BackGovt plans 4G mobile services acution
Govt plans 4G mobile services acution
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New Delhi: Government plans to hold an auction of ultra-high-speed fourth-generation (4G) mobile phone spectrum soon after completion of 3G access now underway, a report said Wednesday.
The sale for 4G, which will provide high-speed Internet connections, will begin as soon as operators roll out their 3G networks this year, telecom minister A. Raja was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times newspaper.
The government expects to bring in at least Rs35, 000 crore ($8 billion) from the sell-off of 3G airwaves and a follow-on auction of broadband wireless access spectrum that began last Friday and could take weeks.
Operators believe 4G will bring near-broadband speed technology to mobile phones, allowing users to receive multimedia such as TV broadcasts and online games at rates up to 10 times faster than those possible on 3G networks.
“I do not want any delay in 4G services. We should be with the rest of the world in 4G," Raja said.
Germany on Monday began Europe’s first auction of 4G frequencies.
Raja said he expected the successful telecom bidders for 3G frequency would start launching their new networks within a few weeks of receiving the spectrum when it is allocated in September.
The auction of 3G spectrum will propel India into the Internet era, giving millions who have no computer access the ability to surf the web from their phones.
It will also heat up the battle for customers in the world’s fastest-growing mobile market.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has already started the pre-consultation process for the sale of 4G spectrum, Raja said.
“Once Trai submits its recommendations, the government will work on it," he said.
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