Delaying Qualcomm's ISP Licence : Failing after succeeding spectacularly The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) seems intent on undoing one its most spectacular successes.  Last year, it auctioned spectrum for two important wireless technologies viz 3G and BWA (Broadband Wireless Access), which can help deliver broadband services across India speedily and cheaply.  It was praised for conducting a remarkably transparent auction and for delivering a whopping Rs.105000 crores (ove...

One more step ahead in the making of Indian Broadband Economy… Growing up as a kid in the ‘70s, one thing that stood out often as symbol of status for the great Indian middle-class was the famed four-wheeler Ambassador. While inside the house, the babus [Indian bureaucracy] also sought two things that were symbols of ‘having arrived’: one was the famous black rotary analogue phone and the other was the 15Amps thick wired cable for the All Electric Home. Looking back i...

India Mobile Broadband: All decked up and nowhere to go? Between 2007-2010, the Indian government continuously delayed / postponed the BWA / 3G spectrum auctions much to the disappointment of the global telecom community. Finally it pulled it off in a flawless manner in mid 2010 when amidst severe competition, operators bid up the prices and the government literally laughed its way to the banks. In the process the BWA aspirants  paid more than a king’s ransom t...

The industry needs to move on The series of controversies associated with the 2G spectrum scam is all the news that is seen, heard or read these days. The media outrage and analysts’ comments go to show that all is not well with the politics-business nexus. Naturally, the telecom sector is hugely impacted, not so much in terms of growth but in terms of losing face. The continuing duel between the two technology camps is only vitiating the...