Leading cellular operators Idea and Hutch on Wednesday launched Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution or EDGE services offering their customers higher speed for Internet connections, downloads and multimedia mobile services like video streaming.

While Idea launched the service only for Delhi and NCR subscribers (both prepaid and post paid), Hutch is rolling it out nationally.

Bharti's EDGE network is ready but the company has not yet launched it commercially.

IDEA will roll out EDGE-based networks across other circles in a few weeks time, Vikram Mehami, CEO, Idea Cellular said.

The technology provider for Idea is Nokia in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana on an exclusive basis while Ericsson and Seimens will roll out EDGE services in other circles.

According to a Hutch statement, "with an EDGE enabled national network, we will be able to provide the next generation of multi-media mobile services to our users."

EDGE, which is an upgrade from the GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) networks, provide data downloads at over 160 kbps speed, Mehami said while claiming that speed of Internet surfing with EDGE-enabled handsets will be higher than other existing technologies like dial-up or CDMA-1x.