Idea 3G services now in Kerala

Idea Cellular today launched its 3G services in Kerala. With this, the company now provides the service in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, HP, Maharashtra, Haryana and UP, besides Kerala.

Ambrish Jain, deputy managing director, said the company's 3G services would commence from Kozhikode city, Payyoli, Quilandy, Feroke, Beypore, Malappuram, Kottakkal, Vengara, Parappanangadi, Thrissur, Ollur, Mannuthi, Cherur, Amala Nagar, Triprayar, Kochi city, Fort Kochi, Tripunithara, Kalamassery, Aluva, Alleppey, Cherthala, Adoor, Kottarakara and Punalur and will be extended to cover 175 towns by the middle of this year and over 1,215 towns by the end of 2012.

Idea has set up experience kiosks to provide a flavour of the services that customers can opt for. These will be available to all users at select My Idea stores in these towns. 

Idea’s national 3G footprint will cover 200 towns by this month, growing at a rate of 10 towns per day to cover 750 towns by mid-2011, and 4,000 towns by the end of FY12. Currently, 10 per cent of Idea’s 86 million subscribers are said to be using 3G-enabled handsets.

B Ramakrishna, chief operating officer (Kerala), Idea Cellular, said the company had introduced time-based billing plan for 3G services enabling users to avail high-end data services without worrying about the volume of usage.

To promote usage, Idea has introduced sachet pricing, offering trial packages with per day billing.