3G: How it will benefit mobile users

3G technology is the latest in mobile communications for India. 3G stands for 'third generation'. It is the next big revolution in the Indian telecom arena, with all big mobile firms -- Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance Communications -- in the fray to get a portion of the lucrative pie.

But before we get to the advantages for the users, let us first see how the ongoing auction for the 3G spectrum that began on April 9 will be done:

This the unique auction, a first for the nation which is being watched by other nations who also plan a similar auction sometime later.

The auction is being done online, electronically.

It is being done for all the 22 telecom circles in India at the same time.

At each stage of the auction, the government fixes the price of each 3G license to be awarded.

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The price of the license is then raised by 10 per cent, 5 per cent and 1 per cent depending on how many players are left in the bidding process.

Auction ends as soon as the number of bidders equals the number of available slots.

The entire process is being monitored from the telecom ministry building in Delhi, but as the auction is being done online, bidders are not required to be present physically. The bidders log in from their own office to maintain secrecy and no bidder knows the identity of competing bidders at each stage of the auction.

Three final winners will bag the licenses. However, after this the winners will need a few months before they can take 3G to the entire nation, as they would need to upgrade their infrastructure, etc.

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The price of the license is then raised by 10 per cent, 5 per cent and 1 per cent depending on how many players are left in the bidding process.

Auction ends as soon as the number of bidders equals the number of available slots.

The entire process is being monitored from the telecom ministry building in Delhi, but as the auction is being done online, bidders are not required to be present physically. The bidders log in from their own office to maintain secrecy and no bidder knows the identity of competing bidders at each stage of the auction.

Three final winners will bag the licenses. However, after this the winners will need a few months before they can take 3G to the entire nation, as they would need to upgrade their infrastructure, etc.

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So what happens when 3G services are available to us?

Well, a 3G phone literally enables you to carry the world in your pocket.

You can whip out your mobile phone to check out your favourite late night television series, view the video highlights of the party you went to the previous night and still have a hangover from, take on your office buddy, who works in another office wing, in an exciting football game, use your phone as a jukebox to listen to a streaming audio version of the latest hit song, then pause the song to take a call from the boss.

You can call you friend and have a video call facility. The clarity is better and the facility can be enjoyed as long as both of you are using the 3G technology.

And that's just for starters.

Consider this: your mobile will work for you even while you sleep. It will set your travel schedule and check for jams along your route, whether you take the car/bus or the train. It will be both your cash and plastic in one, a one-instrument payment system to pay for your tickets and your purchases by simply texting the bank.

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It will be your one-stop entertainment box that will hold all your music files, tuned to download programmes that will hold your individual interest while you're on the move or in your spare moments. It will work out what to do with incoming phone calls and messages -- directing voice calls to voicemail when you are in a meeting, for instance, but providing a discreet text summary of the caller and the nature of the call.

3G networks are said to have potential transfer speeds of up to 7 Mbps (about 7 seconds to download a 3-minute MP3 song). In comparison, today with the some 2G phones you can download a 3-minute song in roughly about 8 minutes.

Benefits of 3G

• High quality voice service: The quality of voice falls under 3G will be much higher compared to 2G services.
• Enhanced content services: 3G users can download full music files, full movie files and other files at high speed.
• Mobile Broadband: 3G User can use his handset for high speed Internet any time anywhere (where connectivity is available, that is.)
• Video services: 3G user can enjoy the video call facility wherein both the caller and receiver will be able to see each other while speaking if both have 3G services and 3G-enabled handsets:  3G enables its users to send video mails and video clips.
• Mobile TV: 3G users can watch TV programmes of different video channels as per his liking while on the move.

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