Airtel 3G services in eastern UP

Private GSM operator Bharti Airtel today launched its third Generation (3G) services in Uttar Pradesh (East) circle.

In the first phase, 3G services have been launched in Lucknow and Kanpur. Airtel has set up 20 experience zones for people to test the new service. In another 15 days, the telecom major intends to cover 8-10 major towns.

Airtel had already launched its 3G services in UP (West) circle, which covers Uttarakhand as well.

“We plan to provide the new generation services in 35 towns each in UP (East) and UP (West) circles by September end,” Airtel CEO (UP and Uttarakhand) Rohi Gothi told Business Standard .

“We are confident that six to sevenper cent of existing telecom subscribers in the circle would opt for 3G services due to high quality data transfer and other value added propositions,” he said.

Gothi further noted 3G would pick faster in smaller towns, since the need for wireless broadband was greater in these places.

“Besides, the growth is being fueled by low cost 3G compatible handsets, which are available in the market for as cheap as Rs 2,500-3,000. We are also targeting the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) segment,” he informed.

While 2G, which basically supports voice service, 3G is hi-speed mobile broadband for faster data transfers, including video calling, high definition gaming and faster internet providing speeds of up to 21.1 mbps.

However, the speed also depends upon the handset and cell site traffic at that point of time.

Earlier, India’s top three telecom companies viz. Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular had agreed to share network and infrastructure to provide 3G services seamlessly. While these three companies had licenses and spectrum to offer 3G services in some circles, none of them could secure a pan-India license in the auctions which were held in May 2010.