3G Settings for Airtel - Vodafone - Idea - BSNL - Docomo - and Many More

After much hype and hoopla over spectrum allocation finally we now have 3G services across India from private players along with state-owned BSNL and MTNL. The private players including Bharati Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance, STel, Aircel and Tata Docomo is offering high bandwidth third-generation telephony services clubbed with various data packs in the circles where they have won license to operate. The state-owned MTNL and pan India operator BSNL have been in market much before the introduction of 3G services by private players and is doing well.


Be it smartphone or a tablet device you need to activate 3G on your existing SIM card to get settings automatically for using 3G data services. While most of the smartphones can automatically enable the settings you get from service providers there may be situations where you have to manually edit and configure 3G APN settings.
In order to use 3G services you need to choose and enable 3G network on your handset (UMTS/Dual mode). Once you have enabled 3G and your phone is ready to accept 3G network data you can go ahead edit or set up a new Access Point Name (APN) profile. Here is step-by-step guide on how to configure/ create a new APN profile in iOS (iPhone, iPad), Android and Symbian.

How to configure data network in iOS:

1. Go to Settings> General> Network.
2. Under “Network” settings select “Cellular Data Network”.
3. Add APN (below post).
4. Leave Username and Password blank.
5. Done

iPhone-iOS-APN

How to configure APN settings in Android:

1.Go to Menu> Settings> Wireless & networks.
2. Now select “Mobile networks” and then “Access Point Names”.
3. Click “Menu” and then “New APN”.
4. Enter Name and APN (below).
5. Leave Username, Password and other entries blank.
6. Save and activate. Android-APN-Settings

 How to configure APN settings in Symbian:

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Configurations.
2. Select Personal Configuration settings > Add.
3. Fill in Account Name.
4. Select Access Point Settings > Bearer Settings.
5. Enter the Access Point Name (APN).
6. Leave Username and Password blank.
7. Go back to Personal Configuration menu.
8. Select the Account Name and click Option and choose Activate.
9. Done.

 1. BSNL 3G APN Settings

BSNL with license to operate pan India expect for Delhi and Mumbai where MTNL will be in place. Try to set the following APN under mobile phone or data card settings,
Name: Airtel
APN: bsnlnet
gprssouth.cellone.in (South Zone)
gprsnorth.cellone.in (North Zone)
Leave all other settings blank

2. Airtel 3G APN Settings

Bharati Airtel has won 3G spectrum license to operate in Delhi, Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh (West), Rajasthan, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, North East, Jammu & Kashmir. Go to your phones mobile network settings and add a new connection or edit existing network,
To activate send SMS as 3G to 121
Name: Airtel
APN: airtelgprs.com
Leave all other settings blank 

3. Vodafone 3G APN Settings 

Vodafone won spectrum for Delhi, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kolkata, Haryana, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh (East).
To activate send SMS ‘ACT 3G’ to 111
Name: Vodafone
APN: www
Leave all other settings blank 

 4. Tata Docomo 3G APN Settings (Updated)

Tata Docomo won spectrum licence and is operating in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (West), Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Read our Tata Docomo 3G
To activate 3G SMS ACT3G to 53333
Name: Tata Docomo
APN: Tata.Docomo.Internet
Leave all other settings blank

5. Reliance 3G APN Settings 

Reliance Communications has won spectrum in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, North East, Jammu & Kashmir.
To activate send SMS to 51234 with plan code.
Name: Airtel
APN: rcomnet” or “smarinet”
Leave all other settings blank 

6. Aircel 3G APN Settings 

Aircel has won spectrum license in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kolkata, Kerala, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh (East), West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, North East and Jammu & Kashmir choose 3G network on your handset (UMTS/Dual) to access 3G service Otherwise, you can access portal using same the GPRS connections settings.
To activate send “START 3G” to 121
Name: Airtel
APN: aircelgprs
Leave all other settings blank 

7. Idea 3G APN Settings (Updated) 

Idea cellular has won spectrum license in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (E), Uttar Pradesh (W), Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
To activate 3G SMS ACT3G to 12345
Name: Idea
APN: internet
Leave all other settings blank 

 8. MTNL 3G APN Settings

To activate MTNL 3G
Prepaid : SMS `ACT 3G` to 444
Postpaid : Dial 1503
Name: MTNL
APN: “pps3g” (prepaid) and “mtnl3g” (postpaid).
Leave all other settings blank
The setting can be configured on all nokia s40 , s60 , symbian , samsung galaxy smart phones , HTC , LG , android based mobiles etc