Bharti Airtel launches 4G services in Bangalore

Bharti Airtel on Monday launched broadband wireless access (BWA) services based on 4G technology in Bangalore followed by the recent inaugural launch of the services in Kolkata.

Airtel has also introduced 'Smartbytes' for 4G - thus allowing customers to buy these add-on packs and use 4G services even after exhausting their monthly data limits.

"As seen the world over, the total data usage is exploding and is doubling each year to grow to nearly 3.6 hexabytes by 2014. With the launch of 4G, India will move from being a follower in technology to matching the world in this domain," said Sanjay Kapoor, chief executive officer (CEO) - India and South Asia, Bharti Airtel.

The service was inaugurated by Karnataka Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

A successor to the 3G and 2G families, 4G is expected to be five times quicker than 3G services. It would offer services such as high-definition mobile TV and video conferencing.

Airtel, which had bagged BWA spectrum in four telecom circles -- Kolkata, Maharastra, Punjab and Karnataka -- for Rs.3,314.36 crore in 2010, selected Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE to manage its services in Kolkata.

The other players are yet to announce plans to rollout 4G services.

As part of an introductory offer by Airtel, customers subscribing to 4G services will now be given a cashback for the dongle -- thus bringing device-cost to customers zero and paving way for mass adoption of 4G services.

Airtel 4G is now also available in an all new 30 GB pack priced at Rs.2,999.