subject: 4g Technology In India [print this page] Today in the world of INTERNET - Long term evolution technology plays an important role which is a radio access technology with a very high speed of up to 100mbps and 4G is a standard in mobile network technology after 2G and 3G. It stands for Fourth Generation. 4G is a next step in wireless communication and providing IP solution. It is the most advanced technology available. It is suitable for high speed applications and services because of its low latency rate. Out of 1.2 billion people in India, only 9% have internet access. 4G will allow many others to join the web for first time.
Qualcomm Inc.: It has granted the 4G airwaves in May nearly two year after they won them in auction. The permit will be grant in October by the ministry of Telecom. It has won 4G spectrum for four of 22 telecom zones in India. Qualcomms Inc. has spent nearly $1 billion to buy 4G radio airwaves in auction. It is pushing for deployment of LTE in India and looking for more operator partners in the India Broadband Venture.
BHARTI AIRTEL: It is the 1st and only service provider to launch 4G in India. It had a head start after launching its 4G services in Kolkata and Bangalore. Airtel 4G provides a USB modem for high speed connectivity with many good features in it. They are having different bill plan for customers as per to the usage in GB with the speed of 128kbps. A user has to buy a USIM (Universal Subscriber Identification Module) from Airtel to use its 4G services because it is different from the current SIM supporting only 2G and 3G. The memory of a normal SIM is 64 kb and USIM is 128kb.
It is going to acquire 49% stake in Qualcomms Inc. 4G in the country for $165 billion. Radio city has also demonstrated about internet after tie up with Airtel to showcase the new 4G in Bangalore.
RILs INFOTEL: 4G network might be provided by Samsung Electronics to Reliance Industries owned by Infotel Broadband in New Delhi/ Kolkata for $1 billion (about 5,500 crore). The Infotels 4G services will be firstly launched in Mumbai and Delhi by LTE (Long term evolution technology) network. As per to the information provided to Economic times it also says that there are two companies which are discussing about bundling of a 4G handset and devices supply deal within the contract.
About 3000 base stations are going to be supplied by Samsung to Infotel for its on-going equipment trials, for Mumbai. Reliance is also talking with Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Network as they are having good knowledge and experience of managing network of mobile carriers in india. A field trial is going under way at its own oil refinery at Jamnagar. Mr. Ambani is running into hurdles as the cost for building a 4G network is higher than anticipated. Reliance would be the largest of any in 4G network outside U.S. and Japan. It is the only company to have 4G airwaves in all 22 telecoms zones in India.
RIM: Research in Motion has launched 4G LTE enabled BlackBerry PlayBook tablet in Canada and also available now in India. This tablet has a SIM card slot to support 4G LTE network. It will come only in 32GB version.
Aircel is also planning to launch 4G services between October and December. It is looking for the partnership with companies like MTS and will invest $500 million to launch TD-LTE services in Chennai.
