BSNL to roll out 3G services in December 2008

Chennai, Oct 10: The public sector BSNL will roll out the 3G Spectrum services in December this year, Union IT and Telecommunications Minister A Raja announced on Friday, Oct 10.

Addressing a press conference here, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will launch the services at a function in New Delhi in Decemebr. ''Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi will launch it in Tamil Nadu on Pongal festival day in January 2009'', he added. He said for an early roll out, 3G has been allotted to BSNL and MTNL. They would pay the stipulated L1 rates to the government.

Mr Raja said the process for auctioning 3G spectrum services began with the Centre shortlisting UK-based auction firm Rothschild, to conduct the auction.

The UK-based firm was short listed through a tender process in which four companies participated.

Asked about the proposed IPO by the BSNL, Mr Raja said the Centre had granted Navaratna status to it and talks were on with the trade unions in this regard.

UNI