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MTNL Launches 3G In Delhi Today

After much postponement, India is finally on the 3G map of the world as Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Limited (MTNL) kick-started 3G services in Delhi today.

The state-owned telecom operator even has a name for the new service, and it's not mere 'MTNL 3G.' They've christened it as (c'mon, hold your breath!) MTNL 3G Jadoo.

In case you're wondering, we're not kidding about the name.

This being a soft-launch of 3G Jadoo, initially, only some parts of Delhi would have access to the service. Currently, the areas being covered are: Connaught Place, Sanchar Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, India Gate, Pragati Maidan, Delhi Gate, and Minto Road.

So, if you have a phone that supports 3G, and needless to say, an MTNL connection with GPRS activation, take a walk around the areas listed and see if the 'E' or 'G' (that denotes connectivity) on your phone turns to 3.5G!

In case you're curious to know about the speeds being offered, connect your phone to your notebook to find out.

MTNL is not charging extra for the service introduced today as it wants its customers to get a feel of 3G's capabilities. Eventually, there will be a commercial tariff plan announced, and the registration will start after the commercial launch -- a couple of months from now.

Mumbai too will have a similar soft-launch for MTNL's 3G services two months hence, says J. Gopalan, executive director, MTNL (Mumbai).

He adds, "The first phase would include trial services to be offered in areas between the Airport and Prabhadevi. The second phase would include South Bombay."

State-owned telecom operators MTNL and BSNL have the first-mover advantage to offer 3G services in India. With Delhi services commencing today, Mumbai will follow suit in two months' time. Chennai too will get to experience 3G services in January 2009 through BSNL.

Sooner or later (MTNL plans to offer 3G services across India by mid-2009), our countrymen will be able to surf the internet with speeds up to 2Mbps on their smart phones.

MTNL will be installing 15 lakh 3G lines in the first phase of its 3G roll-out in Mumbai and Delhi (which currently have 35 lakh existing mobile lines).

Now that it's finally happening, if you live in Delhi or Mumbai, do you plan to get yourself an MTNL connection just to get a taste of high-speed internet on your smartphone?

What is 3G? Does India need it?

Current WAP speed in India is nothing great but it has improved. I understand from my friends who are experts in telecom that you cannot improve the speed performance of WAP any further on a GSM network (which is 2G). I am told only 3G can improve things. So what is 3G?

Ex-Telecom Minister Dayanadi Maran was in the verge of releasing the 3G guidelines in India but he was shown the door. After the new Telecom Minister took over there was some talk about India going with 2.5G, which enables high-speed data transfer over upgraded existing 2G networks.

The GSM and CDMA networks are classed as second generation while the defunct analogue network was the first of the mobile network generations.

3G, or third generation, is the generic term used for the next generation of mobile communications systems. The new systems will enhance the services available today and offer multimedia and internet access and the ability to view video footage.

With a 3G phone and access to the 3G network you can send and receive video calls, watch live TV, access the internet, receive emails and download music tracks, as well as the usual voice call and messaging services found on a mobile phone.

Technically, the main difference between 3G and 2G networks is how quickly data can be sent and received. 3G networks can send data up to 40 times the rates of earlier digital networks, which means that in addition to audio, graphics and text, 3G customers can also send and receive video content, in 3G coverage areas. They provide service at 5-10 Mb per second.

3G was introduced in the United States early in 2002. By late 2004, it was finally providing transmission speeds sufficient to handle full-motion video, albeit over short periods of time (15 seconds to three minutes, in most cases). The third generation technology used in the UK is called UMTS. These services operate at 2100 MHz. (2.1GHz).

Upgrading to 3G will be an expensive affair for all telcos. All telco hardware vendors would have another reason to drool in India!

While we are still not sure when India will get 3G, the technology has already moved on to “beyond 3G” or “4G”. A 4G system will be able to provide a comprehensive IP solution where voice, data and streamed multimedia can be given to users on an “Anytime, Anywhere” basis, and at higher data rates than previous generations.

For any telco to offer 3G the government has to allocate the spectrum. Allocation of spectrum is becoming a mess but ultimately it will be solved (after all it cannot be more complex than pleasing the Left in the govt!!).

I personally believe mobile users in India will have a far better experience after 3G becomes a reality.


Thanks : http://www.mahesh.com/2007/11/27/what-is-3g-does-india-need-it