TRAI starts consultation process for 4G telephony

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has started consultation for the next level of telecom services even as the government is yet to decide on the date for auction of spectrum for the third generation telephony.

The telecom sector regulator today said consultations for the fourth generation or 4G technology, which would offer faster downloads of ultra-broadband and high definition video on demand, has already started.

"We are starting the process and would come out with a consultation paper to look into various issues relating to 4G telecom services," J S Srama, chairman of TRAI, said.

He said the 3G process has already been delayed and the government wants to ensure that successive stages are not delayed because of the delay in auction of 3G spectrum.

In fact, the implementation of 3G telecom technology in the country is already delayed by over three years. A number of foreign players like Motorola and Ercisson have already started testing 4G or LTE technology in various parts of the world.

"I don't want 4G or LTE (Long Term Evolution) to meet the same fate. Other countries are catching up with the 4G and that is why we are taking advance action," he said.

TRAI would make provision for spectrum band to be allotted for 4G service and the quantum and modes of allotment to the operators.
 
Motorola had recently said that they would be approaching the Department of Telecom (DoT) to seek spectrum for testing their equipment. Motorola has completed throughput up to 70 Mbps and, according to the company, the 4G technology can be offered in 2.1-2.3 MHz spectrum band.