NEW DELHI: The debate over Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum auctions and internet telephony comes at a time when international organizations and analysts are painting a starkly contrasting picture of the Indian telecom and IT sectors.
Recent International Telecommunication Union (ITU) data reveals that the success of India's telecom revolution is restricted to mobile voice with very little to showcase in fixed line and internet access, or high-speed broadband.
For a country that is the global IT and ITeS capital or the world's back office, its own internet penetration remains one of the lowest in the world. Forecasts are equally uninspiring, projecting high-speed internet access to remain abysmal till 2012.
Internet broadband penetration will limp along to eventually reach a measly 3.9 connections for every 100 citizens by 2012. Even though internet users may be multiple times higher, actual broadband penetration will not exceed 18.1 million at the beginning of the next decade.
In contrast, mobile telephony will add as many as 350 million subscribers during this five-year period to end at roughly 615 million by mid 2012.
These forecasts fall short of the government's conservative target of 20 million high-speed internet subscribers by 2010-end. India's broadband penetration is roughly 4.5 million subscribers. Even with a 300% growth rate over the next five years, the sector will fall short of the 50 million mark by 2012.
"The weak numbers can be attributed to a slew of policy failures including inadequacy of fixed line infrastructure, a barely profitable ISP (internet service provider) business, and low domestic PC penetration", says Rajesh Chharia, president, ISP Association of India. It is learnt that ISPs are actively considering a strong representation to the government on these issues.
Weak broadband penetration could severely slow down overall telecom growth, crippling India's ISPs in the process. It will also hurt ambitious government programmes, such as e-governance, e-commerce, telemedicine and e-education all of which are dependent on high-speed broadband internet access.
This gloomy environment has prompted telecom regulator TRAI to recommend internet telephony for ISPs as it believes this has the potential of becoming the killer application that will kickstart growth.
However, the uncertainty of DoT accepting TRAI's recommendations or succumbing to the interests of existing mobile operators to slap an additional entry fee for ISPs is a shadow over the sector.
DoT officials have been confusing, vacillating between welcoming TRAI's recommendations and airing level playing field concerns. "A policy overhaul to include concepts like shared PCs, enhanced scope of services and expanding e-governance applications is critical for the growth of the sector," says Naresh Ajwani, president, Sify Ltd.
Source : EconomicTimes
Showing posts with label Broadband Wireless Access. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadband Wireless Access. Show all posts
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Raja may announce 3G, WiMax, MNP policy on Friday
NEW DELHI: After settling differences with telecom regulator TRAI on reserve price of spectrum, the Government is likely to announce the much-delayed 3G and Wi Max policy on Friday, sources said.
The announcement may come amid indications that at least 10 players would be issued 3G licenses as against five proposed earlier.
According to highly-placed sources, the government has about 60 MHz of spectrum (radio frequency) for the next generation (3G) mobile services and this can accommodate at least 10 players.
The differences between DoT and TRAI also delayed the 3G policy announcement. The political uncertainty following the Left parties withdrawing their support to the UPA government also played a part in the delay.
The other key proposal which is likely to see the light of day is Mobile Number Portability which will allow subscribers to retain the mobile number even after changing the service provider.
On 3G proposals, TRAI has already agreed to the proposals of DoT for hiking pan-India licence fee for third generation mobile services to Rs 2,200 crore and pan-India broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum, popularly known as WiMAX, to about 840 crore -- Rs 60 crore for five metros and category A circles, Rs 30 crore for category B and Rs 10 crore for category C circles).
DoT has also fixed the base price at Rs 160 crore for metros and category A circles, Rs 80 crore for category B, and Rs 30 crore for C circles, respectively for 3G spectrum auctions.
Source : EconomicTimes
The announcement may come amid indications that at least 10 players would be issued 3G licenses as against five proposed earlier.
According to highly-placed sources, the government has about 60 MHz of spectrum (radio frequency) for the next generation (3G) mobile services and this can accommodate at least 10 players.
The differences between DoT and TRAI also delayed the 3G policy announcement. The political uncertainty following the Left parties withdrawing their support to the UPA government also played a part in the delay.
The other key proposal which is likely to see the light of day is Mobile Number Portability which will allow subscribers to retain the mobile number even after changing the service provider.
On 3G proposals, TRAI has already agreed to the proposals of DoT for hiking pan-India licence fee for third generation mobile services to Rs 2,200 crore and pan-India broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum, popularly known as WiMAX, to about 840 crore -- Rs 60 crore for five metros and category A circles, Rs 30 crore for category B and Rs 10 crore for category C circles).
DoT has also fixed the base price at Rs 160 crore for metros and category A circles, Rs 80 crore for category B, and Rs 30 crore for C circles, respectively for 3G spectrum auctions.
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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