Foreign cos to bid for 3G licences

MUMBAI: India plans to allow new international players to bid in auctions for third generation (3G) mobile licences, Indian media reported on Thursday.

"We want new international players to come to India and offer their services," the Mint daily quoted Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran as saying.

Last year, Maran said 3G mobile telephone services were likely to be launched in India in the second half of 2007.

India has 12 telecoms firms which offer fixed-line services and mobile services on GSM and CDMA platforms.

"The auction for 3G spectrum will be completely distinct from the existing mobile licences and services," the paper quoted Maran as saying.

In February, Vodafone Group Plc, said it would buy a controlling stake in unlisted Hutchison Essar, India's fourth-largest cellular operator, from Hutchison Telecommunications International.

India allows foreign shareholding of up to 74 percent in telecommunications.

Foreign firms with stakes in Indian mobile services ventures include SingTel, which owns 30.8 percent of top mobile firm Bharti Airtel Ltd, and Telekom Malaysia which has a stake in Spice Communications.

Other firms such as the BT Group Plc and AT&T have obtained licences for international and domestic long-distance services.