MTS MBlaze wireless broadband launched

MTS MBlaze, the mobile broadband service from MTS India was launched recently. MTS is the tie-up between Sistema of Russia and Shyam Tele. MTS MBlaze works just like Tata Indicom Photon+ and Reliance Netconnect Broadband+.

MTS MBlaze is a USB modem for accessing internet from a laptop or a desktop, and offers 3.1 mbps download speed and 1.8 mbps upload speed. MTS has operations in Bihar-Jharkhand, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal telecom circles.

By year-end, MTS plans to launch MTS MBlaze mobile broadband services in Bangalore, Belgaum, Bhiwadi, Calicut, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Durgapur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mangalore, Mumbai, Mysore, Patna, Siliguri, Gangtok, Trichy and Trivandrum.

MTS MBlaze uses EVDO technology (Evolution Data Optimised). In India, BSNL too offers EVDO data cards for wireless net access.

CDMA 1X, the base version of CDMA, offers a maximum upload speed of 144 kbps. 1X data cards like Tata Indicom Plug2Surf and Reliance Netconnect offer this speed. The GSM-GPRS mobile net connection, offered by Idea Netsetter and Airtel datacards, is even slower. CDMA 2000 offers 3.1 mbps download speed, and is close to 3G standards.

MTS said that the price of the MTS MBlaze USB modem will be Rs 3499 for the premium modem and Rs 2,999 for the standard modem. There is no security deposit or activation charge, but the entire cost of the MTS MBlaze modem has to be paid up front. MTS says that the service can be used while roaming as well. There are several packages and tariffs which MTS MBlaze offers. Here they are:

Scheme        Download    Price(Rs)    Validity    Extra Usage Charges

Mblaze        150 MB        198        30 days    Re. 0.50/MB
Mblaze Half    0.5 GB        498        30 days    Re. 0.50/MB
Mblaze 1    1 GB        598        30 days    Re. 0.50/MB
Mblaze 3    3 GB        798        30 days    Re. 0.50/MB
Mblaze 5    5 GB        898        30 days    Re. 0.50/MB
Mblaze 10    10 GB        1200        30 days    Re. 0.50/MB
Mblaze 15    15 GB        1500        30 days    Re. 0.50/MB
Mblaze30    30 GB        3000        30 days    Re. 0.50/MB
Mblaze 50    50 GB        5000        30 days    Re. 0.50/MB
Mblaze night*    10 GB        595        30 days    Re. 0.50/MB

MTS launched its services in Delhi in October. The launch of Delhi services coincided with the launch of MBlaze mobile broadband by the company across its circles. “I am happy to see that our investment in India is taking the shape of an innovative telecom service provider. We are committed to the further expansion of the MTS network in India, with the impressive growth adding two million subscribers so far,” said Mr Sergey Cheremin, Deputy Chairman of Sistema. With the launch of MTS MBlaze, Delhiites get yet another option for high-speed wireless broadband, apart from incumbents Tata Indicom Photon+ and Reliance Netconnect Broadband+.