Tata Tele to roll out 3G services on Fri

Telco To Invest $500 M On Networks

TATA Teleservices, India's fourthlargest service provider, said it will roll out high-end services on mobile phones on Friday, becoming the first private company to launch third generation (3G) services.
    The company will complete 3G services, including high speed internet access (up to 21.1 mbps) video telephony, interactive gaming and ultra fast downloads on the mobile, across nine telecom circles in India before the end of this year, officials said on Wednesday. Tata Tele will spend $500 million on 3G networks, managing director Anil Sardana said in a press meet. Tata DoCoMo, a joint venture between Japan's NTT DoCo-Mo and Tata Group, is in talks with other national players to provide pan-India services, he added.
    The company had won 3G spectrum in nine of the 22 designated telcom circles in the country for $1.3 billion in an auction held in June. The company officials expect 10-15% rise in spend on 3G services by Indian consumers next year.
    Beginning with 25 Indian cities, the company will be able to roll out its 3G services in 125-150 cities by the end of this year. State-run telecom companies — BSNL and MTNL — had begun providing 3G services last year. India's top mobile operator Bharti Airtel plans to launch 3G services before the end of 2010, while Vodafone Essar is eyeing a launch in the January-March 2011 quarter.