The Indian department of Telecommunications (DoT) is likely to come up with boosting policy for the WiMax industry in India. Changing its earlier decision, the DoT has reportedly proposed to allow operators using wireless broadband technologies like WiMax to offer mobile services in both data and voice. Earlier, DoT had restricted the services only to data services.

The Telecom Commission has reportedly taken the decision to remove the restriction during its August 21 meeting. Different industry constituencies like WiMax forum and Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI) are believed to influence the decision.

The move has come at some cost for the companies as they have to bear the increased reserve price for WiMax spectrum auction. The telecom fraternity believes this particular move of increasing the reserve price is a level-playing strategy with the existing operators. The earlier base price announced along with the guidelines was 25% ($115 million /Rs. 505 crore) of the reserve price of fixed for 3G services at $461 million (Rs 2020 crore). 

As usual, GSM players are expected to voice their disappointment in the disparity in the reserve price but the WiMax lobby sees no scope of comparison between 3G and WiMax.

Yet another feud between different technology lobbies can be expected that will definitely sadden the DoT. X

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