Tikona Digital Networks is reportedly finalising its 4G plans in the country.
The company bagged BWA licences in five circles in the 2010 auction.
Now, as per news reports, it has earmarked a sum of Rs 10 billion spread out over two years for these services.
Primarily offering Wi-Fi data connectivity, it is reportedly exploring the possibility of offering these services in conjunction with LTE. The combined service is expected to offer data connectivity through existing Wi-Fi networks indoors. When mobile, a consumer will be able to access these services via LTE.
Meanwhile, its competitors are gearing up to launch these services as well. Infotel Broadband Services, for example, has reportedly planned to establish over 1,00,000 towers for this purpose over the next three years. Further, the estimated outlay for its 4G plans has reportedly increased from $ 8-9 billion from $4 billion in 2010.
Moreover, the company will partially use its own towers and rent the remaining from existing tower companies.
Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel Bharti airtel became the first telecom operator to launch 4G services in Kolkata. These services besides offering rich content, will allow superfast access to video streaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos, etc. Further, they are also expected to facilitate services such as e-governance, e-health and e-education services.
In 2010, Airtel had successfully bid for BWA license spectrum in Kolkata, Karnataka, Punjab and Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai) circles. The company is now working towards rolling out networks in Karnataka and Maharashtra circles. It has already given the contract for a TD-LTE deployment in Maharashtra to Nokia Siemens Networks.
Available for both prepaid and postpaid connections, Airtel offers three plans: Breakfree, Breakfree Max and Breakfree Ulltra. The rentals start from Rs 999 and go up to INR 1999. According to industry experts it is high, because while most operators are currently offering 6 GB of high-speed 3G data (3.6 Mbps) at Rs 850 per month, Airtel is offering 6 GB of high-speed data at Rs 999, pricing it at about 20 per cent more than others. Also, for 10 GB data download while other operators are pricing it at around Rs 1,250 per month, Airtel is offering 9 GB of high-speed data for around Rs 1,400 per month and 18 GB of 4G data for nearly Rs 2,000 per month.
