India’s largest Mobile Service Bharti Airtel today announced the launch of its 3G service in India – bringing the airtel Internet experience on 3G first to Karnataka – its largest circle by revenue market share. airtel is targeting to launch in all 13 3G license circles by March 2011.
Airtel introduced easy-to-understand intuitive 3G tariffs with personalized data usage limits. airtel 3G customers will be empowered to manage their 3G data usage alert and prevent ‘bill shock’ with proactive, personalized and timely data usage alerts.Keeping the focus on the user experience and relevant services.
Airtel’s 3G plans are personalised and simple to understand, Time-based plans for light users of data where usage and billing will be by hour and Flexi-shield plans for heavy users of data where usage and billing will be capped.
The company has paid 12,296 crore as spectrum licence fee and has tie-ups with Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Network and Huawei for installing high speed packet access (HSPA) network in its 3G circles in India.
Announcing this, Mr. Sanjay Kapoor, CEO – Bharti airtel Ltd (India & South Asia) said, “It is indeed the start of a new era when 3G services in India roll out on airtel’s network. World over ‘Data traffic’ on the back of high speed internet and use of social networking has already exceeded the ‘Voice traffic’.
India is ushering in the domain – though later than most of the world – but no doubt we will catch up at a much faster speed. 3G is much more than a technology migration – it is a transformational shift – and airtel’s focus would be to bring to its customers an enriched user experience on the back of a world class delivery network. I welcome all 745 million mobile customers of the country to be a part of this journey with airtel!”
To know more or join airtel 3G services, customers can visit one can call the Toll Free Helpline 12134 or SMS ‘3G HELP’ to 121.
Airtel Subscriber can SMS 3G to 121 for Pay as you go plan where in they will be charged 30p / 20kb for 3G data access. After the SMS, existing 2G pack will be de-activated once you register for Airtel 3G.
Connect with Airtel Presence 24X7 and they will be happy to assist you with a swift resolution to your queries on all products and services on Twitter – http://bit.ly/fKcSxc on Facebook – http://on.fb.me/cECyvS
Drums Sets January 27, 2011 at 10:44 pm
That is actually a very good thing to hear that there is actually a very good developer in the Airtel. This is a very good thing to hear and a very good news to offer. Well hope to hear more for the future release of airtel.
jimmi January 26, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Data Charges for 1MB
————
BSNL : Rs 1/-
Airtel : Rs 15/-
Reliance : Rs 10/-(Upto 50MB)
: Rs 1/- (More than 50MB)
Video Local Call Charges per minute
———————–
BSNL : Rs 0.7/-
Reliance : Rs 3/-
Airtel : Rs 3/-
Now you decide….
Amzad January 25, 2011 at 1:22 am
Airtel 3G is coming soon to Chennai. Got a mail from Airtel just before minutes!! http://twitpic.com/3t2k6g
Arif January 24, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Every operator loots in starting but as time goes and competition starts, tariff come down. In start MTNL/BSNL’s call/data charges was also high but it come down over the period of time. So wait every one will come down as time passes.
kochikkaran January 24, 2011 at 5:35 pm
yup i saw the advertisements before these private operators are launching the 3G service .. but docomo started the ads about 3g, there is no ads from bsnl….most of the news i know abt 3G and tariff are from TT…. what i meant to say is that bsnl need to do ads as private operators are doing…
kochikkaran January 24, 2011 at 5:30 pm
i’m also using this plan for last 2 months… i’m grateful to TT for giving this news…( http://telecomtalk.info/bsnl-unlimited-3g-data-plan-now-at-just-rs-700/45358/) i asked abt it in BSnl office and they told that this offer can be activated within january 2011 .. you can activate it by doing a Easy Recharge (Flexy Recharge) of RS 4200 ( the denomination should be correct and please remember not to do TOP UP) and you will get a message that recharge is succesful and your balance will remain same…or else you can purchase 3G data card from nearby bsnl office… i am from a kochi and i’m 20 kms away from the city and i am getting good range of 3G signal( 5 bars of 3G signal) and downloading speed of around 150 kbps minimum and upto 250-350 kbps and uses Nokia 5230 Touch …
Sanjay Bafna January 24, 2011 at 5:21 pm
check this post on BSNL 3G Video Calling TV advertisements : http://telecomtalk.info/bsnls-3g-ad-simple-n-effective/32676/
Nilesh Patel January 24, 2011 at 5:19 pm
i just recharged with Rs4200 for BSNL, it unlimited and the speeds are really good, and my Kalyan customer service guys are like amazing, i directly call the guys handling 3G and get my problems solved in 5 min flats, and the best part they always help u no matter how many ever times u call them, I just got my 3G speeds solved and am getting 2.6-3Mbps Dl and 1.5-1.7 UL speeds, who gives u so much in Rs700 per month
kochi k karan January 24, 2011 at 5:16 pm
@arvind maheshwari
There is no hope for us that these private operators will reduce the video calling rates and data rates as long as Bsnl is not advertising these costs which is 4 times lesser than these private operators.. as Bsnl is not advertising common people will think that rs 3 per minute for video call is normal and industry standard…only people like us who are reading sites like TT are able to know which is the best plan for us… others will just pay airtel and vodafone due to their ads….
Kanaga Deepan N January 24, 2011 at 5:07 pm
@Sayantan
With Rs4200 recharge, you get 6 Months UnLimited 3G data usage WITHOUT ANY FUP in BSNL, which works out to Rs700 per month… I am also using this now…
max January 24, 2011 at 4:50 pm
4200 for 6 months means 700 per month simple
max January 24, 2011 at 4:49 pm
exactly… be with BSNL
sumit January 24, 2011 at 4:44 pm
@Arun
BSNL rocks….
porting to bsnl
Arun January 24, 2011 at 4:39 pm
So, today I can peacefully port to BSNL.
Sayantan January 24, 2011 at 4:37 pm
700 UL 3G where ? any link ?
jslaolin January 24, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Airtel Subscriber can SMS 3G to 121 for Pay as you go plan where in they will be charged 30p / 20kb for 3G data access. Very Costly Indeed…….
Kanaga Deepan N January 24, 2011 at 4:25 pm
+1
santosh January 24, 2011 at 4:12 pm
one thing seen very clearly that…the private operators got the chance to bid for all circles in 3G auction and they only bid for money making circle as no one have bid for pan INDIA………….but BSNL didn”t get chance like this and they are forced to pay for all circle with the highest bid value ……….but still they are offering the best 3G tariff that RS 700 UNLIMITED….but no private operator have dared to come up with this type of tariff……..so it seems like the private operators are just in looting the money mood and nothing else…………so loot money from the INDIAN customer as the second largest mobile market and buy the EUROPE, AFRICA,AMERICA telecom companies with our money……………..so for me it is better to support our OWN PSU BSNL/MTNL……..i m not a BSNL supporter but still seeing the situation and the mentality of the private operators it forced me to being with BSNL.
santosh January 24, 2011 at 4:03 pm
till now all the private operators tariffs are more expensive than the PSU BSNL/MTNL, are they not thinking to compete or waiting when these PSU tariff price will come to this level………so for now best is go for BSNL as it has pan INDIA presence and rapidly covering the cities. but these privates are looking they are surrendering in front of PSUs in 3G segment………………
sumit January 24, 2011 at 4:00 pm
9Rs =10 MB, validity 1 day
60Rs =65 MB, validity 3 days
103Rs =100 MB, validity 30 days
200Rs =250 MB, validity 30 days
450Rs =600 MB, validity 30 days
750Rs =2 GB, validity 30 days
Ab to private operators se umeed karna hi bekaar hai…
porting airtel to bsnl…
Rahul January 24, 2011 at 3:48 pm
The plans are going to be expensive and with caps, no real unlimited plan. I am happy with BSNL 3G at least they dont cap their unlimited plan.
A Mohapatra January 24, 2011 at 3:40 pm
Yes. In Odisha, all 3G Video Calls whether Local or STD is 30 paisa per minute till 5 Feb 2011.
arvind maheshwari January 24, 2011 at 3:14 pm
bsnl is the best
BSNL is offering video call in 70 paise per minute and these private opertaors are offering at 3 rs per minute
bsnl is offering at much lower rates but if still u dont want to take it thats your choice
Kanaga Deepan N January 24, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Very nice… Cost of Airtel3G base tariff is Rs15.36 per MB… Only ONION is costlier than this..
sachin January 24, 2011 at 2:16 pm
“No unlimited plans from max 1.25 GB 3G Data Plan will cost at Rs.650″ This is rubbish
virendra kumar January 24, 2011 at 2:07 pm
no doubts … they r going to charge higher than docomo…in all aspect ..this is my challanege
Abhi January 24, 2011 at 1:20 pm
All these private operators are so slow and inefficient compared to BSNL with regard to 3G launch. BSNL did a spectacular launch with all major cities in one go. After seeing their response and activity after the spectrum allocation, I have lost hope of a good and reliable service from these operators. Now I just hope BSNL keeps improving and provides a good enough service which brings about a change that is so needed in our country.
Kanaga Deepan N January 24, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Hearing just blah blah blah from Airtel… Where is their 3G data and video call plans???
Oh… Launching Time based plans in 3G data??? It is a criminal mistake what CDMA players have done with their monopoly 1x and even in EV-DO few years back and it is now pay-back time to those guys… But why Airtel is following same strategy today??? Are they mad???
altaf January 24, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Welcome airtel3G .. waiting for mumbai launch
Amzad January 24, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Had a Chat with the airtel CC executive; He confirmed that 3G is launched both n Bangalore and Chennai!!
mickey January 24, 2011 at 12:32 pm
When airtel 3G service coming to delhi..
Tell me the exact time
Avi H January 24, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Mr. Bafna when is it coming to Delhi NCR???
Sanjay Bafna January 24, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Keep u posted soon, stay tune to TelecomTalk, Bangalore launch event just finished and some more update on Airtel 3G on the way…