NEW DELHI: Idea Cellular , India’s third largest telecom operator by subscribers, Tuesday launched 3G services on its own network in the Delhi circle.The Aditya Birla Group company has nearly six million subscribers in Delhi with around 30% being data users. It will offer the high-speed broadband service on the 900 MHz spectrum band that it won in an auction in February last year.This is Idea's first 3G service on its own network in a metro circle. So far, it has been offering the services in these metro circles via roaming agreements with bigger rivals Airtel and Vodafone India.With this, Idea’s 3G network has expanded to 12 major markets in India.In addition, it provides such services in nine circles through intra-circle roaming (ICR) arrangements, enabling its 3G subscribers experience seamless connectivity pan-India , except Orissa.India is divided across 22 service areas, most of them representing a state.“Innovation and efficiency in operations are the key drivers to Idea’s fast-paced growth in the Indian telephony market, and the launch of 3G on 900 MHz spectrum band in Delhi is a testimony to this,” Ambrish Jain, Deputy Managing Director, Idea Cellular, said in a statement.The 900 MHz spectrum band is considered superior for transmission and propagation and this will allow Idea 3G subscribers in Delhi to experience better indoor connectivity for both voice and high-speed data services.“The existing 3G users will experience enhanced services and products and offerings while the new subscribers will benefit from our affordable 3G tariffs and superior network,” Sanjeev Govil, Chief Operating Officer – Delhi, Idea, said.Last year, Idea roped in Swedish telecom equipment vendor Ericsson for a 2G network modernisation and 3G network roll out deal in the Delhi telecom circle. The telco’s network in Delhi region comprises of over 4,700 sites on 2G and over 5,000 hops on microwave.The network is being modernised along with the addition of 3G sites, to cater to the future demand of mobile data services in the metro circle, the company said.Idea is also in the process of setting up world-class service centres in the Delhi NCR region to service the evolving mobile consumers.