Aircel opens experience zones for 3G

In the run-up to its scheduled launch of 3G mobile services, Aircel on Tuesday opened Chennai's first 3G experience zones to help potential consumers get a first-hand experience of the new service.

Speaking to reporters, Aircel chief operating officer Gurdeep Singh said the company was planning to commercially launch its 3G services in the next two months. "With 200 base stations that will beam 3G across India, we will start the commercial launch from Chennai and Coimbatore and later to other parts of the country," said Singh.

The company expects that in the next three years, around 30 per cent of all mobiles to be video-enabled and will be on 3G, he said.

The value-added service (VAS) and data would drive the growth of 3G in the country, Singh pointed out. At present, revenue from VAS and data is only 10 per cent in India while it is nearly 40 percent in other developed countries. The Aircel 3G zones would be available in Atrium2, Spencer Plaza, Fun City, Express Avenue, Atrium Citi Centre and Aircel Store.