New Delhi, Nov. 29: Telecom minister Kapil Sibal will meet mobile operators to resolve all issues pertaining to providing high speed 3G (third generation) data services.

“I will meet the industry players soon to discuss the 3G roaming issue. They have sought time and I am hopeful to resolve the issue,” Sibal said on the sidelines of an industry event.

The department of telecom (DoT) has been contemplating asking operators to stop providing 3G in circles where they don’t have spectrum, through arrangements with other firms who have the 3G rights.

The chiefs of three leading telecom firms — Bharti, Idea and Vodafone — had sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention in the dispute over 3G roaming pact in a jointly signed letter, failing which they threatened to surrender the spectrum.

The country has 10-15 million 3G customers. Private players had launched 3G services late last year.

Airtel, Aircel and Reliance Communications each won 3G spectrum in 13 of the 22 telecom circles. Vodafone has it in 10 circles, and the Tatas and Idea in nine circles.

As none of the operators won 3G spectrum in all circles, they entered into agreements with each other to offer the service in circles where they do not have their own radiowaves.