Now as BSNL, TATA Indicom and Relience Mobile are flooding the media with 3G ready networks, there is a very basic question; whether India is ready for 3G mobile communications?
In India, cellular operators are still on 2.75 G or 2.5 G with technologies such as GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) or EDGE (Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution) but most of the operators are quietly upgrading their networks to be able to provide 3G services. Considerable infrastructure investment is required to ensure the service promised by third generation networks. For instance, cell density is to be increased to provide additional bandwidth. New transaction-based billing methods will have to be introduced in place of the time-based billing used today. However, the savings generated from a packet-network will more than negate the cost for the operator to lay the network.
The State-owned MTNL floated Rs.1000-crore draft tender to roll out four million mobile lines on 3G technology. Almost all the GSM operators including Airtel, Hutch and IDEA, have already applied for the radio frequency required to launch 3G services.
But in this fast pace happenings, is there anyone who is listening to the customer?
Considerable number of customers need to change their handsets in order to avail 3G facilities. Again the cost of handsets will be a considerable factor, because some significant portion of customers are using mobiles for voice communication only and not for dataservices as intended for 3G.
The basic principal of Marketing "Listen to the customer", appears to be violated in this situation somehow.
What you think?
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