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Friday, 15 August 2008 |
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Indian regulator wants revamp in what could be technology’s biggest market…
According to a report in the ‘Economic Times’ of India the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has called for a review of the WiMAX spectrum auction policy unveiled by the country’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The TRAI apparently believes that the DoT’s plan to give WiMAX operators 20 MHz of spectrum spread across the 2.3 or 2.5MHz bands is unworkable. ET also reports that the TRAI is calling for more severe penalties to apply to successful WiMAX licence bidders who subsequently fail to stump up the difference between their initial deposits and the full winning bid price.
The TRAI move comes as a WiMAX Forum study estimates that
India
will account for nearly 20% of global WiMAX subscribers by 2012. The Forum further projects that more than 27.5mn Indians will be WiMAX users by 2012, and that approximately 70% of the forecasted WiMAX subscribers by 2012 will utilise mobile and portable WiMAX devices to access broadband Internet services.
“WiMAX devices and networks are available now for deployment worldwide delivering best in class broadband services at a cost to consumers significantly lower than any other technology.
India
is clearly making the commitment and taking the steps to ensure wireless broadband services are a reality that enables operators to meet the needs of
India
's diverse and growing population,” judges Ron Resnick, president of the WiMAX Forum. “In addition, an operator's investment to afford the build out of infrastructure and deployment of the service is at the lowest CapEx and the best ROI models, plus the economies of scale created by this demand will help drive down the cost of the wide range of diverse WiMAX devices. All of the leading telecom equipment manufacturers are having their WiMAX base station and other infrastructure equipment WiMAX Forum Certified, and are ready to show case their equipment in
India
.”
Unlike the TRAI the WiMAX Forum has commended the DoT for the allocation of, and upcoming auction relating to, the 2.3 and 2.5GHz frequency bands. It has likewise applauded the the Indian government’s proposal to auction blocks in the 700MHz and 3.3 to 3.6GHz bands, as they become available.
The WiMAX Forum says it plans to add an Indian certification lab to its existing network by the end of 2008 to stay ahead of the demand for products in this region. The Forum's current network consists of six labs in
China
,
Korea
,
Spain
,
U.S.
and two in
Taiwan
. The industry body will also add a lab in
Japan
by the end of 2008 and a Brazilian lab in 2009.
John Williamson |
