3g in India:opportunities and challenges 3G services have been launched by all the carriers (except STel) in India with multiple

services and various sachet & usage-based tariff plans, with varying uptake. Globally, 3G services have been available for a long time (almost ten years in Japan). Carriers in various international markets have adopted different strategies while launching 3G services. While carriers in developed markets primarily focused on enterprise customers, carriers in developing markets (launching 3G relatively later) targeted retail consumers and offered the high speed wireless technology as a potential broadband option to the consumers. 3G launch in India is also expected to create multiple opportunities for various players across the telecom value chain and each player is working on a specific India 3G strategy Majority of the leading mobile operators have made significant capital investments to build up their 2G networks. The same is going to be true when they launch their 3G infrastructure in selected telecom circles as no single private operator has acquired pan-India 3G frequency spectrum. The business model employed by the 2G operators focuses on: Economies of scale. Cost reductions in areas like winning customers, purchasing of handsets and network equipments, IT systems and interconnections rates. Various outsourcing activities related to network operation and maintenance so as to focus on their core business strength. Subscribers to access only their preselected content. Service time-to market is in the order of months.

The above 2G scenario will see a big change when the 3G services are launched as the key stake holders have to define their position in the value chain. The 3G networks are expected to enable the enrichment of services with additional value to be contributed by market players other than the mobile network operator. Third Generation Vision o o o o o o o o o Common spectrum worldwide 1920-1980 MHz and 2110-2170 MHz Wide range of new services Data centric (eg. Internet) and multimedia oriented Data bit rates up to 2 Mb//s Seamless global roaming Improved security and performance Support a variety of terminal (from PDA to desktop) Intensive use of Intelligent Network (IN) technology

Features of 3G o o Higher bandwidth enables a range of new applications! For the consumer 1. Video streaming, TV broadcast

2. Video calls, video clips news, music, sports 3. Enhanced gaming, chat, location services For business 1. High speed teleworking / VPN access 2. Sales force automation 3. Video conferencing

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The data speed of 3G is determined based on a combination of various factors including : Chip rate Channel structure Power control Number of users in a cell Distance of user from cell User is moving or stationary Synchronization