CDMA operators miffed at proposed 3G policy

The government's proposed new spectrum allocation policy for 3G (third generation) services has not gone down well with CDMA operators like Tata, Reliance Infocomm, and others as they are being offered spectrum in the 450 Mhz and 800 Mhz frequency band as and when it becomes available, instead of being forced in to the 2.1 GHz band.

Unlike GSM operators, CDMA service providers are not in a position to bid for the 2.1 GHz band, as their systems and handsets are not compatible with this frequency for 3G services.

Although DoT has announced a separate policy on 3G for CDMA operators under which they can bid for 450 Mhz and 800 Mhz frequency band, the operators are unhappy and say there is no space left in these frequencies as  defence and other central government agencies are using a large chunk of the 450 Mhz band. Of what is available, smaller players have also been allocated bandwidth in this frequency.

The availability of bandwidth in the 450 Mhz and 800 Mhz frequency is a big factor for CDMA operators because GSM operators will bid for the 2.1 GHz bandwidth and start offering 3G services whereas CDMA operators will be waiting for allocation for rolling out their 3G services to their 70 million subscribers

3G services is a generic name for the next generation of mobile networks that will combine wireless mobile technology with high data-rate transmission capabilities. 

The 3G networks will be capable of providing higher data rates and will also be capable of supporting a variety of services such as high- resolution video and multi media services in addition to voice, fax and conventional data services.

What it means to customers is that in the near future, mobility will not be an add-on: it will become a fundamental part of their communication needs, with high-speed access to the internet, entertainment, information and electronic commerce (e-commerce) services on their mobile handsets wherever they may happen to be instead of being confined to their desktop computers, PCs or television sets.

With 300 million subscribers now, expected to more than double to 700 million by 2011, this draft policy which also says that ''any holder of a universal access service licence or with experience of running 3G services will be permitted'' will attract large international telecom companies to invest in india, the world's fastest growing telecom market.