Tatadocomo Orders 3G Dongles

[ravi_patent 28]

http://www.financialexpress.com/printer/news/672910/

With the government set to allocate 3G spectrum next month, telecom companies are set to order related equipment. The country's fifth-largest telecom operator Tata Teleservices (TTSL) is in advanced stages of negotiations with China's top two vendors, Huawei and ZTE, to place orders for 1 million data cards. These data cards—dongles in technical parlance—provide high-speed internet connectivity when attached to laptops and desktops. The data cards would be used on the GSM platform as TTSL already has high-speed USB modem Photon which works on its CDMA network.

Sources said a TTSL team has already visited both companies in China. The finalisation of the vendor between Huawei and ZTE would depend on the final price offered by the respective company. In the retail market, such data cards are available for Rs 1,500-2,500, but companies get to source them at much lower rates while placing bulk orders.

Earlier this week, TTSL was the first to award a contract to Nokia Siemens for supplying LTE-ready flexi-multiradio base stations and other equipment to support the 3G rollout.

When contacted, a TTSL spokesperson declined to comment. TTSL, along with group company Tata Teleservices Maharashtra won spectrum in nine circles in the 3G auctions, paying Rs 5,864.29 crore.

The government recently provided a breather to the telecom industry by putting in place norms for importing 3G equipment, especially from China. This came after the operators, especially TTSL took up the matter with the government as imports were stuck for the past eight months, delaying network expansion plans.

Edited August 27, 2010 by ravi_patent

[Greatest 55]

aaha... nice

[sougatadc 358]

BSNL 3G service through Micromax dongles is quite poor and above all is not omni-present. Let us see how Tata fares in GSM field.

[copperco2 24]

Data has always been a CDMA stronghold.

Lets see how 3G changes that...it would be interesting..

[dr.faramroze 703]

Yes CDMA and WLL data is always more efficient than other data technologies. But BSNL has let down CDG by just selling dongles with no connectivity. We had one, threw it somewhere. 3G dongles should be better than current options we get at our local dealers. And to add to it, chinese and korean dongles may be very cheap.