Tata Tele may start GSM services in Tamil Nadu this week

Tata Teleservices is likely to launch its GSM services nationally under the Tata DoCoMo brand this week, that may start with Tamil Nadu circle.

Sources said the company has lined up GSM launch in Orissa, Kerala, Karnataka in the next 10 days.

When contacted a Tata DoCoMo spokesperson declined to comment.

On June 10, the country's second largest CDMA telecom operator while announcing the GSM services had said that the commercial launch would begin with the telecom circles in South India.

Tata Teleservices has the requisite spectrum to start GSM services in 18 circles out of the 19 for which it has licence under the cross over technology.

The company had earlier said it would be investing $ 2 billion in the operations, the pan-India roll out of which would be completed by this year end.

The company is yet to receive GSM spectrum for the lucrative Delhi circle. Tata Tele does not have GSM license for three circles north east, Assam and J&K.

Tata Telecervices, predominantly a CDMA player entered the GSM bandwagon last year after the government allowed cross over technology policy entitling a survive provider to offer both GSM and CDMA cervices under the unified access license.

TTSL has become the second telecom service provider after Reliance Communications to be providing services on both CDMA and GSM platforms.