Severe frequency crunch likely to delay WiMAX launch: Report

New Delhi: A status report on the availability of WiMAX spectrum by the Department of Telecom shows that there is heavy frequency crunch in some of the key bands such as 2.3-2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz. This implies that operators may be in for a long wait before they can launch WiMax services in many parts of the country. (WiMAX — World Interoperability for Microwave Access, Inc — is a technology that enables broadband and other 3G services over wireless networks at a low costs which permits mass market adoption.)

As per the status report, in the 2.3-2.4 GHz, allocation of spectrum for WiMax applications “would be possible only after the existing, conventional, point-to-point and point-to-multipoint links, which are spread all over the country, are relocated to take suitable frequency band or on Optic Fibre Cable”. The relocations of systems may take some time, as there are many operational systems by variety of users, the report said. Giving a break-up of the availability, the report said that in major towns such as Kanpur, Nagpur and Bhopal, the spectrum was almost 100% available, while in Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune and other major towns such as Surat, Lucknow, Patna and Baroda, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Metro Mumbai, the availability was about 50%. “

This spectrum is almost 100% occupied in Delhi, the report added.

In the 2.5 - 2.69 GHz, which is primarily being used by the country’s Insat satellite series, the status report states that the Department of Space (DoS) was planning a new series of Insat system to further use this frequency for future multimedia and broadcast applications for fixed and mobile users. “For further availability of spectrum in this band, discussions are underway with the DoS keeping in view the existing and planned Insat-based satellite systems and applications,” the report said.

About 50% (20 MHz ) in the 2.5 GHz is available in the metros and Chandigarh, while in the rest of the major cities and towns this spectrum is available in 75-100% and in all other areas a full 40 MHz is available, the report added.

As reported by ET first, global WiMAX Forum has cautioned that India could miss the wireless broadband revolution and get isolated from the rest of the world, unless the country allocates spectrum in the 2.5 GHz for these services. The WiMax Forum has told the government here, including Trai and the DoT that India was better off allocating a different spectrum band for its satellite services, rather than risk isolation in the global stage.

In the 3.3-3.4 GHz frequency, the report says that in most towns, this frequency was available between 50-70 MHz, while in major towns about 30 MHz was available and in metros and major cities only 14 MHz of this resource is free.