Even as 3G allocation is still to take place in India, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is planning a consultation paper on IMT-advanced (4G) mobile wireless broadband services.
The telecom regulator says that International Mobile Telecommunications-advanced (IMT-advanced) systems or 4G is a step ahead of third-generation (3G) technology. The new 4G networks will allow users to stream mobile multimedia, such as TV broadcasts and online games, with speeds up to 10 times than that of 3G networks.
TRAI will seek views from the telecom industry regarding the policy making or regulation on 4G. It expects the responses before March 15 on the same.
According to TRAI, the 4G network is designed to enable high speed internet on the go. It will facilitate higher bandwidth, higher data rate, lower authentication load, and support a higher level of user-level customisation. It is expected to provide virtual environment independent of the network and devices being used.
4G mobile networks have already been commercially launched in Sweden and Norway. Operators in other countries such as USA, Korea and Japan are gearing up to launch 4G wireless broadband services. Therefore, the authority feels that India should also have these services at the earliest.
In order to facilitate introduction of 4G mobile broadband services, TRAI has decided to discuss various connected issues such as allocation and pricing of spectrum for such services and issues related to licensing.