The Hindu Business Line : DoT asks Tatas to put EVDO plans on hold

The Department of Telecom has asked Tata Teleservices to delay the launch of data services based on the EVDO (evolution data optimised) technology until the Government spells out the policy for third generation (3G) services.

Mr Daryl Green, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Teleservices, told Business Line that though the company was ready to offer 3G services it did not have the permission to even conduct pilot tests. "We have been told verbally to put off our launch of EVDO services till later this year. If we get the permission we can start services tomorrow. We can offer 3G services using the existing spectrum but DoT feels that the 800 Mhz is a 2 G radio frequency and therefore we should wait till the 3G spectrum is released."

EVDO is the next generation technology being offered by CDMA-based operators in other parts of the world to offer high speed broadband on wireless handsets. The technology allows operators to use the existing radio frequency to offer 3G services. On the other hand, GSM-based operators need spectrum that has been earmarked for 3G services. In India, Reliance Infocomm is also making plans to roll out EVDO services. If Tatas are allowed to deploy EVDO, it would get at least a six-month head start compared with GSM-based operators.

However, Mr Green downplayed the impact of the delay. "3G is not really big as of now for us, so we can wait.

Even if were to launch services after the DoT nod, still we will get a head start because GSM operators will take a while to roll out their network based on the Wide band CDMA (W-CDMA), and in my experience, it's not going to be very easy for them," said Mr Green.

Tata Teleservices has earmarked an investment of Rs 4,000 crore this fiscal and has set a target of reaching 20 million subscribers by the end of this fiscal.

Meanwhile, the Government today said that spectrum for 3G services would be released by the end of the year. The telecom regulator has also been asked to give its recommendations on issues relating to pricing for the 3G spectrum.

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