With the Government of India issuing guidelines for 3G, high speed mobile downloads and live
television on mobile will finally become a reality by middle of 2009.Due to spectrum constraints, there are merely three Global System for Mobile (GSM) operators that can offer 3G services. With one slot already reserved for MTNL and the other two open for global bids. Subject to the availability of 3G spectrum, we will have five operators to start with and gradually we may go up to having ten operators. Even private GSM operators admit that limited spectrum will lead to overbidding and could render 3G services unaffordable. If there is a supply constraint and demand excess, obviously there will be overbidding, which could make 3G very expensive .But analysts say it is unlikely that the big GSM players like Airtel and Vodafone will not bid aggressively to ensure they get 3G spectrums, primarily because most customers with an appetite for 3G are locked in the two networks.