Bsnl Selling 3g Service In India?

[Honest 836]

BSNL selling 3G service in India?

Ciol News

The state-owned telecom player has been selling 2.4Mbps wireless data service in the country even before licenses were awarded.

BANGALORE, INDIA: State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is offering third-generation (3G) Internet service in the country on a commercial basis, even before the government has announced guidelines for the service.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is yet to award 3G license to any telecom player in the country.

The Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) service, which BSNL is now offering in select Indian cities, is third-generation (3G) Internet service.

BSNL is offering this service on a pilot but commercial basis. The central government is expected to announce the 3G and WiMAX guidelines on Friday (August 1).

Though BSNL officials refused to term its EVDO (or EV-DO) service as 3G, an expert confirmed it as 3G.

"EVDO is certainly 3G, as it has been standardized by 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) as part of the CDMA2000 family of standards," Atul Chitnis, senior vice-president of Geodesic Information Systems Limited, said.

EVDO is one of the two major 3G standards for the wireless transmission of data through radio signals. The other standard is W-CDMA.

The Telecommunications Industry Association terms EVDO as "CDMA2000, High Rate Packet Data Air Interface."

Chitnis termed the BSNL EVDO service as technically illegal, since it is being offered even before the government has announced guidelines for its 3G policy. He added that BSNL will be one of the 5-10 licensees, to offer 3G service in the country.

A Member of the Indian Parliament also termed BSNL's EVDO service as illegal.

"If BSNL is providing 3G service even before the government has announced the 3G guidelines, it is improper and illegal," said Dr Sebastian Paul, a CPI-M-backed Lok Sabha member and legal expert from Kerala. "The government should take a decision (regarding the service)."

The EVDO service, which BSNL is now offering, is likely to give it an unfair advantage over other players in the 3G space.

"It is a bit tasteless that a state-owned organization is allowed to break the rules and get away scot-free, while private operators are made to toe the line," Chitnis commented. When contacted, wireless Internet service provider Tata Indicom refused to comment.

"On one hand, I am happy that a fuddy-duddy government-run company has pioneered 3G in India, even if a little surreptitiously," Prasanto K Roy, Chief Editor at CyberMedia's ICT Publications, said. "On the other hand, this is not quite a level playing field­ - Airtel or Reliance would not have been so confident about doing this."

BSNL officials confirmed that they are providing 2.4 Mbps (million bits per second) EVDO service in the country. The officials did not reveal the number of cards sold so far.

This correspondent visited a BSNL office in Bangalore and was told the EVDO cards were all sold out.

An official document, which CyberMedia News accessed at the BSNL office, said it is offering the service after receiving permission from "competent authority". This document was circulated to all BSNL circles offering the EVDO service. The document revealed that BSNL is offering 2 Mbps EVDO card for Rs 6500 and charges a monthly rental of Rs 750. BSNL, however, refused to name the "competent authority".

Though the document said the offering is of 2 Mbps, the actual speed is 2.4 Mbps, a senior BSNL official in Bangalore said on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to speak to the media. He said the offering is "not at all 3G service", but declined to elaborate.

Incidentally, BSNL is running a commercial in Bangalore cinema halls to promote this service.

Meanwhile, Charlie Mathew, BSNL's Princpal General Manager in-charge of Ernakulam (in Kerala) Secondary Switching Area, confirmed that the telecom provider is offering 2.4 Mbps EVDO service within Ernakulam city limits.

"This is being offered in Bangalore too," he told this correspondent over the telephone, adding that the EVDO service was started in Ernakulam more than a year ago. He, however, could not provide the exact date on which the service was initiated.

Anil Kumar, DGM, BSNL, in Thiruvananthapuram also confirmed that BSNL is offering 2.4 Mbps service in Kerala. Both Mathew and Kumar denied that the service is 3G.

The DoT in September 2006 had allotted 5 +5 MHz spectrum in the 2 GHz band to BSNL to conduct experiments in 3G in Pune, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Coimbatore.

It is not immediately known whether BSNL is using this spectrum to offer its EVDO service.

When contacted, TRAI refused to comment on BSNL's EVDO service. "I have no idea. The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has to answer this question. The DoT being the owner of BSNL, the entire 3G is in the court of the department," Nripendra Misra, TRAI Chairman, said.

However, according to a 2006 Reuters report, TRAI had allowed BSNL, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited, Bharti Airtel and Hutchinson Essar Limited (now Vodafone) to use 3G spectrum for testing equipment. Sources said MTNL has been testing its 3G service in and around Minto Road in Delhi on a non-commercial basis.

Subodh Kumar, Additional Secretary (Telecom), DoT, could not be immediately contacted, as he was said to be in a meeting. RP Agarwal, Wireless Advisor, DoT, said BSNL is not offering 3G service in the country.

Japan-based telecom major NTT DoCoMo launched the first pre-commercial 3G network in May 2001 on W-CDMA-GA3Y technology. The same year on October 1, the firm launched the first commercial 3G network.

[Arun 795]

All players should have given the oppurtunity to pilot test the service especially when the policy announcement date keeps on extending depending upon the political developments forever.

[KumaarShah 143]

Probably pilot tests for BSNL means to sell 3G services to customers... And all along we thought that only private telcos were bending rules to suit their expansion programmes.... Sad that a govt. owned telco also indulges in such business tactics.... After all it is a jungle and the fittest only survives....

[Honest 836]

^^^

Very correct my dear Kumaar.

Actually Arun has rightly said above, all operators should have given the chance to pilot test the service.

Regards.

[HetalDP 947]

As per the Latest DOT Ammendment BSNL ic Completely Exepted from Bidding Process

It have Confirmed Allotment 3G band in WCDMA / HSDPA in 2100 and also have Confirmed allotment for EVDO in 800 Mhz which is already working in Major Cities.

Only thing they have not Started Commercial Mobile Telephony on any Band

As per Telecom Licence sold to CDMA Player the Licence is Technology Neutral so they can any time Upgrade their Existing CDMA 1x 1.25 Mhz card with EVDO 1.25 Mhz Card.

3G Policies is for the Company who want Extra Chunk in Different Band for Providing Mobile Telecommunication using that new Band. If you want to Upgrade your Network to 3G with Same Spectrum alloted to you u can do it any time.

here the Race of Mobile Operator is to Corner as much Spectrum they get any how by any bidding. Reliance and TATA can any time Start EVDO if they Just Upgraded CDMA Cards

Unlike CDMA in GSM Seperate Band is Required to start 3g

[kshah 452]

Means my belief is right. I always believed that CDMA operator wants to block frequency and 3G implementation. I mentioned even before, wh they need extra spectrum for 3G? When EVDO works best in 800 and 450 Mhz.

As per the Latest DOT Ammendment BSNL ic Completely Exepted from Bidding Process

It have Confirmed Allotment 3G band in WCDMA / HSDPA in 2100 and also have Confirmed allotment for EVDO in 800 Mhz which is already working in Major Cities.

Only thing they have not Started Commercial Mobile Telephony on any Band

As per Telecom Licence sold to CDMA Player the Licence is Technology Neutral so they can any time Upgrade their Existing CDMA 1x 1.25 Mhz card with EVDO 1.25 Mhz Card.

3G Policies is for the Company who want Extra Chunk in Different Band for Providing Mobile Telecommunication using that new Band. If you want to Upgrade your Network to 3G with Same Spectrum alloted to you u can do it any time.

here the Race of Mobile Operator is to Corner as much Spectrum they get any how by any bidding. Reliance and TATA can any time Start EVDO if they Just Upgraded CDMA Cards

Unlike CDMA in GSM Seperate Band is Required to start 3g

[siva1983in 1]

Tata is also offering speeds upto 2.4mbps openly with its PHOTON service..

[rbpyogesh 0]

But i Dont Understand why the Tariff of BSNL is different from Other operators

Bsnl charges less for all its wireless connections while compared to other operators like Reliance and TATA

For example BSNL's Data card costs only 250 a month while the Reliance and Tata's UL costs more than 1500

Why is this So

[kshah 452]

Because BSNL is working on lesser profits, see annual reports, BSNL has less than 25% of profit for given turnover.

[Honest 836]

^^^

Yes Kalpak you are very correct, Bsnl is working on lesser profits. Actually its all our fault, we prefer private operators instead of Desi operators. Although our Desi operators do have the latest technology, still the customers like to take the services of Private operators only.

Regards.

[Arun 795]

BSNL's EVDO service is 3G, says DoT

CIOL

Friday, August 01, 2008

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Department of Telecom (DoT) today confirmed that the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited's (BSNL) Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) offering is third-generation (3G) service.

BSNL has been providing 2.4 Mbps (million bits per second) EVDO service in select locations in the country for more than a year, even before the government announced its policy for 3G spectrum allocation. The government made the announcement today.

While confirming that EVDO falls under the 3G, DoT Secretary and Chairman of the Telecom Commission Siddhartha Behura told CIOL that public sector units such as BSNL and Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Limited (MTNL) are incumbents and they needed government's support and concession to take on big players.

Kuldeep Goyal, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of BSNL, however, refuted Behrua's claim and said the EVDO service falls under the 2.5G category.

Experts, however, have a different opinion. "EVDO is certainly 3G, as it has been standardized by 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) as part of the CDMA2000 family of standards," according to Atul Chitnis, Senior Vice-President of Geodesic Information Systems Limited.

EVDO is one of the two major 3G standards for the wireless transmission of data through radio signals. The other standard is W-CDMA.

Experts also said that the 2.5G was invented only for marketing purposes, while the terms 2G and 3G are officially defined.

The Telecommunications Industry Association termed EVDO as "CDMA2000, High Rate Packet Data Air Interface."

"Some protocols, such as EDGE for GSM and CDMA2000 1x-RTT for CDMA, can qualify as '3G' services (because they have a data rate of above 144 kbit/s), but are considered by most to be 2.5G services (or 2.75G which sounds even more sophisticated) because they are several times slower than 'true' 3G services," a Wikipedia entry said.

"A 2.4 Mbps EVDO connection is certainly a 3G service," said Prasanto K Roy, Chief Editor at CyberMedia. "Even if it's hiding behind a 2.5G fig leaf for licensing convenience."

No undue advantage

The DoT chairman added that rolling out 3G service is a very tough process and will take considerable time, and a little head start would not be of undue advantage for these players.

BSNL and MTNL have got a head start over its rivals, as they need not participate in the 3G spectrum auction and can rollout its 3G services anytime they are ready.

Minister of State for Communication and IT Jyotiraditya M. Scindia disagreed with the view that state PSUs were getting a head start over others. "BSNL has to pay the same amount as the other bidders and hence doesn't entail undue advantage."

Both BSNL and MTNL have to pay the highest bidding price for the 3G spectrum, which is expected to be completed in another four months.

Earlier, Goyal said BSNL will rollout 3G services in Indian metros in another six months. "We will be inviting tenders for our eight-nine million lines soon and final rollout will be in another six months," Goyal told this correspondent.

According to the DoT guidelines, five operators can bid for 3G spectrum now and another five more in future, provided there is additional spectrum. The Department has allowed foreign players also to enter the fray.

Chairman and managing director of MTNL RSP Sinha, while welcoming the 3G policy said that his company will take close to four months to rollout the services in Delhi and a little later in Mumbai.

In Delhi and Mumbai, only three telecom operators can participate in the auction owing to scarcity of spectrum.

[kesav 127]

I've studied in several articles that BSNL has been provided spectrum for WCDMA(2.1 GHz), EvDO(800 MHz) and WiMAX(2.3/2.5 GHz) officially.

Why then they're not launching EvDO Datacards nation-wide? or atleast complete city-wide in the areas where they've already partial operations(like Chennai, Bangalore, Jaipur, Coimbatore and Kerala cities)?