WiMax (vs) 3G – Combating for spectrum space in India
After 2G spectrum having taken a steady place, now it is time for the allocation of bandwidth for next generation technologies. Combating hot, it is between WiMax and 3G.
Ericsson – the biggest supporter and equipment vendor of 3G – is laying claims on the 2.3 GHz spectrum band, which is meant for WiMax in India. While, WiMax Forum, the international body supporting the deployment of WiMax, says that it has products certified for use in same band, which is most spectral efficient for offering high-speed internet on mobile.
Both are platforms for providing high-speed internet on mobile, enabling video calls, movie downloads and other multimedia applications on mobiles. The differences between the two technologies are coming to the fore front of the spectrum auction next month.
According to the Department of Telecom (DoT), the 2.1 GHz band spectrum will be used for 3G, while 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz have been earmarked for Broadband Wireless Access (BWA), which is considered synonymous with WiMax. For WiMax/BWA, the DoT auction will distribute two 20 MHz blocks in both the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz bands. In the 2.1 GHz 3G band, spectrum will be auctioned in blocks of 5 Mhz. The success of both 3G and WiMax will largely depend on the strength of the ecosystem. The larger the number of equipment vendors, software suppliers and operators, the more will be the usage.