India took its  first step in 3G mobile services with the launch of ‘Jadoo’, a service to be provided by the state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL).

"With up to 2 Mbps capacity, consumers can make video calls, view live television, get video surveillance of their homes or offices on their handsets and, of course, access email speedily on the move,'' R S P Sinha, MTNL's CMD said.

After the debut of 3G services in Delhi, India can look forward to a host of such enhanced and value added services across the country before the end of 2009. It is expected that 3G services will be available early next year in Mumbai and later in Chennai.

3G networks allow telecom operators to offer a wide range of more advanced services as well as achieve more efficient use of the spectrum available to them.

Asked about the tariffs, Sinha said, “We are still working on it. But I can assure you that the tariffs would be affordable.” Sinha added that the service would be available free-of-cost to the MTNL subscribers for the first one month.

Great news !