Date:21/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/21/stories/2006112101850400.htm

Back CDMA operators to run 3G trials in Jan

Thomas K. Thomas

To allay GSM players' fears on interference

Testing waters
Chinese company ZTE Corp will provide the technology
DoT agrees to allocate radio frequency in the 1900 Mhz band

New Delhi , Nov. 20

The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-based mobile operators will conduct trials for offering third generation services in January. Chinese equipment manufacturer ZTE Corp will provide the technology for conducting the trials on either Tata Teleservices or Reliance Communication's mobile network.

The move comes after the Department of Telecom agreed to allocate radio frequency in the 1900 Mhz band to the CDMA operators.

If the trials are successful, the CDMA subscribers will be able to get cheaper 3G services as the cost of rolling out services in the 1900 Mhz is much cheaper than any other band identified.

This is because globally, operators use the 1900 Mhz band for CDMA 3G services, which makes the equipment cheaper due to higher volumes. If the trials fail, then the operators will have to look at rolling out the high-speed data services at higher costs.

Row over frequency

The band had, however, run into controversy after the GSM-based operators said that if the CDMA operators were allowed to offer services using the 1900 Mhz frequency, it would create interference.

CDMA operators will now conduct the trials in a bid to prove that there is no interference with GSM services.

The Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India had written to the Government seeking permission to conduct the trials.

Senior DoT officials told Business Line that the Government had no issues with conducting the trials and would facilitate the process.

"The CDMA operators can conduct these trials, we have no objections to that," said a DoT official.

According to industry sources, the trials will be conducted in areas selected by DoT.

They said that the association has suggested Andhra Pradesh as one of the States where trials could be conducted.

Earlier the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had shot off a letter to DoT urging speedy trials on the 1900 Mhz network.

In its recommendations to DoT, it had said that trials for 1900 Mhz band should be conducted before allocating it to CDMA service providers.