Idea Cellular has restarted 3G services in Delhi, Mumbai, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and other places as of today.
The rates and prices for 3G have been kept the same as they were before the services were stopped by the department of telecom for allegedly contravening license conditions.
Idea will charge Rs 250 for 1 GB of 3G data, the same as what it charges in circles like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh where it has its own 3G spectrum and network.
Idea has tied up with Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India to relaunch its 3G services in the 11 states where it did not have such services till yesterday.
Unlike Bharti Airtel, which seems to have increased its data plan rates when it restarted services in places like Maharashtra, Idea and Vodafone has kept the prices of 3G packs the same as that of the local operator who is offering it from their own network.
For example, in Mumbai, Idea is offering 10 GB for Rs 1,500 and 4 GB for 750 rupees — the same as what Vodafone and Airtel charge.
In Delhi, Idea will charge Rs 1500 for 11 GB plus unlimited 2G data, and Rs 755 for 4 GB plus unlimited 2G.
Interestingly, there are no dongle-specific plans for Idea in Mumbai, while there are in Delhi.
The other states where Idea has launched its 3G through intra-circle roaming agreements are Bihar, Assam, Kolkata, West Bengal, North East, Orissa and Rajasthan.
Tata DoCoMo, Reliance Communications and Aircel are now expected to announce their 3G intra-circle roaming agreements.
A telecom panel had overruled a government of India order making such agreements illegal.