The number of third generation (3G) subscribers in India will reach 400 million by 2015 as the telecom operators ramp-up rollout of the high-end mobile telephony service, said a Wireless Intelligence study.
"India's 3G connections are set to grow three-fold between 2011 and 2015 as operators ramp-up rollout of new 3G networks," said the study titled "India 3G rollout".
According to the report, the telecom operators are likely to invest $2.5 billion in building the new networks and rolling out 3G services in 2011.
"Indian operators spent a combined $15 billion in acquiring Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) 3G spectrum at auction last year and are forecast to jointly invest a further $2.5 billion in building the new networks and rolling out 3G services in 2011," it added.
The study notes that over 80 percent of 3G connections will be based on WCDMA in five years, with the remaining 20 percent on CDMA-based 3G networks.
However, 2011 has already seen a succession of rival launches, including Bharti (in January), Aircel (February) and Vodafone (March) and it forecasts that all new WCDMA-based operators will have launched services by June 2011.