Ericsson has launched a 3G network based on WCDMA/HSPA technology in eight of Bharti airtel?s telecom circles. This includes services like network rollout, network design, network integration and training. The network comprises more than 1800 radio base stations based on Ericsson?s latest multi-standard radio access portfolio, RBS 6000, and core technology, which will boost the capacity of the network and evolve it into an IP network.
Atul Bindal, president, mobile services, Bharti airtel said, “Mobile broadband will fuel the growth of trade and commerce, improve access to education and healthcare and help reduce the overall digital divide. We see the launch of 3G services as the logical next step to the evolution of mobile communications in India. With the mobile phone fast emerging as the primary device for accessing a variety of data services, we believe that strong network capabilities will play a crucial role in delivering a sustained 3G experience to our customers. Our attractive service offerings and compelling price points clubbed with Ericsson?s long standing expertise in networks gives us the confidence to dive into our 3G foray.?
Gowton Achaibar, head of region, Ericsson India, said, ?We are excited to bring this new opportunity to the Indian telecom market. Our long standing association with Bharti has reached a new level today with the introduction of data based services. Thanks to our close collaboration with Bharti, we have successfully rolled out this comprehensive and complex network in a very short time.?
Ericsson estimates the mobile broadband customers will hit the one billion mark in 2011. The greatest number of customers, around 400 million, is expected to be concentrated in the Asia Pacific region. By 2016, the number of mobile broadband customers will be close to 5 billion, with 95 percent on HSPA, CDMA and LTE networks.
An Ericsson Consumer Insight Study on consumers? connectivity needs reveals that in India, the internet is increasingly becoming a part of the everyday life of the urban consumer. Almost 40 percent of urban internet users are accessing the internet daily; a significant proportion of these also access the internet through their mobile phone.
