Today, you could catch leading telcos? top-notch officials chewing nails. Fingers are crossed as Radio-communication Assembly of the 191-member International Telecommunications Union (ITU)?the global industry body that approves the use of various technologies in telecom?is debating on WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access).
Stakes are high as WiMax, that promises high-speed next-generation internet services could shake up the wireless tech industry. If approved by the ITU, it could cause a split in the middle of the industry by taking on the 3G mobile segment.
The Assembly will now meet to decide on WiMax?s inclusion in the 3G (third generation) family. Decision is important for proponents as well as detractors in India as several fortunes ride on it. Firstly, an IMT2000 certification, or lack of it, is likely to boost or shake the confidence of operators that are planning to roll out WiMax services. Secondly, standard specification will allow mobile operators to offer mobile WiMax service. Lack of certification could play spoilsport for 3G services too.
However, if the technology gets the ITU approval, it could see a clash with other 3G technologies. ?Compared to 3G, WiMax reduces cost by a tenth and ensures speed that is three times faster than 3G,? says Mallikarjun Rao, director (wireless) at Nortel. ?In most cases, operators wishing to offer both mobile communication services and internet access will find 3G/HSPA to be the most cost-effective option,? counters Tom Phillips, chief government and regulatory affairs officer, GSMA, an association of over 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 218 countries. ?WiMax is still a lab technology while there are nearly 400 3G operator networks deployed in 135 countries with millions of subscribers,? adds Parag Kar, senior director (government affairs), Qualcomm India and Saarc.
While WiMax boasts of a data transfer capacity of 10 megabits per second (Mbps), many of today?s 3G networks, which have been upgraded with HSPA software, offer typically a range from 500 kilobits per second to 3 Mbps.
The moot question is?does it make sense for Indian operators to deploy WiMax? And the response varies from silence to ?no comments?, from ?let?s wait and watch? to ?we are serious about it?.
However, WiMax?s proponents are bullish as ever. A Nortel executive says 10-12 million of the 20 million broadband connections expected by 2010 will be covered through WiMax. Confidence over a technology, which has witnessed only two successful trials in India, seems to come from operators? willingness to adopt it.
While a Bharti Airtel executive confirmed plans to roll out WiMax-powered broadband services by early 2008, a Reliance Communications executive refused to comment. But state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has plans to reach out to rural areas in a big way. It seems all geared up with an initial investment of Rs 200 crore and a target to set up 1,000 WiMax base stations in all the circles where it is present. A top BSNL official says the company has drawn a two-pronged strategy: deploy the technology and offer the service from its own platform and also appoint franchisees .
But all these plans seem to be meant for fixed wireless services. What about mobile users? Says a BSNL official, ?Initially, we will deploy WiMax mainly for fixed broadband services. Alternatively, high-speed internet will be provided through 3G technology to mobile customers. Although the company is not thinking of extending broadband services to mobile users through WiMax, it does plan to provide these services to mobile subscribers.?
But not just critics, WiMax technology has to address other issues as well. Experts say equipment manufacturing has not yet started in the country. Also, WiMax-enabled mobile handsets available abroad are costlier than GSM or CDMA handsets.
WiMax, its advocates say, is cut out to lead the pack. But going for a 3G certification could be an attempted end run around rivals that are out in front. As for fixed broadband services in India, hopefuls see sky as the limit; but the sky could be a little too high for mobile users, at least at the moment.
