Etisalat confident of offering 3G services in India

DUBAI - Telecom operator Etisalat DB, which withdrew from 3G auction in India after bidding surpassed the $2 billion-mark, is confident of offering the services in future, reports Abu Dhabi-based English daily, The National.

“We pulled out around $2 billion and it did not make any sense for us to keep bidding. We had (selected areas to bid on) and those states went above our limit,” the daily quoted a company official as saying.

The Indian subsidiary of UAE’s Etisalat has recently launched operations in India under the Cheers Mobile brand. It was shut out of the 15 areas it bid on.

Etisalat wants to become a significant player in India. It remains confident that it can eventually offer 3G services when it determines that the Indian market is ready for it, according to the unnamed official.

“It is not the end of the world for 3G. The Indian government can hold another auction for 3G. At this point, they’re ready to sell anything,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

The company launched its Indian operations with the lowest mobile rates in the country - between Re 0.1-0.6 per minute - but could sign up only a small number of subscribers.

Etisalat’s Chairman Mohammed Omran has said that the company also plans to acquire other companies in India.

“It is inevitable for India,” the official said, adding, “The next step is if we want to be part of the (mergers and acquisitions), what are the options we have on the table. Will we be part of it? Yes, because that’s what the market needs.”

India is the second fastest-growing mobile market in the world behind China, with 621.28 million subscribers.