis Communication Berhad and Chennai-based Apollo Hospitals group, has launched its third-generation (3G) mobile services, primarily targeting young customers.

Aircel chief operating officer Gurdeep Singh said, “Aircel has licence to provide 3G service in 13 circles and we are planning to complete launch in all these circles by the middle of March this year. The launch in 11 circles except Punjab and West Bengal would be completed in next seven days."

The company expects to attract 35 per cent of its 50 million existing customers to subscribe 3G in next five years. "We are offering the service to customers for free for a week and would have one-day and three-day validity packs for the customers to get a clue about their future usage needs,” he said.

The base rate is fixed at three paise per 10 kb and packages woud vary from Rs 7 for 8 MB with a validity of one day to super propack of Rs 975 to offer 2,500 MB. It has also launched Ideos, a phone based on Android 2.2 platform, to be sold at Rs 8,499 per handset.

The company has so far invested v 23,000 crore in the Indian market and plans to take up the cumulative investment to around Rs 45,000 crore in next three years with emphasis on 2G and 3G services development.

Apollo has recently tied up with Aircel to provide telemedicine services using 3G technology, where Aircel users can consult experts from Apollo Hospitals at any time through the third generation mobile services supported handsets.