Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited launched 3G service in Chennai on November 23rd 2009 – it’s first launch in South India.

3G is capable of transmitting high speed data, voice and video transmission which helps subscribers to surf net at high speed, watch online TV, download files faster and make video calls with a 3G supported handset.

As a promotional offer BSNL is offering video calls at 30 paisa per minute and data at 1paisa per 10kb or Re 1 per MB.

As usual we received the BSNL 3G SIM without any manual or instructions. The agent said it will become active within 24 hours. But as a surprise it got activated within few minutes of purchase and able to make and receive calls.

There was no instruction about setting up the 3G. Then we searched the net for configuring BSNL 3G and followed the instructions found in some sites.

Send an SMS to 58355 (toll free) with phone model number. (Eg : NOKIA N97 to 58355).

Then received a return SMS saying that configuration files received and phone successfully configured for BSNL 3G services. But Internet didnt work. When tried to connect it said Please subscribe to packet data first. So we decided to wait for 24 hours.

Even after 24 hours no SMS or information from BSNL so we called up the customer care then they said configuration is not downloaded properly that is why this error message is coming. They said they will send the data after few hours.

Again we started trying with different options found on net like gprsnorth3g.bsnlmobile.in, bsnlnet, gprs3g.bsnlmobile.in, gprssouth.cellone.in etc

Finally gprssouth.cellone.in worked and it downloaded more configuration details from BSNL server.

With the Nokia phone we tested BSNL 3G SIM was able to upload and download files at very good speed like a fixed line broadband connection.

Only thing is nothing documented properly like supported phones, activation procedure etc may be because it is still in the early stages. But overall it is very good in terms of speed and value for money as BSNL is charging just Re 1 per MB compared to GPRS (most of the GPRS providers charge Rs10 per MB).

So if you are looking for a mobile internet then 3G is a good option as it is fast and reliable. Once the spectrum allocation process is over more providers will enter the market and hopefully that will trigger a price war in the 3G similar to mobile voice sector and that may bring down 3G tariff further to more affordable rates.