Intel banks on 3G and WiMax in India

MUMBAI, INDIA: As India is all set to take a final call on the spectrum allocations in January 2010 for the much-awaited 3G and WiMax licenses, Intel hopes for more demand of its products and solutions in the computing and Internet space.

Recently, Intel has come out with new devices and solutions that provide mobile and wireless broadband Internet access.

For instance its Nettops with Atom processor is a low-cost computing device with a good computing performance, available at the market price of around Rs.10,000 in India.

The company considers Nettops as a key affordable computing device along with boosting Internet penetration in the rural parts of the country. Since its launch, Intel already has sold over half a million units.

Besides, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in association with HCL, Intel and Microsoft has launched BharatPC to boost Internet penetration under the National Broadband Penetration Project (NBPP).

Also, Intel, BSNL and HCL have brought out desktops which are embedded with WiMax technology and are already available in market. Moreover, in certain parts of India, BSNL has already deployed infrastructures and networks for WiMax services.

And once the 3G and WiMax services gets green signal from the government and looking at the close association with BSNL, Intel will have clear advantage in the market, particularly in the rural areas.

In fact, BSNL has already rolled out its 3G services in rest of India excluding Mumbai and Delhi, where MTNL is providing 3G services. And as BSNL is having WiMax license, it would be the first telco to launch the WiMax services across the rural India as it has done with 3G.

“Lack of good Internet connectivity is a big deterrent for good usage model. And once the WiMax is launched in the country, it will surge the demand of WiMax ready devices,” says Rajesh Gupta, Intel's director – Sales and Marketing Group.

“A good Internet or broadband is a big motivator for people to work efficiently. And any kind of Internet connectivity with 3G and WiMax will surely spur up various business or service models,” he adds.