BSNL may consider inviting international bids for 3G
20 Jul 2009
After a lukewarm response to its 3G roll-out, BSNL may consider inviting global players to run the network on a revenue sharing basis.
A BSNL official said if the company did not succeed in raising its 3G subscriber base to a good number in the next few months, it might follow MTNL and invite bids.
Networks on 3G allow high-speed access to internet, mobile TV, videos and downloads.
MTNL had last week invited bids for its 3G service in Delhi and Mumbai after it failed to enlist enough subscribers.
BSNL has, reportedly, enrolled only about 10,000 subscribers for its 3G service in six months, against a target of 1 lakh customers by September. It may also expand the city base from 100 to 1,000 by the end of this year. Also on the cards are on-demand services for videos and games, and a music library.
MTNL and BSNL had received the 3G spectrum last year. (See: DoT allocates 3G and BWA spectrums to BSNL, MTNL)