4G mobile services launched in Kolkata

Kolkata, Apr 10 (ANI): Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today launched the country's first ever fourth generation mobile services in Kolkata.

Addressing the guests at the event, Sibal claimed that with the launch of Bharti Airtel's broadband wireless access (BWA) services based on 4G technology and the increase in broadband services would result in inclusive economic growth.

"In this launch we have our sight set for an era when the common man will have access to the 4G, but a lot of work has to be done, because even for the 3G, the handsets are not affordable to the common man," he said.

"What Sunil (Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal) has done has allowed a network to be established but the rest of the industry must ensure that the relevant devices, which will connect the network to them are cheap, are affordable; I don't mean cheap in the sense of quality but low cost and affordable and accessible to the common man. Its only then that the true revolution will come about in India," he added.

Sibal said that only the telecom revolution could truly empower people in India.

"When connectivity will be through the networks, when change will come about through the networks, when empowerment will take place through the networks and that we would have lead flocked beyond the industrial revolution, that's the only way to empower our people and I believe that its only when the telecom revolution truly takes place that the 1.2 billion people in India will be truly empowered," he added.

Today's launch is a major milestone for India and Bharti Airtel as it will result in India becoming one of the first countries in the world to commercially deploy the cutting-edge technology.

Compared to the existing 3G services that allow downloads speed of up to 21 mbps, 4G allows download speed of upto 100 mbps, which is almost five times higher than 3G. (ANI)