Kul Bhushan

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Posted on 14-07-2011

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Three of the biggest mobile network operators – Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Bharti Airtel – have entered a deal under which they will allow their 3G users to connect to other's 3G networks, in areas where they do not provide services.  The move will help the mobile network operators save on cost, ensure pan-India 3G services for most users, .

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“Vodafone has entered into a bilateral roaming agreement, both inter and intra-circle, with Idea and Airtel to provide 3G services to our customers in the circles where we have not built our own 3G network, in order to bring a pan-India experience of 3G services to our customers,” a media report quotes Vodafone as saying.

According to the report, the operators have not yet revealed the details on revenue sharing. It's notable that the mobile operators often enter such roaming arrangements to ensure uninterrupted services to their customers wherever they travel in the country.

“Bharti Airtel has already started sharing networks for 3G services with each other. For example they are not having 3G network in Gujarat and have started using Idea’s network to provide service in that area,” the report quotes an official as saying.

In Delhi and Kolkata circles, Idea has partnered with Vodafone 3G services, while Bharti Airtel will enter into an intra-cricle roaming arrangement with Idea to provide 3G in Karnataka.

Separately, Vodafone has launched 3G services in states of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala through a roaming agreement with India. The report further states that Vodafone plans to launch the service in Uttar Pradesh (West) circle through a deal with Idea. Meantime, Bharti Airtel will be providing 3G services in Gujarat through an agreement with Idea.

Also read,

• Airtel brings its 3G services to Mumbai, four cities to go
• India's GSM subscriber base crosses 580 million customers in April
• Airtel launches 3G international video calling services