India big market for Broadband: WiMax
Original link posted in Economic Times dated 01/17/11
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/india-big-market-for-broadband-wimax/articleshow/7304778.cms
NEW DELHI: With operators showing preference towards Long Term Evolution (TD-LTE) technology for mobile broadband services, rival WiMax Forum has said they are "not threatened", as the market is big enough for both technologies to co-exist.
"We are not threatened by the (TD-LTE) technology. We are actually delivering mobile broadband, while TD-LTE is still under trial. My request to the TD-LTE camp is -- this is a big market, let us cooperate to serve it well," WiMax Forum Director of Marketing Declan Byrne said.
WiMAX Forum represents WiMax (worldwide inter-operability for microwave access) technology, which is designed to provide high-speed Internet access with fast data downloads.
WiMAX players have been contending that since the competing technology -- Long Term Evolution (LTE) -- is still years away from commercial deployment, operators are more likely to choose WiMax.
"There is room for both technologies. I feel good about where we are, where we are going," Byrne added.
LTE also has strong and growing industry support, with commitments from global ecosystem partners, including operators, chipset vendors and equipment suppliers.
Last year, the Indian government raised over Rs 38,300 crore through the auction of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum.
With Reliance Infotel (the only company with a pan-India license) undertaking trials using TD-LTE technology , it was anticipated that other operators might also opt for the same technology.
"We are hearing a very positive response. Operators are testing equipments and we remain positive on the market here," he added.
None of the operators in the country has yet made a formal announcement on their plans for offering BWA services or the chosen technology.
It now remains to be seen whether the companies would deploy TD-LTE, WiMax or a hybrid-type network (supporting WiMAX in the initial stage with a migration path to TD-LTE).