Date:26/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/26/stories/2005042602720300.htm

Back Bharti plans to begin 3G trial runs by month-end

Our Bureau

New Delhi , April 25

BHARTI Tele-Ventures is set to begin trial runs of 3G mobile services by April-end. The company has sought spectrum from the Department of Telecom (DoT) to conduct the trial runs.

The company has told the DoT that it has set in place the equipment and the network required to conduct trial runs but is awaiting the release of spectrum in the 1900 Mhz, which has been earmarked for 3G services.

In a letter to the DoT Secretary, Mr Brijesh Kumar, the company has said, "Bharti Cellular has planned actively to start the trials of 3G networks in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. It is also relevant to mention that the vendors have also been identified for trials and had many rounds of detailed discussions to carry out the trails by April-end, 2005."

The company had earlier said that it was lining up investments of $1 billion for rolling out 3G mobile services across the country.

3G services allow high-speed data connectivity on mobile phones. While currently data speeds of broadband Internet services go up to an average of 256 kbps, 3G services allow more than 380 kbps on a mobile handset.

So, one can watch a movie, play interactive games, download data from the Web while on the move.

Wide band code division multiple access is the 3G technology choice, commercially available on 64 networks in 33 countries.

However, the biggest block to the rollout of 3G services in India is the lack of clarity over spectrum allocation.

The telecom regulator is yet to make up its mind over sharing the 1900 Mhz frequency band between GSM and CDMA operators.

While CDMA operators want to share the frequency band, GSM operators are opposing the move on grounds that it will create interference.