Telecom Lead India: Cellular Operators Association of
India (COAI), the top telecom industry body for GSM operators, has urged all
mobile service providers to participate in 4G LTE auction during the current
financial year.
4G LTE services are vital for the country’s broadband and
economy growth. Operators need to invest in broadband infrastructure and
support the growth of the country. India should conduct auction this year and
we want all operators to participate,” Rajan Mathews, director general of
Cellular Operators Association of India told Telecom Lead recently.
COAI chief’s statement is significant since Airtel is the
only Indian telecom service provider which is looking at participating in the
4G auction this year. Most of the leading operators want the auction to happen
at a later stage since they have spent huge money for 3G.
Even if only one or two operators are willing to
participate in the auction, the government should go ahead the auction to meet
its financial target. I am sure several operators will be participating in the
auction,” Rajan added.
COAI chief feels that mobile companies with long term
plans, strong financial background and fund raising abilities will not miss the
LTE opportunities. TRAI is in the process of finalizing the norms for releasing
LTE spectrum.
He also said the proposed 2G spectrum auction will not
clash with 4G auction. Operators have the appetite for high end mobile
broadband. The investment will continue to happen in India,” Rajan added.
Recently, GSMA announced that India will become
the second largest mobile broadband market globally within the next four years
with 367 million mobile broadband connections by 2016.
India will overtake the US, which will account for 337
million mobile broadband connections by 2016, but will still be second to
China, which will have reached 639 million mobile broadband connections in the
same period.
GSMA also said there are now more than 10 million HSPA
connections across the country, and this is expected to grow by 900 percent, to
more than 100 million connections in 2014. This will make India the largest
HSPA market worldwide within the next two years, surpassing China, Japan and
the US in the process.
GSMA director general Anne Bouverot urged the Indian
government to facilitate timely release of additional spectrum in a fair and
transparent way for all stakeholders. A 10 per cent increase in mobile
broadband penetration could contribute $80 billion of revenue across the
country’s transport, healthcare and education sectors by 2015.
