Date:15/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/12/15/stories/2005121501970400.htm

Back Bharti to launch 3G services in Seychelles

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Dec 14

BHARTI Enterprises will shortly launch third generation (3G) mobile services in Seychelles.

The service, under the Airtel brand name, is being offered through Telecom Seychelles Ltd, a joint venture of Bharti Global, an arm of Bharti Enterprises for overseas operations, and Emtel, the local telecom company in Mauritius.

Bharti Enterprises is the holding company of Bharti Tele-Ventures, the cellular operator. Telecom Seychelles will be investing Rs 37 crore for the project.

Bharti Enterprises has been providing GSM-based cellular services and fixed line telephony in Mauritius over the last seven years under the Airtel brand name.

"With the introduction of this latest technology, telecommunications infrastructure in Seychelles will be on par with the most advanced countries in the world. The new upgrade will open a gateway to broadband Internet access, video calling, picture messaging, data cards, pre-paid roaming, advanced billing system, and other value-added services," said a release.

3G services will increase data speeds to 384 kbps as against 10 kbps currently, making it possible for new applications like mobile TV.

In India too, operators including Bharti Tele-Ventures, Hutch, and Reliance Infocomm are ready to launch 3G services but the Government is yet to announce the policy for allocating 3G spectrum.