The last mile access is the holy grail; this is one of the most contentious issues across the world as to how to bridge the gap.
There are many cities in US which haven’t yet been served with Broadband. Predictably, this has given rise to the digital haves and have nots and it isn’t surprising to see ISP’s worse than our very own BSNL.
However, the thrust of the post isn’t ISP bashing. It’s about newer technologies that have made their presence felt. The first among those has been WiFi or Wireless Fidelty. There has been a confusing string of names and I wouldn’t go in the technical details. I’d rather focus on the policy aspects of implementation.
WiFi has been recently de licenced by the “improved” version of the Telecom Policy. Predictably, there were a lot of “anal-ysts” who were crowing hoarse about the implications. That it would usher us in the information age all at once. It hasn’t happened over the past 1+ year and I see/ read no signs of the same.
WiFi is limited in extent to what we call as a “hotspot”. Anyone can set up a wireless router to broadband connection and serve it up. This trend hasn’t really caught up in India. Infrastructure/ pricing hassles apart, the biggest drawback of WiFi is the limited range it can offer. Plus, the equipment et al ought to be in “Line of Sight”. Not to mention the slow access speeds.
To overcome these hassles, the younger sibling of WiFi, WiMaX was announced. Theoretically speaking, it can serve speeds UPTO 70Mbps and doesn’t need the “line of sight” for it’s implementation.
However, there are three major issues with this.
With the present immersive content available online, I doubt whether WiMaX can really have any impact on access.
You could as well as toss coins about the utility of the same. At best, it can be used in war time scenarios- with WiMaX transmitters embedded deep in bunkers; maintain the crucial data links among the commanders. Or setting up WiMaX systems for the armed forces in dreary areas. Who would mind streaming porn?
The large scale implementation of WiFi in India is being planned for Pune, near Mumbai. There hasn’t been any disclosure of the details as yet, but if it does happen, it would be the first city in India to have WiFi on such a scale. The biggest hitch is that the customer base is ill defined. The Pune Municipal Corporation has estimated that there are approximately 1 lakh laptop owners. They have assumed that ALL of them would subscribe to WiFi. Which in my opinion is sheer stupidity. The pricing details et al would have to be attractive enough to make it happen. Further, they would have to bank on the increased customer base using computers.
We are still far away from REAL BROADBAND. Everything boils down to spectrum availability and final price. India isn’t WiMax ready; till the time Wireless can come up with something better, I believe that it would be more prudent to focus on increasing the landline base.
The Intel angle was interesting! I’d have to read up more on the same.
The Intel angle was interesting! I’d have to read up more on the same.
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=186500851&cid
Got this from Digg. WiMax maybe implemented in US schools. In my opinion, a mistake- the same as “one laptop per kid”. Even in US, there is despondency and your average American doesn’t listen to RAP. There is more, much more to the rotten fields of California/ Florida.
Just step in the interiors and you’d find something similar to our Bihar. Albeit, much more peaceful with the “American Tag”.
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=186500851&cid
Got this from Digg. WiMax maybe implemented in US schools. In my opinion, a mistake- the same as “one laptop per kid”. Even in US, there is despondency and your average American doesn’t listen to RAP. There is more, much more to the rotten fields of California/ Florida.
Just step in the interiors and you’d find something similar to our Bihar. Albeit, much more peaceful with the “American Tag”.
What is the competing tech to Wi-Max ?
..is there any of similar specs but by another vendor.
I’m not aware of any.
Which poses an interesting question, why not..patents etc locked up. Won’t see it pick up until patents on it expire. Not sure what the duraiton for this is, 5, 7 yrs ?
Thing is the benefit in the US is much less compared with here, unless you are really stuck in the boonies then satellite is another option, that comes with its drawbacks etc.
Then again if you move ahead with this tech in India, you are paying premium prices as there is no competitor at this level. Royalties only apply if you want to repackage Intel’s tech to sell as your own.
Things were clearer with GSM & CDMA, you had a consortium of companies backing the tech so the decison to move ahead was easier. It feels almost like a deadlock scenario with Wi-Max.
Can’t choose Wi-Max unless more ppl do so, and those same ppl are waiting for others to do the same.
I feel this tech might be still born despite its inherent benefits (assuming it works as they say), unless intel pulls out the stops and makes it easier/cheaper to implement.
What is the competing tech to Wi-Max ?
..is there any of similar specs but by another vendor.
I’m not aware of any.
Which poses an interesting question, why not..patents etc locked up. Won’t see it pick up until patents on it expire. Not sure what the duraiton for this is, 5, 7 yrs ?
Thing is the benefit in the US is much less compared with here, unless you are really stuck in the boonies then satellite is another option, that comes with its drawbacks etc.
Then again if you move ahead with this tech in India, you are paying premium prices as there is no competitor at this level. Royalties only apply if you want to repackage Intel’s tech to sell as your own.
Things were clearer with GSM & CDMA, you had a consortium of companies backing the tech so the decison to move ahead was easier. It feels almost like a deadlock scenario with Wi-Max.
Can’t choose Wi-Max unless more ppl do so, and those same ppl are waiting for others to do the same.
I feel this tech might be still born despite its inherent benefits (assuming it works as they say), unless intel pulls out the stops and makes it easier/cheaper to implement.
Hmm. Interesting point that you raised here. However, I really doubt it. It would be more with the so called “first mover advantage”; though we have hardly seen any implementation on ground.
Let’s assume. Suppose BSNL comes in with a package, what would it be priced at? How do you ensure that people take it up? How do you have two conflicting technologies- Wi Max and Broadband?
It is taken for granted that the people who first invest in a Wi Max based laptop would have to shell out more than those who sign up later. Even assuming that people DO sign up, it would be hard to replicate the so called “success” of WiFi. Accounting for a very small number of user base.
As for the patents are concerned, I didn’t get any information on that.
GSM and CDMA was promoted by a consortium of companies. True. But then, we pay a huge amount of royalty too.
There was an interesting article in Business Standard by Ajai Shukla. He talked of “offsets”. Suppose we purchase a order from an American Company, we have something from them to be reciprocated in terms of investments in ancillary industries. We have squandered away those advantages historically.
Hence, any further investments would have to be made in Open Standards and perhaps goad the engineering institutes to come up with something. We can’t fritter way our advantage, if any.
Satellite can be a BIG advantage, if we invest in those capabilities. Though, I have reason to believe that because of it’s cost, it would be a niche investment. Not for regular purposes.
In the end, I really doubt that Intel would be able to pull it off. Doubtful. AMD is sniping up on it’s heels, Windows is floundering (which accounts for it’s major sales), IBM is gaining on in the Server market and niche players like Freescale (from Motorola) in mobile phones are expanding. Intel is facing the heat in all. WiMaX would have been some kind of a push for them.
Hmm. Interesting point that you raised here. However, I really doubt it. It would be more with the so called “first mover advantage”; though we have hardly seen any implementation on ground.
Let’s assume. Suppose BSNL comes in with a package, what would it be priced at? How do you ensure that people take it up? How do you have two conflicting technologies- Wi Max and Broadband?
It is taken for granted that the people who first invest in a Wi Max based laptop would have to shell out more than those who sign up later. Even assuming that people DO sign up, it would be hard to replicate the so called “success” of WiFi. Accounting for a very small number of user base.
As for the patents are concerned, I didn’t get any information on that.
GSM and CDMA was promoted by a consortium of companies. True. But then, we pay a huge amount of royalty too.
There was an interesting article in Business Standard by Ajai Shukla. He talked of “offsets”. Suppose we purchase a order from an American Company, we have something from them to be reciprocated in terms of investments in ancillary industries. We have squandered away those advantages historically.
Hence, any further investments would have to be made in Open Standards and perhaps goad the engineering institutes to come up with something. We can’t fritter way our advantage, if any.
Satellite can be a BIG advantage, if we invest in those capabilities. Though, I have reason to believe that because of it’s cost, it would be a niche investment. Not for regular purposes.
In the end, I really doubt that Intel would be able to pull it off. Doubtful. AMD is sniping up on it’s heels, Windows is floundering (which accounts for it’s major sales), IBM is gaining on in the Server market and niche players like Freescale (from Motorola) in mobile phones are expanding. Intel is facing the heat in all. WiMaX would have been some kind of a push for them.
Dear Mr Abhishek,
Regards. Your points regarding WiMax in India are valid.But don’t you think that it should be done in an experimental basis in India? Telecom BABUS who introduced GSM in India didn’t want to introduce CDMA. But later private telecom farms like Reliance, TATA etc brought it to India. When the existing GSM infrastructure faced a challange from the CDMA front, our own BSNL was bound to introduce it.
Intel may be the force behind WiMax, but good technology should be accepted by the people.
Thanks
Bijay
Dear Mr Abhishek,
Regards. Your points regarding WiMax in India are valid.But don’t you think that it should be done in an experimental basis in India? Telecom BABUS who introduced GSM in India didn’t want to introduce CDMA. But later private telecom farms like Reliance, TATA etc brought it to India. When the existing GSM infrastructure faced a challange from the CDMA front, our own BSNL was bound to introduce it.
Intel may be the force behind WiMax, but good technology should be accepted by the people.
Thanks
Bijay
As I mentioned, it is “un tested” technology. Till the time it proves it’s merit in the trials, it makes no sense to introduce it for any reason.
As I mentioned, it is “un tested” technology. Till the time it proves it’s merit in the trials, it makes no sense to introduce it for any reason.
About the point you mentioned WiMAX being “un tested”, Look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Deployed_WiMAX_networks for the amount of WiMAX networks (being) deployed. Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiBro for WiBro/WiMAX which is deployed in koreas which gives kick-ass 20-50Mbps and good speeds even in subways.
Regarding spectrum WiMAX, I am not sure of the spectrum allocation in India. But, WiMAX does not need entire spectrum from 2-10GHz. Only part of that is necessary.But we dont know what mobile providers are interested in.
And regarding patents… AFAIK CDMA is patented by quallcomm and requires rediculous royalties. I don’t mean GSM,WiMAX does not need royalties. What I mean is patents, royalties, IP, Trademark… are too complex…
I think providers in India are too lazy(lazier than US) and want to get most of the wired network they already have before they get into wireless. They are pretty happy digging up roads. They can’nt even provide real Broadband in wired connections. Also they are very busy providing business plans to consumers with ridiculously large charges.
About the point you mentioned WiMAX being “un tested”, Look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Deployed_WiMAX_networks for the amount of WiMAX networks (being) deployed. Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiBro for WiBro/WiMAX which is deployed in koreas which gives kick-ass 20-50Mbps and good speeds even in subways.
Regarding spectrum WiMAX, I am not sure of the spectrum allocation in India. But, WiMAX does not need entire spectrum from 2-10GHz. Only part of that is necessary.But we dont know what mobile providers are interested in.
And regarding patents… AFAIK CDMA is patented by quallcomm and requires rediculous royalties. I don’t mean GSM,WiMAX does not need royalties. What I mean is patents, royalties, IP, Trademark… are too complex…
I think providers in India are too lazy(lazier than US) and want to get most of the wired network they already have before they get into wireless. They are pretty happy digging up roads. They can’nt even provide real Broadband in wired connections. Also they are very busy providing business plans to consumers with ridiculously large charges.
This post was written much before WiMax came into commercial deployment.
This post was written much before WiMax came into commercial deployment.