­India's state owned mobile operator, BSNL will launch its 3G network in the north-eastern states and Chennai by January 2009, Communications and IT Minister A Raja has announced. The second state owned network to have a 3G license, MTNL is still on target to launch its 3G network in Delhi and Mumbai.

"BSNL will roll out the services by January 2009 in the north-eastern states and Chennai," Raja said.

MTNL and BSNL were both granted 3G licenses in advance of the main auction to private operators - and will be required to pay the same license fee as is finally agreed on when the private auction is completed.

The Department of Telecommunications has also fixed the reserve price for the licenses at Rs 160 crore (US$37.6 million) for metros and category A circles, Rs 80 crore (US$18.8 million) for category B, and Rs 30 crore (US$7 million) for C circles. The reserve price for a pan-India license is Rs 2,020 crore (US$475 million).

MTNL has already completed laboratory grade tests of its 3G network and will launch the tests in the Capital's Connaught Place area.

India has 60 MHz of 3G spectrum available, and will allow both WCDMA and CDMA based 3G services.

Source:cellular-news