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The
promise of 3G is still a promise. To a very large
extent, the roll outs are still in the beta stages.
The data carrying capacity, even though stated
to be at 2mbps, would be much reduced in congested
networks, and perhaps not capable of carrying
streamed audio and video, as claimed by the manufacturers
and vendors earlier. The cost of network roll
out too has proved to be much more expensive than
expected. Like many other technologies, the hype
and promise of 3G may finally not be fulfilled.
In Freddie Mercury's words, "Another one
bites the dust".
While 3G is turning out to be a non-starter, the
next generation system - 4G - is causing a buzz
around various circles. Expected to be rolled
out by 2010, the recent laboratory tests conducted
by NTT DoCoMo have supported a data transfer speed
of 1 GB! NTT's field experiments achieved a download
speed of 100mbps and upload speeds of 20mbps in
a vehicle moving at a speed of 30kmph. Similar
experiments, done over a 3km stretch of a highway
north of the Calgary International Airport, achieved
speeds of 32mbps in a vehicle traveling at speed
of 100kmph with full hand-off across cells! With
these experiments, one can draw hope that even
if all the hype of 4G may not turn out to be a
reality, some of the promises would definitely
be fulfilled.
Both the experiments above deployed variations
of Orthogonal Frequency Divisional Multiplexing
(OFDM) technology, which is competing with CDMA
technologies like wideband CDMA (WCDMA), High
Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA) or the 1xEV-DO.
OFDM is also a key component of next generation
wireless technologies in the Local Area Networks
(like 802.11g) and Metropolitan Area Networks
(like Wimax). Unlike the 3G systems which are
a combination of circuit switched and packet switched
networks, all elements of 4G networks are digital
and entirely packet switched. It is expected that
4G would deliver higher speeds at lower costs.
The sceptic amongst us may raise an eyebrow, but
as compared to 3G which can support short audio
clips at best, 4G is expected to support downloads
of full length songs. Who knows? Just like Short
Messaging Services (SMS) turned out to be an unexpected,
killer application for the present 2G systems,
music downloads may well prove to be one killer
application for the 4G systems!
Closer to home, recent media reports quoting the
Hon'ble Minister for IT and Communication stated
that India intends to leapfrog to 4G technology,
skipping 3G as it is not cost effective. An absolutely
right and welcome move! However, before we get
onto the fourth generation networks, we need similar
direction and clarity around the present second
generation networks. And I am referring to the
controversy over the handling of revenue around
the spectrum. Reams and reams of paper have been
written on whether the spectrum should be made
available without charge and revenue share be
the source of income for the government versus
the view that there should be a hefty fee for
allocation of the same. Whatever is decided by
the guardians of the telecom industry, it must
ensure that it facilitates low-cost and high-quality
service delivery to the customer. In the final
run, the initiative to make mobile telephony ubiquitous
should not "bite the dust!".
Rahul Swarup
President
Sify Enterprise Solution
We
welcome your comments and suggestions.
Please e-mail us at esbmarketing@sifycorp.com
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