India to issue WiMAX and 3G guidelines in June

New Delhi, May 27: The Indian government is to issue guidelines on the auction of 3G and WiMAX network licences next month, according to telecom minister Andimuthu Raja.

"By June the guidelines will be issued for 3G and WiMax," Telecoms Minister Andimuthu Raja said in a speech at an industry conference on May 23. He further added that he is expecting the roll-out of such networks by January 2009. Under Indian law, Indian telecom sector allows 74 percent of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). So whether there is common auction or open auction, there will be no bar on foreign players. Either way, foreign players will be allowed to take part, said Raja.

With the rollout of 3G and WiMax networks, mobile users will get access to high-end data applications such as interactive gaming and multimedia features like video conferencing and video streaming on their mobile phones.

OneIndia News