The Hindu Business Line : Dual mode devices to drive telecom growth in India

NEW DELHI: Mobile handsets offering both 3G (for voice) and WiMax (high speed wireless broadband access) services are likely to gain popularity with the Indian telecom operators and give a fillip to WiMax services in the country.

The dual mode devices which combine both the technology -- 3G and WiMax -- would help the operators in the country to offer the services in a cost effective manner once the spectrum for the services is auctioned by the government post the elections,

WiMax Forum Chairman (India chapter) C S Rao said. “In India once the spectrum is auctioned, the operators are likely to go for 3G spectrum for voice services as the existing spectrum is saturated and to support the next 200 million subscribers they hav e to use the third generation spectrum,'' he said. However, for data services like video streaming and downloading WiMax could be used, as the technology is more efficient for data download and other applications, he said.

Globally, Samsung has already started manufacturing such devices. However, Mr Rao cautioned that the government should reduce the import duty, currently about 15 per cent, on such devices so that they become cost effective. - PTI

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