State-owned telecom major Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is all set to launch third generation (3G) mobile phone services in Orissa by December this year.

The service offering data connectivity at 2 mbps bandwidth would facilitate a host of applications like video conferencing, video calling, video MMS, uninterrupted video-audio streaming, GPS positioning, multi-user gaming besides the high speed broadband internet connectivity on the mobile phones of the subscriber.

Already approved by regulatory authorities, the equipment for enabling the services is being commissioned. All major cities of the State would be covered, said Chief General Manager Telecom Orissa SC Joshi here today.

Joshi also announced to go ahead with implementing WiMax project in the State. The project, which would enable wireless broadband service within a radius of 20-25 kms of a designated area, is proposed to cover 95 blocks and likely to start within March 2009.

Meanwhile, the search for content provider for the much-hyped Multiplay IPTV services in Orissa seems to be over and the service would finally roll in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack from March next year. BSNL has roped in Delhi-based Smart Digivision and TVB as content providers. IPTV would facilitate a host of services from cable television, interactive TV, video-on-demand, e-learning, multi-user gaming, radio and karaoke besides normal telephone and internet connectivity on a single broadband connection.

The CGMT said that broadband penetration, though behind the target, was picking up in the State and the total capacity would be enhanced to 1.40 lakh by the year-end and available across nook and corner of Orissa.

More than 5.6 lakh subscribers would be added to the existing 11.5 lakh working connections on GSM platform this year and two more lakh next year. The target is also to add one lakh lines in WLL both pre-and post paid to the existing 1.73 lakh customers.

BSNL today launched a slew of prepaid schemes for CDMA subscribers, a new prepaid starter pack for GSM and new Magic-40 vouchers enabling lower call rates and flexible validity.

Source:expressbuzz