India to Auction 2.3, 2.5 GHz Frequency Bands for Broadband Data Services

India's Department of Telecommunications is planning to auction the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz frequency band for broadband data services. The WiMAX Forum said the availability of these key bands for WiMAX technology in India will provide its consumers with much needed broadband connectivity across the diverse economic and social needs of the entire population.


The auction will enable two 20 MHz blocks in both the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz bands. The government also announced that blocks in the 700 MHz and 3.3-3.6 GHz bands will be auctioned as they become available to offer Fixed WiMAX and rural wireless broadband segments to consumers.


The WiMAX Forum plans to add an Indian certification lab to its existing network by the end of 2008. The WiMAX Forum has certified a range of Mobile WiMAX products in the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz profiles and estimates that more than 1,000 Mobile WiMAX products will undergo certification by 2012.http://www.wimaxforum.orghttp://www.dot.gov.in/2008/Aug%202008/spectrum_3.pdf