Following operators like Tata Teleservices, Reliance Communications and Bharti airtel, Aircel has launched its 3G services in Chennai, its home turf. A joint venture between Maxis Communications Berhad and the Apollo Hospitals Group Aircel was the first to give its users 3G experience by creating a 3G experience zone in November, 2010.
Continuing its growth momentum, after an impressive pan India network rollout in 2010, Aircel, which currently has over 50 million users and is the market leader in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Assam and North-East has launched 3G services as expected around the World Cup Cricket series.
Aircel?s 3G data plans, in prepaid and postpaid segments, promises to give the user the best in speed and experience. At a base rate of Re 0.03 per 10KB the service is being touted to be an absolute value for money. Moreover, there are dynamic bundled plans for students, executives, and heavy users addressing all their needs enabling them with voice, SMS as well as 3G data on Aircel. At an all inclusive price of Rs132, Rs 252, Rs0 502 and Rs 802 the consumers can enjoy 75MB, 150MB, 350MB and 1024MB data respectively for a month with inbuilt voice and SMS. In addition to this, there are attractive data plans which ensure high speed experience at Rs 92 for 100 MB. Aircel also offers 3G Dongle plans to stay connected on the move.
Further, for superior customer experience, Aircel has set up a specialised 3G Data Call Centre with multilingual customer care handling capability.
Gurdeep Singh, COO, Aircel, noted at the launch, ?We have been working very hard in getting this right and have taken every step with deliberation. 3G is a natural next step. We are excited about 3G, as we see it as something that will begin to transform our lives in many ways. The youth comprise over 50 percent of the country?s population and are among active internet users and also avid users of Facebook, YouTube and other social networking sites. The launch of 3G services on Aircel will address the high speed digital needs of the consumers thus unleashing the power of the Internet further creating opportunities for education, employment, engagement and entertainment which will empower the consumers and impact their Lifestyle.?
Given that data has been at the core of Aircel?s strategy, Singh further added, ?At Aircel we have uniquely positioned ourselves to be the first to introduce, products and services that address relevant needs of the consumers be it the Aircel Pocket Internet, Aircel Pocket Apps store, Aircel Apollo Mobile Health Care and the first ever Facebook Voice Updates on Aircel . It has been our constant and consistent endeavor to offer our consumers best in class on the Mobile anytime anywhere.?
Commemorating the launch, Sandip Das the Group CEO, Maxis also stated, “This has been an important year for us in the Indian market, where we finally established our pan India presence, while keeping a date with India’s future by successfully gaining a foothold on 3G and BWA licenses at the auctions. Our commitment to the market is underlined by the investment of over $ 8 billion we have made already and a further $ 3 billion we plan to spend in the next three years. Maxis has been outstanding data player and Aircel has the unique opportunity to take advantage of this by accessing content on a real time basis, besides building on its own inherent data pedigree. We see ourselves as a leading player in the next phase of India’s telecom, internet and broadband play?.
