Jammu, July 12: While the Bharat Sanchar Negam Limited (BSNL) is awaiting center’s clearance to launch video calling facility in Jammu and Kashmir, it is likely to launch the third generation (3G) mobile services in the state by this month.
 “The 3G mobile service will be partially functional from this month and all the basic requirements have been completed”, a senior official of BSNL told Greater Kashmir. He said that the video conferencing system will not be available as of now as the union home ministry and ministry of defence have expressed reservations apprehending misuse of the service by militant groups.
 However, the BSNL customers in about 25 towns and cities of Jammu and Kashmir state  will be able to avail 3-G ‘voice calling’ facility by the end of this month, sources said, adding “We had decided to launch it last year but due to certain reasons the matter was put on hold”.
 They said that the instruments to keep vigil on the use of ‘video calling’ as off now are not available and it would take some time to equip the system with such surveillance. They said customers will have to pay extra charges, if the video calling facility is extended to the state.
 Official sources said that the BSNL started installation of 3-G instrument across the state in 2009 and the work is still in progress. The instillation of  the  equipment have been suspended in Kashmir valley due to the prevailing tension, while in Jammu the work was in full swing.
 “We are fully prepared to start 3-G services in Jammu and Kashmir. But the service would be started only after getting clearance from home ministry and ministry of defence,” a senior BSNL official told Greater Kashmir, preferring anonymity. He said that a high level team of the state BSNL was already camping in Delhi to get the clearance.
 The sources, however, discounted that there was connectivity problems due to 3-G service and attribute such problems to technical snag which occur at some places.
 The next generation of mobile communications system enhances the services such as multimedia, high speed mobile broadband, internet access with the ability to view video footage on the mobile handset.
 With a 3G phone and access to the 3G network one can make video calls, watch live TV, access the high speed internet, receive emails and download music tracks, as well as the usual voice call and messaging services found on a mobile phone, like person to person video, live streaming, downloadable video of entertainment, news, current affairs and sport content and video messaging.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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