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G. Rambabu

SEOUL, Dec. 16

THE average Indian cellular subscriber may feel on top of the world downloading filmi ringtones and sending picture messages.

But perhaps, that's because he is not aware of the choices his contemporaries in the neighbourhood of South Korea, Japan and China have — multimedia messaging services that include the capability to transfer photos, voice, music, Internet and even streaming video at speeds and quality that would put our leased lines to shame.

Yes, you're right! It's everything to do with the "generation" gap.

Even as our desi mobile operators struggle to provide good quality voice services on their second generation (2G) global system of mobile (GSM) networks, these three countries have raced ahead and put in place third generation (3G) networks that apart from offering crystal-clear voice services, also enable the subscriber to have a truly digital experience. Something that even the European operators are struggling to do.

Ironically, much of this credit goes to a cellular technology platform developed miles away, across the pacific in San Diego (US) by Qualcomm Inc — code division multiple access (CDMA). While operators in Korea and China have directly adopted 3G networks of this CDMA technology, Japan has plugged for Wideband CDMA, a variant developed for the GSM networks.

Luckily for Indian subscribers, however, with limited mobility services on the CDMA platform all set to take off courtesy Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Reliance Communications and Tata TeleServices Ltd, they may still catch up with their neighbours.

More so as the 3G leader, South Korea, is ready to offer all the available expertise and training to help develop the rollout of this technology in India.

As noted by Dr Sang-Chul Lee, Minister of Information and Communication, South Korea, "being aware of the tremendous opportunities that India offers for the growth of CDMA, we are ready to extend a hand to help it capitalise on the tremendous opportunities ahead.

The story of Korea's path to global mobile technology leadership begins with CDMA and we will offer our support replicate this success in India".

He should know better. Because way back in 1993, even as Dr Lee was working with one of the fastest growing telecom companies, Korea Telecom, the Government had realised that compared with rival technologies like GSM, CDMA, which was a relatively new and untested technology at that time, offers higher capacity, clearer call quality and fewer dropped calls.

"Instead of trying to minimise costs, the Korean mobile technology sector chose quality as its product strategy. The Government invested in infrastructure and created a regulatory environment that encouraged local telecom companies. The turning point came with the decision to make CDMA the technology standard for Korea. This, in turn, enabled manufacturers to bring high-quality products to the market quickly and, as the technology developed, has also allowed carriers to migrate to 3G easily," he said.

No doubt today, he said, the Koreans are acknowledged as the world's top users of 3G mobile services.

The country's remarkable mobile culture is gradually being exported around the world and the Indian subscribers can hope to benefit from it soon.

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