'3G, WiMax are complementary technologies'

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Vish Iyer, Vice President, Service Provider, Cisco India & SAARC puts forward the argument that both 3G and WiMax are not competing but collaborating technologies, which can help country achieve the cherished aim of connecting to the masses

“Cisco believes that 3G and WiMax are complementary technologies. For personal broadband on the move, 3G would be ideal since it provides greater bandwidth over a larger area, whereas for a primary broadband connection WiMax would be more suitable since it delivers better speed.

India has only 5 million broadband subscribers till date, so it is clear that the country needs both these technologies to be able to grow its subscriber numbers. ,” says Iyer.

Iyer in an interaction with Idhries Ahmad of CIOL, delves in detail the need of 3G services in India. He also talks in length about the preparedness of operators in India to offer 3G and challenges faced by them.

Iyer also discusses the business models that operators will employ to push 3G services in country and also explains how much of deterrent will be availability of 3G ready handsets will have on the adoption of 3G services in India.

CIOL: Analysts contend that India is late to 3G and as such should leapfrog to 4G? Is this assessment correct?



Vish Iyer: 3G is a more mature technology and has been deployed in many countries worldwide. 4G is still evolving, hence would involve risks. Moreover 4 G technologies like LTE need more time from a market readiness perspective.

CIOL: There has been lot of hype around 3G. Is India ready for 3G?



Iyer: Considering the telecom infrastructure in India and the huge geographies that need to be covered by telecom operators, wireless technologies are proving to be the answer to our unique connectivity needs.

The mobile penetration that India has seen is testament to the fact that wireless is the clear choice, and as voice connectivity has been well established, the introduction of 3G networks will enable customers to also access multimedia and data on their mobile handsets. The large customer base of the telecom operators would serve as a captive audience for the new technology.

3G-enabled SIM cards are also excellent connectivity tools that can be used with Data Cards, which would make it possible for customers to access the Internet at broadband speeds from their laptops wirelessly in areas where there is 3G coverage. The available higher bandwidth for each 3G customer would also make it more cost-effective to deliver voice, video and data at competitive costs.

CIOL: What will drive 3G in India? Which applications and user groups will help 3G gain traction in country?



Iyer: The changing demands on mobile networks, which are now responsible for transporting growing volumes of high-speed data and video traffic along with voice, are pushing mobile infrastructures beyond their traditional bandwidth capacities. More bandwidth is needed to support concurrent users with a variety of mobile, multimedia devices. Data traffic is growing at least 3 times faster than voice which is increasing profitability for operators

Also it has been seen in other markets that the presence of a 3G network enables businesses to opt for virtualized networks, as they are able to remain in touch with travelling and field staff using voice, video and data.

Business travelers are also able to access corporate information and applications over their mobile devices in a much faster way. Other products like 3G data cards enable broadband connectivity even from laptops and mobile computing devices.

CIOL: How much deterrent will be availability of 3G ready handsets will have in the adoption of 3G services in India?



Most of the middle and high-end handsets in the country today are 3G enabled. Hence we don’t see availability of handsets as a deterrent.

CIOL: What will be the marketing strategy for selling 3G services in India. What will be the business model and do you see any scope for 3G in rural markets or will it be restricted to urban areas only, Does 3G have any case for rural markets.

Iyer: 3G Shall be enabler for Mobile Broadband as 2G has been to Mobile Voice. Operators can offer Tiered Mobile data packages, starting from basic flat rate data package to more enriched multi-media service packs.

Lower Cost of data delivery and faster connectivity based on 3G Wireless network shall provide ample opportunities to serve as a delivery vehicle for benefits in Social Sector such as education, healthcare and Govt. IT in rural areas. 

CIOL: How do you react to the assessment that 3G will be restricted to a data only service not a voice centric one?



Iyer: Since 3G will provide greater bandwidth and higher speed, there is bound to be an increased demand for data and video services. However 3G also has its advantages from a voice perspective which is very important for a market like India where there is a large number of voice subscribers.

Data and Video services will definitely have greater benefits though. Data traffic is growing at least 3 times faster than voice and 3G will help operators meet the growing demand. Video and video services will emerge as a key differentiator among competing offerings for service providers. Whether it is the delivery of video services to enterprises, or through innovative new mobile TV services geared toward consumers, the key to success will be the quality and breadth of the service offering.

CIOL: How would you rate the threat of WiMAX to 3G in Indian context.



Iyer: Cisco believes that 3G and WiMax are complementary technologies. For personal broadband on the move, 3G would be ideal since it provides greater bandwidth over a larger area, whereas for a primary broadband connection WiMax would be more suitable since it delivers better speed.

India has only 5 million broadband subscribers till date, so it is clear that the country needs both these technologies to be able to grow its subscriber numbers. Moreover WiMax has advantages in terms of spectrum availability and cost, hence will be vital from a market penetration perspective. 

CIOL: How do you see 3G impacting the growth of VAS in India?



Iyer: As has been seen in many countries worldwide, apart from the direct benefits of a 3G network, there is also a spurt in innovation in value-added services that would enhance the user experience considerably. Competition and innovation would also serve to drive down the cost, as there would be more relevant services to a varied customer base.