Siemens set to roll out 3G mobile services

Even as the government is in the process of deciding on the allocation of extra spectrum, Siemens Communications today said it was ready to roll out next-generation mobile services in India.

After a live demonstration of Siemen's capability in handling third generation (3-G) services, the company's Chief Financial Officer J Meyer Seipp told reporters today, "We are in discussions with operators that would like to tie up with Siemens for rolling out of these services."

Siepp said the frequency band for 3G services in India was undecided and that Siemens would wait for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to come up with its final recommendations before starting these services. He said charging license fee for spectrum was not advisable, as it could lead to unhealthy competition.

"We should avoid a replay of what happened earlier in India, when licences were awarded on the basis of a one-time fee to be paid by operators," Seipp said.

With today's demonstration, he said, Siemens became the first telecom company in India to have conducted a live trial that included all the necessary elements of 3G.

With 3G technology, Siemens would help operators in providing additional features like seamless roaming, high-speed communication, video streaming, real-time download of live programmes, video mails and live camera.