Idea brings 3G services to Punjab; inks roaming pact with Airtel, Vodafone

[mmadhankumar]

Idea has announced 3G services in the Punjab circle on its own spectrum. It will allow Bharti Airtel and Vodafone to bring similar services in the same circle via an intra-circle roaming pact between the three operators, reports The Economic Times.

Idea is reportedly offering 3G mobile Internet service starting at Rs 19 for 80MB data that will be valid for two days and its unlimited 3G plans are Rs 645 onwards. Airtel’s 3G ICR services will be made available starting at Rs 23, while Vodafone’s plans will begin Rs 251 onwards.


By launching in Punjab, Idea brings 3G services to Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Nawanshahr, Jagraon, Malerkotla and Nabha. It reportedly plans to bring 3G services to 170 towns across the state with 1,800 3G cell sites by March 2015, end of the fiscal year.

Idea is the only 3G services provider in Punjab. The roaming pact with Airtel and Vodafone was announced after a telecom tribunal ruling allowed it to pass. Under this pact, the three telcos now offer 3G services even in areas they don’t own spectrum. The telcos uses each other’s airwaves. This also means, Idea, Airtel and Vodafone have now expanded their footprint to 21 out of 22 service areas covering 28 states in the country, adds the report.

Last month, the telecommunication tribunal ruled in favour of leading mobile phone carriers who had challenged a government ban on pacts between them to provide 3G services beyond their licensed zones, earlier it was termed illegal.


Idea brings 3G services to Punjab; inks roaming pact with Airtel, Vodafone - Tech2