3G: Centre restrained from acting against Vodafone, Idea New Delhi: In a breather for Vodafone and Idea Cellular, the Delhi High Court on Friday restrained the Centre from taking any "coercive steps" against the telecom majors which have been asked to pay penalty of Rs 550 crore and Rs 300 crore respectively for providing 3G services outside their circles without requisite licences.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher, referring to a Supreme Court order on a plea of Bharti Cellular Ltd in a similar case, asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) not to take any coercive steps in pursuance of its notices issued to the telecom companies asking them to stop providing 3G services to mobile users in the circles for which they lacked licences.

Meanwhile, the petitioners (Vodafone and Idea Cellular) are directed not to add new customers for providing 3G services, Justice Shakdher said and issued a notice to the DoT to file its reply to two separate petitions of the telecom service providers.

Senior advocates A M Singhvi and Maninder Singh, appearing for Idea Cellular and Vodafone respectively, sought the stay on the operation of DoT notices asking the telecom majors to pay the penalty and stop providing 3G services outside their licence areas by entering into intra-circle roaming pact with other telecom firms....more    
12:42 PM, Apr 12, 2013

Idea launches Android phones id 280, blade New Delhi: With the view to boost the growth of 3G services, Indian mobile phone carrier Idea Cellular Ltd has launched two smartphones - id 280 and blade - that run Google Inc.'s Android operating system(OS). Priced at Rs 5,850, the id 280 is powered by Android 2.2 OS. It features a capacitive touchscreen and a 3.2 megapixel camera. It has a 1200 mAh Li-ion battery. While the Blaze smartphone...  
06:50 PM, Nov 23, 2011

Govt puts 3G video calling services on hold New Delhi:Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday said the government will try to resolve security issues around 3G services as quickly as possible. The government has asked three telecom service providers -- Airtel, Tata and Reliance -- to put on hold their video calling services on 3G until security agencies clear the interception facilities. "Telecom operators associations today met me and discussed the issue of security around 3G services. We...  
07:42 AM, Dec 17, 2010

3G technologies set to take 2009 by storm Besides video calls, 3G technologies also offer hi-speed Internet access. ...  
06:07 PM, Jan 13, 2009

Watch: 3G services in India, what does it mean

Prime Minister has inaugurated the MTNL 3G service. ...
04:38 PM, Dec 11, 2008

Bharti to launch 3G services overseas Bharti, with its Seychelles venture, becomes first Indian telecommunication company to launch 3G services overseas. ...  
07:11 PM, Dec 21, 2006