CDG Expresses Concern Over 3G Policy

March 11, 2007

The CDMA Development Group (CDG) is concerned that there could be further delay in announcement of the 3G Spectrum Policy.

A delay in the policy announcement would create uncertainty in timing of the launch of 3G services, deprive Indian consumers and businesses of benefits of these services, and keep India behind other countries, that includes many of its neighbors who have already launched 3G services.

It would create uncertainty in timing of the launch of 3G services, deprive Indian consumers and businesses of benefits of these services, and keep India behind other countries that include its neighbors who have already launched 3G services.

CDG believes that the announcement of the 3G Spectrum Policy should not in any way be linked to delay in release of the spectrum in the 1800 MHz band, part of the 45 MHz of spectrum to have been freed. To maximize spectrum availability, and with a view to maintain a level playing field between various technologies, the CDG has made the following recommendations:

*To create a level playing field amongst operators and restore parity from economies of scale that the 2100 MHz band will offer GSM operators.

*The CDG believes that CDMA operators in India should be allowed to offer CDMA2000 1xEV-DO services in an existing 800 MHz band.

This is common practice in the rest of the world, a CDG press release said here today.

Additional carriers in cities like Mumbai and Delhi should be made available for this purpose. 1X network deployed by service providers in India are already 3G capable and are being currently under utilized. To ensure adequate spectrum availability to accommodate many contenders and ensure that CDMA operators are able to offer services in a spectrum band where equipment availability and economies of scale are available, the CDG suggests that DOT seriously consider recommendations made by TRAI regarding feasibility to deploy and release 1900 MHz to CDMA operators concurrent with release of 2100 MHz Spectrum.

Finally, the CDG encourages DOT to make spectrum allocation and management technology neutral so that all future allocations of spectrum are made in equal measure to both deployed technologies. The CDG has corresponded with DOT on this matter.