Airtel launches its own version of FWP

In a bid to tap the fast-growing market for fixed wireless phones - desktop phones that work on a wireless network and allow stable internet surfing speeds - leading GSM cellular service provider Bharti Airtel today launched a similar service that runs on its GSM technology platform.

The tariff for the Bharti service - christened Airtel Mega - has been kept at Rs 1.20 for a three minute local, intra-circle call to mobile phones. Calls to fixed phones will be charged at Rs 1.20 per minute, while STD calls will cost Rs 2.40 per minute.

Bharti Airtel will roll out services in 4000 towns and villages, but plans to offer the services progressively in the rest of the country wherever its network has a footprint.

The company is targeting 1 million subscribers in the first year and the service will be available with a pre paid and post paid tariff option.

The FWP will have a ten digit number. The phones will look like desktop phones, with one cordless option. As part of the launch offer, the company is offering free home to mobile calls.

"The fixed landline market is India is currently under-served, specially in smaller town and villages, on account of inadequate infrastructure. With this, we will be able to target about 200 million households in the country. The FWP subscribers are likely to increase at 5 million per annum. This service will have all the facilities available to mobile users," Sanjay Kapoor, joint president (Mobility) at Bharti Airtel, said.

"Our research has shown that 70-80% of outgoing calls are to mobile phones and we have fixed the tariff accordingly," Vishal Sehgal, vice president, FWP services of Bharti Airtel, said.