Ericsson is rolling out WCDMA/HSPA technology in India to bring 3G services to more than 15 million people.
Ericsson is assisting BSNL, India's second-largest telecommunications operator, to drive 3G services in India, which will allow BSNL's customers to experience voice, video and data services.
The technology will be deployed across more than 700 sites in the first phase, Ericsson said in a statement.
Kuldeep Goyal, chairman and MD of BSNL, says: “Today is a significant day for BSNL. The commercial launch of 3G services represents a major milestone in our journey of realising 3G services for the country and our customers. The widespread roll-out of 3G networks will also help in propelling telecom and broadband growth in India, and will help us meet India's target of 20 million broadband subscribers by 2010.”
Communication for all
Gowton Achaibar, president of Ericsson India and Sri Lanka, says: “Ericsson is proud to partner with BSNL in the roll-out of 3G services in India. This not only helps us in bridging the urban-rural digital divide, but is also a step forward in actualising our vision of driving communications for all.
“Innovative services such as mobile health, mobile learning and mobile governance that are eventually offered to masses, using HSPA technology, shall ultimately drive socio-economic development in the country.”
It's expected that the roll-out will bring high-quality voice services along with high-speed data and video services with speeds of up to 2Mbps. Certain applications such as video telephony, mobile broadband, mobile TV and video on demand are being offering immediately. However, Ericsson says music downloads, video tones, instant messaging, online gaming and online payment will be offered by BSNL in the future.
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