Mobile 3G services by March: Raja

HYDERABAD: Mobile 3G (Third Generation) services are expected to be fully rolled out in the country by March 2009.

The Department of Communications, Government of India, will complete the auctions for 3G spectrum by the end of this month, according to Union Communications and Information Technology Minister A Raja.

The WiMAX auctions too would be completed by the end of January, 2009.

Talking to presspersons on the sidelines of the third Internet Governance Forum conference at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre here today, Raja said MTNL would launch 3G services by mid-December while BSNL would offer the services by the middle of January.

"We have given some advance leverage to MTNL and BSNL since they are public sector companies," Raja said.

He said that three slots would be put up for auction for 3G spectrum in each circle.

"Already, some private players have put necessary infrastructure in place to immediately launch the 3G services as and when they get the spectrum allotted," the Minister pointed out.

Once on, the 3G services would enable Internet access on mobile phones at a greater speed.