Mobile subscribers in Bangalore will be able to use a host of 3G services, including rich voice, data and video. BSNL has just introduced 3G to one of the most important telecoms and IT centres anywhere in the world, even welcoming Minster A Raja, India’s Minister for Communication and IT.
Minister Raja took the opportunity to stress certain of his Ministry’s key objectives in the short-term. Telecoms had achieved a price stability unknown in other economic sectors. In addition, the Ministry was aiming to reduce calls to all pats of India by 60%, from US$0.005/minute.
Along with reduced tariffs, several new features will be brought out asa result of Bangalore’s new 3G facility. Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which enables a GSM user to migrate to another service provider while retaining the same number, has been under discussion for quite sometime. Minister Raja stated that MNP will be in place by May this year. He explained the delay in introduction: “We wanted to launch MNP last year itself, but were delayed due to certain security clearances. We will launch it in May, when people can avail themselves of the new service.”
Other facilities will be as follows:
- two pre-paid plans, 3G 120 General and 3G 120 Promo Plan, in addition to post-paid. 3G is US$0.54 per month extra;
- free conversion to 3G 120 General pre paid for existing 2G prepaid subscribers from all plans (send SMS M3G120 to 53733);
- for all pre- and post-paid plans data download charges are only US$0.0002 for 10 kb/s; and
- in the case of free migration from 2G to 3G, the customer may continue with the existing 2G SIM (32k) free of charge or opt for a new SIM with higher memory capacity (128k/256k) for US$1.28.
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