Bharti to bid in 3G auction

New Delhi, Apr 27 (UNI) Leading private telecom company Bharti Airtel today said it will participate in the government's auction for 3G spectrum in India.

3G (third generation) technology allows users faster internet connections, video-conferencing and TV streaming via mobile handsets.

''Ours is the best network in the country to provide 3G services. We will participate in the auction and are closely watching both the space (3G and WiMAX). We will be one of the early players to launch 3G services here,'' Bharti Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Mittal said.

He added that Bharti will also launch its direct-to-home (DTH) television services by the end of this fiscal.

3G mobile telephone services are likely to be launched in India in the second half of this year, Communication and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran had said last year.

India has 12 telecom players which offer fixed-line services and mobile services on GSM and CDMA platforms.

''The auction for 3G spectrum will be completely distinct from the existing mobile licences and services,'' Mr Maran said on Wednesday.

Putting to rest over 18 months of speculation, he said the government wants global players to commit greenfield investments in India's fastest growing telecom market.

''The Indian Airforce is vacating 42.5 Mhz of spectrum by July. Shortly after this, we will announce a 3G spectrum allocation plan, which will be part of a larger broadband policy,'' the minister said.

The announcement has major ramifications on the plans and valuations of existing mobile operators such as Bharti, Reliance, Tatas, Idea and especially Hutch, which is in the middle of a 11-billion-dollar sellout to British gaint Vodafone.

UNI