Govt May Ban Some 3G Services: Report

India will prevent telecom firms from offering non-voice third generation (3G) mobile services unless they show these facilities can be tapped live, The Economic Times newspaper reported.

Citing a senior telecoms department official it did not name, the paper reported the services that could be impacted include high-speed internet, downloads of music and video clips, chat and internet telephony calls. India’s No. 2 mobile carrier Reliance Communications and smaller rival Tata Teleservices and state-run BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd have launched 3G services so far. Mobile operator Bharti Airtel has said it will launch 3G services by end-December, while Vodafone’s Indian arm will launch the services in the January-March quarter.