Airtel, world’s 5th largest telecommunication operator is in talks with major mobile handset manufacturers to launch the 3G-enabled handsets below the price of $100. Though 3G is already launched by most of the operators in India but penetration of 3G-enabled handsets is currently very low. The growth of 3G has been hindered because of high prices of 3G-enabled mobile handsets.

“We see that it (price) is a barrier to the spread of 3G. We think that by bringing it down, we could give a boost to the spread of 3G. We further foresee a breakthrough when it breaches the $50-mark,” Mr Atul Mohan Bindal, President (Mobile Services), Airtel, said. However, he refused to divulge the names of the companies it was talking to.

Airtel, which launched 3G services last month, has over three million subscribers in the third-generation telecom network. In the 3G auction, Airtel has received spectrum in 13 circles out of the 22. It has launched services in Delhi and the NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Mysore, Manipal, Udipi and Jaipur so far.

Meanwhile, Pacnet today announced that it has signed agreements with Bharti Airtel Limited to deliver a new high-speed network connecting Chennai to the US. The US$120 million network, created through the synergy of Bharti Airtel’s i2i cable system and its domestic network in India, together with Pacnet’s EAC-C2C and EAC Pacific submarine cable network, will enable businesses and consumers across India to enjoy enhanced high-speed broadband connectivity to the US via Asia.