WiMAX "here-and-now, and getting better"
09-04-2010
WiMAX Forum: TD-LTE is new, its devices five times as expensive
The WiMAX Forum, an industry body, has strongly defended WiMAX technology in the face of heavy fire from TD-LTE proponents with include Qualcomm and Ericsson.
"WiMAX is a ready to be used platform. The cost of WiMAX devices have come down and it is more suited for India" WiMAX Forum chairman CS Rao said
He added that a new initiative had been launced to enhance current WiMAX technology by more than 50%. Certified products for the next-generation WiMAX will be available by the year end, around the time operators start commercial operation.
The Forum has also fast-tracked the process of profiling and certification for WiMAX 2 products, which can provide speeds of upto 300 Mbps compared to 40 Mbps offered by the current version.
The WiMAX Forum announcements came as the Indian BWA auction was nearing takeoff. The Indian government is auctioning two slots of 20 MHz for broadband wireless access, but has not specified the technology to be adopted.
The GSM association, representing telcos on this technology platform across the globe, has been lobbying for adoption of TD-LTE . They say it is difficult for WiMAX to be rolled out with just 20 MHz of spectrum: it could cause severe interference problems.
"TD-LTE has a far greater tolerance to interference and is therefore far better suited to the needs of the Indian population" GSM Association senior director Jaikishan Rajaraman said in a statement. "In terms of scale, China Mobile alone could potentially have more live TD-LTE connections than what WiMAX could achieve globally"
Against this, WiMAX equipment makers argue that TD-LTE is a new technology and its devices are about five times as expensive. "WiMax has been in the market for long and constant developments have driven down the prices, which has not happened with TD-LTE" Motorola India country head mobility services Subhendu Mohanty said.
A Huawei insider added that demand in India is currently for WiMAX, but said when the market was ready for TD-LTE, it would deploy that platform too.
Inputs from Business Line, Economic Times
The WiMAX Forum, an industry body, has strongly defended WiMAX technology in the face of heavy fire from TD-LTE proponents with include Qualcomm and Ericsson.
"WiMAX is a ready to be used platform. The cost of WiMAX devices have come down and it is more suited for India" WiMAX Forum chairman CS Rao said
He added that a new initiative had been launced to enhance current WiMAX technology by more than 50%. Certified products for the next-generation WiMAX will be available by the year end, around the time operators start commercial operation.
The Forum has also fast-tracked the process of profiling and certification for WiMAX 2 products, which can provide speeds of upto 300 Mbps compared to 40 Mbps offered by the current version.
The WiMAX Forum announcements came as the Indian BWA auction was nearing takeoff. The Indian government is auctioning two slots of 20 MHz for broadband wireless access, but has not specified the technology to be adopted.
The GSM association, representing telcos on this technology platform across the globe, has been lobbying for adoption of TD-LTE . They say it is difficult for WiMAX to be rolled out with just 20 MHz of spectrum: it could cause severe interference problems.
"TD-LTE has a far greater tolerance to interference and is therefore far better suited to the needs of the Indian population" GSM Association senior director Jaikishan Rajaraman said in a statement. "In terms of scale, China Mobile alone could potentially have more live TD-LTE connections than what WiMAX could achieve globally"
Against this, WiMAX equipment makers argue that TD-LTE is a new technology and its devices are about five times as expensive. "WiMax has been in the market for long and constant developments have driven down the prices, which has not happened with TD-LTE" Motorola India country head mobility services Subhendu Mohanty said.
A Huawei insider added that demand in India is currently for WiMAX, but said when the market was ready for TD-LTE, it would deploy that platform too.
Inputs from Business Line, Economic Times
