The apex body of WiMAX operators across the globe?the WiMAX Forum?on Thursday urged the empowered group of ministers (eGoM) looking into the matter to delink the spectrum auction for WiMAX services from 3G spectrum. It also urged to hold it within this fiscal itself.
This is the second time that the body has urged for the delinking of the auctions. CS Rao, chairman, WiMAX Forum India Chapter told FE, ?India needs broadband now than ever as the Young India, corporate India, SME and consumer segments are craving for true high-speed Internet access on wireless broadband technology at average of 2Mbps plus and peak user speeds of over 16 Mbps?. Rao said on behalf of the WiMAX Forum, India Chapter, ?We have requested the eGoM that broadband wireless access spectrum in 2.3 Ghz band be auctioned immediately by delinking this from 3G auction schedule.?
The WiMAX Forum has said auctions for it involves less capex and faster rollout by the operators. ?Indian telcos, over the past two years had enough exposure to WiMAX through their now operational trial networks using BWA demo spectrum licences and also based on their visits to the well established WiMAX networks in developed countries. Indian telcos and other prospective bidders are ready with their plans to deploy BWA-WiMAX by Q3/Q4 2010 and launch mobile broadband services,? the Forum said in its letter to the eGoM.
The empowered group pf ministers had fixed the reserve price of the WiMAX spectrum at Rs 1,750 crore (half of the Rs 3,500 crore fixed for 3G spectrum) and a total of three slots to be auctioned across the country.