Indian telecom service operators are expected to offer a combination of 3G and WiMax (highspeed wirelessbroadband access) once spectrum auction for the two takes place post-elections when the new government assumes office. The combination of the two technology will gain popularity in the present conditions for cost reasons where funds are hard to come by apart from the intrinsic technological value of the two.
CS Rao, chairman, WiMax Forum, India chapter told FE that operators are likely to go for 3G spectrum for voice services because the 2G spectrum availability is not much and higher spectrum is needed to support subscribers for voice usage. For data services like video streaming, WiMax will be used.
Some vendors have already started manufacturing handsets, which support both 3G for voice and WiMax for data.
Another reason will be cost, Rao said. The cost of deploying WiMax base station is much lower (about one-tenth) of deploying 3G network.
The cost of setting a WiMax BTS is around $14,000 as against $35,000 for setting up 3G base stations. WiMax and 3G spectrum auctions are expected to held once the new government resolves issues with regard to reserve price.
Rao said that he expects the auction to take place within two months of the new government coming to power. ?Broadband penetration is the need of the hour… even the political parties have been giving a lot of weightage to broadband. Notwithstanding which political party comes to power they are likely to settle the issue within two months,? Rao said.
Once WiMax spectrum auction takes place WiMax BTS can be deployed by operators within 90-120 days, whereas 3G network will take not less than six months apart from the higher cost.
WiMax or the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a telecommunications technology that provides wireless transmission of data at a speed of up to 3 mbps without the need for cables and even while on the move.
The technology will give an impetus to the penetration of broadband in the country and give immense push to the various e-governance programmes.
India has about 6 million broadband connections now and is adding around 1 million subscribers per year. However, the government had set a target of 20 million users by 2010.
Double whammy
• The combination of 3G and WiMAX will be relatively cheaper
• Operators are likely to go for 3G spectrum for voice services
• For data services like video streaming, WiMAX will be used
• Setting up a WiMAX BTS costs around $14,000, while setting up 3G base stations requires $35,000
• WiMAX BTS can be deployed by operators within 90-120 days after the WiMAX spectrum auction
• WiMAX will boost broadband penetration and encourage e-governance programmes
• The government had set a target of 20 million broadband users by 2010