NEW DELHI: State-owned telecom
company MTNL plans to invest
about Rs 400 crore to increase 3G
mobile Internet speed by up to six
times, and enhance the coverage of
2G network. "We have floated tender for
enhancing 2G and 3G coverage in
National Capital Region. Under this
project, we are working to
enhance maximum speed of 3G
Internet by six times. The total project is estimated to cost us Rs
400 crore," MTNL Chairman and
Managing Director A K Garg told PTI. At present, the maximum speed of data
download on MTNL's 3G networks based on
HSDPA technology is about 3.6 megabit per
second (mbps). It plans to increase that to 21.1
Mbps by using HSPA+ technology. At the current speed a user is able to download a
600 MB file, equivalent to a Bollywood movie, in
around 24 minutes. At 21 mbps, the same file can
be downloaded in 4 minutes. However, the downloads depend on a lot of
other factors such as the server location, number
of subscribers using network at a time and
throughput capability of the website. Under the project, MTNL has plans to install about
1,500 base stations (mobile towers) for 2G
services, and about 2,000 sites for 3G coverage. "We will have 750 BTS (mobile tower) each in
Delhi and Mumbai for 2G coverage and 1,000
nodes for 3G coverage. The only issue that we
are facing is availability of locations for installing
BTS. We are looking for interest from people who
want to get BTSs installed at their premise," Garg said. Nokia Solutions and Networks, Alcatel Lucent,
Huawei and ZTE are in race for the project, he
said, adding that their bids are undergoing
technical evaluations and the vendor for the
project will be finalised by end of this month. MTNL has over 42 lakh mobile subscribers and all
the connections are 3G enabled.source MTNL to invest Rs 400 cr to increase 3G Internet speed 6-fold - The Economic Times on Mobile
company MTNL plans to invest
about Rs 400 crore to increase 3G
mobile Internet speed by up to six
times, and enhance the coverage of
2G network. "We have floated tender for
enhancing 2G and 3G coverage in
National Capital Region. Under this
project, we are working to
enhance maximum speed of 3G
Internet by six times. The total project is estimated to cost us Rs
400 crore," MTNL Chairman and
Managing Director A K Garg told PTI. At present, the maximum speed of data
download on MTNL's 3G networks based on
HSDPA technology is about 3.6 megabit per
second (mbps). It plans to increase that to 21.1
Mbps by using HSPA+ technology. At the current speed a user is able to download a
600 MB file, equivalent to a Bollywood movie, in
around 24 minutes. At 21 mbps, the same file can
be downloaded in 4 minutes. However, the downloads depend on a lot of
other factors such as the server location, number
of subscribers using network at a time and
throughput capability of the website. Under the project, MTNL has plans to install about
1,500 base stations (mobile towers) for 2G
services, and about 2,000 sites for 3G coverage. "We will have 750 BTS (mobile tower) each in
Delhi and Mumbai for 2G coverage and 1,000
nodes for 3G coverage. The only issue that we
are facing is availability of locations for installing
BTS. We are looking for interest from people who
want to get BTSs installed at their premise," Garg said. Nokia Solutions and Networks, Alcatel Lucent,
Huawei and ZTE are in race for the project, he
said, adding that their bids are undergoing
technical evaluations and the vendor for the
project will be finalised by end of this month. MTNL has over 42 lakh mobile subscribers and all
the connections are 3G enabled.source MTNL to invest Rs 400 cr to increase 3G Internet speed 6-fold - The Economic Times on Mobile
