Indian Air Force (IAF) will launch an exclusive 3G wireless service in June this year that will enable its officers and air warriors, up to the rank of sergeant, to stay connected round the clock.
Under this, around 80,000 Indian Air Force personnel would be provided with high-end mobile phones.
“The new 3G service will be a secure communication network enabling voice, data, video streaming and file sharing, enhancing real-time operational efficiency,” an IAF press release said.
The services will use the Air Force Network (AFNET) communication system that was launched last year.
The latest value-added service on a wideband CDMA-based 3G portable network, using state-of-the-art mobile communication technology, will be integrated into AFNET, which will be the backbone of the connectivity, added the release.
In the first phase, the network will be operational in Delhi area within six months and in the second phase, the network will be in place for all remaining IAF establishments across the country by 2013.
HCL-made handsets, which will cost around Rs 16-17,000, would be given to all officers and air warriors up to the rank of Sergeant in the over 1.5 lakh-strong service.
With the 3G services, IAF personnel would be able to communicate through a secure network enabling voice, data, video streaming and file sharing, enhancing real-time operational efficiency.