Regional telecom operators plan to switch to GSM spectrum
15 Jul 2006
New Delhi: After Reliance Communications made efforts to switch over to GSM spectrum, smaller regional CDMA-based telecom operators have also started applying for GSM spectrum.
These include Punjab-based HFCL Infotel and Rajasthan-based Shyam Telelink.
Both the companies have a unified access service licence (UASL) and are eligible for providing services of technology of their choice.
An HFCL official said that in mobile the infrastructure cost in GSM-based technology was lower than CDMA.
Also, since there is no national roaming pact among CDMA mobile operators, single circle operators, like HFCL, are not able to provide roaming to their subscribers, which is a big handicap. Shifting to GSM would solve the problem, he said.
HFCL and Shyam provide CDMA-based wireline, fixed wireless and mobile services in Punjab and Rajasthan, respectively.
HFCL's total subscriber base at the end of May stood at 327,371, with mobile contributing 62,361. Similarly, Shyam's total base is at 204,699, with mobile contributing 27,627.
Industry observers see the move as a symbolic setback for the CDMA technology as well as for its global patent holder Qualcomm Inc.
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