Vodafone Essar, Idea Cellular and Bharti airtel have inked agreements to provide pan-India 3G services. The three operators plan to use each other’s networks through intra-circle roaming arrangements where they do not have licences.
airtel, Aircel and Reliance Communications each have 3G spectrum licences in 13 of the 22 telecom circles, while Vodafone, Idea and Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) each have licences in nine circles.
While Idea Cellular has inked an intra-circle roaming arrangement with Vodafone for introducing 3G services in the Delhi and Kolkata circles, Bharti airtel will partner Idea to provide 3G services in Karnataka, primarily in Bangalore and Mysore.
Meanwhile, Vodafone has launched 3G services in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala through an agreement with Idea Cellular. The company plans to launch 3G in Uttar Pradesh (West) through Bharti airtel’s network.
Similarly, Bharti airtel has inked an intra-circle roaming agreement to share Idea Cellular’s 3G network in Gujarat.
