Government to allow 4G licence holders to provide voice services
4G licence holders can provide voice service on the fourth-generation broadband services, given they are ready to pay the government an additional $306 million.
The Indian government is set to clear all the hurdles for the availability of voice services on the fourth-generation (4G) broadband services. According to reports, the Telecom Commission has decided to allow wireless broadband airwave holders to launch voice services if they shelled out an additional Rs 1,658 crore. The move is believed to be a huge boost to Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Ltd., the only player to have pan-India 4G licence.
Reuters in its report quotes Telecom Secretary R. Chandrashekhar as saying the decision made by Telecom Commission needs formal approval from the Telecommunications Minister. “There is no restriction on the technology that is being used (to provide voice services),” he added.
According to the Reuters report, Reliance Industries’ voice services on 4G could further heat up the competition in the high-speed 4G segment. Right now, Airtel is the only operator to provide 4G services in the country (in select cities), and is expected to roll out in more cities later this year.
Last year, Airtel had bought a 49 percent stake in US chipmaker Qualcomm’s 4G businesses, allowing the company to launch the services in four major circles including Delhi and Mumbai.
Back in December 2012, Airtel had sought permission from the government to test voice services on the fourth generation networks. Reports then said the telco was looking to combine its data services with voice services on the high end platform.
Source: Reuters