Yes people ..!! The unending wait for the 3G service promised by BSNL is almost over. If officials in the telecom sector are to be believed, BSNL will launch its much-awaited 3G mobile services in Ernakulam district within two weeks. 3G mobile services were launched in the state for the first time in Kozhikode about a month ago and the service has already been implemented in other districts including Thrissur, Malappuram and Kollam.

Though the launch in Ernakulam district was planned in the last week of December 2009, it was postponed to the first week of January 2010 and then to January end. The officials said that the delay in the launch was due to there being more towers in Ernakulam than in other districts.As many as 240 Base Trans receiving Stations (BTS) are to be activated in Ernakulam for proper network coverage for 3G. That’s why the service was delayed.

BSNL is hopeful to launch it’s 3G service two weeks time. With the launch of the 3G service mobile, subscribers will have access to the latest 3G-technology based coverage. Officials are hoping that about 15 percent of the existing subscribers in Ernakulam circle will move to the 3G sector. 3G, the third generation mobile communication system, has a number of additional services including video calls, internet access with speed up to 3.6 Mbps with live video footage, live TV on mobile and facilities to download video, news, current affairs and sport content.

BSNL is investing an amount of Rs 650 crore in the state for the 3G project together with the expansion of the existing 2G network to cover more than 95 percent of the inhabited parts of the state.

In a bid to bring customers back to its fold, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has launched a number of 3G (third generation) technology services. The wireless broadband service apart there are Resource Tracking and Management Services (RTMS) that would help corporate customers manage and track a fleet of vehicles, find people, track asset on the Internet through a web interface.

Addressing a press meet  on Tuesday, Charlie Mathew, the Principal General Manager in-charge of Ernakulam Secondary Switching Area, said that supporting sites for EVDO (Evolution Data Only) wireless broadband facility in the city are Kalamassery, Boat Jetty, Palarivattom, Panampilly Nagar, Tripunithura, SRM Road, Vyttila, Palluruthy and Mattancherry.

The charges for RTMS services are available in slabs of requirement. If a customer wants to track one vehicle or assets in a group, the monthly rental is Rs.60. For managing vehicles from two to 10, the rental is Rs.400; for vehicles numbering 11 to 25, the rental is Rs.1,000; and for more than 1,000 vehicles the rental is Rs.50,000. Charge per location query is 10 paise and charge per SMS to vehicle from web portal is 30 paise.

The EVDO radio facility that provides wireless broadband service at high speed up to 2Mbps costs Rs.6,500 on outright purchase.