Reliance Seeks 3g Spectrum For Gsm, Cdma Services

[basant_jp 0]

NEW DELHI: Even before the real 3G mobile services takes off, competition at the trial level is hotting up with Reliance Communications applying for the radio waves for testing of interface for both GSM and CDMA based services.

Reliance Communications has applied for 3G spectrum in seven circles, Orissa, West Bengal, Kolkata, Madhya Pradesh, North East and Assam on 2.1Ghz band while for CDMA-based 3G trial services, it has sought spectrum on the "appropriate band", a company official said.

A Department of Telecom official said Reliance has sought 3G spectrum for trial on CDMA-based mobile services on the same 2.1 Ghz band. The company spokesperson declined to comment on the band on which it plans to go for testing for CDMA services.

Reliance Communications had earlier also applied for 3G trial spectrum to Department of telecom but their case could not be considered as they had sought spectrum on 1900 Mhz band, which did not conform to the NFAP for their CDMA based 3G trials, according to DoT officials.

Third generation mobile services, which will offer broadband on handsets, operate on separate spectrum bands than the existing 2G or 2.5G. Mobile broadband can help users access high speed data, browsing, streaming in all voice, video and data.

Industry experts said 2.1Ghz spectrum band can also offer CDMA 2001 (EVDO), a version of 3G services.

Going for 2.1 Ghz band will be helpful to Reliance as the Anil Ambani company is seeking a national presence in GSM also.

Reliance will conduct CDMA 3G trials in six Unified circles of four metros and Bangalore and Hyderabad. Tata Teleservices had earlier sought 3G trial spectrum, it did not get it.

The dry-run for roll-out of 3G mobile services has already started as the government provided low-power spectrum to GSM players like BSNL, MTNL, Bharti and Hutch to carry out interface check on a non-commercial basis under the National Frequency Allocation Plan on the 2.1 Ghz band.

The trial spectrum has been given for one month and is 1/1000 of the actual 3G spectrum capability. It has to be used in a closed campus to see inter-operability of the interface with the existing system and is only for technical demonstration, the official said.

Some time ago, vendors had also asked for the 3G trial spectrum and we had given it and now whichever service provider seeks it under the NFAP, we give it, said the DoT source.

GSM players operate on 900 and 1,800 Mhz while CDMA players operate on 800 Mhz. As for NFAP, 1,900 Mhz cannot be used for commercial purpose and DoT is still undecided on its allocation.

GSM operators feel that the spectrum should be in the 2.1GHz band whereas CDMA operators are of the opinion that it should be in 800MHz or 1900 MHz band. GSM operators claim that 1900 band is likely to overlap and interfere with 2.1GHz band.

[mehtakushal 1]

Reliance is fighting for 3G bandwidth; but none of the CDMA handsets launched in India so far have 3G capabilities.

[amtrag 20]

Yes, there are no 3g handsets in cdma..but that is the use of paying more for such handsets unless 3G is launched?

Nobody would risk spending so much in CDMA handsets, without having the option to migrate to whichever service provider launches 3G first...