MTNL launches 3G mobile phone services in Delhi

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) today rolled out third generation (3G) service `Jadoo'  in Delhi, becoming the first to commercially launch the service.

Under 3G service, a customer would be able to access high-speed internet, live TV and movie downloads on mobile phones, at a monthly rental of Rs599 and a call charge of 60 paise a minute.

For accessing the MTNL 3G `Jadoo Service` a user will have to pay a onetime activation charge of Rs 500 and, thereafter, a monthly rental of Rs 599, besides usage charges with regards to voice calls and data downloads, MTNL chairman and managing director R S P Sinha said while launching the service.

Sinha said MTNL has invested about Rs5 billion to install the 3G network which has a capacity to accommodate 0.2 million subscribers.

The launch has been made possible after the allocation of 3G spectrum to the state owned telecom company by the department of telecommunication last year.

The company had earlier launched IPTV, VOIP and latest technology ADSL 2+ broadband services as first telecom operator.

''This service will also enable customers to see their caller live on screen. Also, customers can make overseas calls using VOIP technology at as low as Rs3 per minute from mobile to more than 100 countries, including Europe, the US and Canada,'' a government press release said.

The service will initially be available in NDMC areas, which will be soon expanded to entire Delhi and NCR.

The other major government owned company BSNL has also made preparations to launch its 3G services soon.