Telecom News

The Spectrum Policy on 3G has not been finalised yet and no sign of auctions in next few months and DoT is already talking about 4G. The Government and it’s Department’s need to give priorities to issue at hands and stick to it. It would be better if DoT, TRAI, Govt and EGoM use their energy and resources to finalise 3G Policy and complete the auctions.

This is like planning for your second kid when your wife is not even pregnant for the first time.

Anyways, sticking to the topic – DoT is thinking of introducing 4G Technologies like LTE (Long Term Evolution) and says that atleast 10 MHz Spectrum should be given to Operators unlike 3G Operators who’ll get 5 MHz Spectrum only. 4G Tech – LTE Advance may also come to India in the 2.1 GHz band as 2.5 GHz band is used mostly for satellite based networks.

LTE based 4G networks would increase data speeds 15-100 times as compared to 3G networks. LTE (4G) would provide downlink speeds of atleast 100 Mbps. Indian Operators expect to move to 4G LTE by 2011 i.e., once they start making money on 3G. This is a very optimistic projection I feel. 2010 is close and it is being said that the 3G Auctions would only take place in the 1st Quarter of 2010. So, when would 3G be launched or rolled out and when will the operators make money and start thinking to pour money in 4G?

I wouldn’t expect 4G to be around before 2015 as mass deployment has still not taken place worldwide and considering that 4G is still under development.