(2 November 2009 8:30 pm)

MUMBAI: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is planning to launch 3G (third generation) mobile services across 50 cities in Maharashtra.

The 3G process is scheduled to start from Pune in December.

Said MTNL executive director Mumbai J Gopal, "The greatest benefit to customers of 3G services would be mobile TV and mobile internet. Customers in metropolitan cities should make use of this opportunity as the PSU has offered a very competitive rate for the high frequency 3G services that enables video and other streaming download on their mobiles including films, music, video games, and several other facilities."

Adds Bharti Airtel SVP 3G and network quality Abhay Savargaonkar, "The problem in the telecom industry was the sharp rise in mobile customer base but precipitate fall in revenue per-customer. The customer base in India raised by 400 million."

Broadband connections were still far behind the 20 million by 2010 projected by the government. 3G data revenue was growing upto 240 per cent in two years in countries like Brazil. For 2G operators facing falling ARPU, 3G offered good hope of providing richer services and better revenues. World 3G subscriber revenues were growing by 30 per cent CAGR, adds Savargaonkar.