The Race For 3G Services In India Intensifies

With the growing appetite for 3G services in India, telecom companies are racing against each other to bring their 3G services to customers in new circles in various parts of the country.

Airtel

Bharti Airtel on Monday announced the launch of Airtel 3G services in Guwahati, Assam. The company also announced the availability of latest Assamese movie trailers and music videos on Airtel Video Talkies. Assam joins hands with the other states in the North East where Airtel had recently launched its 3G services.

Additionally, the company has also launched international video calling facility for its 3G customers in India. This service will allow customers to make international video calls to more than 200 countries.

Vodafone

Vodafone, the second largest mobile telecom operator in India during the weekend announced that it has started 3G services for customers in Andhra Pradesh.

Vodafone customers in Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Vizag besides 49 other towns within the state will now be able to use the 3G services. Under an introductory trial offer till 20th July 2011, Vodafone customers can experience 3G at 2G rates.

S Murali, COO, Vodafone Essar Andhra Pradesh said, "Vodafone customers can now experience the advantage of adding power of mobility to the internet. There are numerous avenues for the consumer to have faster access to entertainment, better fulfilment of their information needs and a smarter way to communicate, while on the go. We expect a strong uptake and high demand for these 3G Services."

It was just last week that the company made an Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) arrangement with Idea Kerala to provide its subscribers in the southern state with 3G services. Vodafone doesn't itself hold the licence for providing 3G services in Kerala.

The 3G services from Vodafone will be available in cities like Ernakulam, Aluva, Calicut, Quilandy, Allepey, Cherthala, Malapuram and Manjeri in Kerala. The rest of the cities and towns in the state will be provided with 3G services later this year.

Similar to their launch in Andhra Pradesh, Vodafone will also provide a 3G introductory offer in Kerala called 'Double Data Offer' on selected packs until 31st July 2011. UK's Vodafone is the largest provider of 3G services in the world and is present in over 20 countries.