WiMax - Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access, had many road blocks worldwide. On its part ISRO makes its stand clear with chairman's statement. Mobile WiMax deployments is delayed due to repeated delays in BWA spectrum auction. It is decided to auction 3 blocks of 2.5GHz and 2 blocks of 2.3GHz in view of BWA growth. State owned operators like BSNL and MTNL were given permission to start deployment. Remaining private operators gonna fight for 4 Blocks across india. ISRO statement places a big bottle neck that no more spectrum will be available from globally used 2.5GHz band for BWA i.e Mobile WiMax.
G Madhavan Nair has told the nine-member empowered group of ministers (EGoM) -- headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee -- that the department of space (DoS) could not spare any further airwaves for WiMax services. The EGoM was constituted to settle all outstanding issues associated with the auction of third-generation (3G) airwaves. The DoS has already parted with 40 MHz of airwaves for WiMax services in the 2.5 GHz band, and Mr Nair said that interference from the WiMax services offered in this band in the future could "severely affect the very sensitive satellite services in the adjacent band". The EGoM will take a final call on the reserve price for 3G and WiMax spectrums, as well as decide on the number of players to be allowed to offer these high-end services in every circle. Mr Nair has said that after parting with 40 MHz of airwaves in the 2.5 GHz band, the DoS is left with only 150 MHz of airwaves in this band, the bare minimum requirement for satellite services. He also added that this band was of strategic importance to India as it was largely used for meeting strategic communication needs by defence, Indian railways and Safety of Life Services. "Hence, the operation of WiMax system in the proposed (2.5 GHz band) should be restricted within these band portions in such a way that it will not be interred into mobile satellite service," Mr Nair's communication added. In another note to the EGoM, the DoS said: "The rights for frequency band 2.5-2.69 GHz have been registered with Isro after prolonged negotiations with other countries and registered with International Telecommunication Union. International registration of this frequency band for Indian satellites requires for a long coordination process that is extremely difficult." Link to actual newsThis means after totally 6 players will do BWA implementations in india. In every place 5 operators will will provide service. 4 operators will be decided from major players like Reliance, Airtel, Tata communications, Sify, Youtelecom, Shyam, vodafone and much more. It would be interesting to see who can utilize the best of Shanon's theorem and give larger coverage with better bit rate. DOT should find other available spectrum for other players.
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