Bangalore: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is all set to commence its cellular services in Karnataka in September and has targeted a two-lakh customer base in the state before March 2003, BSNL sources said.

The sources said BSNL has already put up 110 roof-top and ground towers in 121 district and taluka headquarters, and services are already available on those locations.

"We should be able to start services in September", they said, adding, a Rs 150 crore investment was being made for starting the mobile services in Karnataka. BSNL would initially have a capacity for 3.07 lakh subscriber base.

According to general manager of India Mobile Personal Communication Services (IMPCS), M C Kalkura, 39 more towers are to be set up on national highways and the exercise would be completed by August-end.

"Testing is in progress. Majority of testing is over," Kalkura told reporters in Bangalore on August 5.

BSNL had planned to start cellular services in August but failure by an Ahmebabad-based small scale industry unit to supply towers delayed the process. BSNL has now given the contract to a Kolkata-based firm.

PTI