Bharti airtel, India’s largest telecommunications company, announced the launch of its 3G service in the North Karnataka towns of Hubballi, Dharwad & Belagavi today. Home to the largest customer base of airtel mobile customers in Karnataka, these towns today joined the airtel 3G map in India, to offer unparalleled airtel internet experience on 3G. This follows the successful 3G launches in Bengaluru, Mysore, Mangalore, Udupi, Manipal, Shimoga, Davanagere & Tumkur.
The North Karnataka region has over 30{af589cdba9d77786c8c861317dbad60bba1e2ebbf56e2ffab874a1b59fde9ce3} of airtel’s customer base having GPRS connectivity. Besides, the region has the second largest number of 3G enabled handsets in Karnataka after the city of Bangalore. With nearly 50{af589cdba9d77786c8c861317dbad60bba1e2ebbf56e2ffab874a1b59fde9ce3} of retailers in North Karnataka selling airtel GPRS packs, this is a very apt region for the availability of 3G services.
Firmly entrenched as an industrial hub in Karnataka, airtel’s 3G operations are set to change the way North Karnataka functions. When 3G operations are underway, many customers will get to experience the differentiators that airtel brings to the table. airtel internet on 3G gives customers the power of higher speeds to enjoy multimedia services, high-speed mobile broadband and internet access with the ability to view videos on your mobile phone, make video calls, watch live TV, access high speed internet and enjoy live streaming at never before speeds.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Venkatesh V, CEO – Karnataka Circle, Mobile Services, Bharti airtel Ltd said, “The launch of our 3G services is the start of a new era, the beginning of a journey of mobile internet revolution in Karnatak. As we begin our operations in North Karnataka, we believe that it is a transformational shift we are ushering in. We aim to bring to our customers an enriched user experience on the back of a world class delivery. The launch of mobile number portability services is an added bonus for all those seeking 3G services for video calls and enjoy the advantage to the power of mobile internet”
airtel’s 3G services, delivered on a state-of-the-art high speed HSPA network, usher in a new era of unique life enriching services in entertainment, utility, commerce and health – all now on the customer’s mobile phone.
The launch of its 3G services is a key milestone in Bharti airtel’s vision to play a leading role in delivering the power of the mobile internet to an increasing number of people in India. With the mobile industry across the world expecting to connect 2.4 billion people to the internet over the next five years, most for the first time, it is incumbent upon service providers to bring all the ecosystem players together in a cohesive manner – handset manufacturers, equipment vendors, application developers and even consumers – to scale up the penetration for 3G services in the country.
Comparison between 2G and 3G:
| 2G/ 2.5G | 3G | |
| Speed | 10 kbps to 256 kbps | Up to 21 Mbps |
| EXPERIENCE | Voice plus basic
Data Applications |
Advanced
data applications |
| APPLICATIONS | Digital Voice &
Circuit switched |
Digital voice, Packet & Circuit Switched |
| 2G | 3G | |
| Music download | 1 min | 6s |
| Blogs | 37 s | 7s |
| Email ppt | 4 min | 25s |
| Photo viewing | 10s | 1s |
| Video clip viewing | 2 min | 12s |
| PPT viewing | 4 min | 24 s |
| Latency | 100ms | 50 ms |
Keeping the focus on the user experience and relevant services, airtel’s 3G price plans are personalised and simple to understand:
1. PAYG VBC (Pay as you go): For all existing airtel 2G customers who want to experience the power of airtel internet on 3G for a short while, this tariff plan is the solution. The customer will pay the same prevailing data rates as on 2G service, but with the advantage of a faster mobile broadband.
2. Sachet Plans: The objective of these plans is to drive mass trial and adoption of 3G, and will serve as the natural upgrade path to higher rental plans. These plans will have validity of lesser than or equal to 10 days.
| Name of the plan | MRP | Free Data | Validity |
| Sachet Plan | Rs 9 | 10 MB | 1 day (Same day) |
| Sachet Plan (Time based) | Rs. 45 | 30 minutes | 1 day (Same day) |
| Sachet Plan | Rs. 60 | 65 MB | 3 day |
3. Standard Plans: These plans are best suited for the mid to high-end users of data and will have a validity of 30 days.
| Name of the plan | MRP – Prepaid | MRP – Postpaid | Free Data | Validity |
| Standard Plan | Rs. 103 | Rs. 100 | 100MB | 30 Days |
| Standard Plan | Rs. 200 | Rs. 200 | 250MB | 30 Days |
| Standard Plan | Rs. 450 | Rs. 450 | 600MB | 30 Days |
| Standard Plan | Rs. 750 | Rs. 750 | 2GB | 30 Days |
4. FlexiShield Plan: This plan has a combination of free data usage and a low inbuilt VBC rate. The plan is constructed in a way that it provides the customer, the flexibility to start from a relatively lower initial rental commitment and shields from a bill shock.
| Name of the plan | MRP -Prepaid | MRP – Postpaid | Plan Details | Validity |
| FlexiShield Plan | Rs. 675 | Rs. 675 | Initial Free Data of 1.25GB. After the initial free data is exhausted, VBC rate of 1p/100Kb, will be applicable for data usage at 3G speed, till total Data Bill reaches Rs 2000.
After reaching bill cap, customer can continue to enjoy internet access, at speed of 20Kbps
|
30 Days |
airtel has also introduced a first of its kind internet usage calculator that will help customers monitor and analyse their current internet data usage and choose an airtel 3G plan accordingly.
To know more or join airtel 3G services – customers can visit www.airtel.in/3g or call 12134 (tollfree) or SMS ‘3G’ to 121.