Public sector telecom company BSNL hopes to come up with 3G phone services next year in June. The company will use the technology of Sweden’s Ericsson; factually, it is expecting to receive the equipment from Ericsson from December. However, it will take some six months to roll out the services and BSNL will earmark around 10 million lines for the initial launch.

 

The company official said that the procedure company follows for buying technology or equipment is time-consuming because of obvious reason of it being a state-run company. He ruled out any foul play and said that they have not been given the license and the airwaves on a platter, rather they are eligible for that and for that they have earned the contract.

 

Talking about the tender for 45 million lines worth $1.75 billion he said that tender floated two years ago, where Ericsson was given 60 percent of the order, now out of that, 10 million have been earmarked for the 3G service. He told that the mega tender for 90 million lines worth some $9 billion by the end of this month will be on air, and of this, 50% of the lines would be set aside for 3G telephony.