In the history of Indian telecommunications, the first commercial cellular phone service in India was introduced by which company or network operator?

Introduction / Context:
The launch of cellular phone services marked a major turning point in India s communication history. Before widespread mobile adoption, India relied mainly on fixed line telephones, which had limited reach. The first commercial cellular service was introduced in the mid 1990s by a private operator under the brand MobileNet, run by Modi Telstra, a joint venture between India s Modi Group and Australia s Telstra. This milestone is a favourite topic in telecom history and general awareness questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks which company introduced the first commercial cellular phone service in India.- Options include BSNL, MTNL, Modi Telstra (MobileNet service), and Bharti Airtel.- We consider the context of the first commercial cellular service, not later nationwide or government run expansions.

Concept / Approach:
On 31 July 1995, the first official mobile phone call in India was made between the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, and the Union Communications Minister, Sukh Ram. This call took place on the Modi Telstra network in Kolkata, marking the formal launch of India s first cellular service under the MobileNet brand. BSNL and MTNL are large public sector telecom companies, and Bharti Airtel later became a major private operator, but none of them were the very first to launch commercial cellular service.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the historic event of the first mobile call in India in July 1995 on the Modi Telstra network.Step 2: Recognise that Modi Telstra operated the MobileNet service, which is generally credited as the first commercial cellular phone service in India.Step 3: BSNL and MTNL did provide telecom services but came into mobile telephony after the initial private operators.Step 4: Bharti Airtel, though now one of the largest mobile operators, entered the market after this first launch.Step 5: Therefore, select Modi Telstra (MobileNet service) as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative Check:
Historical accounts and commemorative articles on the 25th anniversary of mobile telephony in India consistently refer to Modi Telstra and its MobileNet service in Kolkata as the network used for the first cellular call. These references clarify that this joint venture was the pioneer in commercial cellular telephony in the country, preceding later expansions by public and private players.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
BSNL: A government owned telecom company that offered fixed line and later mobile services, but it did not launch the first commercial cellular service.MTNL: Another public sector telecom operator serving metro cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, but not the operator of the first cellular phone service.Bharti Airtel: A private operator that grew rapidly in mobile telephony later on, but it was not the first to start commercial cellular service in India.

Common Pitfalls:
Because BSNL and Bharti Airtel are very familiar names in today s telecom market, candidates may mistakenly assume they were first movers. Another confusion arises between non commercial test networks and officially launched commercial services. To answer this correctly, it is important to remember the specific role of Modi Telstra and its MobileNet brand in the landmark 1995 mobile call and the start of India s cellular revolution.

Final Answer:
Modi Telstra (MobileNet service) introduced the first commercial cellular phone service in India.