While many service providers are rejoicing on acquiring new spectrum by paying exorbitant prices at the recently concluded spectrum auction, the users might have to wait for quite some time before using these services.
Bharti Airtel, which acquired a 900 MHz spectrum in Mumbai, and Idea Cellular, which obtained the 900 MHz band in Delhi, have hinted that their consumers might have to wait for at least a year to access the high-speed mobile broadband services, which they would be rolling out with the new spectrum. However, Airtel and Idea offer 3G services in 13 and 11 circles respectively, using the 2100 MHz band.
Speaking about the delay, a CEO of a leading telecom company said, “First, the frequencies have to be allotted which will be well past November, and then rollouts will happen, which will take months thereafter. So, it will be more than a year before 3G services in newly acquired circles are commercially launched.”
