At the closer of the India’s 3G auctions, most of bidders including the biggies Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance Communications(Rcom), Aircel and Tata Teleservices (TTSL-Tata Docomo) emerging 3G airwaves winners for limited telecom circles.
No single bidder bid for a pan-India 3G license so state operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) would be remain the biggest 3G operator in India. The absence of any pan-India 3G licence winner amongst all private operators, brings the good news for state-run telecom opertors BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL). Almost all the private operator needs the 3G Roaming agreement with BSNL or any other operator in the services area or circles where they themselves failed to win 3G spectrum.
Tata Teleservices (TTSL) which has bagged 3G spectrum only in nine circles already said that “To enable our subscribers get seamless 3G connectivity in other circles, we are in talks with state operator BSNL and MTNL for a 3G roaming agreement.”
The BSNL and MTNL together are the only service providers to have 3G spectrum across all the 22 circles as mots of private operators will have to approach them for intra-circle “3G Roaming Services” in the services area/circles where they themselves failed to win 3G spectrum.
India’s largest 2G GSM service provider Bharti Airtel,Reliance Communications (RCOM) and Aircel, each won 3G Spectrum in 13 out of 22 telecom circles while other major operators, Vodafone Essar, Idea Cellular and Tata won a total of 9, 11 and 9 circles, respectively.
Sources in the private operators also said that they were exploring an alliance with state operator BSNL/MTNL, they has 3G Spectrum and services in all circles as it would be a only solution as against stitching alliances with several firms across the country.
DEBOPRATIM ROY June 20, 2010 at 7:41 pm
This is the reason why BSNL and MTNL stands tall like a bright star in Indian telecom scenario..BSNL connecting India to the world faster!!
Jitendra June 4, 2010 at 10:25 am
Nice opportunity for PSU operators to work with Private ops, to improve their knowledge & services.
Finally we can say aaya camel pahad ke niche. Dekhte hai 3G aur kya kya kaarnaame karta hai. Good for all subscribers, Finally private ops agreed that BSNL is best in 3G services.
Saptarshi June 3, 2010 at 5:12 am
L
Let me explain that. In the 3rd generation mobile communications technology, GSM technology would evolve to Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) also known as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) and CDMA technology would evolve to CDMA2000 1X EV-DO (Evolution for Data Optimisation) and then to CDMA2000 1X EV-DV (Evolution Data Voice).
But while branding or marketing, both technologies (GSM and CDMA) are commonly referred to as 3G.
Worldwide Mobile Status as of Jan, 2004 :-
WCDMA/UMTS = 3.01 million
CDMA2000 EV-DO = 5.53 million
Therefore, CDMA has a larger share of customers worldwide with regards to GSM vis-à-vis 3G.
Some features :-
CDMA2000 works in 800MHz and UMTS(WCDMA) works in 2.1GHz
CDMA2000 BTS covers larger area
CDMA2000 BTS quantity can be less than UMTS(WCDMA)with same quality
Therefore, CDMA gives you the advantages of Cost, Coverage, Content and Connectivity over GSM vis-à-vis 3G .
Data Rate :-
CDMA 2000 1x EV-DO is up to 2.4Mbps by E2004
WCMDA is only 384Kbps by E2004
Therefore, CDMA is ideal for data services (Internet) over GSM vis-à-vis 3G.
References/Source:
GSM MoU http://www.gsmworld.com
3G today http://www.3g.co.uk/
Manivas June 1, 2010 at 7:40 pm
@Abhi
What is the difference between 3g gsm and 3g cdma
Rohan June 1, 2010 at 8:48 am
Its not possible to buy limited features & limited handset in CDMA. Their is no good option in CDMA. Where as GSM has a lot of option for customers. Where as some CDMA phones does not allow to change sims.
Saptarshi May 31, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Thanks for your response on the CDMA discussion guys. Abhishek, thanks for explaining me about the government’s stance towards the CDMA providers and Turkee, it is true that CDMA is a far better technology so much so that it stands for the 3 Cs – Cost, Coverage and Connectivity. In fact, CDMA 2000 1X EV is better than UMTS with the former providing much higher speeds and better services. CDMA is indeed the future. But unfortunately, India in spite of being the 2nd largest CDMA market hasn’t evolved much with regards to handsets, service providers and content. That needs to be looked into. More and more Open Market Handsets needs to be pumped into the market and we would certainly like to see more CDMA operators starting their services in India.
Merc May 31, 2010 at 4:16 pm
MTS should bring out some good andriod based CDMA/EVDO phones to show the power of CDMA technology. Reliance and Tata now have 3g gsm spectrum, so they may be partial here. Evdo is backward comptatible so its run on same spectrum as old cdma ( 800mhz), where as 3g gsm is going to use 2100mhz spectrum, so 3g gsm needs lot more towers to give good indoor coverage.
a good android evdo phone with nice data plan will rock
rajiev May 31, 2010 at 3:39 pm
is se kya hoga. Jis state mein tata 3g license hasil nahi kiya wahan ke customer kya karengein.
sushil May 31, 2010 at 3:00 pm
@TURKEE
Very well said
TURKEE May 31, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Guys, Here is the fact about GSM & CDMA. CDMA technology is better than GSM in all respects. Whether its Network, Infra, Cost, Connectivety etc. The question coming in your mind would be ‘Then why to go for GSM?’ Its Becoz GSM is a dominating worldwide & roaming options are easily available. GSM has 70% market share worldwide. Otherwise CDMA is a better option in terms of Technology, Network, Connectivety etc. Countries who have only CDMA are far more ahead of 3G/4G countries. CDMA already has many aspects of 3G inbuilt like High Speed Internet Access, Connectivety etc. So I think private operators instead of getting 3G should have spent this money to enhance CDMA network otherwise one good technology which is technically ahead of GSM will die out soon…
Karthik Kumar May 31, 2010 at 1:57 pm
CDMA operators are already providing the 3G data service using EVDO technology. Also they don’t require any additional spectrum to provide this service. Using their existing spectrum they can run 3G service. But GSM operators can’t do this they require different spectrum level to lunch 3G. Also Government stopped CDMA operators introducing 3G services since it will be unfair. Government allowed them to introduce only data service in 3G CDMA. So CDMA operators are restricted to lunch data service & mobile TV.
TURKEE May 31, 2010 at 1:46 pm
3G will cost private operators initially till it is streamlined, whether coming with their own or sharing infra/own roaming option or sharing. At this stage its good for people handling the 3G part in Companies, those people will be given higher positions & salaries later coz they will be the big guns who will be behind launching 3G. BSNL/MTNL will certainly earn & they will even monopolize things as they did in 2G earlier. Connectivety in roaming will be a problem for sure with operators doing agreements with BSNL…
Prasath J May 31, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Very TRUE…
abhishek May 31, 2010 at 1:30 pm
@Saptarshi Govt of India fixed one state operator in each circle to balance the pricing and availability of the services, So BSNL/MTNL awarded 3G spectrum. at the closer of 3G auction now its clear that private operators not interested to provide 3G services to the rural India or non-profitable area, so at least state operator will be “only one” choice in that areas for 3G services.
CDMA operator already able to provide 3G equivalent services (Data/EVDO) with present spectrum, Tata and Rcom already commence the services with their Tata Phton Plus and Reliace Netconnect Plus services. However Video Calling/Dial TV and some other services or facility will not available with CDMA as any one can have with 3G
Saptarshi May 31, 2010 at 1:13 pm
@hardeep
Thanks for your response Hardeep. Appreciate it.
Abhi May 31, 2010 at 1:11 pm
@Above
CDMA operators didnot participate in 3G auction because the road map was not framed for CDMA operators by government.Earlier government proposed that as only 1 slot was available that time for 3G CDMA, the operator having most number of subscribers in a particular circle will be awarded license in that circle.It was opposed because at that time, most of the circles were dominated by Reliance Comm.
So, DoT only conducted GSM auction of 3G..
mumBHAI May 31, 2010 at 1:09 pm
good income for beleaguered MTNL & BSNL. though how far people will use 3g data services whilst roaming is questionable…today even 2G voice calling is not used as much while roaming.
mumBHAI May 31, 2010 at 1:01 pm
@NARU
yes they will…in fact they already do for their data card,using EVDO which is a component of 3G tech standards.
NARU May 31, 2010 at 12:56 pm
will cdma operater also provide the 3g service?
hardeep May 31, 2010 at 12:51 pm
bsnl and mtnl were awarded licenses on an agreement that they will respect the highest bid for all particular circles….. which isn’t bad! and about CDMA operators, even I am confused, so cant help. TT please clarify!
Saptarshi May 31, 2010 at 12:41 pm
I always wanted to know two things.
First, how is it that BSNL and MTNL were awarded 3G licenses and were allowed to operate much before all the other private operators? Is it due to the fact that they are government owned enterprises and hence this free upperhand?
Second? Did the CDMA operators participate in this recent 3G auction or can they upgrade to the next generation simply by paying for the required spectrum thereby avoiding elaborate bureaucratic procedures like their GSM counterparts?
Can someone please explain me these?
hardeep May 31, 2010 at 12:16 pm
brother you are the only anokha here, atleast abhi tak@abhishek
StepFree May 31, 2010 at 12:07 pm
The already painful BSNL coverage will be bombarded with huge 3G requests, the backbone will fracture if this happens. Can a private and non-private operators work together to sort all the network issues? I don’t think so, one will blame other..
Webly May 31, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Very True…
Sanjay Bafna May 31, 2010 at 11:56 am
BWA on TT http://telecomtalk.info/indias-auction-for-broadband-wireless-spectrum-begins/28649/
zareef May 31, 2010 at 11:54 am
oh no not BSNL
Agnivo May 31, 2010 at 11:51 am
Why isn’t TT covering the BWA auction?
AmitS May 31, 2010 at 11:40 am
Because BSNL is Only 3g ready network at this time . private operators have to built their network, it will take huge money and time. If an operator starts 3g service in one or two circle at initial stage , can use bsnl 3g network in all circles with roaming agreement. some years back every private operator was depend on BSNL STD (NLD) backbone but after some time they established their own NLD structure or shearing agreement with other private NLD operators. these operators will only use BSNL network at initial stage of 3g operations. just like use and throw policy.
abhishek May 31, 2010 at 11:23 am
good for bsnl….but bad news for all pvt operators ‘fan’ like ag..o
MaNoJ May 31, 2010 at 11:14 am
Ye To Hona hi tha..
Bhaai BSNL Ke Bhaav Badh Gaye….
hardeep May 31, 2010 at 11:09 am
its better if they share a roaming agreement between themselves only…… BSNL SUCKS!!!!!