Govt dilly-dallies on 3G, TRAI eyes 4G

New Delhi, Feb 8: While the government continues to dilly-dally on the auction of 3G spectrum, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has set its eyes on the next generation telephony.

TRAI on Monday, Feb 8 initiated consultation for the fourth generation or 4G technology.

“Yes. We are starting the process and would come out with a consultation paper to look into various issues relating to 4G telecom services," TRAI Chairman JS Sarma said.

Expressing anguish over the way the government is dealing with the 3G spectrum auction, Sarma added, “3G has been delayed badly ... I don"t want 4G or LTE (Long Term Evolution) to meet the same fate. Other countries are catching up with the 4G and that is why we are taking advance action,"

4G or LTE, which succeeds the 3G and 2G technology, is already being tested in various parts of the world by foreign players like the US-based Motorola and Ericsson.

The fourth generation telephony offers download at faster speed known as ultra-broadband and high definition video on demand among other such services.

It provides a wide range of data rates up to ultra-broadband (gigabit-speed) Internet access to mobile as well as stationary users.

Sarma, who is keen on keeping the country technologically updated, said that TRAI does not want to see 4G delayed like 3G.

OneIndia News