Tata Docomo expects MNP to boost its 3G subscriber base

Tata Docomo simultaneously launched 3G services in all nine circles where it has 3G spectrum rights in the first week of this month, and says consumer response has been positive. The circles where the operator offers 3G services include Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh-Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP (West), Punjab, Haryana and Maharashtra.

Speaking to Telecom Yatra, Lloyd Mathias, president of the corporate monitoring group of TTSL, said, "We have received good response on 3G from our subscribers. As of now, the video SMS service is doing good. Also, people are watching Live Aarti on mobiles, as this service is not very popular on TV."

Since Tata Docomo is the only private operator offering 3G services in Haryana, and since mobile number portability or MNP has been implemented there, Mathias believes that the company will witness an influx of subscribers who will migrate from other operators' networks in search of 3G services.

Tata Docomo's HSPA+ 3G network, set up with the assistance of NTT Docomo, supports high-speed internet access with speeds of up to 21.1 Mbps. The network also supports high definition voice for superior quality voice calls.

The operator had invested around $500 million (Rs 2,277 crore) on 3G services, and is offering services such as video SMS, video streaming, mobile TV, ultra high speed data transfers, route finder, Live Aarti etc.