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3G Telecom Services by End 2008: Raja
Techtree News Staff, May 26, 2008 1621 hrs ISTIn sharp contrast to recommendations made by TRAI, Raja said that even foreign telecom companies will be permitted to bid for 3G spectrum.
Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology, A Raja, has said that 3G (third-generation) telecom services will be launched by end of this year. And in sharp contrast to recommendations made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Raja has said that even foreign telecom companies will be permitted to bid for 3G spectrum.
Earlier, TRAI had suggested that only Unified Access Service License (UASL) holders should be allowed to participate in 3G auctions. With UASL, a company is allowed to offer triple-play services including voice, video, and data over a single Broadband connection. TRAI was of the view that first, only the existing domestic operators should be allowed to offer 3G services.
The Indian telecom sector allows 74 percent of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). So whether there is common auction or open auction, there will be no bar on foreign players. Either way, foreign players will be allowed to take part, said Raja.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) has called a meeting with telecom operators on May 28 to discuss the allocation and pricing of new 3G spectrum bands for launching new generation mobile phone services. The government is planning to issue new guidelines for 3G as well as WiMax networks by next month. However, these networks will be rolled out only by January next year.
With the rollout of 3G and WiMax networks, mobile users will get access to high-end data applications such as interactive gaming and multimedia features like video conferencing and video streaming on their mobile phones.
Earlier, TRAI had suggested that only Unified Access Service License (UASL) holders should be allowed to participate in 3G auctions. With UASL, a company is allowed to offer triple-play services including voice, video, and data over a single Broadband connection. TRAI was of the view that first, only the existing domestic operators should be allowed to offer 3G services.
The Indian telecom sector allows 74 percent of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). So whether there is common auction or open auction, there will be no bar on foreign players. Either way, foreign players will be allowed to take part, said Raja.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) has called a meeting with telecom operators on May 28 to discuss the allocation and pricing of new 3G spectrum bands for launching new generation mobile phone services. The government is planning to issue new guidelines for 3G as well as WiMax networks by next month. However, these networks will be rolled out only by January next year.
With the rollout of 3G and WiMax networks, mobile users will get access to high-end data applications such as interactive gaming and multimedia features like video conferencing and video streaming on their mobile phones.
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