BSNL Plans to Provide CDMA Service
January 18, 2008
In addition to its existing GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) mobile services, India's state-owned telecom carrier BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam) plans to invest US$500 million in rolling out its CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) service in the major cities of India by the second quarter of 2008. At present, the project is pending official approval by the government, according to a report by the Economic Times of India on January 14.
Under the brand name of Tarang, BSNL currently provides fixed wireless and limited mobile services on the CDMA WLL (Wireless Local Loop) network in some of India's telecom circles. At present, BSNL has about 70 million subscribers and is expected to see its stake in the overall Indian mobile market grow to 20% in the year following the rollout of its CDMA service.