India's 3G policy with slots in 2.1GHZ frequency

Indian government has come out with a new 3G policy. Under the new policy, overseas players would be allowed to bid for 3G spectrum, while per circle five players would initially be permitted for 3G rollout.


http://www.dot.gov.in/



The minimum reserve price has been set at Rs 2,020 crore, Telecom Minister A Raja said. While there would be no spectrum charge for the first year for 3G, from second year it would be 1 per cent of gross revenue. Three slots for 3G spectrum have been awarded to CDMA players.
BSNL and MTNL would be allotted one slot across the board for 3G, Raja said, adding that the state-owned BSNL and MTNL need not participate in bidding.



http://www.wpc.dot.gov.in/DocFiles/Guidelines%20for%203G%20services%20and%20Broadband%20Wireless%20Access%20(BWA)services.doc

Guidelines for 3G Services:
Ø The 3G (3rd generation) mobile telecommunications is the generic name for the next generation of mobile networks that will combine wireless mobile technology with high data rate transmission capabilities. The 3G networks will be capable of providing higher data rates and will also be capable of supporting a variety of services such as high- resolution video and multi media services in addition to voice, fax and conventional data services.
Ø 3G spectrum will be permitted in the 2.1 GHz band.
Ø The 3G licences would be granted through a controlled, simultaneous ascending e-auction, by a specialised agency to ensure transparency in the selection process.
Ø Besides the initial, one time spectrum charge, it has been decided that the successful service provider would pay additional spectrum charge of 0.5 % of their total Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), as the recurring annual spectrum charge. This additional revenue share is proposed to be 1% of AGR after 3 years from the date of spectrum assignment.
Ø The roll out requirements, including rural roll-out, as well as stiff penalties for non compliance of the same has been stipulated.
Ø Mergers will not be allowed during the initial five years. No trading/ reselling of spectrum is allowed.
Ø The CDMA spectrum in 800 MHz band for EV-DO applications would be treated separately from 2.1 GHz spectrum. If the CDMA based service provider(s) ask for the EV-DO carrier of 2 x 1.25 MHz, they would have to pay an amount proportionate to the highest bid for spectrum in 2.1 GHz band.





DoT plans separate 3G policy for CDMA players
It would be a major sign of relief for the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile players as Department of Telecommunication (DoT), as per sources said was planning to launch a separate policy for 3G spectrum allocation for CDMA players.Earlier, ‘there was nothing for the CDMA players in 3G spectrum policy. E-mail Article Printer Friendly Text-Size DoT had not allocated any specific spectrum for CDMA.’ as CDMA major players said on the government’s previous proposal of 3G spectrum policy. ‘This new move of government will enable the development of CDMA players in the country,’ as CDMA service providers believe. DoT in its new move has decided to make new guidelines for the CDMA players in which the CDMA players, who would bid successfully, get the spectrum bandwidths within 450 Mega Hertz (MHz) and 800 MHz spectrums. At present, Reliance Telecom, Tata Tele Services, state owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Sistema backed Shyam Telelink are the major CDMA players in the country. According to DoT, there are only 2 slots in 800 MHz band width while CDMA players are four in numbers. So, DoT has decided to introduce an auction process for receiving the best slot as per their bids for CDMA players in 800 MHz band. The 450 MHz and 800 MHz spectrums are usually uses in the world by the CDMA players, which are the optimum bandwidths for them. At present, CDMA players are sharing the bandwidth of 2.1 GHz, which had been basically allocated for GSM players in the 2G spectrums. After entering in the third generation of mobile service, the quality of voice, data connectivity on handsets and several new values added services would dramatically improve, as experts believe.


Guidelines for Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) services
The Government has also issued guidelines for Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) services. With this the level of broadband penetration in the country, especially in rural areas, will be addressed. Introduction of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) services will enhance the penetration as well as growth in broadband subscribers.
Guidelines for BWA Services
Ø To begin with BWA services will be permitted in the 2.5 GHz band by UASL and Category ‘A’ ISPs, besides BSNL/MTNL.
Ø Each service provider will be allotted spectrum upto 2 x 10 MHz in 2.5 GHz band, for use by the service provider in FDD (paired) or TDD mode.
Ø The BWA services would be permitted through a controlled, simultaneous ascending e-auction, by a specialised agency to ensure transparency in the selection process.
Ø The base/ reserve price would be 25% of amount for 3G spectrum.
Ø Besides the initial, one time spectrum charge, additional spectrum charge of 0.5 % of total Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), will be levied as the recurring annual spectrum charge. This additional revenue share is proposed to be 1% of AGR after 3 years from the time of spectrum assignment.
Ø The roll out conditions, including rural roll-out, as well as stiff penalties for non-compliance of the same has been stipulated. .
Ø Mergers will not be allowed during the initial five years. No trading/ reselling of spectrum is allowed.
Ø Other service providers will be considered for spectrum allotment for BWA services in the 2.3 GHz band and 3.3 – 3.4 GHz band.
Ø After assessing the compatibility with satellite based services, the allotment of spectrum in the 3.4 – 3.6 GHz band will be considered.



3G Policy for GSM and CDMA. CDMA players will prefer EVDO which is a mix of time division and code division methologies, thus closing in on GSM and CDMA technology convergence

EVDO is Evolution-Data Optimized or Evolution-Data only. See http://freewareindia.blogspot.com/2008/07/whats-beyond-3g.html

The upcoming third generation (3G) policy, which the government is slated to announce shortly, is likely to leave CDMA operators in the lurch. The policy will state that CDMA majors like Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices can offer 3G services in the 450 MHz, 800 MHz and 1900 MHz frequency bands, but with a rider — ‘as and when these frequencies become available’. Put simply, there will be no auction of spectrum in these frequency bands during the 3G auctions. “At most, the government may manage to free up one slot in the 800 MHz band and 450 MHz band. But, this is unlikely. The 1900 MHz band is ruled out for the considerable future. This means, CDMA players will have to bid for 3G spectrum in the 2.1 GHz band which favors GSM operators,” explained an industry source. Telecom regulator Trai in its recommendations for CDMA operators for 3G services had asked the government to set aside radio frequencies in the 450 MHz and also two additional carriers the 800 Mhz, which they already use for providing 2G services—the mobile technology used at present. However, with the Department of Telecom issuing new licenses with CDMA technology, it has allotted frequencies in the 800 MHz to these new entrants for 2G services. This implies, spectrum in the 800 MHz is unlikely to be available during the upcoming 3G auctions. The DoT has also decided against allocating the 450 MHz frequency for two reasons — this band is currently occupied by state agencies, and internationally, this has not been allotted for 3G services. CDMA operators say that the country’s telecom growth, particularly that in rural India will be compromised if the DoT fails to release 3G spectrum in the 450 MHz. CDMA operators therefore say that the 3G policy would discriminate against them because they do not have network equipment in 2.1 GHz and handsets which will work with the present 800 Mhz (where they currently offer 2G services). With regard to the 1900 MHz frequency band, Trai had said that the DoT should “verify technical feasibility of coexistence of mixed band allocation, and if this was found feasible, this should be refarmed for allocation to telecom service operators with CDMA technology’. Last year, AUSPI had completed field trails to establish that coexistence is possible with GSM players.