MTNL subscribers will be able to use the technology at the airport and areas between Vile Parle and Prabhadevi and some parts of central Mumbai from April
MTNL subscribers will be able to use the technology at the airport and areas betweenu00a0Vile Parle and Prabhadevi and some parts of central Mumbai from April
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Though 3G technology will finally make its debut in Mumbai later this month, it will, for starters, only be available at the airport and areas between Vile Parle and Prabhadevi, along with some malls in central Mumbai.
"Registrations will start thereafter," Gopalan said, adding that video calling will be introduced during the latter half of 2009.
Later in SoBo
When asked how a subscriber would be alerted upon entering a 3G-ready coverage area, MTNL officials said, "GPRS or Edge-enabled handsets, which otherwise display a G or E sign will switch to a 3.5G symbol."
Officials added that for the initiated, connecting a 3G-enabled handset to a laptop would help in determining the actual speeds being offered.
Interestingly, MTNL will make South Mumbai 3G enabled only at a later date due to connectivity issues. "The tall buildings are a cause of concern because they act as a barrier in signal transmission sometimes. The network has to be first strengthened before 3G can become operational," officials disclosed.
Speaking of the ongoing testing of 3G, Gopalan said, "The network can send data up to 40 times the rate of the existing network, which means that in addition to audio, graphics and text, customers can also send and receive video content smoothly at one go, in 3G coverage areas. Currently, the only method of using a mobile phone to get connected to the Internet is having GPRS connection. "GPRS is like a dial up connection, while 3G is broadband," said telecom expert B G Mahesh.
15 lakh
The number of 3G lines that will roll out in Mumbai by the end of March
What is 3G?
3G is capable of offering advanced services such as video calls, broadband wireless data, faster online video streaming and a better gaming experience due to its fast data transfer rate which can reach up to 2Mbps. However, in 2009, 3G will be available only to MTNL subscribers. All the others will have to pray that their service provider bags the bid to offer 3G as and when the government decides on auctioning the spectrum.
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