Intel asks govt to auction spectrum for WiMAX services

New Delhi, Jul 24 (UNI) Intel today urged the government to auction the spectrum for providing WiMAX services in the country soon.

''We want the government to auction the spectrum soon so that WiMAX services can be implemented in the country,'' Intel Capital President and Intel Executive Vice President Arvind Sodhani said here on the sidelines of a press conference.

The company is looking to bid for 2.5GHz frequency band in order to start its WiMAX services, which is an emerging technology that expands broadband wireless access over longer distances of up to 50 km and reduces the cost of implementing broadband.

Although WiMAX is able to provide only fixed broadband connection, according to recent studies, it is estimated that 6.9 million mobile and fixed WiMAX connections will be there by the year-end.

In May 2008, major companies like Intel, Google, Comcast and Bright House Networks jointly invested 3.2 billion dollars and worked together on a project to create a new mobile broadband company by combining their WiMAX business.

UNI AK SG BD1715