The numbers of 3G subscriber connections in India are forecast to reach 400 million within four years, representing almost 30 percent of the country’s total.
According to a new Wireless Intelligence study, India 3G rollout (forecasts and market shares 2011 – 2015).
Seven Indian operators acquired 3G spectrum last year in addition to the two state-owned operators (BSNL and MTNL) that had already been awarded 3G airwaves ahead of the private auctions.
The study notes that over 80 percent of 3G connections will be based on WCDMA in five years, with the remaining 20 percent on CDMA-based 3G networks.Operators Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) have both offered 3G CDMA for a decade; but both are also in the process of migrating to GSM/WCDMA and were the first two private operators to launch services using new WCDMA spectrum in Q4 2010.
Reliance and TTSL are set to command 3G market shares of 39 percent and 30 percent, respectively, this year (see table).However, 2011 has already seen a succession of rival launches – including Bharti (in January), Aircel (February) and Vodafone (March) – and Wireless Intelligence forecasts that all new WCDMA-based operators will have launched services by June 2011.
This means that, by 2015, 3G market shares will more closely resemble the overall national picture: Bharti – India’s largest operator – is forecast to command the largest 3G share (18 percent), followed by Reliance (15 percent) and BSNL (13 percent) (see table).
The study notes that India’s Circle A and Circle B service areas will account for 75 percent of the country’s 3G connections by 2015. Even though initial 3G rollouts are concentrated in the so-called metro areas (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata) they will soon be outstripped by fast-growing demand for 3G in more populous regions such as Punjab, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana, the report says.
But the situation is complicated by the fact that no 3G operator is able to offer a nationwide service, which will require network sharing and roaming between operators. Pricing 3G services appropriately in a market where around 200 million prospective users live on less than US$2 a day is also set to be a major challenge.
India 3G operator market shares 2011 & 2015
| 2011 | 2015 | |
| Bharti Airtel | 3% | 18% |
| Reliance Comms | 39% | 15% |
| BSNL | 10% | 13% |
| Vodafone Essar | 2% | 13% |
| Tata Teleservices | 30% | 12% |
| IDEA Cellular | 2% | 11% |
| Aircel | 2% | 9% |
| MTS | 10% | 7% |
| MTNL | 1% | 1% |
| S-Tel | 1% | 1% |
| 100% | 100% |
PD March 13, 2011 at 6:35 pm
@selvam
Thanx. But it will happen soon, those who pick up the idea, will definitely benefit. Even operators in coordination with manufacturers can bundle 3G option in the h-sets in exchange.
selvam March 13, 2011 at 3:04 pm
@PD GOOD idea but no body will care..all they want to make money.. if any service providers come forward it is bonanza for the customers
selvam March 13, 2011 at 3:01 pm
@Sam it would hav been done by BSNL but govt now insisting BSNL to give 3g services all over india and compelled to pay 13000 crs ..as per the highest bid rate has been collected from BSNL for all circles… pvt operators who hav been given chance to select the circles and free hand to operate where ever they want in their licence area which was not offered to BSNL …from this u can know the step-mother treatment to PSUs …if we PUBLIC question the govt we may be benifited atleast in future
PD March 13, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Many subscribers will prefer to use video calling options thru 3G service. However, very few have 3G enabled set, and even those few still do not have sets supportive of High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA). In this context the manufacturers should now turn their attention to market comparatively cheap handsets supporting HSDPA with front and rear cameras.
Further the manufacturers should also think of exchanging of old sets for new with above options through their service centers. This will perhaps help in recycling and avoid piling up of wastes. This will help both – handset manufacturers and service providers.
vishal March 10, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Definitely, everybody will move on 3g because foreign mobile manufacturing company will stop manufacturing 2g mobile phones. We will have no choice. & about 3g sales increment, 3g will be free in the future but it will be costly.
Sam March 9, 2011 at 3:34 pm
4G and 5G, they will take ages..
Atleast for the general public to use 3G operators should low down prices, that also purely unlimited 3.1mbps for xxxxx amount and 21mbps for xxxxx amount. Airtel, Voda and Reliance have some stupid offers, which general public wont be interested in. Hope BSNL/MNTL will take initiatives to reduce 3G costs further down
dskushwaha March 9, 2011 at 3:21 pm
You are trying to follow a mirage.
You can download full movie of file size 100MB in a 5 minutes or less today itself. But you will say the quality of video is not good. The same will happen when 4G will come in India. That time DVD quality movie (4GB) or HD movie 20GB or more will be the minimum standard.
AVISEK March 9, 2011 at 1:57 pm
i think bsnl have huge customer in 3g.
sagat March 9, 2011 at 12:40 pm
@RDB
Dude , on what basis did you give 3G market share for 2011.It doesn’t make any sense at all.
rajiev March 9, 2011 at 11:22 am
i cant afford 3g service bcoz i have 2g unlimited plan in Rs.300 only (unlimited)
Emad March 9, 2011 at 8:50 am
it’s hard time for PVT operators as considered there costly plans no one make dare to opt them
so finally bsnl is the king of forest
Vybhav March 9, 2011 at 3:10 am
Those who will be customers of 3G in 2011/12 will be paving way for cheaper plans which will be availed by budget conscious customers of india by 2013.
Now after trying 3G aircel in Hyderabad I don’t think they have any great benefits. Poor network connectivity will haunt them in future.
Video calling is very poor with extreme lag and at times handsets freezing!!
Now that being known I don’t think people will be willing to experiment with 3G plans with sub standard quality of streaming and data transmission . It might take another 2 years for operators to streamline their network for ultimate 3G experience.
Then the brouhaha for 4g will start same will happen with 4g .
Basically we Indians will be busy catching buses and trains but never get what we actually pay for!!
That’s india the great country!!
AD March 9, 2011 at 1:16 am
@Renish
dude you know our counry’s government.. The much awaited 3G delated many times and finally auctioned last year.. if are thinking of 4G i definately sure u ve to wait till 2015.. Even if they launch early (by mistake) price ll be 2times more than current 3G plan..
Sagarkinkar March 8, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Don’t wait for 4g dude cause it will come in des2011 mukesh ambani’s infotel is won the liaisons of 4g.
Renish March 8, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Sure, When western countries move to 5G, India will start 4G…
In 4G speed is up to 1 Gbit/s according to Wikipedia. That is 1024 Megabits per second equal to [1024/8] 128 MB per second. To download a movie we need just 6 sec [128*6=768].. WAITING FOR 4G….!!!
parveena March 8, 2011 at 7:31 pm
how?
Amit.G March 8, 2011 at 5:27 pm
@Raghu
Ya dude actually this type of surveys itself made operators feel tat 3G will creat a big wave n will increase the revenue n all… they auctioned madly for that limited spectrum n now we all can see the results!!!!
Arun March 8, 2011 at 4:50 pm
I don’t think there is anything exciting about 3G other than data. However We can’t afford it under current tarrifs.
Raghu March 8, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@Amit.G
quite strange how 200 million people will be using in 2015 if they reduce the price to the customers reach so may be it is possible otherwise not at all possible,
AD March 8, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@Amit.G I surely agree with you. If you get better speed in 2G according indian mentality they use 2G at lower price instead of opting for 3G.
Amit.G March 8, 2011 at 3:21 pm
3G will become popular only if price is reduced or else people will continue with 2g.I dont know how this article has predicted tat by 2015 200million customers will be using 3G wher as in reality people have just activated 3G and are using it on 2G data plans and voice plans. They should predict when the operators will break even in 3G. Then only we will get the clear picture.
AD March 8, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Western countries already started using 4G, when india about to start using 3G by the year 2015 4G will be implemented in india.