India deprives Wimax of 2.5GHz

Caroline Gabriel, Rethink Wireless | October 05, 2009

India is poised to be the largest global market for Wimax - in spite of, rather than because of, the country's regulators.

While the government's ambitious broadband vision gives Wimax a key role in universal broadband and innovative web strategies, the freeing up of relevant spectrum has been less advanced, and now it has hit another roadblock.

The Department of Telecom has decided to auction only 2.3GHz spectrum in the upcoming Wimax auction, leaving the 2.5GHz band off the table for now.

State-owned telcos BSNL and MTNL are already building out Wimax in both fixed and mobile modes, having been granted early access to spectrum, and by themselves they will soon become the world's largest deployers of 802.16 technologies.

But the real potential for Wimax lies in a competitive market with the private operators creating innovative business models - Bharti, Reliance, Tata and other giants have all conducted trials are are keen to participate in the auction.

But the amount of spectrum at their disposal, at least from December when the sale is scheduled, will be less than expected following the DoT's decision.

In its new Information Memorandum, the DoT said: “Two blocks of 20MHz each will be auctioned in the 2.3GHz band.” It said that, although 2.5GHz had been earmarked for broadband wireless too, it will be opened up only after issues with the Department of Space (DoS) are sorted out.

The DoS has always expressed concerns over the use of the 2.5GHz band because of possible interference with space communication systems. Although 2.5GHz was originally used by ISPs, these were ordered to vacate some years ago - but until recently it appeared that the DoS and DoT had managed to come to an accommodation.

There is no indication now of when the band, which is one of the primary internationally harmonized profiles for Wimax and mobile broadband, is likely to be made available.

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