NEW DELHI: State-owned BSNL has sought that telecom regulator TRAI exempt it from paying any entry fee or licence fee for its upcoming WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) as it planned to provide these services largely in rural India. For private telecom operators and internet service providers, BSNL has sought that the government auction WiMAX spectrum and set a reserve price of Rs 10 crore, Rs 5 crore and Rs 2 crore for A ,B and C circles, respectively.
BSNL was replying to the Trai consultation process to determine the allocation and pricing methodology for new WiMAX frequencies—2.3-2.4 GHz, 2.5-2.69 GHz and 3.3-3.6 GHz bands. BSNL also wants Trai to lay a framework that will allow both telcos and ISPs to bid for WiMAX spectrum.
Telecom regulator Trai too favours a reserve price of Rs 10 crore, Rs 5 crore and Rs 2 crore for A, B and C circles, respectively, for WiMAX spectrum. Trai had arrived at this figure by basing the reserve price for WiMAX auction to be a fourth of that for the 3G spectrum auctions. The world’s largest chip manufacturer Intel and telecom network majors too have also written to Trai endorsing their support for the reserve price proposed by Trai for WiMAX spectrum auctions.
However, other private operators GSM through their industry association — The Cellular Operators Association of India — have told Trai that regulator cannot discuss the pricing and allocation of spectrum in these new WiMAX bands until there is ‘complete clarity on the quantum of radio frequencies available’.
“It is also not clear at this stage how much is the quantum of spectrum that is expected to be available in each band, both in the short as well as medium term. It may be appreciated that the time frame for the availability of spectrum as also its quantum, would be relevant both for issues related to pricing as well as for determining the future plans of the operators,” the COAI said.
WiMAX is an evolving technology that is considered a threat to telecom services, especially third generation mobile services. As per global industry experience, WiMAX offers data speeds that are 10-30 times faster than 3G.
Source: EconomicTimes
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Sify launches roaming broadband
CHENNAI: IT solutions provider Sify Technologies has launched a roaming broadband service that would enable its customers access to high-speed wireless broadband on the move. The 'Roam Connect International', supported by enterprise mobility provider iPass, would enable customers to access their data from more than 1,00,000 broadband locations globally, including business-centric venues like airports, hotels and conference centres, a company release said today.
"We are confident that our new service offering will increase management efficiency and response to customers in real time even when are travelling. iPass is a global leader in mobile connectivity for the enterprise and we are happy to partner with them to launch this service in India" Sify Technologies Ltd Executive President P J Nath said.
The iPassConnect mobility manager software is available for notebooks and handheld devices and simplifies user access, unifying global connectivity and streamlining management and support for the end user and the IT department, the release added.
Source : EconomicTimes
"We are confident that our new service offering will increase management efficiency and response to customers in real time even when are travelling. iPass is a global leader in mobile connectivity for the enterprise and we are happy to partner with them to launch this service in India" Sify Technologies Ltd Executive President P J Nath said.
The iPassConnect mobility manager software is available for notebooks and handheld devices and simplifies user access, unifying global connectivity and streamlining management and support for the end user and the IT department, the release added.
Source : EconomicTimes
Friday, May 23, 2008
Ahmedabad to be connected using WiMAX network
AHMEDABAD: For those wanting to access Internet on the move, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is planning to connect the city using a wireless network that will provide seamless access to Net.
Under a pilot project, the state-owend telecom firm would soon introduce WiMAX technology - a digital communication system that is intended for wireless "Metropolitan Area Network" -- in the city.
The network would provide broadband wireless access upto 50 km, official sources said here.
Source : EconomicTimes
Under a pilot project, the state-owend telecom firm would soon introduce WiMAX technology - a digital communication system that is intended for wireless "Metropolitan Area Network" -- in the city.
The network would provide broadband wireless access upto 50 km, official sources said here.
Source : EconomicTimes
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Bharti Airtel ties up with smartphone co HTC
NEW DELHI: Country's largest mobile service provider Bharti Airtel on Thursday announced a strategic tie up with global smartphone company HTC to offer a large scale mobile broadband application, including seamless internet and browsing experience.
Under this exclusive tie up, HTC Touch Diamond, the smartphone, will offer a wide range of services, including YouTube application for watching video content. Besides, it will give access to Airtel Live for providing entertainment on mobile.
The price of HTC Touch is Rs 27,500, HTC Corp President and CEO Peter Chou told reporters.
Source : EconomicTimes
Under this exclusive tie up, HTC Touch Diamond, the smartphone, will offer a wide range of services, including YouTube application for watching video content. Besides, it will give access to Airtel Live for providing entertainment on mobile.
The price of HTC Touch is Rs 27,500, HTC Corp President and CEO Peter Chou told reporters.
Source : EconomicTimes
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
New high bandwidth undersea cable system to connect UK with India
NEW DELHI: In a move that will significantly enhance connection capacity and redundancy between India and the UK, major global players in the telecommunications industry have signed an agreement to build the first direct, high-bandwidth optical-fiber submarine cable system from the United Kingdom to India.
The formal construction and maintenance agreement (C&MA) for the project that will cost close to $700 million, was signed by The Europe India Gateway (EIG) cable system, on Wednesday.
Telecommunications companies investing in the project include: AT&T; Bharti Airtel; BT; C&W; Djibouti Telecom; Du; Gibtelecom; IAM; Libyan Post, Telecom, and Information Technology Company; MTN Group Ltd; Omantel; PT Comunicações, S.A.; , Saudi Telecom Company; Telecom Egypt; Telkom SA Ltd; and Verizon Business.
The EIG cable system, targeted to be operational in second quarter of 2010, is an 15,000 kilometer (9,000 mile) system that will connect 13 countries and three continents. Landings are planned in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Gibraltar, Morocco, Monaco, France, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and India.
In addition to serving these regions, the EIG cable system will also provide seamless interconnection with other major cable systems connecting Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. The system will utilize state-of-art next generation technology that is designed to provide up to 2.88 terabits (Tbps) using dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) to provide upgradeable transmission facilities that support Internet, e-commerce, video, data and voice.
In addition to complementing existing high bandwidth cable systems in the region, the EIG cable system will provide much needed diversity for broadband traffic currently relying largely on traditional routes from Europe to India. This is important considering the threat of earthquakes in this region. The EIG cable system, with its large bandwidth and high quality transmission technology, will help meet the present and future growth in telecommunications traffic between the targeted regions.
In addition to the C&MA signing, the EIG Consortium also signed a supply contract with Alcatel-Lucent and Tyco Telecommunications for the cable system’s construction.
Source: EconomicTimes
The formal construction and maintenance agreement (C&MA) for the project that will cost close to $700 million, was signed by The Europe India Gateway (EIG) cable system, on Wednesday.
Telecommunications companies investing in the project include: AT&T; Bharti Airtel; BT; C&W; Djibouti Telecom; Du; Gibtelecom; IAM; Libyan Post, Telecom, and Information Technology Company; MTN Group Ltd; Omantel; PT Comunicações, S.A.; , Saudi Telecom Company; Telecom Egypt; Telkom SA Ltd; and Verizon Business.
The EIG cable system, targeted to be operational in second quarter of 2010, is an 15,000 kilometer (9,000 mile) system that will connect 13 countries and three continents. Landings are planned in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Gibraltar, Morocco, Monaco, France, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and India.
In addition to serving these regions, the EIG cable system will also provide seamless interconnection with other major cable systems connecting Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. The system will utilize state-of-art next generation technology that is designed to provide up to 2.88 terabits (Tbps) using dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) to provide upgradeable transmission facilities that support Internet, e-commerce, video, data and voice.
In addition to complementing existing high bandwidth cable systems in the region, the EIG cable system will provide much needed diversity for broadband traffic currently relying largely on traditional routes from Europe to India. This is important considering the threat of earthquakes in this region. The EIG cable system, with its large bandwidth and high quality transmission technology, will help meet the present and future growth in telecommunications traffic between the targeted regions.
In addition to the C&MA signing, the EIG Consortium also signed a supply contract with Alcatel-Lucent and Tyco Telecommunications for the cable system’s construction.
Source: EconomicTimes
Friday, May 2, 2008
TRAI seeks stakeholders' views on new spectrum bands for BWA
NEW DELHI: In an effort to make more spectrum available for wireless broadband access, telecom regulator TRAI on Friday sought stakeholders' views on pricing and allocation of bands 2.3-2.4 GHz, 2.5-2.69 GHz and 3.3-3.6 GHz which are now available.
With the likely vacation of spectrum in these three bands, the allocation and pricing methodology for the spectrum in these bands need to be decided, Telecom regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said in a statement today.
With the availability of mobile services in this band, it gives an important opportunity for the introduction of next generation mobile technologies, said the regulator.
TRAI had earlier said 3-3.4 GHz and 3.4-3.6 GHz bands are for broadband wireless and its pricing and allocation should be decided via auction.
Releasing consultation paper on the same, TRAI said when it gave recommendations on "Allocation and pricing of spectrum for 3G and broadband wireless access services", the spectrum in the 2.3-2.4 GHz and 2.5-2.69 GHz bands were not available for allocation.
TRAI has solicited comments from the stakeholders on the limited issues like eligibility for allocation of spectrum, Maximum amount of the spectrum which can be allocated to each bidder and pricing of the spectrum in these bands, it said.
The DoT, as per its recent guidelines on Broadband Wireless Access (BWA), is considering allotment of spectrum in these bands (2.3-2.4 Fez & 2.5-2.69 H) after vacation.
The use of 2.3-2.4 G and 2.5-2.69 Hg band offers good scope for innovation with the potential for induction of new technologies, services, applications and devices.
This consultation paper is another step Howard's accelerating the growth of broadband through encouragement of emerging wireless technologies especially in the rural areas.
Source : EconomicTimes
With the likely vacation of spectrum in these three bands, the allocation and pricing methodology for the spectrum in these bands need to be decided, Telecom regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said in a statement today.
With the availability of mobile services in this band, it gives an important opportunity for the introduction of next generation mobile technologies, said the regulator.
TRAI had earlier said 3-3.4 GHz and 3.4-3.6 GHz bands are for broadband wireless and its pricing and allocation should be decided via auction.
Releasing consultation paper on the same, TRAI said when it gave recommendations on "Allocation and pricing of spectrum for 3G and broadband wireless access services", the spectrum in the 2.3-2.4 GHz and 2.5-2.69 GHz bands were not available for allocation.
TRAI has solicited comments from the stakeholders on the limited issues like eligibility for allocation of spectrum, Maximum amount of the spectrum which can be allocated to each bidder and pricing of the spectrum in these bands, it said.
The DoT, as per its recent guidelines on Broadband Wireless Access (BWA), is considering allotment of spectrum in these bands (2.3-2.4 Fez & 2.5-2.69 H) after vacation.
The use of 2.3-2.4 G and 2.5-2.69 Hg band offers good scope for innovation with the potential for induction of new technologies, services, applications and devices.
This consultation paper is another step Howard's accelerating the growth of broadband through encouragement of emerging wireless technologies especially in the rural areas.
Source : EconomicTimes
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