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From the service providers perspective, Nokia, an active WiMax solution provider is very positive of the success of WiMax in India. According to Prashant Agnihotri, director, Product Management, Radio Networks, Nokia India, "Indian service providers and consumer have shown in the past that they are fast to adopt new technologies and applications.

LAWS AND PROCEDURES
A WiMax solution typically compromises base stations/access points (AP) and CPEs. The APs are deployed at the base station site using the existing site infrastructure that may be available with the service providers, while the CPE needs to be deployed at the customer premise, in the form of outdoor installation, desktop indoor installation or to be used as PCMCIA cards in the laptops.

WiMax 802.16e-based APs and CPEs are currently being rolled-out for commercial pilot systems and are expected to be available through multiple vendors for volume deployments by the middle of 2007. The WiMax forum, driven by leading telecommunications equipment vendors and service providers, is helping the industry to promote the adoption of 802.16-compliant equipments amongst BWA operators while ensuring the interoperability of WiMax equipments from multiple vendors. The forum is currently taking up wave one certification in the 2.3GHz and 3.5GHz frequency band, and the wave two certification for these bands, and 2.5GHz is expected to start in the second half of this year.

In order to benefit from WiMax technology advantages and the expected economies of scale, it is important for service providers to deploy the WiMax network in the spectrum harmonized with global deployments. Service providers have the option of choosing the spectrum from three of the harmonized bands, which are in 3.5GHz, 2.5GHz and 2.3GHz. Currently, portions of the spectrum in these bands are with the Department of Space, the Army and other enterprise units for satellite and private use. The regulatory and licensing bodies in India are working towards helping service providers to get the necessary spectrum in these bands realizing the benefits of economies of scale that India needs for these rollouts to be able to deliver cost effective broadband services.

There are clearly defined norms and entry criteria given by the government on which companies are eligible to offer WiMax services. The current understanding is that existing cellular and fixed line service providers (USAL) in India can deploy WiMax solutions for providing triple play or quad play services. Existing ISPs can currently deploy WiMax solutions for providing broadband data services only and would need to extend their license to USAL for providing VoIP and video solution using WiMax. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended allocation of at least 15MHz of spectrum to each WiMax operator. More details are likely to be made available once the DoT comes out with its policy on spectrum and defines the procedure and related details for allocation of the same to interested operators.

Meanwhile, the ministers and telecom commission are very supportive, but a lot of things need amendments. "First, a major problem is with getting the Special Import License. To even move an equipment from point A to B, one needs to have four extra people. In doing so, the cost of equipment goes up. The government should minimize the paper work required to smoothen the process. Intimating the government is a good idea but taking permission for every small little thing is not feasible," said Yadav of Aperto.

Source: Dataquest