BSNL to roll out 3G services by Dec 2008

New Delhi, May 24: State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) today said it will roll out its 3G services by end of this year. The statement comes after Telecommunications and IT Minister A Raja had yesterday announced that 3G policy guidelines will be issued by next month and the services will be rolled out by end of this year or January 2009.

''We are ready with plans and will provide 3G network soon by end of this year,'' BSNL CMD Kuldeep Goyal told reporters here. The Minister had said an agency will be appointed, after the guidelines are issued, which will conduct the auction.

''Most operators are 3G ready. So, once spectrum is made available, they will be able to roll out the services. I am sure before my government completes its tenure, 3G services will reach the consumer,'' Mr Raja told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of a conference.

The PSU is also geared up for the next generation network to connect rural India with wireless communication linkages to provide broadband access initially to 23,000 district headquarters, panchayats etc, Mr Goyal said.

BSNL also plans to provide broadband facilities through fibre lines and also complete voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services network by 2015 and quickly adopt 3G networks to provide telecommunication linkages to the entire country.

According to Mr Goyal, the next challenge for the BSNL would be to further reduce the telecom cost by extending telecom linkages at war footing for which the intensive efforts are being made within the organisation in consultation with other relevant departments as per the commitment given to people by UPA government.

UNI