Onlin [e] Guid [e]

Your favorite telecom operator is officially a step closer from providing you with the much-awaited 3G service.

3G is a service that enables high speed internet, videos and many other value-added services on the mobile phone.

Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Telecom Minister A. Raja have reportedly sorted out their differences with regards to the 3G spectrum reserve price and have met the Prime Minister for the approval of the same.

That surely makes today a red-letter day in the Indian telecom history.

What does that mean anyway?

Well, if all goes hunky-dory, the spectrum auction will start by mid-August. This would be followed by contenders namely Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance Communication, Tatas and a few other new private telecom operators to offer 3G services in the country along with MTNL and BSNL.

Initially, six private operators, apart from state-owned MTNL and BSNL, would be allowed to offer 3G services.