Being a developing country, India's appetite of data is increasing in an accelerated motion. While CDMA operators including PSU BSNL using their 800MHz spectrum already launched EV-DO services at 3.1Mbps; political drama makes the 3G auction a dream and keep India 10 year beyond the 3G (Japan got 3G in 2001 with NTT DoCoMo). India started 3G auction processing in as late as 2005 and still no private GSM and CDMA operators get 3G spectrum due to delay in 3G auction and non-availability of spectrum.
Currently only state-owned BSNL & MTNL offers 3G mobile and 3.5G Data services over India; MTNL in Dehli and Mumbai metro and BSNL in remaining all circles. These two PSUs launched the superfast 3G GSM services with video calling option and HSPA+ enabled 3.5G networks can offer download speed highest 3.6Mbps and upload speed upto 384kbps. They both launched Data services on mobile and via USB Data cards.
Here are the Details-:
| Free Data usage/30 days | BSNL 3G | MTNL 3G Jadoo |
| Introductoty offer | Customers purchasing 3G Data card from BSNL will get free data usage of 6 GB per month as 1GB day/any time and 5GB night usage for two months from the date of activation. | Data Top Up of Rs.750 (2G Free Downloads) |
| Price of device | USB and PCMCIA type HSDPA data cards available - Rs. 2500, 3000, 4000, 4500 You can buy open market data card* | Micromax Data card model MMX300G/MMX 372G @ Rs.3499 You can also buy your own Data Card* |
| 130MB | NA | 99 |
| 0.5GB | 249 | 250 |
| 1GB | 399 | 450 |
| 2GB | 649 | 750 |
| 5GB | 899 | - |
| 10GB | 1099 | - |
| Night 5GB + Day 1GB | 549 | - |
| Night 10GB + Day 5 GB | 1299 | - |
| Night 15GB + Day 10GB | 1699 | - |
| Night unlimited + Day 15 GB | 1999 | - |
| Unlimited | 2499 | 2500 |
| Post free usage charge in validity period | 50p/MB; On 0.5GB plan Re1/MB | 2p/10KB; on national roaming Rs 10/MB on BSNL 3G network |
Being available in most of the country, BSNL has more options - night users have unlimited plan. BSNL 's night plans available during 11.00 PM to 07.00 AM.
* MTNL recommends 3G Data Cards - MicroMax MMX 300G, Huawei E 156G, E 156, E 176 & ZTE MF100, MF110. Customers own choice of Data card are also allowed with its 3G service.
