Wireless Broadband Freedom

It would be an understatement if I say I have been anxiously waiting to get logged on to wireless broadband in India. I am no gizmo freak and prefer the touch of mud to plastic any day. But technology is different and wireless broadband for me means a life of freedom I could only dream of till a few years ago. Like me millions of surfers are waiting with anticipated breath to logon to wireless broadband so that they can access information on the move at speeds over 400 kbps.

The smell of rain

the scorched sand

quenched by

a drop of rain

I am not good at haikus and just made it up. But imagine if I could just sit on the beach in Goa, in the mountains in my absolutely beautiful hometown in Uttaranchal, or just about anywhere and do all the things I ever dreamt of and also run my business. Of course with wireless broadband it is very much possible. But before that another haiku. (I am pretty excited about the prospect of shifting to the mountains and running operations wirelessly. )

cool mountain breeze

caressing my face

soothing my soul

How to run your business sitting on a mountain top?

I bet it can be the title of a bestseller. But in the next few months or perhaps even weeks it can be a reality. First technically what exactly is wireless broadband?

According to the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications-2000), a wireless standard must meet minimum bit-rate requirements to be considered 3G:

• 2 Mbps in fixed or in-building environments

• 384 Kbps in pedestrian or urban environments

• 144 Kbps in wide area mobile environments

• Variable data rates in large geographic area systems (satellite)

In addition to providing faster bit rates and greater capacity over previous-generation technologies, 3G standards excel by effectively:

• Delivering mobile data

• Offering greater network capacity

• Operating with existing second-generation technologies

• Enabling rich data applications such as VoIP, video telephony, mobile multimedia, interactive gaming and more.

Now with an almost 500 kbps connection on the move you can definitely do your business. (Remember currently most offices in India get a last mile connectivity of not more than 256 kpbs. So 500 kpbs is almost double of this). With a 2 Mbps line you can get almost DVD quality streaming visual output. So if you are a factory or a business owner all you need is a wireless broadband connection and some good quality cameras in your office or factory. Take control of your office or factory right from the mountain top, the beach or from the middle of absolutely stunning Kerala backwaters.

What about client presentations? Well with a 2 mbps connection you can be visually in front of your clients and also talking to them.

So it’s pretty simple if you wish to run your business from a mountain top. Just incase you decide to write a book by the same name please don’t forget my royalty.

Wireless Broadband - Who is where in India?

Basically when we are talking about wireless broadband we are talking about two technologies that are making waves around the world. The technologies are 3G and WiMAX.

WiMAX versus 3G

WiMAX says wimax is better. Obviously. 3G thinks 3G is better. Again quite obvious. The research on the internet far out weighs wireless broadband in favour of WiMAX. It’s touted as the cheaper, faster and really fast growing technology. 3G is backed by Qualcomm - a giant in its own right with immense financial and political clout.

I really don’t have the right data to comment which is better. But I do have a gut feeling that WiMAX just might merge as the technology of the year. It somehow seems to me like the Linux of connectivity . The entry barriers are far too low. The value addition is far far too high. Maybe I will write on 3G versus WiMAX soon.

Wireless Broadband - Who’s where?

In India the sound bytes for 2007 definitely belong to WiMAX. Here are some noteworthy events in 2007 calendar.

On February 19, 2007 the government delicenced 50 MHz of spectrum in the 5.8 GHz band for commercial use. The move assumes importance as the global WiMAX forum has identified three frequency bands — 5.8 Ghz, 2.5 Ghz and 3.5 GHz - to deploy systems using this technological platform.

Same day SIFY launches its WiMAX solution. SIFY deploys Proxim’s Tsunami MP.11 WiMAX product line as the core communications platform for last mile access using the 5.8 GHz frequency band. It has also deployed over 700 Tsunami MP.11 base stations and 3,500 subscriber units to provide Internet access, voice and video broadband services to enterprise, residential and cybercafe subscribers in over 200 cities throughout the country.

‘’WiMAX is the future of wireless internet communications especially in fast developing countries like India. With this launch, Sify has made a timely and strategic addition to its connectivity solutions portfolio,'’ company’s Chief Technology Officer Bhaskar S said.

On February 22, C-Dot Alcatel-Lucent Research Centre (CARC) in Chennai has successfully completed the country’s first live WiMAX IEEE 802.16e-2005 (also called Rev-e) field trial using Aircel’s licensed spectrum. The technology is now ready for commercial deployment.

On the 3G front nothing substantial seems to have happened in 2007. There has been some bureaucratic delay and all the bytes had been “delayed” or “stuck in clearance”. There is apparently some Defence Ministry clearance issue. It is supposed to release 45 Mhz of spectrum by the end of this year in the IMT 2000 band and 1800-1900 MHz band. I guess that’s only a small hindrance and it should be up and working soon.

The Last Word

WiMAX or 3G. What’s in a name? My guess is in this year both would be in place. The good news is the consumer will have a choice just like he did with GSM and CDMA. Even better news is there will be broadband connectivity in India like never before. I really believe geography is history now. No actually let me not use that line. Remember Iridium used it and went dud within a year. Tom Cruise sounds better “I feel the need. The need for speed “. I agree nothing excites more than speed and nothing like speed with no wires attached.

from the heavens

speed falling

geography is history

Puneet Mehrotra is a columnist for HindustanTimes.com You can email him on puneet@cyberzest.com