Three global telecom firms Huawei, Telsima and Alvarion emerged as front runner for bid order of BSNL's WiMax equipment. The winners are expected to be announced next week, enabling launch of much awaited Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) services by state owned telecom giant.

Other telecom companies such as ZTE and Alactel-Lucent are also in the race. However, they have to face stiff competition from foreign telecom players on the lowest price (L1) issue.

Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) does not hide his disappointment while talking of third generation (3G) telecom services. That the auction of 3G spectrum has been indefinitely deferred is a case study for policymakers, he says. And while he refuses to comment on whether it is fair to allow the two PSUs — BSNL and MTNL — to offer 3G before private operators, Mishra does concede the lack of a level playing field.

State-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) has informed that it has commercially launched its third generation (3G) mobile services simultaneously in 11 cities, across the country.

The biggest telecom company in the country has launched 3G Mobile Services in 11 cities including Agra, Ambala, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Dehradoon, Shimla, Lucknow, Ranchi, Durgapur, Haldia, Patna & a soft launch in Jammu.

State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) said that it has launched its much awaited third-generation (3G) services across 11 cities.

BSNL also said that the 3G services will permit users to experience enhanced communications such as rich voice, video and data services.

India's No. 4 mobile operator also said that it will expand 3G services to other regions in the country.

Ahmedabad becomes the first WiMax city in the country

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has finally launched WiMax technology in Ahmedabad, which enables users a much faster downloading on internet. With launch of this advanced technology, the city has become the first WiMax city in the country. The telco targets around 50,000 WiMax connection in a year.

State firm in talks with Huawei, ZTE after govt writes off Rs 2,820 cr in losses

Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) Ltd, the state-owned telecom equipment manufacturer, is talking to foreign firms such as Huawei and ZTE for joint ventures in manufacturing advanced telecom equipment, sources said.

The loss-making public sector unit will float a tender inviting quotations from telecom equipment manufacturers within a month.

ITI is seeking partnerships in three new product categories —Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) equipment, optical transmission and switching equipment, and IP core network systems.