Aircel to launch 3G services in all 13 circles

Aircel today said the company will launch 3G services before start of world cup cricket in all 13 telecom circles where company has won spectrum for the services.

“We expect 3G presence in all circles where we have bagged spectrum before world cup begins on 19th February,” Gurdeep Singh, chief operating officer, Aircel said today.

When asked about the tariff, Mr. Singh said it will be competitive.

Talking about broadband wireless access (BWA) services, Mr. Singh said the high speed internet services will be launched by end of this year.

“We want to roll out 3G services first and see the response before launching BWA services which will be available by end of this year. By March, we should be able to decide whether we are going for LTE or wimax for BWA,” Mr. Singh said.

He declined to comment on investment the company will put in for marketing of 3G and BWA services.

Aircel won 3G spectrum in 13 circles in auction for Rs. 6499.46 crore and BWA spectrum in eight circles for Rs. 3,438.01 crore.

Aircel 3G service coming within a month

Aircel Limited is all set to roll its 3G service in India within the next 30 days as per report of the company’s chief operating officer. The sources have also told that the company was waiting for the mobile number portability services to touch the market which was launched earlier today.As per report of the sources, the private telecom company which is 74% owned by Malaysia’s Maxis Communications Bhd., with the balance owned by India’s Apollo Hospitals group has operations in all of India’s 22 telecom service areas, but has licenses for 3G services in 13 areas.

Well, it looks like the 3G market across the country is likely to get crowded soon and thus will bring the 3G service to customer at a more nominal price at which it is present today.

Chairman of the company Gurdeep Singh said that once mobile number portability, where subscribers can switch operators without changing numbers, is launched across the country from Jan. 20; Aircel expects to attract high-paying users from rivals.

Regarding the newly implemented MNP, Mr Singh told that in Haryana since the implementation of MNP in November 2010 just below 1% users had switched their operators from Aircel and he expects similar response in all areas across the country.

Aircel 3G Experience Zones at Aircel stores

Aircel 3G will be launched in Chennai in a few weeks. You can explore 3G at any of the Aircel 3G Zones at Aircel stores in:

Chennai

Spencer Mall
Citi Centre Mall
Express Avenue Mall-Fun City
COCO – PH Road

Hyderabad

Inorbit Mall
Prasads Imax Mall
GVK One Mall
COCO – Paradise Road

Cochin

Oberon Mall
Bay Pride Mall
COCO – Vytella

Coimbatore

KG Theatre Complex
COCO – RS Puram


Bangalore

Garuda Mall
Forum Mall
Mantri Mall
COCO – Indranaga

ZTE, Nokia Siemens (NSN) get Aircel's 3G gear contract

Aircel has given multi-million dollar contracts to ZTE and Nokia Siemens Networks for supplying third generation mobile network equipment. While ZTE said that its share of the contract is worth $85 million, NSN did not reveal the size of its deal.

NSN will supply 3G equipment in three circles – Punjab, Kolkata and West Bengal. The company continues to manage Aircel's GSM network in six circles of the country.

“We are committed to enabling a rapid and smooth rollout of the mobile broadband network for Aircel, applying our global experience gained from serving half of the world's 3G subscribers,” said Mr Urs Pennanen, head of India Region, Nokia Siemens Networks. “Our end-to-end solution will help Aircel address the surge in data traffic due to growing use of smartphones as well as generate new revenue opportunities through its delivery of a superior experience to its subscribers.”

As part of the deal, Nokia Siemens Networks will also provide a future-proof mobile packet backbone network, security solutions, and its multi-vendor network management and optimization software, NetAct. Nokia Siemens Networks will operate and manage Aircel's 3G network for four years under a managed services contract.

ZTE Corporation said it will be also responsible for Aircel's 2G network upgrade and implementing the new 3G network and subsequent upgrades.

“This contract between ZTE and Aircel is a significant one for ZTE in the Indian market,” said Mr Huang Dabin, CEO of ZTE India. “As always, ZTE will continue to invest in and maintain a commitment to the Indian market, especially since our Indian customers are regarded as strategic global partners.

Aircel 3G Commercial | Aircel 3G advertisement

Aircel 3G Signal Goes Live

Aircel 3G Goes Live

 Aircel 3G readers from Chennai and Hyderabad have started spotting Aircel 3G signal.Aircel has bagged 3G spectrum in 13 circles.

We’d like you to let us know if you have also come across Aircel 3G signal in your area. Just follow the simple steps to find out if there is 3G services awaiting for you.

Get a 3G handset and go to phone settings > set Network Mode to WCDMA/UMTS > then search for Networks Manually > It is expected that u will have Cellone/Dolphin (thats BSNL/MTNL) and Aircel 3G if available.

You can also email us (aircel3gblog@gmail.com) screenshots with your area name and we’d be happy to post them in this post.

Aircel launches 3G experience zones

Gurdeep Singh (right), Chief Operating Officer, with actor Suriya, brand ambassador, Aircel, at the launch of 3G experience zone in Chennai, on Tuesday. Photo: Bijoy Ghosh 

 

Aircel is planning for commercial launch of its 3G services soon, according to Gurdeep Singh, Chief Operating Officer.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Mr. Singh said to enable consumers to access and know more about 3G services, the company has set up four experience Aircel 3G zones in Chennai. Launching the 3G experience zone here, actor Suriya made the first 3G video call on Aircel network. “It is truly an amazing experience,” he said.

Mr. Singh said Aircel has become the first telecom service provider to launch 3G experience zone in Chennai, he said. The 3G experience zones would provide hands-on experience for customers on 3G services. Aircel would make available services such as interactive video voice response (IVVR), 3G pocket internet portal and video calls, Mr. Singh said.

The company would invest around $500 million towards offering 3G facilities and an equal amount for expanding 2G services. The data centre in Bangalore would be upgraded to 3G, Mr. Singh said. On the mode of investment, he said “We are well funded”. The investment would be met through borrowing and shareholders equity.

Aircel, a part of Maxis Communications Berhad, Malaysia, is India's fifth largest GSM mobile provider with a subscriber base of over 47 million.

It is now present in 23 telecom circles.