Mobile value-added services hold a tremendous revenue-generating potential in India which could rake in around Rs 18,000 crore (Rs 180 billion) by 2012, an official from state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited said.

These services include video telephony, broadband and mobile television, among others.

"In India, VAS (value-added services) is picking up. It has the potential to generate huge revenues," BSNL deputy director general, VAS, S S Sirohi, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Mumbai on Friday.

"It will contribute about Rs 6,000 crore to total revenue from telecom operations by end of this year (FY 09). This is likely to go up to Rs 18,000 crore by 2012," he said.

Telecom operators in India currently provide 2G and 2.5 G services to subscribers.

Last year, the government of India, through its enterprise -- BSNL -- soft-launched third generation or 3G services in Delhi.

Mobile value added services include features like mobile broadband, mobile television, online gaming, video streaming, full track downloading and video telephony.

"Mobile applications in India will really explode. . . it is affordable because of the huge volumes (large potential subscriber base)," Sirohi said.