Has The Network Evolved To 3rd Generation Or Is It Just The PricesHopefully at the end of this year or begining of next year private operators will start their 3G services.

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While most people cross their fingers for a cheaper 3G services, more specifically cheaper wireless data services, experts and operators saying negative as 3G licences came at a huge cost and operators will not offer 3G services at cheap rate.

The tariff war on 2G platform was triggered by new entrants which makes the mobile market overcrowded and results in ‘predatory pricing’ – which in turn helps to increase number of mobile subscribers at a overwhelming rate.

But 3G scenario is different, here most circles have only 4 operators having 3G and in few circles 5 operators will be offering 3G – so not a serious competition. And these operators are older ones – Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance & Aircel, only S Tel and Tata Docomo are from new entrants to win 3G spectrum. Without any pan India operator market will not be that competitive as operators will go in network sharing.

Same thing is on wireline broadband sector, almost zero competition and monoply of BSNL due to its availablity (and not for its services !) we here don’t get a cheaper broadband solution like voice calls.

3G will not only introduce video calls, high speed internet on move and mobile TV but it will also help to serve spectrum-starved 2G services – less call drops, better call quality, stable GPRS link on 2G networks. As far as 3G will be costly (if you are thinking for unlimited) GPRS will be serving most of the users who access internet via mobile devices. GPRS packs are reasonably priced, 2GB – 6GB at around Rs 100. 2G GSM Data cards never made a bang in the market as mobiles are available for using as modems.