Tata Docomo launched 3G services in 20 key cities in 10 circles where it got 3G spectrum - Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP West, Punjab, Haryana and Maharashtra on 5th November 2010. Tata Docomo is a joint venture between Tata Tele and Japan's NTT Docomo. Tata Docomo is the first private operator to launch 3G services in India. The 3G services are branded under the name 3G Life and these 3G services will be running on HSPA+ which is an advanced 3G technology. Tata Docomo has partnered with BSNL for 3G roaming services in circles where it has not got the 3G spectrum.
The 3G services are available to both Prepaid and Postpaid categories. The monthly charges range from Rs 350 Rs 2000 (US$ 7.80 to US $ 44.40). The prepaid customers are charged Rs 350 (US $ 7.80) for 30 days and the postpaid customers pay between Rs 500 (US $ 11.1 to Rs 2000 (US $ 44.4). The video calls are priced at about Rs 3 per minute (7 cents). The mobile TV costs Rs 99 per month (US $ 2.2) for 50 channels. These tariff plans are subject to fair use policy with a data cap. The voice calls range from 40 paise to 66 paise per minute (1 cent to 1.5 cent).
The data usage allowed is 150 MB to 2GB depending on the tariff plan. In the case of 3G data card the charges are between Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 per month (US $ 22.2 to US $ 44.4). All existing customers are offered a free trial 3G services for a week.
Tata Docomo tariff is much higher than the BSNL tariff. BSNL charges Rs 1 (2.2 cents) per video call and the local calls are charged 49 paise (1.1 cent) per minute.